ISCHIA TO 155 RIDGE STREET
Email: billcoppa@cox.net
BOOK AND PHOTO GALLERY
ARE DEDICATED
TO
MAMA AND PAPA
I ALSO WANT TO REMEMBER BRIGIDA (IACONA) CALISE MY COUSIN AND PEN PAL, FOR RESERCH
AND
THE DESCENDANTS OF ROSA AND GIOVANNI COPPA
FROM 155 RIDGE STREET
ABOUT THE TIME, THE WALTONS WERE GROWING UP
ON WALTON’S MOUNTAIN.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE THESE MEMORIES TO MY
CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN OF MY
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
I HOPE YOU ENJOY READING THESE MEMORIES AS
AS MUCH AS I HAD WRITING THEM
TO
ISCHIA TO 155 RIDGE STREET
BILLY COPPA’S MEMORIES OF 155 RIDGE STREET,
“ENJOY”
Copyright © 2002 by Billy Coppa
Site---The-Coppas.net
READING ISCHIA TO 155 RIDGE
STREET
WILL GIVE YOU A FEELING
YOU ARE READING A SERIES OF
SHORTSTORIES ABOUT A NICE FAMILY.
AS YOU GO ALONG YOU WILL SEE
THAT ALL THE STORIES ARE
CONNECTED AND FLOW FROM THE
YEAR 1891 TO 2002.
THREE GENERATIONS
FORIO D’ISCHIA
MAMA
Grandfather Salvatore Iacono and Grandmother Brigida (Carcaterra) Iacono
Three sons and one daughter
1.Zio Nicola
2.Zio Francisco
3.Zio Peppino
4. Rosa (Mama)
PAPA
Grandfather Vito Coppa and Grandmother Regina (Castagluiolo) Coppa
Seven sons and three daughters
1.Zio Vito fu (Vinanzio) (John)
2.Zio Francisco
3.Zio Pasquale
4 Giovanni (Papa)
5.Zio Salvatore
6.Zio Antoniocci
7.Zio Peppino
8.Zia Genoefa
9.Zia Laura
10.Zia Conchetta
MAMA AND PAPA
VIA RIDGE # 155
155 RIDGE STREET
Papa Giovanni Coppa and Mama Rosa (Iacono) Coppa
2. 3.
Six Sons and Five Daughters and Their Children
1. Vito and Lillian -----------------------------------------------------John
2. Vincent and Margie ---------------------------------------- John and Judy
3. Frank and Margie ------------------------------------------------- Robert
4. Salvatore and Eleanor ------------------------------ Roseanne, Steve, Joyce
5. Regina and Ernest -------------------- Joseph, Susan, Billy, Rosemary
6. John and Mary ---------------------------------- John, Debbie, Karen
7. Rose and Pat -------------------------------------- Anthony, Michel
8. Billy and Anna ------------------------------------Billy, Maria, John
9. Mary and Elio -------------------------------------------- Linda, Paul
10. Laura and Rocco ------------------------------------------Lorie, Joseph
11. Ann (deceased at 14 months old). The middle triplet in the photos
ISCHIA, TO 155 RIDGE STREET
THE COPPA FAMILY
MY FATHER (PAPA) GIOVANNI COPPA
MY MOTHER (MAMA) ROSA IACONO COPPA
MA & PA or at referral MAMA AND PAPA
BY
WILLIAM BILLY COPPA BORN ON MARCH 3RD 1935
JULY 2002 THE ISCHIAN SUN
THE BEAUTY OF ISCHIA
On the day of Our Lord January 17, 1894, my mother, (Mama) Rosa Iacono was born to Brigida (Carcaterra) Iacono and Salvatore Iacono. The sixth child of Salvatore from his second Marriage. Mama Rosa was Bridgida’s third child. She was named after her Father’s first wife, “Rosa”. Her half- brother was Zio, Nicola. Mama’s two Half-Sisters Margarita and Bridgida died before Mama was born. Her two other full brothers were Zio, Francisco, and Zio, Peppino. Mama and her Brothers were born on Via Tironi #19 in the section of Monterone, Forio D’Ischia
Ischia is a small Island off the Coast of Naples, Italy near Capri. The Island has been called the Island of Pines, The Emerald Island, The Island of Dreams and even Paradise. Fifty thousand natives live on the Island and six million tourists from all over the world visit between Easter and September every year. The Island is in the most beautiful region of the world, with the AmalfiCoast, Positano, Sorrento, Pompeii on the main land and the islands of Procida and Capri.
The Island is dotted with Palm trees, Cactus plants, exotic Fruits, Flowers and a climate of what Heaven must be like. The waters are clear Emerald Green with White Fluffy waves rolling on the many beaches around the Island. The Gulf of Naples begins with the Island of Ischia and ends with the Island of Capri, which takes in the most beautiful region in all of Europe.
As your Hydrofoil approaches the Islands Ischia Port your first site is the Aragon Castle at the top of a very small Island, with Church Towers and Domes and some small houses. The Island is attached to the main Island of Ischia with a stone walkway connecting the two Islands. (Pictured on the cover of this book)
You can get a Hydrofoil to crisscross you to any point in the Gulf of Naples every half hour, which includes Capri, Ischia, Amalfi coast, Sorrento, Island of Procida, Bocoli, and Pezzoli all for eight dollars round trip.
When you are Sea Faring away (as Mama and Papa did in 1920) from the Island of Ischia on a ferry and looking back you will have the pleasure of seeing the most beautiful Panorama that you have ever had you eyes on, with the disappearing of the Castle. The Panoramic pleasure doubles when you are entering the Panorama to the Gulf of Naples. The colors, the old and the new arcutecure blend to a splendor for your eyes to feast on. (As Anna and I did in 1988). We had the pleasure both ways, entering and leaving Ischia and entering and leaving Naples four times.
Whenever, I visited the Island the climate, the mild breeze, the sun, the fresh smell of grape and flowers, the bright emerald green waters, the deep blue sky and the white clouds, give me a feeling of being in another World. I can’t explain it as deeply as I would like. It really is a nice bright feeling. Ischia is especially beautiful in the month of September. It is a small wonder why most Emperors’ of Rome choose Ischia for their winter resort.
Emperor Augustus traded the Island of Ischia for the island of Capri to Naples, because he was so impressed by the climate and the beauty of the Island and also Capri wasn’t Volcanic. The Aristocracy of Rome chose to stay with Ischia in spite of Mount Epomeo’s Volcano. To this day Ischia is Europe’s most, best kept secret. The British and Americans have finally discovered Ischia. You can see them dotting around the Island. Many are choosing Ischia over Capri. Their are more towns and beaches to enjoy in Ischia...
The last time there was a volcanic eruption on the Island of Ischia was in the year 1302. The town of Casamiccola was practically destroyed.
The Germans retreated from the Island of Ischia during the Second World War. But since the late 1940’s they have been returning with their families in droves every year between Easter and September to holiday on the Island and share old memories with the natives of the Island.
The rich German Realtors have invested heavily on the Island building resorts and hotels.
Since 1988 I have had many beautiful dreams about this beautiful Island. “My Paradise!”
Your First impression of Ischia will remain in your memory forever. You will say, “This is what Heaven must be like.” I know I did!
MAMA’S FATHER AND BROTHERS
Mama’s father and her brothers were landowners in Forio D’Ischia. They were producers of Grape and Wine. They were very successful and wealthy. That fact became evident to me after my first visits to Ischia. The Pietrotorcia Winery and Vineyards are a highlight of the Island.
I never met Mama’s parents and brothers. Since my grandparents and uncles on Mama’s side never visited America.
My wife Anna and I visited Ischia four times between 1988 and 1999 and I did get to meet all of my first cousins and their children from Mama’s side of the family. They are beautiful, educated, and humble. My first cousins from Mama’s brothers (Zio Nicola, Zio Francisco and Zio Peppino’s) families always welcome Anna and Me with open arms. A King and Queen couldn’t expect more. There was a party in our honor at every house we visited. Sometimes we went to three different houses in one day. I kept an appointment book so not to refuse any Invitation. To refuse would be an insult. We tried to keep them all happy and they truly made us very happy.
I never realized that my four visits to the island were giving me research to a future book about my beautiful parents and family. As time went bye the excitement was really too much. I found a second family when I started to visit my relatives in Ischia.
They couldn’t do enough for Anna and me.
Judging from the accounting of my cousins, my three Uncles must have been a joy to be with.
On my first visit to Forio D’Ischia in September of 1988, my cousin Giovanni Castagiliuo, (from Papa’s side of the family) Anna and I were walking in the main Piazza when Giovanni saw a first cousin of mine walking. (From my mother’s side of the family). He immediately introduced me to Aniello Iacono. A man in his early seventy’s, slightly bearded and pleasant looking. Aniello was very excited and started to invite me to his home.
I couldn’t accept the invitation because I was already booked with most of my other relatives and my stay was short. We made arrangements for him to visit me at the Bed and Breakfast where we were staying because we were leaving the Island that morning. He visited with his wife Maria and his forty-year-old Daughter, Giovanna. Giovanna has a learning disability.
Anna and I immediately fell in love with her. She was encouraging her Father to sing for us. He had a beautiful baritone voice. He didn’t sing for us that day but I remembered his beautiful speaking voice.
His wife Maria a real outgoing women, showered us with gifts of lace bedspreads and lace table clothes, ceramic, wine, grape and figs. It was a very nice visit. On my next visit in 1991 they were even more generous.
On our first day of our 1991, visit again in the hot evening Anna and I were walking in the Piazza. We were passing the church of Madonna A Dolorato. The big front doors were opened and we heard an all men choir singing. I have never heard an all men’s choir. It sounded so beautiful that I said to Anna “let’s go in the church.” As I got to the top of the stairs, there was a line formed to receive Communion. It was a communion mass for the dead.
Anna and I got in line to receive and I heard a Baritone Voice in the choir coming from behind me. I whispered to Anna and said, “That’s my cousin Aniello singing back there. Anna said “You haven’t been here in three years and you already are and expert in voices.” As to say, “Yeh sure”! Sure enough after we received our Communion and as we were walking back I looked up to the balcony, there was Aniello.
After the Mass, Aniello came down the spiral staircase and we had a nice reunion. At the same time he introduced me to another first cousin from Mama’s side of the family, “Francina.” (He also sang in the choir and is a pleasant looking man in his early seventy’s.) Francina invited me to his house just for a Pizza in a couple of nights.
On the next day we were invited to a restaurant with thirty or forty of my first and second cousins. We were Zio Francisco’s son Aniello (ANIELLO WITH THE BEAUTIFUL BARITONE VOICE) and his wife Maria’s guests of honor. (My first Cousins) Aniello had a beautiful baritone voice, and he sang Neapolitan songs for us all night in his Restaurant. His Daughter’s eyes (Giovanna) lit up when her father sang. Aniello passed away in 1994. I will never forget him; I thank God for letting me meet my cousin Aniello.
Cousin Franzina invited Anna and me to his home for just a pizza. When we got to his house, there were thirty of my Cousins waiting for us. Pizza was at the end of a list of Italian food to die for. We ate for four hours. His Brothers (my first cousins) Salvatore and Luigi and Sister Maria were there and helped make the occasion a beautiful one.
The wine and the singing were very good that night. All the children love Franzina. He has the manor to communicate with them on their level. He is someone you love the first time you meet him. Franzina has a superb tenor voice. Mama would have loved these nephews and nieces. Franzina is Mama’s brother’s son. After much food and Wine, I asked jokingly! “Where’s the pizza!
Just then five of the women march out with the most beautiful Napolitano Pizza’s you have ever seen or tasted. If you have never tasted Napolitano Pizza, then you have never tasted real Pizza.
In September of 1994, Uncle Peppino’s son Franzina, (FROM MAMA’S SIDE OF THE FAM ILY) who is my First Cousin, and Cousin Vito Iacono’s son, Franco, the Senator, had a battle of the voices for me. They both have beautiful tenor voices. I asked them if they had voice study or training? Their answer was, “In Italy everybody sings”.
Their voices were as good as any professional Tenor. They sang solos. Cousin Franzina would sing a song, and then Franco sang a song. Then their children would join in. I declined to be a Judge of Voices that night, so they kept on battling with their voices and sang for me all night. The night ended with a professional display of Fireworks for me. I will never forget that night!
That night I could feel the thank you’s for Mama’s generosity after the Second World War.
Mama sent hundreds of packages to both sides of the family.
HOLIDAYS IN ISCHIA
On the last afternoon of my 1994 trip to Forio D’Ischia, Cousin Vito’s Daughter Camella a Woman in her late forty’s prepared a beautiful dinner for us. It was one of those afternoons where the sun was just right and the warmth and the breeze was most comfortable and the Wine was at its best. We ate Alfresco.
We were sitting under the Pergola full with White and Red grape, in the height of the harvest time, with a little of the sun coming through. “Al Fresco!” We dined on Rabbit cooked Ischiatano Style, with two kinds of pasta and the Pietratorcia White Wine cooled just right
(My brother Vito who was in the United States Air Corp and station in Rome Italy Visited all his relatives in 1943, Said to me, “You will taste wine all over Italy while you are touring the country. But you will never taste any wine as good as you will get on the Island of Ischia.” For me, He was absolutely right!)
Cousin Vito’s grandchildren sang all their Easter and Christmas songs for us even though it was September. They really tried hard to give a feel of what it was like on their two Holy Holidays. They talked about the Easter Passion and Processions. The smiles on their faces said it all.
The Church is a very big part of the Islanders life. It gives them a beauty and humbleness that you do not find in to many parts of the world. I will never forget that beauty as long as I live.
Since then I phone them Christmas and Easter at one p.m. every year. They all wait patiently for my call. Camella usually picks up the phone and I say “ Merry Christmas” or “Happy Easter,” Camella replies, “Zio, Bill; Aragudia” “(same to you)” Then she directs the phone receiver to her dining table, and they start belting out their holiday songs to me.
They sing for ten minutes. Then they all yell out “Zio Bill, “BONA NATALE”OR “BONA PASQUA” (“Merry Christmas” or “Happy Easter!”). Their voices have become my Santa Claus and Easter Bunny and begun a beautiful addition to my holidays. Singing has become a tradition and a big part of my holidays. Next Christmas Zia Francesca and Zio Vito’s voices will be missing from my newfound Christmas tradition. Their voices will be in my heart every Easter and Christmas.
CAN YOU AMAGIN HOW PRESIOUS THOSE PHONE CALLS ARE TO ME
Singing for the Iacono side of my family is natural to all of them. Mama had a beautiful voice. My daughter, Maria and her daughter Amanda inherited the Iacono voice. My brother Vinnie’s granddaughter Noelle and my Sister Rosie’s grandson David also have beautiful voices inherited from Mama.
Mama had a sweet voice that never quivered or broke up. Now I wonder if Mama ever had voice training.
I can picture her now, sitting by the kitchen window, looking out the pergola covered yard with her knitting in hand, singing a beautiful Italian song.
ANGELA AND PETER PASTORE
On our first tour of Italy in 1988 we met up with a grand couple, Angela and Peter Pastore. We hit it off real well with each other and we did almost everything together on that tour. We have become best Friends. They live about ten minutes away from us. We haven’t missed too many weekends in not seeing each other and playing cards ever since 1988.
My friends, Angela and Peter Pastore, have traveled with us to Ischia and they were treated like Royalty as well. They really enjoyed all the singing and my Relatives. The culture of the Island was something different for them. They traveled back with us to Ischia again in 1994 and 1999
One of the high lights of Angela and Peters visit to the Island was the tour by boat around the Island. On that tour we were able to view the spectacular grotto near Santa Angelo Beach.
Ischia, my Island of which I am no longer a Stranger in Paradise.
Being on the Island two previous times gave me Tour Guide status. It was a nice feeling to bring my friends to see my parent’s birthplace and my newfound relatives. We also visited with Angela’s relatives in Alatri, Frozinone not to far from Rome. We got the Red Carpet treatment there too.
Peter and Angela had such a great time with us in Ischia, that they came with us on our forth trip to Ischia and again we also traveled to Alatri to visit Angela’s beautiful Relatives.
On all my trips to Italy, we would tour most of the country, Rome, Alatri, Frozinone, Venice, Milan, Padua, Bologna, Florence, Pizza, Naples, Pompeii, Casino, Sorrento Campobasso, Fornelli, Iseria, Capri and the Blue Grotto, The Amalfi coast, Positano, A motor, ride down to the toe of Italy through all of Calabria and on to Sicily with Mt. Etna Messina, Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, and Catania.
Sicily’s archeology was a real Greek experience. We also visited some of Switzerland.
We have visited some of these places two or three times in eleven years. Only because these places have blown our minds. The beauty and mystique makes you wonder, how great God and Man really are. There is so much to see in Italy. Then we would cap off our trip to the beautiful
One of Zio Francisco and one of Zio Nicola’s great- grandchildren from Mama’s side (Iacono) have joined a partnership in a winery with two other old families of the Island the Regines and the Verdi’s... They produce six varieties of wines. The wine is called PIETRATORCIA. Excellent wine! Their wine is sold throughout Europe and America. I have been to the winery, and it is an impressive operation. There still are many Iacono vineyards in Forio. The wine has become the most popular wine on the Island. Because of the volcanic soil the vines produce certain dryness to the Red and certain sweetness w/ dryness to the Bianca. A characteristic very easily identified with the Island of Ischia as “Very Special Wine.” An Italian well, best kept secret.
Pietratorcia is marketed in America now. “Good bye Italians most well best kept secret!
Young Vito Iacono is one of the owners of the Winery and Vineyards; he is Mama’s great- great grandnephew. (He is my first cousin Vito Iacono’s, grandson). He visited with me in October of 2001. Vito was at a wine fair in New York City a little time after September 11th. He also viewed Ground Zero Twin Tower disaster. Vito showed me his compassion and condolence’s for the American people. He stayed with us overnight. We had a great visit and he promises to return.
Should anyone chance to visit the PIETRATORCIA WINERY, just say ZIO BILL sent you!
Young Vito and his father, Franco, have a Doctorate in Political Science. Franco was elected Mayor of the Island of Ischia and later was elected to the European Parliament representing the Campania Region of Italy. Franco is a handsome man and is a guiding eye over the winery. He has a beautiful wife Anna and family. Franco is certainly an inspiration to have Iacono blood running through my veins.
He is a very inspirational person and has the capability to become PRESIDENT OF ITALY some day. I am in contact with the Senator (who is about fifty-two years old) and his sister Carmella quite often. Carmella loves to hear my voice and Foriano dialect of Ischia. She is the power in the family and never stops working. Camella is a true Matriarch.
Carmella and Franco’s parents were Vito and Francesca Iacono and were my first cousins. They both passed away since 2001 and are the two voices that I will not be hearing on my holidays. They were inspirations for my visits to the Island of Ischia and I will miss them dearly.. Vito was Mama’s Brothers, (my Uncle Francisco’s) son. Vito’s brothers and sisters were Rosa, Brigida, Nicola, and Aniello. All (first cousins) except Rosa have passed away from heart disease since 1988. Rosa is a beautiful poet. (Heart disease and diabetes is hereditary to the Iacono and Coppa families). Being one of Mama’s youngest; most of my cousins were much older than I am. Their children had more of compatibility in age with me. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to get to know most of my first cousins. They are very saintly people with beautiful voices who sang in most of the church choirs on the island.
For that matter, I have found that all the families on the Island have very beautiful and strict values. Their family traditions are the most important things in their life. The Church, The Church, The Church!
BRIGIDA
My Uncle (Mama’s half brother) Nicola’s granddaughter, Brigida, became my pen pal. She is in her late thirties. Brigida and I write to each other and talk by phone quite often. She has her Doctorate and is a professor in Education. I receive priceless information about my roots from Brigida. Her aunts and uncles are all my first cousins. They are Rosa, Margarita, Nicolina, Maria (Brigida’s mother), Salvatore (now dead) and Vinchanzio. They all have superb voices as well. Vinchanzio has Mama’s mannerism and is a very pleasant man. He is a very soft-spoken person.
Anna and I were given a picnic on Mount Epomeo to one of the Iacono Vineyards by Zio Nicola’s children. I was given the opportunity to experience what a working day was like up on the mountain and what lunch time was like sitting under a small grape arbor (Pergola). Crusty bread, procuitto, cheese, hard salami, fresh figs and fruit, wine and water were served as a fast lunch.
The only way to describe Zio Nicola’s children (my first cousins) and their children would be with two words, HEAVENLY AND DIVINE! You would love them instantly! They are sweet and humble. If only Mama could have met these beautiful nieces and nephews!
Brigida is mentioned on my dedication page. If it weren’t for Bridgida’s first letter to me, I would never have fulfilled my lifetime dream to visit the Island of Ischia. Brigida is the daughter of my first cousin Maria who is the daughter of my Uncle Nicola (Mama’s half brother). Our correspondence gave me a hunger for the island, and I still hunger for more.
In 1988, Brigida took Anna and me by the hand to all of Mama’s Nieces and Nephews. I met the most beautiful people in the world. I over an eleven-year span got to know all of them by their first name and as individuals. Brigida is very special to me. I love her. I found a whole new family
In Forio because of her. I am enjoying all of them. They love the phone calls at Easter and Christmas time. My cousins have become a big part of my life..
Anna and I have been to the Island of Ischia four times 1988, 1991, 1994, and 1999 at Grape Harvest Time. My cousins get very excited when they are expecting Anna and Me from America. We became a Holiday for all of them. As the years go by we can see how the children are growing into teenagers after each visit to the beautiful Island of Ischia. We couldn’t get enough of the beautiful Island of Ischia.
I could feel Mama’s presents with every moment that I spent with her nieces and nephew and their families. I am Mama’s only child to have met all of her family. Mama corresponded with all of them, she only new a few of the older ones. They remember Mama for her big heart and generosity then and after the Second World War.
Grandfather Salvatore and grand-mother (Mama’s Father and Mother) Iacono had a few houses and five parcels of land, which he had vineyards on and sold his grape to the big grape buyers.
He sharecropped other pieces of land from the Islands rich landowner; Giovanni Angelo Monte whom I believe was my father’s Godfather. Papa was named after him.
My grandfather Vito fu Venonzio Coppa (Papa’s Father) owned houses and land, and share cropped with Giovanni Angelo Monte as well. I never knew my grandfather Vito fu Vinanzio or grandmother Regina (Castagluiolo) Coppa. They visited America in the early thirties.
Papa and his brothers Vito fu Vinanzio Jr., Francisco, and Salvatore were outdoing one another to give their parents a memorable stay. Grandfather Vito and grandmother Regina Coppa were in America for almost a year and lived for three months with each of their sons.
Both sets of grandparents were fairly comfortable families and had employees working for them in their Vineyards. Their children helped supervise the Vineyards. My grandparents on both sides were considered SIGNORA on the Island. They both had a horse and buggy to get around the Island. Sometimes they were, Chauffer driven.
Giovanni Angelo Monte sharecropped good amounts of land with both my grandparents, which gave SIGNORA status to them and their families.
My grandparents (Coppa) had seven boys and three girls. They were, Uncles Vito Fu Vinanzio Jr.,* Francisco*, Pasquale, (Giovanni, My Father,)* Uncles Salvatore*, Antoniocci, Peppino*, Aunts Genoefa, Laura, And Concetta. ( * CAME TO LIVE IN AMERICA).
ZIA CONCETTA’S FAMLY
Zia Conchetta’s sons Pasqualino, (Pat) John, and Michael came to America and had beautiful families. Pat came to America in 1955. John and Michael came in the late 60’s. They were very young.
In February of 1957 Pat and I went to the Hillside Lounge on Valley Street where we met some Girls I knew from Mount Pleasant High School. I introduced Pat to Anna Pascatore, and that was the night he fell in love head over heels with Anna. She became his wife in 1960. I went clubbing alone for a while. December of 1957 I met up with an old friend named Anna Padula at a bus stop. .
She became my wife in November 1958. (Pat) Pasqualino Castagiuolio was also a good sauce for information about the Island of Ischia).
Pat went into the Fruit and Produce business here in Rhode Island. He did very well for himself. Pasqualino’s Brother
Michael returned to Ischia. Later, John, (who is now deceased) returned to Forio D’Ischia..
FROM PAPA’S SIDE TO THE RIGHT-ROSETTA-JOE ELEANOR AND VITO
Xavier Cogart introduces his new wife, Chiro that night at the Latin Quarters.
Zio Peppino (from Papa’s side of the family) Coppa and all his children came to America between the 1950’s and 1960’s. His son’s, Vito and Pasqualino returned to Forio D’Ischia and have very successful businesses. Vito has a Motel and Pasqualino has a Hardware Store. His son Tony, who was named after his uncle Antoniocci, lives on Staten Island. Tony and his beautiful family visited with us one-week end in the summer of 2000. We had a great time together. We are trying to put a spark to our get togethers, the way we used to be in our younger days. Peppino’s children miss the good old days when our two families would get together in the summer at 155 Ridge Street. They loved the house on 155 Ridge Street. It reminded them of their house in Italy, the grape arbor, (Pergola) eating outside Al Fresco; the Garage converted to a Cantina with Barrels of Wine, and the fun under the Grape Arbor on the fourth of July.
Most of Zio Peppino’s family migrated on Staten Island New York. Laura and her family still live in Brooklyn. She won’t leave Brooklyn. Laura loves the life style there.
When Zio Peppino’s family visited us in Rhode Island, it became a big treat for me. Because there only were two cousins my age here in America and they were Ginny, Zio Vinanzio’s daughter and Frank Jr., Zio Francisco’s son. Zio Peppino’s kids were in their teens and so was I. finely, I had cousins on my level! Every time we were together there was laughter. It seemed that we were speaking one language even though there were two, English and Italian.
In the early sixty’s Anna, the kids and Vinny and Margie visited for a weekend with Zio Peppino’s family in Brooklyn, New York. We also visited the World Fair.
One of the things I remember about that trip was that Zio Peppino and I were sitting on the front stoop of his house. It just started to get dark and it was a nice warm night, I turned to Zio Peppino and asked, “Zio why is it that in the Italian language almost all the names have a distinguished Ending sound. Like, Vitolino, Mickalino, Giouvannnino
Lauraino, katharino, Pasqualino, and so on with most of these names.”
His answer was, “well it’s the same here in America isn’t it? Vinnie, Sallie, Frankie, Johnnie, BiLLIE, Marie, Rosie, and so on.”
Well I got my answer and it still strikes me funny to this day.
Sitting on the front stoop spending some quality with Zio Peppino on a warm night making small talk was more memorable to me than the Worlds Fair itself. He was a great Guy!
FORTH OF JULY 1960 & ZIO PEPINO’S FAMILY VISIT
One Fourth of July in the 1960’s, my sisters and I, along with Zio Peppino’s youngest children were having fun with firecrackers. We were goofing on the older adults. We were lighting the Firecrackers and throwing them under Zia Filomena’s chair. Filomena was Zio Francisco’s (Papa’s brother) second wife. She got very annoyed. Zia Filomena yelled, “(Abasta Mo),” “Enough now!” She was saying, “ Abasta Mo”, and jumping off her seat after every Firecracker blew up. She was a nervous wreck! It was very comical to watch her! After a while Papa had to intervene. He said “A Basta Mo.” Papa was really going along with us. We could see the smile on Papa’s face. But we carried on so long, that he had no choice but to say, “Abasta Mo”. Zio Peppino’s children never forgot that. We still laugh about it! I miss those days. Zio Peppino fathered four lovely daughters: Regina, Rosetta, Italia, and Laura. Their brothers, Vito, Pasqualino and little Tony took to me like a long lost Brother.
ZIO SALVATORE
Uncle Salvatore (Papa’s youngest brother) arrived at Ellis Island October 28, 1920. Mama and Papa arrived at Ellis Island on October 27th.1920. They couldn’t get passage on the same ship. They arrived one day apart on two different ships.
That gives you an Idea of how many ships were leaving the ports in Italy to bring migrants to Ellis Island. There were one or two ships leaving everyday from Italy to America in that period. Uncle Salvatore Single; in his mid twenty’s, owned a Speak Easy during Prohibition of the 1930’s on Saint Claire Street in Conimicut Point Warwick, Rhode Island. (Prohibition is law against any sale of alcoholic beverages) He has been known to have kept a few mistresses on Saint Claire Street. Rita was his number one mistress. The name of his Speak Easy was Ria Rita. I remember Zio Salvadooda for the big Half Dollars he gave to me and the flat straw hats he wore in the summers. (Zio Salvatore was called Salvadooda). After prohibition, Zio Salvadooda, I believe became the first person to ever package Spaghetti Sauce in jars in 1933. The label read ROSA’S SPAGHETTI SAUCE and had a picture of Mama dressed in white and a large red rose next to her. The sauce and business did well. His product sold in most of the Food Stores in Rhode Island. Uncle Salvatore died in his late forties from cancer in 1941.
ZIO VINANZIO
Uncle Vinanzio, (Papa’s oldest brother,) took over the Spaghetti Sauce business and also was doing well with it. Until the LA’ROSA Spaghetti Company claimed that they owned the rights to the name ROSA OR ANY NAME THAT SOUNDED LIKE ROSA. The name and label was changed to Mary and John’s Spaghetti Sauce with a picture of Uncle Salvadooda wearing a white Chef’s hat. The magic of Mama’s picture with a large red rose on the label was missing. The sauce lost its marketability. Mama really was, MAMA ROSA! For Uncle Vinanzio that was a stroke of bad luck because five years later in the early fifties spaghetti sauce in a jar became America’s number one food product.
Uncle Vinanzio had a Speak Easy in the early thirties during Prohibition called Mary and John’s Speak Easy. It was on Point Ave. Conimicut Point Warwick, Rhode Island. He changed his name to John, because John sounded better than Venonzio to go with Mary. That caused much confusion for Papa because Papa’s name was Giovanni (John). Two brothers named John! When Prohibition ended, Vinanzio (John) changed the name of his Speak Easy to MARY AND JOHNS WHITE ROCK INN and was legally doing business.
ZIO VINANZIO AND THE 1938 HURRICANE
In 1938, Zio Vinanzio lost his two houses and The White Rock Inn to the now famous 1938 hurricane, without hurricane insurance. The three buildings were on the waterfront of Shawomut Beach in Warwick, Rhode Island. His family was very lucky to get out alive. They lost everything and were left with only the clothes that they were wearing. Papa helped his oldest brother get back on his feet. They were two very true brothers. The sponsored helping the sponsor. The memory of One Africa Street was not to far away!
I was only three and a half years old and I still can remember the damage around the house on 155 Ridge Street. There were many trees down and broken windows and flying debris going on as I was looking out the window. I can still remember Mama pulling me away from the window. It was all over within an hour. We all went outside and it was sunny and still. I remember it as if it were today.
With Papa’s help Zio Vinanzio then bought a cottage house with six acres of land on Church Ave. Warwick, Rhode Island. There all the Coppa’s had many good Summers together. For us from 155 Ridge Street it was like going to visit our relatives on a Farm. He had an Apple Orchid and all kind of Animals there. Many Rabbits and Chickens, of course!
Papa and Zio Vinanzio had a partnership owning and raising a Pig. Papa paid for the grain to feed the Pig and Zio Vinanzio gave it a Pig Pen to live in. This Pig got to weigh eight hundred pounds. After the Pig was slaughtered, ninety percent of the meat was converted into Salami and Prosutto. The two brothers split fifty, fifty. Our families ate Salami for three years from that Pig.
Uncle Vinanzio was still referred too as John by his friends. He had three sons, Vito (Ray), Johnny and Joe (twins), and three daughters, Laura, Eleanor, and Virginia. Ginny and I played Baseball when we were kids. She was one great ball player who was good enough to play professional ball. Ginny was a beautiful teenager, and she still is beautiful.
Uncle Vito fu Vinanzio Jr. Coppa (Papa’s oldest brother) was always called by his middle name Zio Vinanzio. When he opened his Speak Easy he changed his name to John.
Cousin Ginny’s sister Eleanor (Zio Vinanzio’s daughter) writes a nice cover letter referring to a found Menu on the Narragansett Bay in 1952. This letter and a copy of the Menu are on the next two pages.
Eleanor worked as a hairdresser for Bob Genever’s wife.
Bob working for Amoco Oil on Allens Ave. along the Narragansett Bay coastline found the Menu.
cO
ZIO PASQUALE (PAPA’S BROTHER)
Papa’s brother, Pasquale, became very wealthy in real estate on the Island of Ischia. He also held mortgages for many people on the Island. Zio Pasqualino raised one of Zio Antoniocci’s sons. His name was Frank. Zio Pasquale visited in the spring of 1964 with his wife, Zia Maria. They stayed with Papa for eight months. I remember that he took thousands of Kennedy Half Dollars back to Italy with him. He was all business, but a very pleasant man.
ZIA CONCHETTA
Zio Francisco Paula, Zia Conchetta’s (Papa’s sisters) husband also visited and stayed with his son, Pasqualino (PAT) all three returned to Ischia together a year latter. Zia Conchetta died in the early Fifty’s. We had a great time with them.
ZIO ANTONIOCCI
Antoniocci (Papa’s brother) kept working one of the Vineyards in Forio D'Ischia and became a Wine Merchant. I was told that he enjoyed a glass or two of his famous wine quite often.
COUSIN REGINA COPPA---- PAPA’S NIECE----ZIO ANTONIOCCI’S DAUGHTER
In September of 1999, I was walking with Anna, Peter and Angela along the waterfront on Via Giovanni Mazzella, In Forio, when I needed a rest room. I walked into a nearby Restaurant. This Gentleman (The Restaurant owners father) asked me, “Who do you (I) belong to? What’s your family name”? I replied, “COPPA, SON OF JOHN COPPA SKOBBA GARTZONA” (THE FAMILY NICK NAME.)” His face lighted up like a Christmas tree. Eduardo noticed a family resemblance. He replied, “You’re my wife’s first cousin!” Needless to say those introductions lead into a two-day celebration with my Cousin Regina’s family. A feast of Wine and Rabbit cooked Ischiatano style, overlooking the waterfront with love and respect for one another.
They turn their Restaurant into a Banquet Hall with all of her Children and Grandchildren to give Anna and me guest of honor status. Our friends Peter and Angela were with us on that trip.
I will never forget those two days for as long as I live. It was a very tearful departure.
I still keep in contact with my cousin Regina on holidays, who is the Daughter of my Uncle Antoniucci. (Papa’s side) ZIA GENOEFA
Papa’s sister, Genoefa died at a young age from Typhoid Fever. Not very much is known about her with the exception that she was very beautiful from her photo.
ZIA LAURA
Papa’s sister Laura’s daughter Katharine (Papa’s niece) lived in Brooklyn; N.Y .She had a very beautiful family. Her two daughters, Nina and Eleanor, Nina resembled Elizabeth Taylor Eleanor
Resembled Sophia Lauren. pZIA CONCHETTA
Papa’s sister Conchetta died in the 1950’s and some of her children came to America. I became close to her son (PAT) Pasqalino.
. As you can see the Coppa Family lived a comfortable life here and in Italy on the island of Ischia. That was do to the fact of very hard work and determination. They Gave their children good
Christian values. We thank God. The good name of COPPA has no stains. I found the humble people from the Island have all the beautiful values of close to perfection. Maybe it is because there are thirty-eight Churches on the Island and life evolves around the Church. There are many feast celebrated in honor of many Saints.
SAINT VITO
Saint Vito’s day comes on June Fifteenth and the feast is celebrated for one whole week. It is very elaborate with processions and fireworks. Saint Vito is the patron saint of the town of Forio.
The natives survive from the Tourist, Fishing, and Vineyards producing the best wine in all of Italy of which is mostly consumed on the island between natives and tourist.
Because of tourism they live a very upbeat life and always have an appearance of happiness.
PAPA COPPA ON VIA CIENA
Papa Giovanni was born on August 29, 1891 in a house with over five hundred years of history on Via Ciena, Forio D’ Ischia. That house on Via Ciena was a Monastery for Monks for over two hundred years. It also had a small Chapel attached to the left side of the house where many church affairs took place for the Coppa family. Inside it had an arched ceiling over the Altar with beautiful Frescos in very bad condition. It could seat about forty people.
Two hundred years of COPPA’S lived in the house with the Chapel. The Chapel was named, Saint Vinanzio, the patron saint of Wine and Grape. That Chapel gave prominence to all the Coppa families who have ever occupied the house with the Chapel. My cousin Maria, Zia Conchetta’s daughter- in- law claims there was a Michelangelo painting hanging on one of the walls of the Chapel. Strangely enough, it disappeared before the Chapel started to deteriorate to ruins. I like to and want to believe that story. Wow! That’s amazing! A Michelangelo in possession by the Coppa Family! It is assumed the painting is of Saint Venonzio. It is recorded that Michelangelo visited Princess Vittoria Colonna at the castle in Ischia Porta many times. It just may be that Michelangelo did some painting on Via Ciena’s, Saint Vinanzio Chapel. FOR THE MONKS IN THAT PERIOD. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that Michelangelo may have slept at the Monastery? The Chapel and Monastery was there for over five hundred years.
It is recorded that Michelangelo had two Platonic Loves. One was Tommaso de’Cavalieri and two was Princess Vittoria Colonna both poets. . Michelangelo was the most revered Poet of his time. There is a crypt in the floor of the chapel with remains of COPPA’S going back two hundred years.
Aunt Conchetta’s son, Giovanni (Maria’s husband) built a home on Via Ciena in the 70’s. In 1988 he gave me a GRAND tour of some of the land, house, and the Chapel on Via Ciena. (Giovanni died in 1993) The house and Chapel on Via Ciena is in very bad condition and unoccupied. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the House and Chapel could be restored to its original personality? It could be a beautiful monument to all the Coppa families.
Giovanni and Maria also gave us the royal red carpet treatment. Maria is full of life! Her children belong in Hollywood. They are extremely beautiful.
GIOVANNI ANGELO MONTI---BIGGEST LAND OWNER AND SHARE CROPPER ON THE ISLAND OF ISCHIA-- EARLY 1900, S
Giovanni Angelo Monte and both my grandfathers, Vito on Papa’s side, and Salvatore on Mama’s side, arranged a marriage for Mama and Papa. Probably before Mama was seven years old. That was around the time, my Grandmother, Brigida, died of heart problems in the early 1900’s.
Mama and Papa grew up together. Papa worked in the Vineyards while Mama was the Women of the house and took good care of her Father and Brothers.
Both my Grandparents sharecropped and worked the lands of Giovanni Angelo Monte, adjacent to one another. As Papa and Mama were growing older; they traded love letters. There was one spot in a stonewall where they would leave and trade their love notes on their way to School.
Papa must have been quit romantic with his love notes. I say that because his penmanship was beautiful and he was very proud of it. Mama wrote beautifully too. I love to write. I guess I got that from Mama and Papa.
Mama and her brother liked to walk down to the beach for a swim. Coincidently, Papa would always be there swimming. The little spot in the stonewall served them better than a telephone. (Mama’s little stories in her words.) “Where there was a will there was a way.” They managed to see one another at least once a day. Mama said that they made love with their eyes.
Mama’s brothers and her father raised her like a delicate flower in the palm of their hands, she was everything to them, and Mama was their Delicate Flower.
Their land and one room Summerhouse up on Mt. Epomeo was Mama’s Summer retreat. (The last eruption of Mt. Epomeo’s was in 1302) Next door to the house, there was the Church of Santa Maria Del O’ Monda (Saint Mary of the Mountain). It was very small and seated about one hundred people. Mama went there to say her rosary and to hear mass every morning during the Summer. Mama was a very devout Catholic. I think she must have been very special in the eyes of God. Even though she hasn’t been beautified, I believe Mama is a Saint in Heaven.
Sometimes I visualize Mama as a little girl on the Island the same as St.Fatima or St. Bernadette. Mama spent many hours of her life praying for everyone.
To me, Mama is Saint Rosa of Forio D’ Ischia. In September of 1991, when I first sat down to hear a Mass in The Church of Santa Maria Del O’Monda, I became overwhelmed to think that I may be sitting in the same Bench that Mama would sit when she was a little girl.
The Volcanic activity brings tourist from all over the world to Ischia to use the Hot Thermal Springs produced from the Volcano’s for their therapeutic values. It is said the Thermal Springs of
Ischia are second only to Japans Thermal Springs. Fongo is the name for the mud used for the thermal bathes. The black fongo is as smooth as a cake batter, and dries instantly.
THE SPLIT ROCK
I was very fortunate in 1994 to be on Mt. Epomeo for the feast day of (September 12th) “Santa Maria,” at the Church of Santa Maria Del O’ Monda up on Mount Epomeo. That day the procession was in progress. I was able to videoed all of it. I felt like I was walking in Mama’s footsteps. One of Mama’s stories was about a large Split Rock up on the Mountain. While I was videoing the procession I zoomed my camera a short distance lower on Mt. Epomeo to tape some of the Panorama. My video camera lens opened up to a large split rock. I immediately recognized the split rock (I had a flash back) as I visualized one of Mama’s stories to me when I was very young. Mama once told me a story about, AH, BRADDA SPARKARDA (a split rock). It is a rock about the size of a three-story house, which was split by lightning. The rock is positioned between two parcels of land that both my Grandfathers had Vineyards on along the mountainside. The split in the rock became another place to hide love letters. AH, BRADDA SPARKARDA brought tears to my eyes as my thoughts went to Mama. Never in my wildest dream could I believe that some day I would see that Rock.
After Mama’s mother died, she became the Woman of the House at the age of Seven. She washed clothes by hand, cooked, baked bread once a week, ironed clothes, cleaned house, and went to the Well for water every day. She packed lunches ever day for her Father and Brothers and sent them off to work in the Vineyards. Mama became the best cook in the world. Sometimes she even went off to the Vineyards to work along with her Brothers.
FIRST WORLD WAR
Papa served eight years in the Italian Navy, which included the First World War. Papa was Italy’s Fleet Admirals, personal Chef. His cooking skills were passed on to all his children. His food presentations were beautiful. Papa told me just one story about his younger days. This is his story. HAPPY SAINTS DAY WITH A LARGE FISH
Papa cooked an elaborate meal for the Admiral on the Admiral’s Saint’s Day. (In Italy a Saints Day is equivalent to a Birthday) All the Officers were seated at a long table eating and drinking. Papa walked in the Dining Room wearing his Whites and Chef’s hat, carrying a large platter holding a large Baked Fish. The Admiral’s Officers stood up at attention and were applauding. The Fish was decorated and garnished in pretty colors. Papa explained that it was a Piece of Art. He presented it to the Admiral. Then Papa stood back at Attention. Everyone was singing a version of Happy Birthday in Italian. (A agoudia a thaa, A agoudia a thaa) Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you, and so on! The Admiral proceeded to cut and divide the fish. To his surprise he could not cut the fish. He sawed and sawed, the fish wouldn’t divide. The Officers and Papa were laughing. Papa made the fish up with a fish head, a rubber shoe in the center, and a fish tail at the end, about twenty four inches long, covered with fish skin and garnished it beautifully. The Admiral was a real good sport about that joke. Papa told me that story in1975. He got emotional telling that story to me. I guess it was an old, nice memory. I wish he had given me more stories to remember.
Papa was in the Italian Navy for eight years, until the end of the First World War. There he got a fine education and became a First Class Chef. I’m sure Papa had some War stories he could have
Told us, but he never did. Only one time I could remember in the 1960’s something about a sea battle in or near Tobruk (a city and port in Libya) but no details. He was not one who could talk about himself. I wish he could.
HUNTING STORY IN THE 1920’S
Another story I heard over and over again from my uncles was about Papa and his brothers “Saturday hunting trips” here in America.
My Uncles Vinanzio, Francisco, Salvatore and Papa and their friends Ralph and Frank Regine hunted until noon every Saturday during hunting season. Then they would find a comfortable place to set up for dinner in the woods. They set up on the ground with a tablecloth, forks spoons, knifes, salt and pepper, glasses, wine and water. They would start eating an Antipasto with crusty Italian Bread and drinking some Wine. Then they put out the warm food that came from home. Usually it was the Rabbit catch from the week before and always four pounds of Spaghetti cooked with a Red Sauce. After consuming a gallon of wine, the Fun began
The usual Spaghetti War would start. I remember them saying that the spaghetti fight would last over half an hour. Spaghetti was in each other’s Faces, in their Ears, up their Noses, in their Pockets and all over their Glasses. No one ever got hurt, and they all looked forward to the next weeks hunting trip to get even with each other. Papa and Zio Francisco had a few Stuffed Pheasants hanging as trophies in their home and bar.
My brothers Vito, Frankie, Vito’s son Johnny, are the only avid Rabbit and Bird hunters left in the family. Cousin Pasqualino and his son Paul are the fourth and fifth in the hunting party. They also have picnics in the woods. Pasqualino’s other son Steven is a Connecticut State Trooper.
DEER HUNTERS
The avid Deer Hunters are Reggie’s sons Joey and Billy. Reggie’s husband Ernie also was a great Deer Hunter. He was the reason to go deer hunting. Ernie made it fun and laughter. I hunted with them one year and Ernie gave us a Floorshow every night. He is sadly missed and I know that every November the first deer caught will be for Ernie.
The real Deer Hunter of the family was Brother Johnny. He furnished the eighty-acre hunting camp to Ernie and his sons. Johnny bagged his Buck and Doe every year.
END OF WORLD WAR 1
ITALY WAS ALLIED WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
MAMA AND PAPA GET MARRIED
1918, World War I was over and Papa came home to his Rosa Iacono (Mama).
Mama and Papa married at the end of World War I. One year later, on OCTOBER 13, 1919 my brother Vito was born in (Monterone), Forio D’Ischia. Monterone is a section of Forio. Vito was baptized in the church of Saint Vito, the patron Saint of Forio D’Ischia. Every first son born in Forio is named Vito. I couldn’t help notice on all my visits to Forio that all my cousins named Vito were held in high regard by their bothers and sisters. My brother, Vito, received that same respect here in America from all of us.” The name Vito is as popular in Forio as Smith and Jones is here in America.
SAINT VITO PATRON SAINT OF FORIO D’ISCHIA
Saint Vito was a Greek Merchant who had converted to Christianity in the early Three Hundreds who has traveled to Forio D” Ischia. On his travels from Greece to Forio, supposedly he found the Grape vines have been deceased and that the population was suffering in poverty because of the many years of Vine Blight Decease.
On his very next visit to Forio he brought a Cargo of Sulfur to spray over the Vines for all of the people of Forio. The Vines came back to life and the Island of Ischia has never suffered a blight of that proportion again.
Saint Vito’s feast day is celebrated on June 15th every year on the Island. It is almost as big as Christmas or Easter for the people of Forio. The Church now has Basilica status in the town of Forio, with over one thousand years of History and Art.
COMING TO AMERICA
Coming to America was not a necessity for my parents to come for a better life. Their life on the Island was comfortable and beautiful. They owned their own home and land with vineyards, given to them by Mama’s father.
Papa wanted to go to America to be with his older brothers and to find the horn of plenty.
Vito was nine months old; Mama was twenty-six years old, Papa was twenty-nine years old and they all were on the ocean liner, Giuseppe Verdi, coming to America. They traveled third class. That meant that they were at the bottom deck of the ship and slept on Hammocks. The 1912 and 1915 Ocean liners Titanic and Lusitanian’s disasters were still fresh in Mama and Papa’s minds. Papa’s dream of going to America to be with his brothers, Vinanzio and Francisco was overwhelming. His brother Salvatore also was on his way to America.
America! Here we come!!! Mama, Papa and Baby Vito took a Ferry to Naples to get aboard the Giuseppe Verdi. Mama’s eyes were fixed on the Castle Aragonese leaving Ischia all the way to Naples. The Castle was the last she ever saw of the Island of Ischia. (Castelo Aragonese pictured On the book cover.) (Ship photo is from Ellis Island records)
September of 1988 after my first short stay on the Island of Ischia, I departed from the Island on a very fast Hydrofoil with my video camera taping. As I passed the Castle I narrated my feelings and emotions. ISCHIA IS SO BEAUTIFUL TO VISIT AND SO VERY SAD TO LEAVE”. The short Hydrofoil ride to Naples was quiet and sad for me. Those feeling were echoed after every one of my departures from the Island. I can only imagine the sadness Mama felt on that October day 1920, as the Ferry moved away from an Island called Paradise by most Italians. Mama never saw that beautiful Panorama again.
Mama, Papa and Baby Vito departed from a small Island off the coast of Italy, called Ischia
And they arrived October 27, 1920 on a small Island off the coast of America, called Ellis Island.
The Ocean Liner was uncomfortable for Mama because she was pregnant with her second child. Being pregnant and sleeping on a Hammock wasn’t too easy. Mama was seasick from Ischia to Ellis Island. Mama talked of her seasickness quite often. She could never forget how sick she was. Mama never got to travel back to Forio D’Ischia to see her family again.
The seasickness left a bad impression on her. Mama didn’t have traveling options in the 1920’s. She could never forget how sick she was. Mama gave an account of her seasickness to every one of her children at one time or another.
The reality of not ever being able to return to Ischia must have been heart breaking. Twelve days later, they arrived at Ellis Island. Mama and Papa got very emotional, when they saw the Statue of Liberty. Papa was looking for a better life here in America, and Mama knew she would never see her father and brothers again. (Their original passenger records from Ellis Island had Forio spelled Torio). One of many typographical errors common for that period on Ellis Island.
From there they went to Penn Station, New York City and took the train to Providence, Rhode Island to my Uncle Vinanzio’s house on 1 Africa Street, in the heart of Federal Hill, where the Irish were Boss! (Little did Papa know that his Irish friends were to become his best fortune in America)?
Federal Hill quickly became all-Italian in the early Twenties. In a short while Mama and Papa were able to communicate with almost everybody. Mama and Papa always spoke the Italian language to all of their children. Some of us did well with it, and some of us chopped the language up. I did well with it. My Italian is in the dialect of Forio D’Ischia. My relatives from Ischia are amazed at how well I use the dialect.
May 13, 1921, brother Vinnie was born. He was named after Papa’s brother Vinanzio. After all, Vinanzio sponsored them and brought them to 1 Africa Street. My brother Vinanzio, Vancy, Vincent, Vinnie, also was named after the patron saint of grape and wine, Saint Vinanzio. He was called by all of those names at different stages of his life. We all eventually called Vinanzio, “Vinnie.” Vinnie will remain in our hearts forever. Life is just not the same without him.
Vinnie was a remarkable person, remarkably funny and remarkably Loved. Our memory of Vinnie is truly his second heaven. Our thoughts of him always bring a smile to our faces. Vinnie adlibbed as good as any known comedian. The expressions with his eyes would talk to you as if he were talking with his mouth. He could accentuate his expressions better than anyone I have ever known.
If you were in a bad mood that’s when he liked it the best to do his joking around. It wouldn’t be long and he would have you in laughter so heavy that you will be crying.
Vinnie could be Rodney Dangerfield one day and both Laurel and Hardy on the next. He was Bob Hope on another day; he will be Liberace with his piano on another.
He could do a monolog as good as Johnny Carson and in his bar. (Friendly Tap) he could do Jackie Gleason’s, Joe the Bar Tender so good, that it will split your gut with crying laughter!
FEDERAL HILL AND THE BEAUTY OF ISCHIA
It didn’t take too long for Papa to like America. Mama was always home sick. Her first impressions were terrible. She had to live in tenement houses cramped for space. While in Italy she lived in a nice one family house with plenty of open space. The Vineyards, The Beaches, the Fountain in the Piazza, and all the Churches were within walking distance from her home. She missed her Father and Brothers immensely. The Island of Ischia is a Paradise. Federal Hill must have been a nightmare to Mama. (In contrast to the beauty of Federal Hill today.)
Although Federal Hill was much different than the small towns of Italy, most of the Italian immigrants tried very hard to bring Italy to Federal Hill. They had small vegetable gardens, fruit trees and Grape Arbors ( Pergola) in their small back yards of their three and four storied houses.
Those houses were kept immaculate in and out. They were very proud of their homes.
I was the youngest of the boys and was Mama’s best listener about her life in Ischia. I got to love those stories. So much so, that I began to visualize what the island was like. When I was a little boy, I would have dreams that I was in Ischia. When in 1988 we finally got to Ischia it was a lot nicer than my dreams. Mama gave me little stories about the landmarks she remembered, such as the Grotto (WHICH IS BIG ENOUGH TO DRIVE A FERRY BOAT IN TO A SMALL ARCH THAT CAN NOT GO ANY FURTHER—THE SMALL ARCH CAN BE ENTERED BY A SMALL BOAT, Mt. Epomeo STILL VALCONIC, the beaches WITH ROWS AND ROWS OF UMBREELAS, the fishing boats WITH PASTEL COLORS, a big mushroom shaped rock in the water at Lacco Ameno so BEAUTIFUL THAT YOU FEEL LIKE PICKING IT AS A PRIZE.
The Church of the Soccorso perched out into the water, the beach on Santa Angelo WITH IT’S BEAUTIFUL BOTQUES, San Francisco beach; The Light House at Punta Imperatore, “The Torrione on the shore line” witch is a round look out tower of medieval times. Abradda Yonga and Abradda Neagida (White Rock and Black Rock) at the beach at Citara way out in the water to swim too, and Punta Caruso.
Punta Caruso is a high point overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The Point has been name for Enrico Caruso the world-renowned tenor. He wrote the beautiful love song Caruso there while he was looking across the sea to America. He was singing to his American Mistress from a beach in Forio.
Michelangelo, Roman Emporia’s, Lord Byron, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Johnny Carson, Ed McMann, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Jackie Kennedy and many, many more personality’s all have vacationed on the Island of Ischia.
On my first visit to the Island in 1988, I saw the landmarks and recognized them as I pictured them described by Mama. I was walking in mama’s footsteps and it was beautiful for me. It was the greatest feeling I have ever experienced. I really was a Mama’s Boy.
I visited the Island of Ischia four times. If God wants, I will continue to visit Forio D’Ischia and my wonderful, wonderful Cousins.
PILGRIMAGE TO THE ISLAND OF ISCHIA
POPE OF PEACE
Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage to Ischia, on May 5, 2002. His Excellency the Pope also made a special trip to the Soccorso Square in Forio. Pope John Paul II probably will remember Ischia as his second Paradise. Of all the Islands in the world, Pope John Paul II chose Forio D’Ischia!
Mama will always say, “Ischia is a PARADISO (Paradise).” She had a wonderful and beautiful life on the Island. There were no Iacono relatives here in America, and she hungered for any news coming from Ischia. Mama wrote many letters to the Island. Her brothers and father missed her very much and they got very emotional whenever they spoke of her.
EARLY 1920’S
Here in America, Papa’s first job was working for his brother, Vinanzio. Zio Vinanzio was in the hay and grain business. Papa made deliveries with a horse and team. Zio Vinanzio got rid of the horse and bought a brand new VIM Truck. That was the truck of the 20’s. (1914 to 1926)
While Papa was learning how to drive, he hit the accelerator instead of the brake and went through a fence on West Exchange Street and almost landed on the Railroad Tracks. That was the end of Papa’s driving forever. So Papa went to work for his brother Francisco.
ZIO FRANCISCO
Zio Francisco had a partnership in a Laundry Business with a relative of his wife, Gennarino D’ambra. Quality Laundry was a good size business. Uncle Francisco and Aunt Conchetina had four daughters: Regina, Jenny, Anna and Mary, and two sons Dr.Vito Coppa and Frank Jr. Zio Francisco’s son Junior and I are the same age, born in 1935. We were childhood friends. He lives in Maryland, and thanks to the computer and e-mail we renewed our friendship. Frank, his lovely wife Eleanor, and their wonderful son Brian visited my Wife and Me July 8th. 2002. It was a wonderful visit and the day wasn’t long enough. We promised each other that we will make up for lost time. Frank has another son in Alabama and a daughter on the West Coast. Dr. Vito Coppa is in retirement. His reputation is impeccable. He is enjoying his large family and his home at Narragansett Pier.
December 7, 1922- Mama gave birth to Francisco. After all, it was his brother Francisco who gave Papa a job. So it was appropriate to name him Francisco.
1925- Papa did not like the heat of the laundry. He found a new job at General Fire. (Grinnell Corp). He went to work in the Foundry. Papa went from HOT LAUNDRY to HOTTEST FOUNDRY.
April 28, 1925- My brother Salvatore was born. He was named after Mama’s father and Papa’s brother.
December 4, 1926- Regina was born; she was named after Papa’s Mother.
Early in 1927 Mama received a letter from her brother, Nicola informing her of her father’s death from old age. Grand father Salvatore Iacono died at age ninety-two.
December 14, 1931- John was born and was named after Papa.
May 18, 1932 Rosie was born and was named after Mama. Things were going well for Papa at the Grinnell Corp. (General Fire)
MAMA AND PAPA’S BIG BREAK
In 1920, PROHIBITION BECAME LAW (AND IN 1933 THAT LAW WAS APPEALEDCONGREE PASS AN AMENDSMENT AND THAT LAW PROHIBITED ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
In 1924, Papa on occasion would formulate some good moonshine. MOONSHINE IS AN ILLEGAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE. (SOMETIMES CALLED WHITE LIGHTNING) Once in a while he would share a swig from his little bottle with his Irish co-workers.
One of his co-workers offered to buy a small bottle of MOONSHINE from Papa. Within two weeks, Papa was bringing sixty to one hundred bottles of moonshine a week into General Fire. Working and Business couldn’t be better. My older brothers were working steadily making MOONSHINE, and I’m sure they took a swig once in a while too! Vinnie and Frankie had been known to fall asleep in school quite often! At General Fire too many men were walking around half looped. An investigation fingered Papa for selling the MOONSHINE in General fire.
Papa was Terminated from General Fire. It was a very sad day for Papa. What is a man with seven children going to do during a Depression without a pay? That night Mama and Papa really prayed hard.
Grinnell (General Fire) was Papa’s third job in America “Now what?” Papa was a leader and his next profession was being in business for himself.
The next day, about four o’clock there was a knock on the door. Who would it be, but one of Papa’s Irish co-workers from General Fire. He expressed his sorrow for Papa loosing his job, and asked him if he could buy another bottle of MOONSHINE. Papa said, “Certainly and come again!” That was the beginning of a success story and great friendship with all of his Irish friends.
PAPA’S IRISH FRIENDS BROUGHT HIM FORTUNE DURING THE DEPRESSION AND PROHIBITION, then WHEN PROBITION WAS OVER, HIS IRISH FRIENDS FOLLOWED PAPA TO 1478 WESTMINSTER STREET.( The White Rock bar) PAPA GOT TO LOVE AND RESPECT HIS IRISH FRIENDS AS GOOD PEOPLE AND GOOD CATHOLICS. HE HAS INVITIED ALL OF THEM WITH THEIR FAMILYS TO DINNER AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. THEY WERE HONORED AND WE FELT HONORED BY THEM. All of Papa’s customers from General Fire were coming to the house to get their Moonshine. Not to much later Papa started to make HOME BREW. He converted the kitchen and living room into a Speak Easy.
During prohibition a house or a building where illegal alcohol was being sold was called a SPEAK EASY! THIS MEANT JUST THAT. So that anyone passing by on the outside couldn’t here any noise so that they wouldn’t know what was going on inside. SPEAK EASY!
The customers were ordering a SHOT, A BREW AND A SANDWICH .Business kept getting better and better as the days went bye.
A piano, tables and chairs were brought in. An Irishman would play the piano and Mama would sing …SANTA LUCIA… AVA MARIA… O’SOLO MIA……RETURN TO SORRENTO…..MAMMA….O
MARIE Sometimes Mama would sing and hum,”When Irish Eyes are Smiling!”
Mama had a beautiful Opera Voice. I loved it when she sang for me.
The basement of 103 Ridge Street became a distillery and a brewery. Profits were coming in hand over fist. It became very obvious what was going on at 103 Ridge Street. Too many men were staggering on their way and out!
Business was so good that all of Papa and Mama’s children were well dressed and well feed.
Sometimes Mama gave the customers free Pepperoni and pretzels.
Sometimes the children were walking down the street with a stick of pepperoni in their hand to munch on. Pepperoni was pretty expensive at the time. Mama did not want the other family’s in the neighborhood to see that. Because the country was in a depression and she didn’t want to give the impression of being well off. Then there was no more walking down the street eating Pepperoni.
Louie Donato (Brother Salvatore’s best friend) told me a story about those days. He said that Mama sent my brother Sal and Louie to set up a small table outside to sell Pretzels for Bobby Pins, because the girls in the family didn’t have any pins. He said they would stand out there all day eating pretzels and come in the house with five or six Bobby Pins at the end of the day.
The Providence Police raided Papa’s SPEAK EASY. They never checked out the basement. Papa was fined one thousand dollars. That fine was well spent. Papa started to get some new customers at his Speak Easy. They were the Irish Providence Police and on occasion the Irish Judge that fined him one thousand dollars would stop in to say hello and get a few free drinks. After all, Papa was just trying to feed his family! During the Depression that was a very hard thing to do. My fathers booze tested to be of very hi grade and quality. The Courthouse was good advertisement for Papa
MARY AND JOHNS SPEAK EASY
Zio Vinanzio had a Speak Easy at his Shawomut beach houses. It was a big operation equivalent to a modern day nightclub. They was raided on one New Year’s Eve morning by the G-Men (Government men). They took every ounce of booze and destroyed his three alcohol stills. He was put on bail. When Zio Vinanzio got home, he called Papa. He told Papa what happened and that his speak easy was sold out for the New Years Eve Party, and that he didn’t have anything to serve his customers. Papa said, “Don’t worry I’ll take care of everything.” Papa filled a truckload of all kinds of booze, wine and beer, and food and sent it to Zio Vinanzio.
Zio Salvadooda did the same from the Ria Rita Speak Easy which was around the corner from Mary and Johns Speak Easy.
A newspaper reporter was walking around Mary and Johns speak easy that New Years Eve night. HE WROTE IN THE NEXT DAYS JOURNAL, “Although Mary and John’s speak Easy was raided and confiscated of thousands of dollars of booze and equipment;” “They still had a very prosperous New Year’s Eve.” Aunt Mary told me th
NINE YEARS
In nine short years Papa accumulated a good chunk of money from his speak easy and help from his sons, Vito, Vinnie, Frankie and Sally. 1933, Prohibition was over. Ended, Finished!
Now Papa and his family start living in the grand Italian style the way Mama and Papa lived on the island of Ischia, as the next few pages describe.
White Rock Bar 1478 Westminster Street from 1933 to 1948
White Rock Bar 409 Atwells Avenue From 1948 to 1965
GRAND OPENING
THE WHITE ROCK
BAR
FEDERAL HILL ATWELLS AVENUE
White Rock Bar
409 ATWELLS AVENUE\
Giovanni Coppa opened the classiest bar in the state of Rhode Island and was legally doing business. WHITE ROCK BAR. 1478 Westminster Street, Providence was in a freestanding two storefront building. One was the White Rock Bar and the other was Duke’s Restaurant.
Papa dressed in a white shirt and a different tie every day. He now is a respected business owner. Next to his name on his business card read John Coppa Proprietor?
From 1933 to 1965 Papa was known throughout Rhode Island for having the cleanest bar in the state. His bar was made from Philippino mahogany and was L shaped, eight feet to the wall and twenty-seven feet long. The back bar had three sections with eight foot mirrors four feet high. The front bar had a top rail and foot rail made from solid brass. Six brass spittoons were placed at the inside of the foot rail. It had four taps for draft beer. Narragansett Larger, Narragansett Ale, Hanley’s and Shiltz were the four most popular beers of the time. The ice cooled water tap was in the center. The beer was cooled with ice over copper coils. Once a week the coils were cleaned by a special
There wasn’t a barroom in the state that could match the taste and coolness of Papa’s beer. The top bar was waxed and buffed every Monday morning. We could slide an eight-ounce beer and change right down to the customer. We all were good at it. But Vinnie was best. The bottles from the back bar were washed every week. The brass counters and sinks were polished every week too. The floor had ten-inch tan rubber tiles that were stripped and waxed once a month. The floor was washed and dried ever night at closing time. The walls and ceiling were a twelve-inch square design metal, painted white. Six globes hung from the ceiling with one hundred and fifty watt light bulbs. There were two large tables for card playing, six small round white marble tables on Roth iron and thirty-two black, double rail back round seated chairs. Six Stuffed Pheasant Trophies and two Doe Hooves with a small Thermometer on each one, hanging from the back bar. (Vito shot the doe for the hooves.) The measurements inside were thirty feet wide by sixty feet long. The barroom always had a bright clean look, and was well lit. The signs White Rock Bar were painted in gold leaf on the two front windows. A big red and white neon Narragansett Beer sign hung over the front door. At the bottom of the outside of the large pain glass was black anthracite tiles. The tile and the gold leaf gave the White Rock Bar a very classy look. At Christmas time the bar was decorated with many red and green lights and tinseled garland along the top of the twenty-seven foot L shaped bar.
Papa’s bar attracted very nice Clientele, because Papa wouldn’t tolerate any riff raff with any of his customers. It was more like what Cheer’s was like. With one exception, it was a men’s bar only. In all the years Papa was in business I have never witnessed any fighting or brawling in The White Rock Bar.
I often heard men say that you could eat Spaghetti off of the floor at the White Rock Bar. We kept it immaculate. Over the men’s room door read, 4u2p. Papa’s business card read,
The White Rock Bar
Sour Beer, Lousy Liquor but all good fellows gather here Written by Brother Vito
Papa’s customers had names like, Big Jim Connelly, Tom Reilly, Eddy Fox, Bozo, Scotti, Henry and Bartolomeo Patalono, Slim and Jimmy Di Sarro, Mario Zotti, and many more customers with nice memories.
Then as the years went by the White Rock Bar had an annual outing in the summer. Papa had a committee of twenty men who work out all the arrangements each year. They were called members of the Twenty Grand Club. They usually picked Bells Farm on Douglas Pike for the site of the outing. It was an all day affair for the families. The children had all kinds of events planned for them. And for the men there was the annual Baseball Game between the younger members against the older members. Over two hundred men, women and children attended ever year.
For Mama and Papa and all my brothers and sisters it really was a fun day and something I will always remember. PAPA’S IRISH FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS
Big Jim Connelly had a special stemmed beer glass put aside that only he drank from. The glass was twenty ounces big. Papa charge twenty five cents for” Jims special,” while all other beer was ten cents a glass. Jim wasn’t called Big Jim for nothing! He was six foot six inches tall and close to three hundred pounds.
One Saturday night after closing, Johnny and I were washing the floor with Spaghetti Mops. Jimmy DiSarro took my mop away from me and swung it into Mario’s face. Mario took Johnny’s mop away from him and swung the wet mop into Jimmy’s face. This was all in fun, but that mop fight went on for five minutes. They only stopped because they were out of breath, and of course they did have a few drinks in them! I could remember that Mario was a little bite angry.
Jim O’Connor, who drank Three Bells and Jingle, (three fingers high of whiskey with a short beer,) for Jim O’Connor. He would call out, RING CLEAR, and my brothers would know just what he wanted. (Three Bells and a Jingle). Jim would see Pink Elephants once in a while. Jim was a Devout Irish Catholic and he would not drink on Sundays. He always would remind me to say three Hail Mary’s every day. On Monday mornings he would walk into the White Rock Bar with the shakes. HE DIDN’T DRINK ALL DAY SUNDAY. Jim would yell out, RING CLEAR, THREE BELLS AND JINGLE. Sal would set up three fingers of whiskey and a short beer. Jim would have liked a little extra whiskey for his jingle, instead of a short beer. Sometimes Sal would give him a little extra whiskey. Then Jim would calm right down. He was good for ten more Boilermakers, and then he would walk home, wobbling from side to side. I don’t think I ever saw him walk straight. Papa would never let any of his customers drive home drunk. He would call and pay a cab driver for any of his customers. (In 1948 Papa relocated the White Rock Bar to 409 Atwells Avenue. Back to Federal Hill. Papa had a certain prominence that demanded your respect for him.
When Papa walked into his Bar at noon and then again at Seven p.m. he always walked with an air of pride. His sons were dressed in white shirts and ties tending bar and all his customers looked and greeted him with respect. “Hi John, Hi John, How are you doing John. Good afternoon Mr. Coppa.” In the winter he would walk in with a camel hair coat and Stetson Hat. In the summers you would always see him walk in with a flat straw hat.
Papa really had the appearance of a business proprietor. He always had the top button on his white shirt buttoned and wore a different tie every day.
Papa was a very classy man. His cooking for an Admiral and his staff gave him the proper edict ate to pass down to his family.
You can see that at any of the Coppa’s Dining Tables to this day. What also is nice our children follow in our footsteps.
ME BILLY
I was born at 103 Ridge Street. One year later Papa purchased the house on 155 Ridge Street. March 3, 1935. - Mama gave birth to Billy, THAT’S ME, BILLY!
WHERE IN THE WORLD DOES A NAME LIKE BILLY COME FROM, WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS NAMES LIKE VITO, VINANZIO, FRANCISCO, SALVATORE, REGINA, GIOVANNI, AND ROSA!!!!
My appreciation for my name goes to my Americanized Aunt Mary, Uncle Vinanzio’s wife. She helped Doctor Calise and Mama at my birth on 103 Ridge Street. After my birth, she asked Papa? “Giovanni! What are you going to name this one?” He said, “After my brother in Italy, …ANTONIOCCI!!!” “ANTONIOCCI!!! Not here in America!” She said. “Well, what’s a good name?” Papa asked? She answered, “BILLY!” “What is the name Billy in Italian?” Papa asked again. Her answer was, “Guilliamo!” “Good” Papa said. “Guilliamo it will be.” Papa’s final ok.
Sixteen years later, I could not find my birth certificate. I needed it for my first Driver’s License. I went to the Providence City Hall, to purchase a copy. The certificate read----GUILLIAMO ANTONIOCCI COPPA. Uncle Antoniocci got me after all! I didn’t know it until sixteen years later! Thank God for Aunt Mary!!!! I like my name Billy.
MY RIDGE STREET FRIENDS
The first friend that I could remember was Anthony Pizzi. He lived two houses down from my house and that he had a lot of toy trucks to play with. His father had a Trucking and Construction company. I guess that is why he had many toy trucks.
Then I remember the little gang we had with age ten to twelve year old members... They were, Shape Di Spirito the leader and his brother Joe who was born on the same day that I was March 3rd. 1935. Mike Fannelli, Sweeny Spirito and his brother Tommy. Bobby La Ninfa and Junior Di Fanti. Later we added Junior Carraccio and his brother Norfio, my next door neighbors... Vinnie Lurgio, Jimmie DiMario That was the Stand by Me Click. We did everything together. We played Baseball at the Ridge Street playground eAs we grew older our friendships moved into different directions. I started to hang out on Gesler Street. My friends there were, Don Russo, Billy Roberti, Paul Michaletti, Jimmie Bianco, and The Langella Brothers. Then this crew started meeting at Langella’s Spa on the corner of Gesler and Knight Street. As we grew a little older we moved down to Tony’s Lunch on Knight Street. Tony’s Lunch became so popular that all of us accumulated at least one hundred new friends.
Tony and Eddy Bucci, Bobby Tomasso, Mikie Mama, Larry Collucci, Frankie and Rocco Guisti, The Detri Brothers, Mouss, Everet Mollo, Frankie Russo, Sonny (Vinnie) Corvi, Paulie Pagnossi, Paulie, Johnnie Brush and Bones Michelette, John Natale, Billy Roberti, John and Vinnie Di Carlo, Pattie Cascella, The Del Giso Brothers Joe and Bobby &Eddy, Cass and Richard Costabile, Richard Angeli, Pattie Reed, Bobby LaNinfa Mondo and Georgie Solitro brothers, Don Russo, Anthony and Sharky Andriolli, Tarbee, Baby, Andy Merolla, Sharky Bonano, Harvey Masi, Joe Ferra, Donald Barbado, The Curcio Brothers,(Bobo and Derk Zotti) (The older ones) and many, many more. Tony’s Lunch was a great place to hang out. We were all clean cut and none of us ever got into trouble enough to be ashamed of. We were never gang related. We were a group of guys that everybody wanted to relate with during the Elvis Presley Days and Juke Boxes.
My Night Street years were good and clean memories of a bunch of nice guys to this day.
Making up a list of guys from the Hill I remember many names but I know I left out many names of real good guys. Please forgive me for that. Memory does play tricks some times. But as I wrote the list, one name comes to me real clear for what I feel was one of the funniest things of my child hood. That Name is “Billy Roberti”.
I must tell the whole story to get to Billy Roberti.
After the war when I was twelve years old, Mama sent many packages of clothes and goodies to our relatives in Italy. The neighbors sent all their old clothes and incidentals to Mama to send to Italy. One Item was a simple Smoking Pipe. As I rummaged through the pile off trinkets to be sent to Italy I came across this pipe. I put it in between my lips and acted like a big shot with a pipe in my mouth. I put it in my pocket. I decided to borrow the pipe.
While I was with a bunch of my friends on Gesler Street, I had the pipe in my mouth, when Billy Roberti rode by with his bike he pulled the pipe out of my mouth breaking it in two pieces. I was stunned at the time and yelled at him, saying, “You broke my Mothers f—in pipe.”
Billy Roberti stopped his bike, turned around looking at me and said, “What”! I broke your mother’s f—kin pipe!!!! He started to laugh so hard that he got me laughing as hard as he was laughing. I didn’t realize what I said, but you have to say that was funny.
He said” If somebody ever heard you say I broke your mothers Fu—kin pipe they would think you were l’l Abner. To this day when I think Billy Roberti, I think of that pipe.
Ridge Street and Federal Hill was the best place in all of the State of Rhode Island to grow up on. CAMPING WITH MY BEST FRIEND BOBBY LANINFA
1948- I was thirteen years old. My best friend Bobby Laninfa and our friends, Rudy and Anthony planed a camping trip. We told our parents that it was a Scouting trip. That was a lie. We were preparing for two weeks. We bought all the food and made sure we had plenty of eggs. We had pup tents, four, five-gallon jugs of drinking water, pots and pans, extra clean clothes, and much more. In fact it was a panel truck load!
Anthony Palmieri, from Palmieri’s Bakery, drove us with one of their trucks to a wooded area up to Douglas Pike. He pointed out a spot in the woods and said, “That’s where I camped when I was your age. Walk about a hundred yards into the woods and you will see an opening, it will be O.K. to pitch your tents there.” We unloaded the truck and said, “Thanks, Anthony; pick us up in three days!”
We pitched our tents, made a fire, warmed up our Campbell’s pork and beans. And the fun started! Bobby and I antagonized Rudy so much, that we had him talking to himself. Anthony was kind of quiet. But we all joined in the egg fights every day. There weren’t many Eggs left to go with our Spam on the third and last morning of our memorable Safari. Bobby and I talk about that trip quite often. The movie, -- Stand By me--, had nothing on us. I was the fat little boy in the gang and we had just as much fun as they had in that movie.
I was the Rich Kid on the block who’s father owner a Business and one family house with a big black four door Buick with a four car garage. Little did they know that Papa had ten kids to support? Not so Rich!!!! But, we lived very co
I must mention my gratitude to my best friend Bobby Laninfa. Bobby’s father (was called Alabama) in his younger days was a boxer and fight Trainer. So of course bobby was trained to be a boxer at a very young age. Having a boxer for your best friend was as good as if you or I was the boxer. Bobby was my protection all through my childhood. If anyone would try to deal with me, they had to deal with bobby first. Bobby saved my ass on two occasion’s big time. Later he taught me how to take care of myself. Bobby is still my very best friend. His brother Freddy also was a boxing trainer. Freddy trained some big time fighters in his younger days.
JACK DEMPSEY’S—TIMES SQUARE
1951- Five of my buddies and I did a Labor Day week end in New York City’s Time Square. I was sixteen years old. I had One Hundred Dollars in my pocket. That took care of my hotel for two nights, food, entertainment, travel, and I still came home with money left in my pocket.
Dempsey’s Bar was the highlight of that trip.
Frank Guisti, a great guy and the most religious. Larry and Al were the lovers of the gang. They also are cousins. Vinnie and Paulie were next door neighbors and like brothers. Me, I was the leader of the Rat Pack. Larry and I were hustled in New York City Times Square. That is all I’m going to say about that! A lesson was learned. “Never buy a cat in a bag.”
LOUIS CICERONE
In 1960 I became one of the pioneers of Cumberland Farms Corporation and became part of Corporate Management until my retirement. While at Cumberland Farms I renewed an old friendship with Louis Cicerone of Superior Bakery. He was from my old neighborhood on Federal Hill. That close friendship went on for thirty-five years. Louis and his family are a big part of my life. Lou died seven years ago and a part of me went with him. I am a second father to his son
Robert. I am very proud of Robert. He has become a giant just like his father. His sister Marlene is a credit to Louie and Camella. She has many accomplishments and has made her parents
proud of her. Marlene is a very special person, a true lady.
Louie’s wife Camella grew up in my wife Anna’s neighborhood. Their families were very close. We had many good times just reminiscing about our old neighborhood. Lou is a most unforgettable character. A person you will never forget. He was as loving as he was funny. He did and said thing that were unimaginable, but he made sure you got a laugh out of it. He was a Don Rickles and a Bob Hope all wrapped in one.
TO KNOW LOUIE IS TO LOVE LOUIE.
MAMA ROSA
August 20, 1937- LAURA, ANNA, AND MARY---Mama gave birth to the first set of Triplets ever recorded in the State of Rhode Island. Mary was named after my Aunt Mary, Laura named after Papa’s sister. The name Anna, Papa just liked it. Mama nursed the Triplets. All of her children were nursed.
Can you imagine after having a family of eight children, Mama has three children all She was a seasoned Mother and three was a piece of cake to Mama. The Love and protection Mama had for the three girls was a very special one mothers have for multiple births.
MAMA AND PAPA’S FAMILY WAS COMPLETE WITH ELEVEN CHILDREN. The White Rock Bar gave out free beer for three days.
MY MEMORY
I never cease to amaze myself when it comes to my memory. I remember happenings to its smallest detail. The gift of my memory is really coming through for me in this book.
Dear God, please keep me blessed with the Gift of Memory!
If I were asked, “What is the first thing that I could remember in my life”? My answer would be, “My memory of the triplets first birthday party”, I was a little under two and a half years old. I remember all the kids sitting at a long table in the back yard and three big birthday cakes. Another memory was that as the triplets got older, Mama made their bottles of milk with nipples on beer bottles. I remember that I would steal their full milk bottles and hand them back to them, EMPTY. The triplets were getting skinnier and I was getting fatter. The triplets were always crying. Then Mama caught me and kept us separated until the triplets finished their bottles. They started to gain some weight, but they never caught up to me.
BABY ANNA
Anna died at fourteen months old from Pneumonia. I could remember having the Whopping Cough with the triplets. I also remember all the crying and the little white casket in the living room at 155 Ridge Street. I believe she would still be alive today if they had today’s medicines in 1939.
Anna was a beautiful little baby. I remember her curly hair.
TITLES
My titles- MY MOTHER ROSA, MY FATHER GIOVANNI. I’ll start with my Mother, I remember Mama this way. A women in her Forties, she was five feet, four inches, a little heavy with very long black hair. Mama kept her long hair up in a bun. (Tuppila was the Italian name for hair Bun). Mama’s hair was in a Tuppila. She never wore any makeup. After Mama’s daily bath, she used a rose scented powder on her body. She always had a fresh smell to go with her smile. Mama had a beauty spot over her right eyebrow and she had brown eyes. You would always see her in a neat Cotton Dress and apron. I could remember when I was only three or four feet high. Mama would be sitting at her worktable in the basement kitchen and I would hug her and give her a hundred kisses. I did that many times. Mama would respond by saying “quanda wor”. “(How much do you want)” my respond was “vendi chinga solda” (twenty five cent.) Mama reached into her little purse and always gave me my spending money. The kisses never failed. I could make Mama melt in one second. She knew that I knew it too! She was totally committed to her husband and children. Mama loved us all, and we were all her favorite. All ten of us could say that she never treated any child less than the best. There was no rivalry among all ten of us for her love. She was able to hold and kiss any one of us at any age. The love that came from my mother stayed with all of us to this day. We were all her Favorite. God gave us the best mother in the world. Her whole life was for her children.
Whenever Mama wanted to keep us from making too much noise and running around, she would say, “come on, sit down on the floor and I will tell you a story.” Mama would be doing her Knitting and telling stories. She had two stories, one was about a Mouse, and the other was about a Nun. Every night she was able to get us to listen to those same two stories over and over again. We listened as if it was the first time we ever heard them. The story about the Nun always ended with one of us being mentioned in a funny way. Therefore Mama had to tell the same story three,
Four maybe five time in row, just to get us all in the story! I wish she could tell me those stories just one more time.
When Reggie wanted to keep us quiet, all she had to do was say; I’m calling Doctor Meyorka! She got complete silence! Now, who was Doctor Meyorka? We never saw Doctor Meyorka! We never talked to Doctor Meyorka! We were told he was some kind of Monster who ate up little children. Every one of us had a different vision of what Doctor Meyorka looked like. We were terrified of Doctor Meyorka. If we started up again, all she had to do was pick up the phone. She got complete silence whenever she wanted it. It worked for her every time!
Every Sunday after dinner, Papa gave Reggie one dollar to buy Ice Cream at the Eagle Creamery on Broadway. A five-minute walk from 155 Ridge Street. She came home with ten cones of ice cream double scoops. When she got home the ice cream was half melted away. Reggie always made the ice cream look good with her lick marks on every cone of ice cream. Before she handed our cone of ice cream to us, Reggie would take one more cleanly long lick from our cone saying, “See, I fixed it nice, nice for you! We looked up at her as if she really was doing us a favor.
The Miracle of the Madonna Addolorata
Mama told us another true story about herself. When Mama was fourteen years old, she was seriously ill with Typhoid Fever. Mama was weak and close to death.
This is a Mama’s beautiful story of the Madonna Addolorata. She had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mother. The Virgin Mother asked Mama to pray with her and not to be afraid; tomorrow her fever would be gone. The next day the fever was gone.
Mama dressed in black the same as the Madonna Addolorata dresses for one year in honor of the Madonna and then she brought the dress to the altar of the Madonna Addolorata a year later with a special thank you Mass.
In 1988, on my first visit to Forio, D’Ischia, I walked into the first church that I saw in the middle of the Piazza. As I walked in half way to my left I saw the statue of the Madonna Addolorata, dressed in black. Tears came to my eyes as my thoughts went to the story of the Vision of the Madonna Addolorata.
Mama’s hands were magic, they never stopped. If she wasn’t cleaning, cooking, and doing all the work that mothers do, she would be knitting a pair of socks and sewing. She took one break every day. That was when she sat close to the Radio in the sitting room and listened to her half hour Italian soap (ROMONZA) and ANTONIO PAGE with the Italian and American news. Mama would be knitting and listening. After the news, Mama would lie down on the studio couch for a short half hour rest..
. One of those Radio Shows were sponsored by GEMMA OIL. One commercial was; “LADY DO YOU LIKA GEMMA OIL?” respond “YESA, YESA, YESA, I LIKA GEMMA OIL!”(Mama’s first choice for oil was PHILIPPO BERIO) There also was a theme song for one of those radio shows that I could remember. It was the beautiful song, ‘SANTA LUCIA”. Then Mama went back to tending to her ten children.
LAUNDRY
Twelve people to care for every day! Mama was in bed at eight and up at four a.m. She started her day by making up her laundry bag for a laundry pickup at ten o’clock every other day. Every other day a wet wash would be delivered.
In 1999, Martino LaPardi’s son John, from Martino’s laundry said,” Your mothers laundry bag was the heaviest bag on his entire route.” My answer was, “Johnny, My family is the only twelve member family that you have on your route”.
Mama would hang them out on the many clotheslines she had. After the cloths were dry, she would collect them, iron, and fold them. Then she would put all the clothing away in their separate places. Some winter days, the hung out clothes got as stiff as bacala. They had to be brought in the house to thaw out. I never had to ask, if a piece of clothing was ready for me to wear. Ten
Children’s clothing was always ready. She was a working machine. Mama worked sixteen hours a day and still had time to love us all. Mama went to the five O’clock Mass every morning at the Bell Street Chapel. It was a five-minute walk to the chapel. Mama and her friend Vinchenzina were the only two allowed to hear Mass with all the Nuns.
OUR ITALIAN MEALS WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS
For Breakfast Mama made one-sided French Toast with Italian Bread. One-sided, because she couldn’t cook them fast enough for her ten kids. We ate the toast as fast as she could fry it on one side. We drank Ovalteen and Cocoa, Coffee was for the older kids. For those who didn’t want Italian French Toast, they got AZUPPA. Azuppa was Italian bread dunked in coffee or milk. Once in a while we got Royal Lunch crackers and milk. There were four cereals only that I could remember. They were Cheerios, Corn Flakes, Oat Meal and Cream of Wheat.
Snap, Crackle and Pop with all the other cereals in the cereal isle came way later in my life.
Then we went off to school or work! We came home for lunch at 12pm for one hour, and then back to school. At supper for our Primo, we always had four or five pounds of Pasta in one form or another. Monday Beef Soup with Tubettini, Tuesday, Spaghetti and Meat, Wednesday, Pasta Fazzoli, Thursday, Bow Ties or some other form of Pasta, Friday, Linguine with Clams or with Pesto Genoa style, Saturday, Chicken Soup with Ditaline, and Sunday, Ziti and Gravy. Seconda was Meat or Fish, Salad and Vegetables every night. Desert was always Fruit cut in quarters.
Sundays always had a special menu: Antipasto, Coniglio (Rabbit) cooked Ischiatano style to go with our Ziti’s, Meatballs, Bracioli, Roast Chicken, Eggplant stuffed Peppers, Salad and Fruit, White and Red Wine and Water with Palmieri’s bread. NOT TO BAD, HEY!
Papa loved Fried Squid. Once a month, Papa ordered ten pound of Squid from the Fish Monger to be deliver to 155 Ridge Street. Mama had to spend hours to clean them. After cleaning them, she yielded about five or six pounds of (Calamari) Squid Rings to fry. At Suppertime we would all be sitting at the table eating our Primo, except Mama. She was frying the Squid. The oil always splashed and Mama always got hot oil on her arms. Mama hated to fry Calamari. She never complained. We all liked Fried Squid.
One Friday morning (I was about twelve years old) the Fish Monger came early and left the Squid. Mama handed the Squid to me and said, “Throw them down the Shoe Fly.” I threw them
Mama was defying Papa’s Calamari wish. In an Italian family the wife never defies the husbands eating wishes! That night Mama was sitting down having the Primo with us. Papa said, “Who’s frying the Squid?” Mama said, “If you want Squid, you have to go and get them from down the Shoe Fly.” (Shoe Fly was a two street village at a steep end of the rear of our property line.) Croom Street ran below and parallel to Ridge Street. It got its name Shoe Fly because the Italians on Ridge Street threw all their Old Shoes down to the Irish on Croom Street as a negative gesture. Papa said, “You never complained in Thirty Years about the squid. If I had known, I wouldn’t have sent so many.” That’s the story about the calamari.
Papa cut his Squid order down to nine pounds. After that episode, we ate Fried Calamari once every two months. Mama never complained about anything. That is why this story stands out to me. She was able to do anything she was asked to do. Mama knew how to cure any ailment.
Aa-youddam “HELP” Fire at 155 Ridge Street
One afternoon in the winter of 1940, Mary, Laura and I were playing the Piano in the living room, and Mama was Knitting and listening to Antonio Page on the radio. Mama was directly across from us in the sitting room. She was knitting, listening to the Radio, and looking at us playing the Piano. Mama and I noticed that smoke was coming from a floor grate under the Piano and from the Kitchen. Mama and Papa kept the front door locked. We couldn’t exit from that door. There was no key. She gathered us and took us through the smoky kitchen down the smoky four stairs, opened the door and pushed us out. Smoke and flames were coming from the basement and for one moment Mama thought she lost Mary to the basement stairs, where the fire was. By that time the house was fully involved in fire. Then she looked out the door and saw all three of us standing in the Yard looking at her. She started yelling, “Aa-youddama, Aa-youddama, Aa-youddama” (Help, Help, Help,). The Yard was covered with ice, and Mama running with us slipped and fell flat on her back. I could remember how bad I felt when Mama fell. It seemed like an hour for her to get up. Mama was very heavy. I couldn’t even help her.
Mama feared the wint er ice, for the rest of her life since that drastic fall.
The Ragman on his Horse and Team was going by at that time and saw the smoke coming from the house. Mama was still yelling! He got down from his team, and pulled the fire alarm box door open. He never bothered to pull the alarm. The Ragman got back up on his team, and rode away thinking that he did the right thing. He was yelling “RAGS, RAGS, RAGS” ----- “GOT RAGS TODAY LADY!” Doing business as usual! Joe Fat the Iceman was driving by in his Ice Truck at that same moment. He got down from his truck and pulled the alarm. The Firemen came in five minutes. The fire was confined to the basement.
Our next-door neighbor Julia housed us for that day. We were able to go back to the house that night; we slept in our beds .The electricity was turned off. It was very cold that night. I still remember the smell of that fire to this day. That smell was confined under the kitchen sink as long as I could remember.
When Mama put me to bed that night, she looked into my pockets and found wooden matches. I can still remember the little Shirt Jacket I was wearing. Mama made it from an old pear of Jeans. It had a red zigzag border sewed all around the bottom, and the lapel with two side pockets. I looked into Mama’s eyes, my memory flashed back to my dropping a lighted match near the cabinet. Mama put her finger to her lips, and motioned to be quiet. No one ever found out about the Matches. I was about five years old, and Mary and Laura were about four.
A MATCH AND A BAG OF COAL WAS THE RECIEPE
This is what happened the morning of the fire. I was in the basement, playing and curious with Matches. I decided to light one, and used it to look under a cabinet, where Mama kept a Bag of Coal for an emergency. The Coal was for the upstairs kitchen stove. That stove hardly ever was used. The house had steam heat. I remember dropping the match under the cabinet without making sure it was out. I had gone upstairs and was sitting at the Piano. Then the rest is History.
Papa never found out about the origin of that fire. Not until I was married and had three kids. When I made my confession to Papa, he pretended that he had known it all the while. Mama was a saint. Mama was a little over protective, when it came to Mary and Laura and me. I remember everything about that fire as if it were yesterday.
MAMA’S BLESSING
Whenever any one of us left the house, we first would go to Mama and give her a big kiss. She would say, “(A Madonna da, cumbania)” “(May the Madonna accompany you)”. If we didn’t hear that beautiful phrase, we wouldn’t leave the house. Sometimes she pretended that she was angry with me, and not say, “ A Madonna da, cumbania.” I would say, “MA, SAY IT!” Then Mama would say, “A Madonna da, cumbania.”
“OK, MA!” I would throw a kiss and then leave. I will never forget the comfort that phrase gave me. Mama and the Madonna were watching over me all day.
Who was she? She was a living Saint. There was no one like Mama! Mama laughed and smiled every day with her children. I have never seen her down for any reason.
My best friend Bobby Laninfa living in California, recently said, “Bill, I can’t remember seeing your mother in any other place but near the stove, cooking.” Also recently, Vito Frankie and I were visiting with three old friends, Joe, Louie, and Pete Donato, and they all agreed that their fondest memory of Mama was seeing her at the stove cooking. Joe and Louie practically lived with us. Joe gave all of us our first hair cut. Louie always had new cars and took us kids for a ride around the block. We were his baby Brothers and Sisters. He feared and respected Papa the same as we did. Louie, Joe and Pete were one of us.
Cooking for twelve people every day has got to be a full time job. How Mama got all the other things done in a day had to be a miracle. God Bless Mama. Those hands never stopped. They had to be anointed by God.
Yes, when any of us walked into the house, we always knew where to find Mama. The aroma of whatever she was cooking could never be matched in any of our friend’s houses. Some times our friend would even say, “I wish my mother could cook as good as your mother cooks”!
Mama became the teacher to many of the women from the neighborhood. To this day, when I see some of the old friends from my childhood, they always mention my mother and her cooking. They especially remember the tasty Garden Tomato Sandwiches she always made for them while waiting around my house. None of our friends ever left my house without eating something. As they got older Mama would even give them a glass of Papa’s wine.
HUNGRY CHILDREN
With ten children in a house, sometimes on a Friday there wasn’t too much of a choice of food left in the ice box because Saturday was food shopping day.. When school was out on Fridays, Anyone of us could give a holler to Mama ….. “MA KA JA STAR POR MONCHADDA”. “(Ma, what is there to eat?)” Her reply would be, “Panni e Chipolla.” “Bread and Onions.” She knew that the icebox was near empty!
You can’t imagine how tasty Bread, Onions, Olive OIL, Salt and Pepper could taste when you are starving at that hour coming home from school. When Mama’s hands made it for me, it tasted even better. I enjoyed that Bread and Onion Sandwiches so much that on Friday I would automatically make one whether there was something else to eat or not. Then of course at six p.m. we all sat down to a four-course meal of a small Antipasto, Pasta, Fish and Salad, with Fruit for desert.
Another specialty of Mama’s was what she could do with just plain bread, tomatoes, basil, olive oil, salt and pepper was to die for. My friends would line up for one of those sandwiches, daily.
TRIPLETS FIRST BIRTHDAY AUGUST 20, 1937
155 RIDGE STREET
. Our house was on 155 Ridge Street Providence, R.I. The house was occupied with only one other family before us. It was a thirty by thirty foot square cottage. With four bedrooms and a full bathroom upstairs, a sitting room, kitchen, dinning room and parlor is on the first level. The basement had a huge food storage room for all of Mama’s preserves, and Papa’s wine reserve. Also in the basement there was a full working kitchen with a ten-foot marble work counter, two large sinks, two gas ranges and a large dining area, which had a ten-foot dining table. A small bathroom and a small play area. Outside the house had a grape arbor (Pergola) attached on the left and rear side. The Grape arbor covered a cement yard ten feet wide to the left of the house and fifteen feet wide to the rear of the house. Between the four car garages and the Grape arbor that covered over the yard, there was a huge winter pear tree. Papa had planted a few fig trees over the years. He didn’t have much luck with them. Figs need warm climate. To the left of the property there was a four acre piece of land that had a small Vineyard with a Pergola and a good size garden. The land was owned by Paul DiStefino who was Papa’s very good friend right to The end.
On the right of 155 Ridge Street there was a four car garage set back about forty feet that went with the tree tenement house owned by the Igermerri’s, a very nice family.
They had two very big Cherry Trees that yielded the biggest and most beautiful cherries and tastiest I have ever seen or tasted to this day. Picking Cherry’s from the roof of the four-car garage was an easy task. The biggest of the two trees hung half way over the garage. The Igermerri’s never stopped me from picking them.
Julia Igermerri always sent a large basket of cherries to us at harvest time. We reciprocated by sending her a large basket of white and blue Grape. She visited with Mama quit often sittingunder the P
Living on Federal Hill is an experience everyone should live. We lived as one big happy family.
The respect that everyone gave to one another gave all of us a feeling of family. Ridge Street and the neighborhood was a very special place.
COMFORT
Papa and Mama were really at home on 155 Ridge Street. They finely got all the comforts of home just as they had in Italy. Papa’s pleasure was walking in his full patio yard with his Pergola
(Grape arbor overhead). Another pleasure was his garages that he can call his Cantina full of wine. With his two sheds full of live rabbits. Keep in mind that Rabbit cooked Ischiatano style has been a specialty of Ischia as long as the Island has been inhabited.
Papa was fully prepared for AL-FRESCO, his biggest enjoyment.
If ever, anyone should walk in at suppertime Papa would say, “Fouraedda (join us at supper), eat, drink with us.” Papa insisted that he or she would have to join us. Especially because his table was always prepared with table cloth, cloth napkins and properly dressed. Of course he knew that what ever was served was superbly cooked by Mama. When such an occurrence should happen you could always see a proud face on Papa.
Rabbit cooked Ischiatano style
ONE RABBIT 3 POUNDS CLEANED AND CUT INTO TWELVE PIECES ** WILD OR DOMESTIC. Let the rabbit pieces soak in salted water for two hours before drying.
ONE RABBIT W/ LIVER AND HEART
FOUR LARGE CLOVES OF GARLIC WHOLE
ONE HALF CUP OF OLIVE OIL
ONE SMALL ONION DICED
TWO CUPS OF DICED, SQUEEZED AND SEEDED PLUM TOMATOES
ONE TABLESPOON OF CHOPPED ROSEMARY
ONE TEASPOON OF CRUSHED RED PEPPER
ONE BAY LEAVE
SIXTEEN OUNCES OF WHITE TABLE WINE
ONE QUARTER OF A CUP OF FRESH BASIL CHOPPED
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE
MARJORAM AND THYME OFTEN ARE THE SEASONS OF CHOICE INSTEAD OF ROSEMARY
Fry the rabbit in a skillet large enough to fry all of the rabbit in two batches or larger. TWELVE INCHES BY THREE INCHES HIGH
Fry the rabbit in the oil and garlic until the rabbit has browned.
Deglaze skillet with a little bit of water.
Place all the rabbit back in the skillet.
Add the rest of the ingredience over the rabbit except the liver and heart and eight ounces of wine.
Cook at low fire for thirty five minutes covered.
After cooking for thirty five minutes and it has dried out, then you can add the other eight ounces of white table wine. (Not cooking wine) Add the liver and heart then cook for fifteen more minutes uncovered on low simmer reducing to a smooth sauce. DONE***FINISHED
The small amount of sauce that is left in the pan can be served over a pound of Bugatini’s along with the Rabbit.
Don’t fight for the liver. If you are a liver lover, you will never taste one any better!
For those who won’t eat Rabbit, you can use Chicken for this receipt.
ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY
AL FRESCO
The back yard had a ten-foot dinning table under the Pergola overhead (grape arbor.) Starting in spring going to autumn, we dinned al fresco under the Pergola. Some times the Pergola would keep the mild rain from wetting us at dinnertime. We dined with white tablecloths, cloth napkins, every night and Sunday afternoons. Sometimes if a Sunday in October or November was warm enough, we would dine Al Fresco. Papa would say “MONCHOMA FORDDA MESSA-AYOUNA” “(WE’LL EAT OUT AL FRESCO, THIS AFTER NOON.)”
Sundays were special for Mama and Papa. Their children were always dressed in their Sunday best. Our dinner table gave us a holiday spirit. The whole family always ate supper together, but Sundays always gave us a special feeling.
All the married couples in the family had to come over for Sunday Dinner. They all gave Mama and Papa one hundred percent respect to their wishes.
When Mama and Papa were alive, the 155 Ridge Street Homestead kept the family together with an unimaginable love and respect for one another.
The house had a front door, two porches, one on the first level and one on the second level. The door on the left center side of the house led to the upstairs kitchen and to the basement. There was a four-car garage that went with the house. They were located to the left of house, set back about forty feet. There was a picket fence and double gate in front of the four-car garage and the house. Papa used one garage for our 1938 Buick and one for his Cantina, where we made five barrels of wine every year. Four of the barrels were with California grape, and one barrel, with Rhode Island Concord grape mixed with California Burgundy. He also made a watery wine called Sockabona made from the grape squeezing, water and sugar. Papa also kept a twenty five-gallon barrel of vinegar for our salads.
During the Second World War, Johnny and I became Papa’s wine makers. Papa rented the other two garages to Sal’s friends. Papa had three gardens, one in the rear of the four garages, one on the right side of the garages, one to the right front of the garages. Papa also had two sheds where he raised rabbits for our Sunday dinner. No one cooked coniglio (Rabbit) like my Mother and Father did! (Ischiatano Style). My mother’s gravy and meatballs were second to none. Every Sunday morning we would always be dressed in our Sunday best. We went to Mass at different times. I would walk down Ridge Street to go to mass at the Holy Ghost Church. On my walk back home after mass, I could smell the aroma of gravy coming from every house. That smell was one of the rewards you got for living in an Italian neighborhood. When I got to my best friend, Bobby LaNinfa’s house, I would stop in for a freshly fried meatball. His mother made a very good fried meatball. Sometimes, she would give me two. Bobby’s mother was a real nice woman who was always cooking. She was gentle. I loved her.
Now mentioning the aroma of Macaroni sauce ( gravy) on Sunday morning wasn’t just on Ridge Street. I was on every street on Federal Hill. If it was in the summer it was even more special.
The Sun, The aroma, the walking was a feeling of being in another world. .Everyone you passed had a smile on their faces from ear to ear. An unexplainable High!
WAKES ON FEDERAL HILL “ FUNNY”
Whenever some one died in the neighborhood, the family waked the deceased in a casket in their home. On the outside of the house there was a large wreath of flowers pined to the right side of the front door. The casket had flowers all around it. The person’s prominence was measured by how many flowers were sent to them. The family would be seated on both sides of the casket in their living room. All of them would be crying out loud. The crying never stopped. That would go on for three days. Three days of crying definitely killed all the beautiful flowers. By then it was time to bury the deceased. The relatives all looked like they were dying too. They all had very white faces; red noses from crying and all the women were dressed in black with Black Vials over their faces.
Mornings, on my way to school, if I saw a wreath of flowers on a door, I would go in the house and say a prayer at the Casket, whether I knew the person or not. Then I would walk out of the house passing all the flowers in every room through the kitchen. That was where all the food was. I always picked up a few sandwiches and continued out the back door on to school munching on my sandwiches. I would do that for three mornings in a row. Sometimes there would be two or three wakes in one week! I always kept my eye open, looking for the wreath of flowers on the door! Sometimes I would get Procuitto sandwiches or a Cannoli! “FUNNY”
Then, I walked back home at noon for lunch from school.. Mama would always be in the basement kitchen at noon every day, making our lunches according to our size and age. My lunch was made according to my size not my age. When any one of Mama’s children walked in through the side door, Mama could identify that child by the sound of their first step. I would eat my lunch then Papa would give me a Penny to buy Candy at Mercurio’s Ridge Street Spa on my way back to Holy Ghost School. I got ten black hats for a penny or a Grade-A, which was a heavy piece of chocolate, one and a half inch square.
Some times at noon one of those funerals would be coming back from Holy Ghost Church to go by their house for the last time. I would stand at attention with my head bowed until the Hearse went by. Just for respect. Maybe I was really saying thank you for the sandwiches!
When we got home from school some of us would do homework, and some of us would go out and play. I had to go to Papa’s bar to clean the twenty-seven foot Brass top rail every day. And on Saturday I had to clean the step rail with Noxon cleaner. Noxon was the best cleaner for brass. “Isn’t it a wonder how certain things are never forgotten.”?
WORK AND CHOURS
Sally shined shoes at the bar. Later he passed his shine box down to Johnny. Johnny passed the shine box down to me. (From older to younger to youngest) I made four or five bucks a week for my school bankbook. Not bad! Johnny and Sally insisted that I had to use Shinola shoe polish. I liked Griffin shoe polish, but I had to use Shinola! I still don’t know why? I charged ten cents a shine. Most customers gave me a quarter. Maybe Shinola cost less than Griffin? I don’t know!
Saturday afternoons I cleaned the Rabbit Sheds. We had tons of rabbit droppings. Papa used it in his gardens. And some of his Pisanos would come to get a few bushels of droppings for their gardens. Some times my shoes would smell of rabbit droppings for two days.
At times we would be playing outside until six o’clock. That was about the time Papa was walking home from the Bar to have supper with his family. We could spot him coming home from two hundred yards away. We would yell out! “HERE’S PAPA!” And we would scramble into the house, wash our faces and hands, and then take our assigned place at the dinner table.
The table was set every night by either Reggie or Rosie, with a white tablecloth, and cloth napkins. Wine and water was a must on the table every night. There was complete silence throughout the whole meal. Once in a while one of us would talk too much or giggle. That child would get the Place of Honor. Mary almost always occupied the place of honor next to Papa. The person sitting there was being punished. I sometimes had to occupy that place of honor.
We all have been honored at one time or another. Later on the setting of the table was passed on to Mary and Laura. December 7th. 1941
A date that will live in Infamy
Brother Frankie’s nineteenth birthday. Frankie was all dressed in his suit as he usually was on Sunday morning. Hoping for a “Happy Birthday” from his brothers and sisters. The family never got to say “Happy Birthday” to Frankie. Something else happened on that day. I was almost Seven years old, and I can remember December 7th.1941 as clear as I could remember September 11th. 2001. Our Ears were glued to the Radio all day. I also remember the next day. I walked up to my second grade teacher at Courtland Street School and said, “Miss Jenks we are at War!” She said, “Yes, William don’t be afraid.” I never forgot that!
DECEMBER 7, 1941 PEARL HARBOR
The day that changed every one’s life forever, just as September 11th did. War broke out in the Pacific, and President Roosevelt declared war on Japan. Germany then declared war on the United States. We ultimately defeated both of those countries. My four oldest brothers all went off to war.
The 1938 Buick was put on blocks in the garage until the wars end in 1945. All four of my oldest brothers went off to war. 155 Ridge Street’s center window was wearing a Red White and blue banner with four blue Stars.
Vito volunteered and got rejected for the US Air Force Pilot School. The next month, he volunteered for the US Army Air Force and got accepted for Weather School. He went to Weather Observation School in Florida, and in Italy he did some very important weather work on the bombing of the Romanian oil fields controlled by Hitler. That bombing was a big turning point in favor of the allies. It is noted that bombing ended the war two years earlier. Hitler’s biggest defeat was losing his oil fields to carry out the war.
Vito was in Bari, Italy, where he was caught in the middle of the bombing of the Port of Bari. The bombing went on for four hours; it was steady and heavy. The German Air Force sunk seventeen America and Allied Ships. Vito had to take shelter underground. He was Shell-Shocked and was hospitalized for one month. That bombing was called the second Pearl Harbor, one of America’s biggest loses of the Second World War.
Late in 1943 the Italians allied with the American forces. That is when Vito was able to take advantage of some leave time his native Ischia. Ischia was in poverty and very low in food supply.
Vito arrived like a Santa Claus with his duffle bag full of goodies for all of his relatives.
Before Vito went into the service, he was Papa’s number One Bartender. After that he became a
Printer. Thanks to Vito, Frankie also became a Printer. Vito and Frankie still have a little Printing
business in their basement.
When the war broke out, Johnny was 10 years old and I was 6 years old. We were left to do all
the chores the four brothers did. Now they were all off to war and Papa worked us to the bone.
Between going to the Bar after school and late Saturday night and working around the house we
Never had time for sports. For that matter none of us played to much sports because Papa always had something for Us to do War or no war.
When the War ended the four oldest brothers all were married off and Johnny and I still were
Stuck with all the chores. ALL THE COPPA BOYS HOME TOGETHER ON THE SAME WEEK-END IN THE SUMMER OF 1943. IT WAS A MIRICLE SUNDAY FOR MAMA.
My brothers in 1943
They are among the finest soldiers in America, proud brave and patriotic Americans from the greatest generation Tom Brokow wrote about. They believe in America and they gave their very best in World War II.Mama’s prayers and God got them all home alive.MEN OFTHE GREATEST GENERATION
MY BROTHERS
VITO VINNIE FRANKIE SALLY JOHNNIE
VITO AT WORK
INFANTRYVINNIEINFANTRY
Vincent volunteered, along with some of his friends. After his training in the Infantry Military Police, his cooking ability became very noticeable. Vinnie trained other GI’s the art of cooking in Texas. Vinnie was the family’s best cook, and the best of many other things too, fun and laughter to say the least. Vinnie came home from the army, and became Papa’s number One Bartender. He later started the Friendly Tap and stayed in business until he retired at Sixty-Five years old. Vinnie really knew how to enjoy life.
FRANKIE
Frank volunteered and became a Cook in the US Air Force combat engineers in the Pacific. Frank saw some combat. He was in an amphibious landing in the Philippine Island. Frank gave me an account of that frightening experience.
They landed in the darkness of the night and were told to move strait ahead. Before they got out of the water, Frank tells me he was in swamp water up to his neck and that he was holding his rifle over his head. When all the troops were off the Lander and out of the water they were to listen for a whistle. The whistle meant for the men to stop moving and to lay down to camp overnight where they lay. In the morning a Whistle will get them moving again. No one was sleeping that night because they could hear gunfire off in the distance. That night Frank lay down and used his back pack for a pillow and then he took his wet shoes off and laid them next to him. In the morning as he felt for his shoes, a large snake crawled over his body OF WHICH HE CAN ONLY EXPLAIN BY THE SIZE AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TOOK FOR IT TO CRAWL OVER HIM. It had to be in the anaconda class. The snake went on his merry way. Frank put his shoes on and without tieing the laces he ran to catch up with his outfit before the sound of the second Wistle.
Frankie has a reminder of the terrible night of his amphibious beach landing of which he carry’s with him in his wallet. This is his social security card. The card still carries the mud stains
Of the pacific.
While Frank was in the Pacific, the USO would entertain the troops. One night the world famous Boxer Max Baer asked for someone in the audience to come in the Ring and Spa with him.
All of Franks buddies picked Frank up and through him in the Ring with Max Baer. Frank was built just like Max Baer. They spared for a few minutes and Max faked that he was KO’ed. To this day Frank believes that he really hurt the famous Max Baer. Only Max and Frank really knows!!
Frank also had a long bought with Malaria in the Jungles of the Philippine Islands.
The Japanese were always taking sniper shot at the cooks. After he got settle in, a Japanese bullet ricocheted off of his Helmet and he was able to recover that bullet from a tree. He carried it in his pocket for years, until it was lost in his laundry. Frankie was put in the hospital after a gasoline accident while on the island of Okinawa.
For Frank, being born on December 7th he felt a special pride to have served his war duty in the Pacific. He was my War Hero.
After the war, Frank became Papa’s number One Bartender and later became a Printer.
My brothers never spoke of their war experiences until recently, when I started to ask questions about their War Stories. Tears came to their Eyes, even after so many years.
INFANTRYSALLYINFANTRY
Salvatore volunteered and went into the US Army Infantry. Sal was Decorated for Bravery. He landed in the Second Wave at Normandy. His first assignment was to tend to the dead Americans, Canadians, and British bodies left on the beaches. He was in what they called- the Rear Echelon. I think, that memory has remained with him to this day. Sal helped liberate a Nazi Prison Camp. He marched all the way to Berlin and victory. Sal also became a Cook in his last two months of his service in the army. He hardly ever talked of his war days.
Recently, Sal talked about a time in Northern Germany when he and his Squad were pinned downed by the German machine gunners. He was an Ammo Bearer carrying sort of a small sled on his back with three cans of ammo. He said, “Billy I hit the ground so hard that the ammo banged into my head. I was holding a picture of Jesus Christ in my hand that Papa gave me before I left for overseas. I was praying so hard that the enemy could hear me. We overtook that position, but I’ll never forget it.”
Mama and Papa received a letter from Sal’s Commanding Officer commending his bravery. Sal was my Hero. I was nine years old when we received that letter. After the war Sal became Papa’s number One Bartender. Later he started Sal’s Tap, In North Providence.
AIR RAID DRILLS
The rest of us were home supporting the war effort. I remember the streetlights were shielded with a round black shield about eight inches wide. The headlights on the autos were shielded with black paint half way across the headlight so that the light would not be seen from a flying enemy plan. Once in a while there would be an air raid drill at night. When the fire alarms whistled for three minutes that meant, (all lights out). The Air Raid Warden was dressed in a white helmet and white straps across his chest and holding a flash light in his hand. His word was god during the drill. He had the power to fine anyone violating the air raid drills code. LIGHTS OUT meant just that. Also everyone had to stay inside until the all-clear whistle blew. When the drill was over the whistle would plow for five minutes. The drill was over until another night, a week or two later. For us kids the drill was excitement. If we saw the light from a cigarette in one of the windows in the neighborhood, we kids would say, Ohhh!!! He’s going to get in trouble!
METAL DRIVE
Once a month there was a metal drive. Everyone in the neighborhood saved all their metal for the drive, such as cans, old metal toys, scrap iron, old auto parts, or anything that was made of metal. We pilled it outside on the sidewalk and wait for the big truck with the American Flag waving from it to pick up the metal for the war effort. One time one of the drivers of the big truck through a toy I was seven years old and that gun was probably the third or forth toy I had ever owned. I treasured that gun for many years. It was a Roy Rogers pearl handle gun in good working condition. I was one of the very few kids to have a toy gun to play cowboys and crooks. The rest of the kids used their thumb and finger to shot. BANK! BANK!
RED, WHITE AND BLUE BANNER
We had a Red White and Blue banner with four Blue Stars hanging in the front window on 155 Ridge Street. That signified Mama and Papa had four sons in the war. Blue Stars meant, ALIVE, Gold Stars meant, KILLED in action. Blue Stars remained on that banner to the end of the war. THANK GOD!
Mama, at Five every morning, walked a short distance to Mass at the Bell Street Chapel. She prayed for all of her children and for all the boys at war for a safe return. Mama’s prayers did get all her boys back home alive.
Can anyone image, a Mother with Four Sons in the heat of the Second World War, as the news papers published ten to twelve pictures of service men Missing in Action, Killed in Action or taken Prisoner by the enemy every day and that was just only in the smallest State in the Union,
Rhode Island.
We tried to keep the News Paper away from Mama. We didn’t want her to recognize any of the pictures of the boys from the neighborhood and there were many.
I personally remember two of them. One was Joseph Bocanfusco killed and Paul Veletta who had his foot and part of his leg blown off. When the war ended, the closes intersection to 155 Ridge Street was named THE JOSEPH BOCANFUSCO SQAURE
One Sunday afternoon, Papa was riding the bus to Downtown Providence to go to the movies mostly to see the Pathy News of the war. When he overheard a young girl talking to her friend sitting next to her say, “I hope this war last forever. I never made so much money working over time in my life. ” Papa immediately looked over to the young lady and said “when I write to my four sons fighting the war for you, Vito who landed in Sicily, Vinnie training other soldiers, Salvatore who landed in Normandy and Frank who landed on the island of Okinawa I’ll ask them to see what they can do for you.” The young lady was so embarrassed that she put her face in her hands and didn’t raise her head until Papa got off the bus.
I can say that the war years were Mama’s worst of her life. Bell Street Chapel was her Sanctuary and Haven. Some times Mama would visit the chapel three times in one day. Her black Rosary turned to a pale gray color from the ware of her hands. Mama’s Hands were Golden.
Bell Street Chapel was a small Chapel that was part of a Convent where young girls went to, too become Nuns. It also had a playground and day care center for children. The grounds were beautiful with many trees and an area where The Stations of the Cross were on a walkway made from Marble.
Mama and her friend Vincenzina were the only two outsiders privileged to go to the Chapel to hear Mass with the Nuns from the Convent every morning.
Sometimes, Mama had me take a couple of gallons of Home Made Wine to the Priest at Bell Street Chapel. Father Michel was always in smiles when I came with the Gallons of Wine. I guess it was a bit better than the wine that the diocese provided for his morning Holy Communion. Also Mama cooked a couple of Rabbits once in a while for him of which he enjoyed with his Home Made Wine.
Mama had a list of friends that received a gallon of home made wine on every holiday. I was always happy to make the deliveries for her.
Mama was very generous and she gave all of her children a blessing to be generous too. It went like this, ( she would say it in Italian) You will be blessed with so much goods from God that you will have a hard time finding places to put it or giving it away. “Only a Mama could bless a child in that way!”
MAMA’S MIRACLE WEEKEND
Early spring of 1943 before Sal volunteered for the army, Mama had a dream that all three of her sons would be home together on the next Sunday. The next day, I remember her telling Papa of her dream. Papa said, “If your dream comes true, I will give you Ten Dollars.”
Between Friday and Saturday of that weekend Vinnie and Frankie were home on leave or weekend pass. That Sunday morning I was having breakfast in the basement with Mama. I remember hearing the side door open, and at the same time, Mama called loudly without seeing him, “VITO!! Sure enough it was. Vito was home on a twenty –four hour pass. He flew in from Florida on a military plane. And he had just a few hours to be with us. .
SUMMER OF 1943
NOW THAT’S ONE OF MAMA’S MIRACLES! Vito traveled over the legal allowed mileage for a twenty-four hour pass. It was a great and beautiful Sunday! We ate Al Fresco under the Pergola. The dinner table with all twelve of us there, Papa handed Mama a Ten-Dollar Bill. As the day went on, the word got out that all the Coppa Boys were home on weekend pass. Everyone from the neighborhood stopped by to share that happy day with us. It was warm and the sun was out all day. Frank’s friend Joe Donato also was on leave and showed up at our house. Salvatore’s friends, Louie Donato, and Ralph D’Ambra, Jackie Annarino, also showed up at 155 Ridge Street. I remember they were all doing Close Order Drill under the Grape Arbor. Sal was the acting Drill Instructor. We were all having a great time. It was Mama’s happiest day! I believe God gave that day to Mama. I can also remember how happy I was! My brothers, in uniform were bigger than life to me. Whenever I think of that spring day, I can still feel that special happiness my family had on that special day
As my brothers started returning to their Camps, Mama didn’t know if she would ever see any of them again. The last one to leave was Frankie. Mama and I were standing on the Porch as Frankie was walking away on Toby Street. He was crying, and waving, Mama was crying and waving goodbye. We didn’t see my brothers again for over three years.
Sal couldn’t wait to volunteer for the infantry. His Three Brothers were off to War and he wanted to join them. The next month Sal, Louie Donato, Jackie Annareno, volunteered for the army. Ralph D’Ambra volunteered for the Navy. Mama prayed for all of them. Reggie wrote letters to all Four Brothers during the War. Mama wrote letters to Vito in Italian.
Sal and Louie Donato reported to Fort Devens Mass. together on the same day. After training they were split up. Louie went to the Pacific to fight with the Combat Engineers in Okinawa and Sal went to Europe to fight with the Infantry in Germany.
Louie met up with Frankie on the Island of Okinawa in the middle of the war. That day became the happiest day of their life.
May 1945—VE DAY (VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY) AUGUST 14, 1945 VJ
DAY (VICTORY IN JAPAN DAY) August 13, here in America after midnight.
THE WAR IS OVER
JAPAN SURRENDERS
The happiest day in Mama’s life. Her sons were coming home.
All her prayers had been answered.
The White Rock Bar partied for three days. Everything was on the House and Free for three days. 155 Ridge Street had parties for three more days. Papa was like a little kid. I never saw Papa so happy. He was Dancing and Playing Drums on Mama’s pots and pans along with his barroom customers. He was Marching up and down under the Grape Arbor. Papa was feeling no pain! I have never seen him happier than he was on that day! That night he even Played the Piano!
BEFORE CHRISTMAS OF 1945 ALL FOUR OF MY BROTHER WERE HOME FROM
THE WAR ALIVE AND FREE OF INJURY.
The Porches were Decorated Red, White, and Blue. No Gold Stars in the window, all Four Stars were Blue, Mama and Papa’s sons were all home alive!!! All their friends, home Alive!!! Papa had his four son’s picture in uniform, all hanging in a place of honor over the cash register in the White Rock Bar during the war. (He kept those pictures there until 1965.) Then he sold the bar and retired. Papa took his pictures with him. All four of my brothers truly were part of that Greatest Generation that Tom Brokaw wrote about.
BELL STREET CHAPEL
They all got home for a Victory Gala. Mama had a special thank you Mass said at the Bell Street Chapel. All Twelve of us, Vinnie’s wife Margie, Vito’s girl friend Lillian and Mama’s friend, Vinchenzina attended. . The Nuns at the Chapel sang at the Mass. Mama was very Religious and felt close to Jesus; you could see the happiness on her face that day. She looked beautiful. After Mass we went back to 155 Ridge Street. Papa and Mama gave a big party.
I am very proud for what my four oldest brothers did for their country. They certainly are part of the greatest generation! They will always be my heroes.
BANANA’S
The first benefit I realized for the war ending was that Banana’s were being shipped to America again.
I’ll never forget that day when the corner grocery store first started to sell bananas again. I ate fourteen of them and did nearly the same on the next day. At age eleven that was two days to
Remember. I don’t ever remember eating Bananas before the war.
BUBBLE GUM
Bubble Gum along with Banana’s also was a first after war. You could see kids with a full mouth of bubble gum every ware.
Baseball cards and bubble gum became an everyday treat.
JOHNNY AND BILLY
Johnny and I are Korean War veterans. We didn’t see any combat. Johnny was in Germany and I stayed in the States. Johnny was put on military alert during the Berlin Blockade, and I was put on Military alert during the Hungarian uprising two weeks before my discharge from the armed force. Papa
Papa was a strict Italian man with very, strong values. We all had a hard time with his strictness. But we find ourselves to be just like him. Not one of us ever got into trouble. We all became Good Honorable people and equally proud of all of our children. Family was been and is always first.
He was a good and unselfish man. He worked every day and raised ten children the best way he knew how. We never went without anything. Papa made sure we were all well dressed on Sundays. He was proud of us and he deserved all the respect that we gave to him. “Thank You Papa.”
VINCENT VINNIE VANCY
Vincent “VINNIE” was the first to come home from the Army, and quickly got Married to Margie Gesualdi. Margie became a big part of Rosie, Mary, Laura and my life. We were all very young when they married. Margie sparked up our Christmas’s. Whenever Margie would come to our house, one of us would yell out, “HERE’S MARGIE!” And to this day she’s still very special to us. She made me an Uncle at age ten. Judy was the most beautiful baby that I had ever seen. I visited her every day. I even would take my friends to view her in her crib. Then Margie had Johnny. I became an Uncle for the second time. Wow! I was a big shot now. Johnny also was beautiful. Now that Johnny is back in Rhode Island we get to see each other often. Johnny and Gaby is a beautiful couple. We enjoy each other’s company. Johnny became an excellent cook, too. His son Alex is a clone of him. And his Noel is extremely beautiful. Noelle has a beautiful voice. I’m sure Mama Rosa gifted her with her voice. Judy has two girls, Cindy and Debbie. Judy is ten years younger than I am. I guess I’m still Judy’s teenage uncle. Cindy has two beautiful girls, and Debbie has beautiful twin boys. They are living in Florida.
In the early 1940’s Vinnie took Piano Lessons from a renowned piano teacher, Alfonse Antonnilli. Mama and I liked it when Vinnie played Rhapsody in Blues by George Gerswin. La Paloma was another of our favorites. He learned to play those two pieces to perfection. Vinnie liked to play Bogy Wogy, and scroll his fingers across the keyboard. Whenever there was a Piano in the room, Vinnie became the life of the party. His grandson Alex is now taking piano lessons and playing on Vinnie’s Piano.
Vinnie died in 1998. Vinnie was my favorite brother. I think he was Everyone’s Favorite Brother.
I can’t say enough about my brother, Vinnie, Vancy, Vincent, and Venonzio. My Vinnie! He confirmed my son, John. All the kids could identify with him. He would snap his fingers or play a set of clappers to music. He made a set of clappers out of a pair of soupspoons. The kids loved it and Vinnie loved to entertain them. Vinnie was given to us by God to make us laugh. If he made you laugh, Vinnie would get you twice as much happiness out of it than you dWhen he died, a piece of me went with him. I miss him very much. I know that Vinnie has a crowd of saints and angels gathered around him every day. And they are laughing at Vinnie’s jokes. He looked like Rodney Daingerfield. He could put Rodney Daingerfield in his back pocket when it came to comedy. Vinnie, I love you! Your purpose has been realized many times over. You are sadly missed by all of us. You are my favorite memories.
In an Italian family the first boy born is always respected the same way you would respect your father. So that honor went to Vito. Vito was named after his grandfather. And also Saint Vito was the patron saint of Forio, Vito’s birthplace. Vito still gets our love and respect. He bought me my first book. Short story’s by O’Henry.
VITO CORLEONE COULDN’T HAVE GIVEN A BIGGER OR BETTER WEDDING.
Vito, Frankie, Sally, all had big weddings on different dates at the Narragansett Hotel. The main ballroom with three hundred guests, ten piece band, singers, dancers, two open bars, champagne popping and a meal fit for King
Vito and Frankie married twin sisters, Lillian and Margie Zoglio. Lilly and Margie were immaculate. They worshiped the ground my brothers walked on. Their whole life was for their husbands and one child each. Vito married first, and then Frankie married. Vito and Lillian had one boy, named John. John and Carol had Michel, and Melissa. I see Johnny quite often. He lives down the road from me. We became very close. Melissa is beautiful and her child, Alexandra is equally beautiful. I loved Michael. He was a Gentle Giant. Michael was a Paperboy and came by and wave to me everyday. He would say, Hi, Uncle Billy!!
We lost Michael to an auto accident in 1997. He was twenty-four years old.
Frankie and Margie had one boy named Bobby. Bobby is a tall and handsome and pleasing man. He looks just like his father did when he was young. He has been in banking for a long time. Bobby and his wife Kathy met each other in banking. They know how to enjoy life.
Sally and Eleanor had three children. They are Rose Ann, Steven, and Joyce. Rose Ann has a handsome son, Gregg. Rose Ann and Joe is a great couple. Steven and Terry is also a great couple. Joyce always has a beautiful smile for everyone. You can make her laugh very easily. Joyce is a very special lovable person.
We spent many holidays together, and I had fun with Sal’s kids. They are great kids. Eleanor was loved by all of us. She was humble and funny and sadly missed.
Frankie was the carpenter of the family. He is credited for building Papa’s grape arbor (Pergola) around the house on 155 Ridge Street. He is neat as a pin and loves to dress in suits. He is famous for his white glove inspections. Frank is very serious and has a loud bark; He really is a pussycat. He is a great help to his brother, Vito.
Frank and Vito are the odd couple. Vito looks like Felix Unger, but really is like Oscar Madison. Frankie looks like Oscar Madison, but really is like Felix Unger!
Sally is a clown, just like Vinnie. Whenever we had the two of them together, it was a circus. They would do almost anything for a laugh. They were great for making funny faces. Vinnie’s were just a wee bit funnier than Sally’s.
One time, Vinnie and Sally went into two separate photo booths back to back at the same time at Rocky Point Park, unbeknown to each other. When they got out of the booth, they handed each other their Photo. To their surprise the photos had the same funny face. Their faces were identical! Those two photos gave the Coppa family laughter to last a lifetime. Sometimes Vinnie would get me in a laughing jag so bad that I would cry. The more I cried the funnier he would get. I’d say, “Stop Vinnie, PLEASE,” and he just kept on being funny! I miss those days and cries.
HOLIDAYS AT 155 RIDGE STREET
CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY, EASTER SUNDAY AND
THANKSGIVING
We didn’t have a Fireplace at 155 Ridge Street. So we younger kids were told that Santa Claus came down our Chimney and through the Coal Stove Oven. On Christmas Eve Santa delivered our toys and filled the Stockings we would hang from the back of the stove. We made sure they were knee-highs. On Christmas morning I would find a little Toy and the girls always found a Doll. In our stockings there was Fruit, Figs Nuts, and some Black Coal to signify that we were not always good during the year. It was always topped off with a Dollar Bill or some change.
When we got older, we left a note for Santa in our stockings, it read… (NO CHANGE!!!
(JUST GREEN STUFF!!!!)
Everyone from the Coppa family including the in-laws knew that all the Holidays had to be celebrated at 155 Ridge Street. Papa was very strict about that and he never did or said anything to enforce that rule. We just knew that’s the way it has to be. He would put together a Holiday Meal fit for royalty. Elegant and elegantly served. His Chef days always came through whenever he cooked a meal. All the Coppa’s except Vito are good cooks. Vinnie was the only one who rivaled Papa’s cooking. Table ethics was always number one. Now, my son Billy, Vito’s son Johnny, Vinnie’s son Johnny, Frankie’s son Bobby, Regina’s son Billy are members of The Male Coppa Cooks Club from 155 Ridge Street. Christmas Eve with all the Fish served to a seven coarse meal is to die for. Christmas day had a seven coarse meal as well. Table ethics were very strictly enforced all year round.
When the last course was served and consumed on Christmas Day, we all would become quite and wait for Papa to call us all to listen for their name to be called. Then after every name called he would hand He or She an envelope. We all listened, VITO, VINANZIO, FRANKIE, SALLY, REGINA, JOHNNY, ROSIE, BILLY, MARY AND LAURA AND THEN MAMA. The gifts ranged from twenty dollars down to five dollars. In the 1940’s that was pretty generous. Easter Sunday was very special with the Pasteria’s (rice or grain pies) and another Seven Coarse Meal. Thanksgiving
Day meal was American and Italian all in one with seven coarse Italian and one coarse American. Margie, Vinnies wife always had a nice gift for us kids on all the Holidays.
Her Judy was passed around like a Football. Judy was the first to make us all Uncles and Aunts.
To the entire younger ones in the family Judy was very special.
PAPA’S LONG HOLIDAY IN ISCHIA
Papa got his Four Sons (who served their country well) married off, in a fine fashion. Now he was ready to take a trip back to his homeland, Papa’s beloved Ischia. Mama missed her homeland too She reluctantly answered, “NO THANK YOU” when Papa asked her to accompany Him back to Ischia. Mama feared that she would get seasickness again.
Her father had already died, and all of her brothers died in the 1950’s. Mama did communicate with her brothers and her nieces and nephews by mail. They loved the care packages and chocolate she always sent to the children. Italy was to far away for Mama. Her heart was always in Forio D’Ischia, her paradise. I must say Mama had much happiness with her children. We filled a big void in her life.
Papa journeyed to Italy on the ocean liner SATUNA and returned on the sister ship the VOLCANA .His arrival on the Island of Ischia was suited for a king. When he arrived in Forio D’Ischia, he was showered with Flowers and carried on his brother’s shoulders. Papa accounts that a procession of all his relatives followed as he was being carried. While he was on the Island, he settled Mama’s Estate and his Father’s Estate He stayed there for three months.
SATURNA SISTER TO THE VOLCANA_-- PAPA CRUISING
Papa brought three trunks to Italy full of gifts for his family in Italy... He brought each of his brothers a brand new suit, a portable radio and many gifts to all of his nieces and nephew.
When he left to come back to America he left all of his clothes and personal goods and needs too many of his relatives. Every home he visited he left gifts. They reciprocated by giving Papa a small box with dried figs and walnuts. He took a truck full of figs and nuts back to America. Figs and Nuts were the best they could do at the time. The War had just ended and what they gave came from their heart.
On my visits in 1988, 1991, 1994 1999 those same people showered Anna and me with many beautiful gifts. My beautiful Cousins never forgot what Mama and Papa did for them after the War.
My relatives in Italy still are talking about Papa’s Grand Entrance and parties he gave to all his Relatives. He supplied all his brothers with American cigarettes for three months. My uncle’s children were just kids at the time; they still remember Papa’s three month visit to Forio.
Italy was still war torn in 1947. Papa found almost everyone on the Island in poverty. While in Ischia Papa kept sending us telegrams to send shipments of commodities, such as sugar, coffee, soap, cigarettes, candy, and yes even Pasta. Because the pasta and Bread that was being made there was made out of a dark substance and wasn’t too appetizing. Their pasta started to get better in the fifty’s.
My cousin Pat told me that he remembers when Papa sent three of strongest Nephews down to the Dock to pick up a Fish. When they got there they found out that Papa paid for a three hundred pound Tuna. His family and friends from Via Ciena feasted all week on that Tuna. On another occasion the same three Nephews went down to the Piazza Grocery Store to pick up a large Provolone six feet long and three feet in diameter back to Via Ciena for another Feast of Cheese, Bread and Wine. The Fish and the Cheese was a real treat for all of Papa’s Relatives.
Grandfather Vito Coppa died in 1934 from a fall off the roof of his house. Grandmother Regina died in 1948 in her 80’s. Papa was able to have some good quality time with his Mother in 1947.
On Papa’s return voyage, he embarked at Pier 87 in New York City. My brother Sally and sister Regina, and I went to pier 87 to greet him. We arrived too late. He was able to get a ride home with the Providence Assistant Mayor, Thomas S. Loungo. They traveled together, both ways. Tommy’s wife’s roots were from Ischia. Papa and he were good friends. We came home from New York without Papa. Papa greeted us when we got home at Midnight.
SALLY’S BIG GIFT TO ME
While Papa was in Italy, my brother, Sally, bought me a beautiful red bike at the Western Auto in Onlyville Square. Sal knew that would be against Papa’s wishes because Papa threw his Bike down the Shoe Fly. Papa considered bikes dangerous. Sal said, “We got to save your bike from going down the Shoe Fly.” Sal and I made up a little white lie. He said, “We will tell Papa, that I (Sal) won the bike at a Raffle, and I gave it to you. (Billy)” (Papa must have felt guilty about Sal’s bike). Papa gave my bike the seal of approval. Papa bought the story and made me a slave, doing pick-ups and delivery for him. A Chubby twelve-year-old boy started slimming down with his new bike. Mama liked it too. I carried two to three Care Packages a week to the Post Office to ship to Papa and Mama’s relatives in Forio D’Ischia. When the war ended those packages was the only thing they had to look forward to. Mama gave them much happiness. I know that because on all my visits to Forio, I received many belated thanks for Mama.
THE POISON MUSHROOM STORY
Late September1949 Sally, his friend Ralph D’Ambra, and Sal’s mechanic G-Joe were on a test drive for Sally’s car after a repair job. They were driving by Garden City Shopping Center, when G-Joe spotted some mushrooms growing by the roadside. Sally said, “STOP, STOP, we’ll pick them.” They picked a half-bushel of mushrooms. Ralph took some home, G-Joe didn’t want any, and Sally took most of them home to Mama. Mama fried all of them in garlic and oil salt and pepper, and placed them on a platter. Mama prepared Sally’s supper with some mushrooms. After his supper, he went to relieve Papa at the Bar.
Vinnie walked in for a few minutes. He looked over to the platter of mushrooms sitting on top of the stove oven. He picked a few with his fingers. He ate them and said “Good By I’m going to work and went off to his part time job.
Papa came home. We all sat at our assigned places. Papa always prepared our plate first. Then he prepared his dish last. He made sure we all had enough. We were all eating another of Mama’s beautiful meals. I had just finished eating the last two mushrooms from the platter, when the phone rang. Sally was on the other end very excited! “Don’t eat the mushrooms, I’m very sick!” I said, “We already did!” While I was on the phone, Mary started throwing up. Sally closed the bar and came home. I phoned Ralph D’Ambra, and he informed me that he was already sick. I told Ralph that the Doctor was coming to 155 Ridge Street. Ralph came over in five minutes. Just then Vinnie walked in to tell us that he was sick. He came into a mad house. We were all upchucking in the basement, upstairs, outside in the yard, under the grape arbor and any place we could find. It was pandemonium! With all that confusion, Vinnie was still doing and saying things to make us laugh. Vinnie and Mary were the two who were the sickest of all. The Doctor was very concerned for them. Vinnie’s demeanor got very serious during that night. Even his worried demeanor was funny to us!
Mama was very sick but she insisted that the doctor tend to her children first. Mama, Papa, Vinnie, Sally, Regina, Mary, Laura, Ralph D’Ambra and I were Food Poisoned at 155 Ridge Street.
Doctor Mielo injected all of us with a poison counteract. He stayed with us from seven p.m. to four a.m. Papa was the last one to be injected. You could see the worry for his family on his face. Margie, Regina, and her friends, Anna and Mary Nardi stayed there all night, too. They were nursing and cleaning all night.
The next day we all felt sore in the ribs from upchucking all night. Within a day or two we all were back to normal. After an investigation of the location where the mushrooms were picked, a conclusion was made that the mushrooms were picked near some rusty cans. That could have made the mushrooms toxic. None of us will ever forget the Mushroom Story!
The newspaper had a question. Will the Coppa family ever eat wild mushrooms again? Yes we did, in fact before the year was out Mama cooked another half bushel.
1950- Rosie married Pat Susi. Pat is from Italy and loves gardening. He’s not too good at wallpapering! One weekend he and I were wallpapering one of his apartments and I think the three stooges had nothing on us. The next day all the wallpaper was rolled off the wall and on to the floor! Rosie and Pat had two boys, Anthony, and Michael. Anthony was the most beautiful baby boy I have ever seen. His blond hair was long and very curly. Anthony was the apple of my eye. He was everyone else’s apple, too. He was so beautiful that he sometime was mistaken for a girl. Anthony lived with us when he was a baby. He had the seat of honor. His high chair had to be placed next to Papa. Papa would feed him and top Anthony’s meal off with bread dunked in red wine. Anthony waited for his bread and wine every night. He was drinking wine at a legal age of nine months old. Anthony had Charisma. He could light up a room with his smile. He was the family social director and full of fun. Anthony died at age thirty-three in a construction accident. We miss him dearly. We keep him alive in our hearts. Anthony and Peggy had two beautiful children, Lorna and Tony. Tony has a little boy. Michael was tiny with long curly black hair. We called him the SHRIMP. Rosie started Michel on Uni-cap vitamins. Then he started growing normally. He’s not tiny anymore. Michael always greets you with a big warm smile that you could feel. Michael and Gail have three beautiful children, Michael Jr., Leah, and David. I’m sure Michael Jr. and Leah still identifies me with candy bars. David has a beautiful voice. (Another blessing from Mama Rosa!) Peggy and Gail can light up a room with their smile.
Rosie and I were chubby all our lives. We love to cook and eat. We are two years apart in age, and both of us were the only ones of the Coppa family to attend Holy Ghost School on Ridge Street. I started at Holy Ghost School from the third grade on. Rosie hated to wear her school uniform. She often went to school without her starched cuffs. She got detention for that many times. Rosie was a very likeable by all her school friends. Rosie is a typical Mama and easy to love. Rosie and I looked forward to being in the Minstrel Shows at Holy Ghost School. Rosie always sang in the chorus. One year I was the leader of Mac Namara’s band. Buddy La Bianca, Sal Dellagrotta, Donato Russo Louie Patriarca are great guys I hung out with. They were in my band!
1951- Reginella, Regina, Reggie married Ernest Petrangelo. Ernest was a great guy and lots of fun. He came from Warwick, the East Natick section. We finally settle for Reggie. I met my wife Anna at Reggie’s wedding. Reggie has four beautiful children, Joey, (Joey and Diane have two handsome sons Jimmy and Joey Jr.) Susan, Rosemary, and Billy. Billy has a handsome son, Billy Jr. Both of them have to thank my Aunt Mary for their nice names!!! Diane can light up a room with her smile.
Ernest died in 2000. He is greatly missed by all of us. We all have many nice memories of him. When our kids were growing up, we did many things together. He was a master of all trades. Ernie could do almost anything!
Once when I was about fifteen or sixteen, Reggie and Rosie were fighting. Mama sitting under the Pergola doing her knitting asked me to try and break it up. So, I put myself between them to stop the fight. They both turned on me and gave me the beating of my life. They almost ripped my shirt and pants right off of me. I had scratches on my arms and face. They beat on me for five minutes. I couldn’t get away Reggie held Rosie and me pounded on my head. Then Rosie held me while Reggie was punching me with a closed fist. They held me there. I was hollering, “MA, MA, MA HELP ME. Mama was laughing. When she laughed, her belly would move up and down. I could still see her laughing now. Whenever we talk of that story, we still laugh. I ended the worst of that threesome! If I got a good punch in the other would get me from the back. They walked away laughing while I was standing there with ripped clothes and a glum face.
On Saturdays, Reggie would be called HITLER, because she stood over the other three girls, giving orders in the Saturday, and weekly cleaning of the house as if she was a German S.S. Officer. Mama’s house was immaculate. With ten kids in that house, it never was untidy. Everything had its place. I understand that Reggie’s two daughters, Susan and RoRo have the same complaint to this day. Reggie’s house is immaculate.
Reggie was very protective of us kids. One time I had a fight with one of the Pizzi boys because he wouldn’t let me walk on his sidewalk. I gave Pizzi a beating, and then his sister Frances gave me a beating. I was about twelve years old and she was about eighteen years old. I went home crying to my sister Reggie. Reggie was eighteen years old at the time. Reggie and I walked down to Frances Pizzi’s house and called her to come outside. When she did, Reggie beat her up so bad and ripped every piece of clothing off of her. Frances was naked in the street. I mean really naked! The fight attracted all the people in the neighborhood to come out of their houses and watch the naked girl trying to defend herself. It took six people to break up the fight. Having Reggie for a big sister was better than having five BIG brothers.
In spite of the fight, the Coppa and the Pizzi family remained and still are very good friends.
1956- Mary married Elio Colletta. They had Linda and Paul. Linda has written a beautiful memorial for the family. She also is a Tiger just like her mother. Paul and Denise have two girls and one boy, three beautiful children, Khristine, Nicholas, and Brianna. Paul is a very hard worker and a great guy.
Mary and Laura were my playmates. I sometimes was called the missing, triplet. When we were about five or six years old, I could remember all three of us sitting on the Curbstone and watching the Cars go by. Mary was tough. One time we were fighting, and she stuck a broom in my face. After that fight I always thought twice before I would ever fight with her again. If you want your stomach to roll up and down, then, listen to Mary tell a joke. Phyllis Diller has nothing on her. Elio worships the ground she walks on. He’s great for her.
1957 Laura married Rocco Carnivale. Rocco was a good provider and liked fancy furnishings. They had two children, Joey, and Lorie. Joey did very well in college and is an Actuarial Genius. Lorie lives in Florida with her family and talks to Laura as often as she can. Rocco died in 1977. Laura was the most beautiful of all four girls. You could always see her with a comb in her hand always looking into a mirror. She has a Heart of Gold. I will never forget she made sure that I had (my men’s dowry) new shorts, t-shirts, socks and handkerchiefs before I went into my marriage. She did the same for cousin Pasqualino. Mama had died a few years before my wedding and Laura felt compelled to do what Mama would have done. Her two children are married and gave Laura five grandchildren. Laura has been in a nursing home since she was fifty-three years old. (1989) She has a tough life, but she just keeps chugging along. We all visit her and bring her goodies. She really is a pleasure to visit with. Laura we all love you!!!! (Go easy on the water, you know you are limited)!!!!! When Mama was very ill, it was Laura who cared for her, it was Laura who gave her the insulin she needed and it was Laura who stayed home every night to care for Mama. Somehow, it’s not fair for the life that she has now. But, I’m sure God will make it up to her some day. RIDGE STREET PLAYGROUND, MARY, LAURA AND ME IN
THE EARLY FORTY’S
When school let out in the summer, the Ridge Street playground opened for the season. With its young teen age workers to work with all the kids and more or less also are a lifeguard for the swimming pool. The large pool about forty by forty feet square and two feet down to three feet deep in the center was filled and emptied every day.
Every Morning dressed in our bathing suits Mary Laura and myself ran bare footed about sixty yards from 155 Ridge Street to the Swimming pool at the playground. At noon we ran back for lunch. Then back to the pool until three p.m. We were bare footed all summer long. The bottom of our feet became as hard as shoe leather. Reggie, Johnny and Rosie also use the pool.
Mama liked the idea of the pool. She didn’t wash too many clothes for us in the summer. We loved living in a bathing suit and bare footed all summer. Any neighborhood that had a city Swimming Pool the kids went bare footed all summer. It was like living in the country and yet still living in the city.
We had two such pools, one at Ridge Street and one on Knight Street two blocks away. Later in 1948 the Knight Street Pool was reconstructed into a large sports complex and an Olympic size pool. You could find me seven days a week there in the summer.
Mary tanned very quickly. Her tan was always close to black. Laura and I always burn to a Red Lobster color and layers and layers of pealed skin all summer long You could always be sure to find me in the pool or on the baseball diamond-playing ball. There was always some kind of crafts for Mary and Laura, weaving baskets or embroidery, gimp, Story telling and much more.
City life was great in those days. There was hardly any crime and everybody gave respect to one another. If you were one day older than your friend he would respect you as his elder. Every fight anybody two guys had, ended up best friends with his opponent for life.
I once had a fight with a great guy, Frank Russo. What did we fight about? I don’t really remember, but we shared a mutual respect for one another. To this day our faces light up when we bump into one another. We give each other a big hug and talk about our good old days at the corner. I wish that my children could have shared some of my childhood. Yes, “Those were the days”. ANNA AND I
1958- I married Anna Padula. A girl I first met at Regina’s wedding. I got to know her along with all the Natick teens. I would stop at her Uncle Jack’s Spa, play the Jukebox, have a Coke, and dance with the girls. I had no interest for any of the girls. I just was having fun. Jacks Spa was a fun place to go. Then I went into the Army for two years. I was a Cook in the Army. After my discharge from the Army, I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where I was going. I just was having fun. One night I was driving slowly down Washington Street in downtown Providence. I spotted two girls at a bus stop. I thought I recognized Anna. I stopped and said, “Hi Anna.” Anna didn’t recognize me and told her friend Mary, “Don’t bother with him.” I said, “Anna it’s me, Billy Coppa!” She took a second look, and that look was the beginning of a beautiful love life and family. She was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. You just have to see our wedding pictures. Anna comes from a beautiful family. She’s what every man wishes for. Anna is a Great Wife, a Great Mother and a Great Best Friend. I love you, Anna. Anna and I have three beautiful children, Billy, Maria and John.
BILLY MARIA JOHN
Billy is my son the Banker. He is a hard worker as the Collection Manager at Domestic Bank. A great son and he has made me proud of him. He along with my other children is as clean cut as they come. Bill has married a beautiful girl Francesca, with two children. They are Alexandra and Michael. They are good and very respectful kids. They do very well in school. Francesca is the best thing that ever happened to Billy. Francesca is truly a very good daughter- in- law.
When Billy played baseball with the Little League, he was a fair ball player, but never had hit a home run. I was waiting for one all through his last season. One Saturday, Billy got up to the plate. On the first pitch, WACO, RIGHT OVER THE LEFT FIELD FENCE. Billy ran all the bases and touched home plate. I was screaming for joy. Billy looked at me with a big, big smile. THEN,
THE EMPIRE CALLED THE HOME RUN A FOUL BALL. Billy, I still say that wasn’t a foul ball and I really mean it. I love you Billy.
MARIA
Maria is beautiful and can light up a room with her smile. Maria attracts many friends and people; they are very responsive to her because of her beautiful personality. She will go out of her way to greet you. She’s very responsive to everyone as well. When people see her they greet her with a great big “MARIA!” Maria loves life and when you are with her you can feel it. She’s still daddy’s little girl and always will be. I love her. I love you Maria Rosa. I see Mama Rosa in Maria quite often. She’s as giving as Mama was. Her husband, Rick, is a real nice guy. He’s big and tall with blond hair and blue eyes. He knows how to keep Maria happy. He’s a very good son-in law and a Model Father. We love him. He keeps busy selling Boats. Rick is our Gentle Giant.
Maria loved sports, too. She was a cheerleader, played basketball, and played and loves baseball. Maria played on a softball team up until last year. She hit a few home runs for her Daddy. She has made me very proud of her in many ways. She focuses on her two children twenty four hours a day with dancing and voice lessons, baseball, soccer, school lunch program, and President of the P. T. O. for two years.
JOHN
John is a branch manager for Citizen’s Bank. He is always striving to do better. John is my son the Banker, too. He also is a very hard worker. John has always made me proud of him. He has a retail brain the same as I have. He is highly recognized in his work. I love you John. John’s talents are wide. He will attempt to do anything in remodeling. If he doesn’t get it right at first, he’ll try and try again until he gets it right. That’s his Signature!
NIAGARA FALLS
When John was about four years old in the early Seventies, I took my family to Niagara Falls. We were walking along viewing the Falls. I was holding Billy and Maria’s hand and Anna had John in the Stroller. The mist from the falls was hitting us in the face. So I decided to cross the street and stand in front of a large Gift Shop to view the falls. We covered John in the Stroller with one of those paper-thin plastic raincoats. Anna and Billy went into the Gift Shop. Maria and John in the Stroller, and me, were standing outside the Gift Shop watching the Fall. There was a big crowd on the sidewalk doing the same. After about five minutes, I looked down at the Stroller and saw that John was sleeping. So I proceeded to open up the Stroller to a sleeping position to make him comfortable. The Stroller would not open. I shook it very hard a few times and it still wouldn’t open up to the sleeping position. Then I realized John didn’t wake up with all that shaking of the Stroller. I looked at him and saw the plastic raincoat over his mouth. I pick him up and shook him to try to wake him up. He wouldn’t wake up. I tried, and tried. Then I panicked and started yelling, “He’s Dead, He’s Dead!!!” Maria was crying! Just then, a Security Policeman came from nowhere, grabbed John from my hands and began giving him mouth to mouth. John woke up and started to cry. I took him, and couldn’t thank the man enough. In the excitement I forgot to get his name He left as fast as he came. It seemed that John wasn’t breathing for five minutes. I believe MAMA sent that man to me. Anna and Billy came out from the Gift Shop. Maria and I told them what just had happened. Anna started to cry and shake. She wanted to go home. We didn’t go home. That was a day that will live in Infamy for me.
PROWD PARENTS
I won’t brag too much about My Children, but I have the best kids in the world. And you should see my Grandkids, Amanda and Andrew, Maria and Rick’s children. They are even more beautiful than my kids. Amanda has been in Dancing School for the last nine years. This year she is in Voice School. Mama has really showed up in Amanda’s Voice. She is twelve years old, and Amanda is my life. I miss the days that I carried Amanda in my arms and sang Unchained Melody and Unforgettable to her. They are still our songs. She has a special love for me. Andrew goes to Soccer Camp every summer. He has what it takes to be a champion. He eats and sleeps soccer. He loves the game. Andrew is eight years old and Andrew is my life. He has a special love for me. Amanda and Andrew love to go fishing with me, and when Andrew goes fishing with his father he always brings a Big Fish home for Papa. Andrew likes TOYS r US. Amanda likes Weathervane Clothing. I have never seen two Grand Parents, and two Grandchildren any closer than we are. They run to hug and kiss us, no matter where we are. We melt for them, we spoil them, and Rick and Maria do a great job raising them. Anna is a true Mama. She’s a person everybody Falls in Love with. Her Amanda and Andrew have a special love for her too. Everyone always greets Anna with a big smile. She never tires; I don’t know where she gets all her energy. My Children and Grand-children are everything to Anna and me.
Let me quote the words of one of my best friends LOUIS CICERONE.
“HE WHO BRAGS AND DOES NOT HAVE TO LIE ABOUT IT…. LET HIM BRAG.
LAST OF ALL TEN TO BE MARRIED JOHNNIE AND MARY
1960-Brother Johnny last to get married, Married Mary from Rochester, New York. They had three children, one-boy and twin girls, John III, Debbie and Karen, and five Grand Children Before Johnny married he spent four years in the US Army. Most of that time, it was in Germany. He was there during the Berlin Blockade. Johnny also was a Cook in the Army. After Johnny returned from Germany, he became Papa’s number One Bartender. I became Papa’s number Two Bartender. Johnny bought a beautiful black “1951” Pontiac Convertible. He let me borrow it once in awhile. But, most of the time we scouted for girls together. Going to Rochester to visit Johnny and his family always was a big thing for us. He had a beautiful hunting camp that I enjoyed. When Johnny and his family came to Rhode Island, it was a big thing for us again. We always got a chance to play nine holes at Midville Country Club. His wife Mary would always make it a Threesome. Johnny and I had a nice childhood together. John died in the year 2000.We miss him very much. It would have been nice, if he could have raised his family in Rhode Island. Johnny, I miss you. Mary and the kids were here this year, and we hope she continues to visit us at least once a year.
DOWN HILL
Two years before I went into the army, Mama was starting to go down hill. She still was trying to do her daily housework. She wouldn’t give up. It was very hard for her and at Eight P.M. Every night when she got in bed, I would turn her on to her side and tuck her in and give her a big kiss. I did that for two years. When I went into the army, I showed Johnny how to turn Mama to her side at bedtime and tuck her in.
I was given a compassionate assignment and got station to Fort Devens, Mass. to be near Mama on weekends because she was going blind and that Mama didn’t have long to live. I was home every weekend and I tucked her in Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
The Mothers Day before Mama died, she asked me to take her on the Front Porch to sit with her. I got her down the one step to the Porch and sat her in her nice comfortable chair.
The whole family was at the house for Mothers Day. Mama and I were sitting on the Porch alone. We were having some real quality time together when she asked me to open all her Mothers Day Cards. As I opened it I read them to her and told her how much money each child has put in the envelope. After I read all of them Mama put her finger to her lips and motioned to be quit and handed all the money to me and said, “Take It, you’re in the army and I know you could use it. I didn’t want to take it, she forced it on me in a quit way. Four weeks later she had died.
MAMA DIES
Mama died in1956 at age sixty-two on Frankie’s Wedding Anniversary, June 14th. I was at Fort Devens, Mass. The Red Cross notified me to go to the Rhode Island Hospital because Mama was dying. I left Fort Devens immediately. One hour and forty-five minute ride to home. I decided to go to 155 Ridge Street first. I arrived one hour too late. I got there three in the morning. It was a hot night, and when I got to 155 Ridge Street, the family and Vinnie’s wife were all on the porch. Margie and I hugged, she was crying. I forced myself to cry. It really wasn’t a true cry. It just wouldn’t come out. Even though I knew Mama was very sick, I didn’t want to accept her death. When I got to bed that morning I cried.
I cried again on my 1994 trip to Ischia. Mom’s One Hundred Year of her birth. I had a mass said in the Church of Santa Lucia, the Patron Saint for the blind. Chiesa Santa Lucia is in the section of Moterone Forio, D’Ischia Mama’s Birthplace. Mama had blindness in her last years. Mama attended that Church many times as a child. It was within walking distance from her house. Three generation of Nieces and Nephews whom Mama never met attended and received Communion. Some of them were wearing some little momentum they received from Mama after the Second World War.
When the Mass ended, the priest made a little speech and sang a song for me. He said, “Guilliamo, I have had the honor of saying many special Masses for many special occasions, including my 50th.Ordination Mass of which I celebrated last year. But I never said a mass to honor a mother, dead, on her One-Hundredth Birthday. For that honor, I would like to repay you with a song.” Father Don Pasquale sang the beautiful song MAMA. All of Mama’s Nieces and Nephews sang along with the Priest. There wasn’t a dry eye in the whole Church. That was the cry I needed. When the song ended, I whispered, “Mama, A Madonna da Cumbania.”
Mama sent many care packages to all of her brother’s children. They especially remember the Chocolate.
I had a gathering after the Mass at a Restaurant in Forio, D’Ischia. And it turned out to be a happy occasion. That Cry was something I needed very much.
Mama never got to meet two daughters-in-laws, Anna my wife, and Mary, Johnny’s wife and Laura’s husband, Rocco. But the Daughter- in- laws and son in-laws she did get to know loved her very much. She was a saint to them too.
PAPA DIES
Papa died on December 27th. 1977. Anna and I were positioned next to the last in Papa’s Funeral, walking down the Isle at Holy Ghost Church where the COPPA’S were Baptized. When we were seated, I could see the backs of my Brothers and Sister. I saw how my five older brothers were ageing. I began to wonder of the future.
This big family from 155 Ridge Street will start to fade away. By the year 2000, Vito and Frankie’s wife’s, Lillian and Margie, Michael, Vito’s grandson, Sally’s wife Eleanor, Regina’s husband Ernest, Rosie’s son Anthony, Laura’s husband Rocco, the triplet Anna, Johnny and Vinnie, are all up there with Mama and Papa. I’m sure Vinnie is helping to make it a true Paradise for all of them.
We had a very sad Christmas season in 1978. Papa was eighty-seven years old when he died. He was an independent man, and lived at 155 Ridge Street right to the end.
After he sold his bar, he had a long Retirement. He tended to his gardens, played cards, and drank a glass of wine with his friend, Paul, every day. Papa enjoyed cooking for his friends and us. His Eyes would Sparkle when he saw his Grandchildren. He seems to be more talkative with them than he would be with his own children. The kids loved the Ice Cream, Chocolate Bars and Dollar Bills he would give them. His strict values were all good, and we are all happy that his values are still with all of us. His accomplishments are many. Papa came to America with very little. Papa raised a family of Ten Children with Mama in a fine fashion. We had love, respect, and gratitude for them. He took us through a Depression, He opened a Business which turned into a fine Establishment, and He bought a beautiful Cottage with a four Car Garage and gave us a fine Home and Cars. He had his Garden, his Cantina for his Wine, his Pergola to Dine Al Fresco. His Family was everything to him.
Papa never could image that his early days at General Fire (Grinnell Corp.) and his very good Irish friends would give him SIGNORA STATUS here in America.
In Italy if a Man achieves comfort for himself and his family he would be considered to be a Signora.
With his four door Buick Special Sedan, Papa was chauffeured by his six sons to where ever his heart desired.
Papa truly was a Signora!
NOW FOR A NICE ENDING
I’ll never forget my 12th. Birthday March 3rd1947 I got up to the Plate at the Ridge Street playground, and with the first pitch, “Waco”, Right over the Right Center Field Fence. MY FIRST HOME RUN, WOW. THE BALL WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE SECOND FLOOR WINDOW. I ran all the Bases, touched Home, and ran all the way home to 155 Ridge Street. RIDGE STREET playground emptied out in Two Seconds!!!
Billy Jr., I never told you about that! A TRUE, TRUE, STORY.
The house on 155 Ridge Street was sold to a nice Italian Family from Italy. There is a Mama and a Papa with Six Children living there. Mama and Papa have blessed that house. I know God will give that Family as much happiness as he gave too Giovanni and Rosa (Iacono) Coppa and his Family.
Writing this book is one of the greatest pleasures I have ever had.
MORE ABOUT BRIGIDA
Sometime in 1975 I was at my sister Rosie’s house and she handed a letter to me that was forwarded to her from the beautiful people who are occupying 155 Ridge Street.
My Cousin Brigida from Forio D’Ischia sent this letter without knowing if She will ever get an answer. Or if the letter will ever get to us.
She found an old letter with Mama’s address on it. It was a letter that Mama had sent in the late 1940’s. to Brigida’s Grandfather (Mama’s Brother Nicola).
She hungered for information about her Relatives from America and ultimately she filled my hunger for information about my Relatives in Ischia. That letter was the bases for Brigida to become my Pen Pal and I love her Dearly for that.
For this I will be forever indebted to her for opening up a whole new Beautiful, Beautiful World for me.
She has her Doctorates and is an Educator on the Island of Ischia.
Professor Brigida Iacono has been very helpful with the research on the Iacono side of the family through our frequent phone calls.
AMANDA AND ANDREW
This book was mainly inspired by my Grand-children Amanda and Andrew, when they continuously would ask me to tell them stories of the old days.
Then I realized that all my nieces and nephews along with my children know near to nothing about their heritage. This book should give them all a good start.
Thank you to Amanda and Andrew.