Family Portrait

From left to right - 1936

<:> My mother, Ninfa, was born in Caccamo, Sicily, 5/22/1895. She arrived here in 1898 when she was 3 years old. She had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Her father, Giovanni Porto, traveled back and forth from Sicily, very frequently. I don’t recall that he ever had a regular job and yet he was always very prosperous. I suspect that he had more than just peripheral connections to the Mafia. On the other hand, my mother’s grandfather, Anthony Panseca, was a mounted carabiniere in Sicily. He distinguished himself many times by capturing and bringing to justice, lawless brigands who roamed in the mountains. I used to love to go through all of his medals and citations. So there, we balanced out the law.

My brother Alfred, born in NYC, 12/21/1916.

Queenie, our beloved family pet, about 8 years old in this picture.

My sister Mary, born in NYC, 7/24/1918.

Me. Like Hamlet, I’m brooding. Don’t ask me why.

<:> My father, Quintino, was born in Bagnoli, Abruzzi, 5/22/1885. He arrived here in 1907. His father was a pharmacist. Unbeknownst to him, my father used to make small bombs that he exploded in the town's local river. He gathered more fish that way than his family could possibly cook or devour. Later, in Rome, he became a skilled patternmaker and when he came here, his services were sought by nearly every dress manufacturer in the garment district of NYC. Check that straw hat! Every Sunday, he went over it with a toothbrush and lemon juice.