Dad was the second and youngest son of my grandmother, Nonna Teresa. When he was born at the end of 1917, women of wealth hired wet nurses who took care of babies after their birth so that the mothers would be free to continue with their social activities. Nursing children was not considered very refined by the European aristocracy and wealthier families of that time.
As Dad grew up he began school, but for some reason did not take much of a liking to it. I think he was somewhat like what his oldest son would be years later in that he enjoyed doing sports and physical tasks. At some point he dropped out of school and so he had to start working full time. He became a door to door salesperson and was good at it because everyone liked him.
At eighteen in entered the Italian army and became a drill sergeant and then went on to Officers Candidate School earning the rank of second lieutenant and then volunteering to serve in Northern Africa. He was assigned the command of a company that had a mobile machine shop and he was responsible to move supplies to the front line.
As the front lines moved back and forth over the North African dessert, he found large hidden supplies of food and gasoline that had been uncovered by the winds. He also learned how cold the nights could be and at one point a great flood kept him soaked for several days. Ever since then he could tell when it was about to rain. He would say that part of his body would start aching.
After sever defeats the Italians were ordered to retreat and he was captured by the British and transferred to the Americans where he was held for three years at different prisoner of war camps scattered throughout the southern United States.
After the end of the Second World War he was repatriated landing at Naples. His mother went down to welcome him bringing him back to Rome. It was quite a dramatic moment after being separated for close to five years. Grandmother and Dad vowed to remain close the rest of their lives.
My father soon opened up his own business in the historic part of Rome. It was a cafe on Via Crispi called “Vasco’s Bar”. He ran several different enterprises at the same time and also sold tickets at the opera house so that way he could watch great musical performances for free.
Later Dad became an expert and wrote a booklet on the history and use of gold. He was one of the largest sellers of gold in Rome during the 1960’s.
He used his sharp mind and well informed knowledge to explain complicated economic matters to his friends and clients so that they could make the best investment decisions.
There were many different celebrities that came into his office in Rome: the great Jewish pianist Rubenstein, Steve Reeves the body builder, and at one time he knew Aldo Moro, the Prime Minister of Italy, and Guido Carli, the head of the Central Bank of Italy.
He was the best example of generosity and yet he never acted unwisely with his propensity to give to others. He knew how and when to give and he gave just the right amount at every opportunity that was presented to him.
He never refused any requests that I made to him except for one time when my mother intervened exercising unexpected veto power. It was because he had promised to buy me a motorcycle and my mother predicted that there would be problems if he did. At first he listened to Mom, but later capitulated and brought me to the show room where there was a motorcycle waiting for me.
I can still remember his demeanor when he went with me to look at the Benelli V5. I could detect a reluctance, but at the time I was too focused on pleasing myself to be able to pass on the opportunity. I acted selfishly.
He bought me the Benelli, because he was a man of his word. He kept his oath even when it hurt him. Buying the motorcycle for me hurt him.
Sure enough there were many problems with the Benelli motorcycle, not only did I have an accident with it, so did others.
Dad felt he had a great responsibility in raising my brother and me, a responsibility that remained square on his shoulders. Something he did not want to miss carrying successfully to completion during his life.
Dad was the most wonderful man I knew while growing up. I always admired and looked up to him as early on as I can remember. And today I still stand in awe of how well he raised me.
Having him around gave everyone in the family a great sense of protection and security.
Dad and Mom were always right in all that they taught and instructed me.
Dad told me that one day I would thank God for him – he was right. Many times since then I have done just that and I don’t believe I will ever stop while here on the earth.
The proverb, “Father knows what is best” never failed to be true in his dealings with me, and the same was true with Mom.