………………………My father’s name was Vincenzo Dell’Olio, or Vincent…….but he was called James or Jimmy. My father was born in 1912 and came to this country with his father when he was a young boy. My grand father was a fisherman in Italy, and came to this country with nothing. He started a business with a push cart in NYC. My father stayed with him and eventually my grand father, Mauro Dell’Olio, could afford to bring his wife and two young daughters to America. They lived in “Little Italy” in NYC. It wasn’t called Little Italy when they moved there, but it was an area in NYC where Italians congregated…….The second picture in from the top left shows my grandfather seated, and his wife Graziella Patruno, my grandmother Grace, and their four daughters, Victoria, Lucy, Josie and Mary. Eventually there would be seven children. My father, the oldest and first son, is standing on a bench left in the picture. The rest of the children are all girls. My father wouldn’t have a brother until number six came along. His name was Luigi or Louis. My mother wanted to name me after my father. She wanted to call me James…..However, my grandfather TOLD my father that I had to be named after his only brother Louis, and so I was named Louis.. My oldest brother was named after my father’s father, Mauro, and my middle brother was named John after my mom’s father. My dad’s baby sister Edith is still with us. She’s in her 90s. What I love about this picture is how handsome and well dressed my grandfather was in his three piece suit and shined black shoes, and how well dressed all of the family were. I would guess my grandmother’s blouse was white linen. My father is too cute in his little uniform. I have often said that immigrants, who had little money to spare, always were well dressed. They had much more taste than so many people today. Of course they only wore natural fibers, wool. cotton and linen, because that’s all that existed. That was to their benefit….Silk was only for the wealthy. The picture to the far left is my parents wedding, Oct. 15th, 1938. She had two brides maids, and one matron of honor, all in silver metallic lame….My father’s expression looks like a deer in headlights…..what was he thinking! They had a huge wedding…..My parents knew each other since they were children. Both of their families came from Bari, Italy. They first lived in NYC, but eventually their fathers bought houses in the country….”Brooklyn”. They lived right around the corner from each other…..My father pursued my mother for years until she finally said yes……The photo at the extreme right is me and Dad at a park in Brooklyn. I was about two. The picture below is also me at the water fountain in the same park…My mother always said I was a very independent child and liked to walk on my own…..no hand holding for me……The pictures of my mother and father at the beach in Florida was during their honeymoon. The next picture is of my mother and father, in his three piece suit, and my mother in a forest green coat with red fox trim looking so good! She was a red head, and wore a lot of green…..That’s my father in the Bermudas/Knickers?, and a polo shirt with his best friend, Bubby in the Catskills. My father was always a snappy dresser…..I guess I got that from him and my mother who also loved beautiful clothes…..The above photo is of my mom and dad, my brother John and me at Christmas. I have a BIG SMILE on my face because I got a pool table [in the back ground]. The only color picture is of my dad his mom who is seated, and her sister, my great aunt Victoria. They are surrounded by four of my father’s eight grandchildren….from left to right. John [who passed away at the age of 21 from a tragic accident on the Throgs Neck Bridge 30 years ago], Jonathan, James and Danielle……..My father was a music lover. He told me he took violin lessons as a boy. My grandfather played the guitar, and would play and sing Italian songs to us. He always had a box of Chiclets in his pockets for us. We would all gather around him like the Pied Piper waiting for him to hand them out…….My father was also an alter boy!! Holey Smokes!!! Instead of going to violin lessons he would play craps with the priests behind the church!!!!……a real rascal…..Every evening after dinner we would sit together in the finished basement of our house on Long Island, [his man cave], and listen to the hundreds of 78 records he collected. My brother has them but no one seems to want to buy them??!!. I became a music lover of the great Big Band singers and all of the big bands…the famous contemporary singers of the time…..the jazz bands, and jazz singers, operas, [not for me, but my father loved them], and Broadway shows. He loved it ALL…….He would give each of us a cordial glass of raspberry liquor, and we would sip and listen…..I enjoyed that alone time with my dad….My father was proud of my accomplishments, and was at every Coty Award ceremony cheering me on………My Mom and Dad were married for 76 years. They passed away within ten days of each other. When my Mom passed, two days before Christmas, my father told me she was calling him……They just couldn’t be apart………………I’ll be with my brother for Father’s day. This will be the first time we’re actually physically together since Covid…..over a year!!! That’s unbelievable…….Thank goodness for face time!………………Happy Father’s Day Dad…….and to all the Dads!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful memories and photos. I agree that you resemble your grandmother Graziella Patruno. My father was also named Vincent—so we have that in common, too! He was called Vin, Vince and Vinnie–depending on who they were and how they knew him. He’s gone 28 years now and I miss him every day. I lived in Westchester County, NY from 1986 to 1996 and I remember that horrific freak accident on the Throgs Neck Bridge that killed your young nephew. So sad for your family.
Wonderful pictures and memories. You had a handsome family. Love the wedding photo… everyone looks just fabulous. Thank you for sharing.
Louis, thank you so very much for sharing these wonderful memories of your family! What a tribute to your father and grandfather! Your designs over the years have been superb. I find myself saying, “I have that one upstairs!” and it reinforces my aim to shop in my closet and wear your designs, over and over again. They become brand new! Never out of style! For this reason, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your amazing talent and how you have helped me look darn good over the years. Bless you over and over again.
Happy Father’s Day Louis to you and your brother. Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories about your family. What a beautiful family. It made me remember my dad and how he loved that chiclet gum also. He didn’t chew it often, but always had it on hand to share with his children. Linda from AZ thanks for the reminder to have an angel to give my dad a hug today. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads!
Loving your family’s stories and photos! Once again I agree with you that the early immigrants knew how to choose clothing that was classic and could stand the test of time.
My father was born in 1900 and arrived in NYC with a paternal uncle and aunt when he was 16. His affectionate stories of working on the Lower East Side (I think) at a confectionery always charmed me. As a bright and curious person, he was fascinated by the Italian and Jewish folk he had never had the opportunity to meet in his Greek village. Like him, I am fascinated by those who are different from me and love to learn about them. Of course, these days, our differences are not so great as they were in the early part of the last century.
It would be interesting to know if my dad ever served any of your family members at the confectionery. They sold soda fountain treats as well as candy.
Unlike another poster, I see much of your facial construction in your grandmother Grace. The eyes, the mouth, the cheeks and chin. I bet you favor her father as girls tend to look more like their dads and boys tend to look more like their moms. A generalization, but it has proved true so often for me. (There is a built-in contradiction here since I am tracing you back through your dad’s side, but that is the resemblance that I spot.)
I enjoyed your account of your family. Thank you so much.
Clumsy Goldie76 posting as “Anonymous” once again.
Thank you for your wonderful stories. You look so much like your father and grandfather. What a handsome family. I have mixed emotions when I see your retrospective. Of course your designs are always brilliant, but I can buy no more. When I clean my closet I can’t get rid of Linea. They are real classics with a twist and never go out of style. Thanks again for all you have done for us.
Ann, you so wonderfully captured exactly what I was thinking. I couldn’t agree more. And Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, whether they are with us or watching over us.
Louis….Thank you for sharing the wonderful memories of your Dad and family. The photos are gorgeous. We miss them everyday, don’t we? My parents passed away within 5 days of each other. Dad did not want to be here without his “Shug”, short for Sugar, my mom’s nickname. Both were in failing health and he made his decision, as the hospice nurse said. We are blessed to have the photos. I always send up a prayer, to have an angel give my parents a hug, and tell them I love them.
Both of my parents were 95 years old when they passed. They knew each other since they were children. The funny thing is my mother never really cared for my father. She knew the families all too well, and all 6 of his sisters! My Mom and I shared stories of her boy friends, one of which she almost married!…..but my dad had his eye on the prize and finally won her over!…..Good thing for ME!!!!!
What a beautiful history of your family and their journey as Italian immigrants settling in America. I love all the little details you shared, like your grandfather handing out chiclet gum to his grandchildren. My grandfather loved the same kind of gum and got me hooked on it early on. Wonderful memories of a time gone by. Thank you for sharing that story with us! Happy Father’s Day Louis! 😊