My grandfather was born in Frattamaggiore a few miles north of Naples, the eldest of 14. He attended school in Italy and knew how to read and write. His father was a peddler with a horse and cart, who went from city to city selling his wares, often accompanied by Rocco. On April 30, 1907 my grandfather arrived at Ellis Island aboard the America having left from Marseilles France ten days before. After his processing at Ellis Island he was found on a park bench by a New York City Policeman who took him to a barber who spoke Italian and told him how to find his destination in Williamsburg, probably on Richardson Street. He attended night school and read only English language papers to learn to speak English. He found it hard to find a job and worked out west building railroads and helped dig the trenches for the NYC subway system. He paid for the transit of his brother Pasquale and sister Giovannina to this country. He got married in Brooklyn and had 2 daughters, Maria and Angelina by his first wife. He married a second time, in an arranged marriage, to my grandmother, Concetta Russo, in the early 1920's. My father, Frank was born in 1926 and was followed 4 years later by Michael and in another 5 years by Raphaela. My father recalls that his father was one of the few of his parent's friends who could read and write. Often his father would read letters for people and help them respond. He earned a very good living in the cement business and realized that real estate was where the real money was. As did many, he lost almost everything during the depression. He managed to retain one house at 42 Richardson Street, in Brooklyn, where the family moved. He was able to obtain credit from builders who knew he was a man of honor. He moved his family to an apartment on East 53rd Street in the Mill Basin section of Brooklyn and built a house at 1600 East 53rd Street. Although never as successful as he was before the depression he provided well for his family. My grandmother died in 1969 and as Rocco aged he lived with his daughter Raphaela. Rocco loved his adopted country and although he had the means to return to Italy he had no desire to leave Brooklyn.

My grandfather was an intelligent, well-liked, industrious person. I wish I had gotten to know him better. Thank you to my father, my Aunt Marge (Raphaela) and Uncle Pat for providing me with most of this information.

Cause of Death: Prostate Cancer.