Di Poto's Story

My husband’s grandparents, Joseph and Forlano Maria Giovanna, were born in Postiglione, a small town of roughly 2000 inhabitants about an hour east of Naples.  The couple married on April 6, 1922 (an arranged marriage) and immigrated to New York October 1, on board of the President Wilson Ship leaving from the port of Naples.  The couple was lured to America by the promise of steady, possibly lucrative work as well as business opportunities.  Many siblings on both sides of their family emigrated as well and settled in the New York and New Jersey areas.  Joseph and Maria established several grocery stores in Queens and Brooklyn New York, providing general merchandise but specializing in Italian sausages and pastries.  The couple raised 3 boys, one being my husband’s father Eugene.  Joseph’s wife Maria passed away in 1960 and Joseph decided to return to his home in Postiglione, leaving his sons and grandchildren in the US.  He was eager to help his town and invested in 2 businesses, a coffee shop and a motel in effort to bring tourism to the town.  Joseph remained in Postiglione until 1975 when he passed away.  His son, Eugene, (my husband’s father) returned Joseph’s body to the US to be buried in a family plot in New York next to his wife, Maria.

Joseph had 3 siblings, Rosa, Assunta and George.  Assunta and George immigrated to the US while Rosa remained in Postiglione.  Joseph was closest to his oldest sister Rosa and her descendants remain in Postiglione today.

Joseph had 3 sons.  Only one, Eugene, had children … 4 boys.  Joseph’s grandchildren (my husband) live mainly in the Massachusetts area and also in Wisconsin.

This is the story of Giuseppe (Joseph) father of Eugene and told by his wife Lynn, who was recommended my service by Teresa Mottola (already my client) having both relatives in Postiglione province of Salerno.

We went to Postiglione on July 5th, 2016, a hot and sunny day, me Lynn Eugene and their 4 children. I had already contacted the municipality of our arrival which to everyone's surprise, organized by a beautiful welcome in the main square in front of the municipality. Italian flag, a small band, but the most touching thing was the presence of Rose, Eugene's aunt, very old, and Annarita, one of Eugene's nephews, Donato Di Poto, a dentist of the village but also Eugene’s relative. Rose did not take her eyes off him even for a moment, she held his hand so tightly that she did not want to let him go anymore, because she said to Eugene "this could be the first and last time we can see each other, talk, I am too old". A unique sweetness.

We went to visit Joseph’s motel that was abandon from long time, we saw the coffee shop working but was not anymore of the family. We lunch all together at La Doga restaurant and then we went at Donato house for a coffee. He gave to Eugene a record where he had recorded all the photos of the day, it was just another amazing day for everybody, and everybody hoped it would never end.

Annarita (Eugene’s nephew) would have married in 2017 and invited the whole family to the wedding, I don't know but I hope they managed to return, I remember they were thinking of renting an apartment or even buying it in order to return more often to the family's country of origin.