It was being replayed once more since the late 1890’s, this time in the mid-fifties: 1956 to be exact, on a night in July, as the big ocean-liner nosed its way through the waves of the North Atlantic, to New York Harbor, and the shores of the U.S.A.
Like millions before them, they were coming here to live their dream, a special dream to be an American family; the Carboni family enjoyed the crossing on that summer evening, with little to occupy their minds except the excitement of the Shores as they watched in silence, America sliding by.
Like many Italians before them this would be their new home. A new way of life awaited them. Little did they know what really awaited them that July 25th evening!
An ocean liner for the Italian Line (Società di navigazione Italia) home ported in Genoa, Italy, and named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral ship had a gross register tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and 500 crew. For a country attempting to rebuild its economy and reputation after World War II, the ship was an icon of Italian national pride. Of all Italy's ships at the time, it was the largest, fastest and supposedly safest. Launched on 16 June 1951, the ship undertook its maiden voyage on 14 January 1953.
Approaching the Nantucket coast off of Massachusetts, Mario, his wife Renata, the mother of two children: Liviano 8 years old and Patrizia 11 months, the family anticipated their arrival with some apprehension, and maybe a small amount of regret that they left their familiar home and language for the new shores of the Land of the Free.
Many years later, after the death of Mario and Renata, her parents, Patrizia revealed to her friends a shocking fact. Being a member of the Wanna-Be Bank and Truss Company, and thus a co-worker of TLW (The Little Woman) and Toots II, TLW’s look alike, and now a good friend along with her husband Bill, I was flabbergasted as were we all, who didn’t know. We knew she was special, but not that special!
How many people do we know who were present at Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked it in 1941? How many people do we know who participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6th, 1944? Do we know anyone who was witness to the assassination of JFK in November of 1963?
It was one Sunday afternoon in Woodloch Pa, that she choosed to tell her story. As we waited to board the little excursion across a lake on a small ferry! You see that secret she revealed occurred over 56 years ago, and we suddenly had a friend with celebrity status!
The ship which Patrizia, the Princess of Foxwood Points, was a passenger, listed on its registry was the SS Andrea Doria, forever linked with one of the greatest sea disasters since the Titanic!
Fortunately for the Carboni family, they were taken aboard the Stockholm, the ship that collided with the Andrea Doria, sending her to a watery grave.
2 comments:
I often think about our ancestors who made that crossing, especially the early generations who had no support system waiting in America. Things must have been very bad in Italy and the rest of Europe for them to make that journey. Our visits to Ellis Island are always emotional ones for me,,,I somehow feel such a strong connection with my grandparents when I'm there. Nice reading about the Carboni family.
Thanks Joe for a very nice story.
I don't think of myself as a celebrity but after you help me write my memoirs maybe I will be.
Maybe I'll give you a few dollars after the book becomes a best seller.
In all seriousness I always did and do appreciate all my parents sacrificed for us to give us a better life. And a good life we did have. Without them I wouldn't have met fine people like you and TLW.
Patrizia
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