Born in Bologna , Italy , he is the youngest son of Massimo Cordero dei Marchesi di Montezemolo ( 1920 – 2009 ) , a Piedmontese aristocrat whose family served the Royal House of Savoy for generations , and Clotilde Neri ( b. 1922 ) , niece of famed Italian surgeon Vincenzo Neri . His uncle , Admiral Giorgio Cordero dei Marchesi di Montezemolo ( 1918 – 1986 ) was a commander in the Regia Marina in World War II . His grandfather , Mario ( 1888 – 1960 ) and great-grandfather Carlo ( 1858 – 1943 ) were both Generals in the Italian Army . He is also a relation to Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo ( his father Massimo and Andrea were cousins ) , who became a cardinal in 2006 and whose father , colonel Giuseppe Cordero di Montezemolo , was killed by the Nazi occupation troops during the massacre of the Fosse Ardeatine in Rome in 1944 . His surname is actually " Cordero di Montezemolo " and the correct usage is either the full surname or just Montezemolo ( omitting the " di " )
massacre of the Fosse Ardeatine
Ardeatine massacre
Luca Cordero di Montezemolo