Bernie's Story

Bernie Gismondi found his family on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.

I would like to share the story of Bernie Gismondi, from Michigan, who reached out for my services finding his Italian heritage. He had planned a visit to the Amalfi Coast and it was the perfect opportunity to fullfill his dream of finding his family.

Bernie’s trip included searching for his Grandfather’s birthplace in Italy. He had never met his Grandfather who had passed away before he was born and his GrandMother never spoke english and lived in a different state in the USA  so he had  very vague and limited knowledge of his family’s roots. 

We had talked over the phone before his visit to Italy and I advised him that I could assist him in the search of his family’s history. He was able to supply me with some birth dates, marriage records and death notices to begin my research of his family’s history.

With this limited information, I was able to search Italy’s Military records which at that time required all 18 year olds to register with the military. I also was able to search ship records which identified the names and surnames and the dates of his Grandfather’s and Grandmother’s arrival in America. The ship records for his Grandfather identified his home town of Calvanico Italy. Once I identified his Grandfather’s town of Calvanico, Province of Salerno, I was able to start my research of his family members. 

I had contacted the churches in Calvanico who at the time of his Grandfather’s birth kept all Birth records only to discover that an earthquake in 1980 had destroyed them. I contacted the municipal records to discover that the Mayor of Calvanico was named Francesco Gismondi. 

I then visited mayor Francesco Gismondi in Calvanico before Bernie’s visit to Italy and found out  that they were related and second cousins. What are the chances? 
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When Bernie and his wife arrived in Amalfi, I picked them up at their Hotel to make the short trip to Calvanico where I had arranged a meeting with Bernie and mayor Francesco.

During our drive to Calvanico, we made an immediate connection with one another sharing our lives and families histories and  I was able to give them a history of the surrounding towns as we drove to Calvanico. 

Upon arriving in Calvanico, we stopped at the city’s entrance and took pictures and then parked in the center of town and walked to city hall to meet Mayor Francesco Gismondi and his brother Raffaele. The meeting between these family members was very special where Bernie was presented with a book of the town’s history  and dedication with the town’s officials.