Raffaele Gliatta
Raffaele Gliatta
Raffaele Gliatta is the son of Antonio Gliatta, born in Greci in 1913. The photo was taken in the early 1930's in Italy while Raffaele served in the Italian military. He sent it to his family in Minnesota with just a brief message: "As a token of affection from your nephew Raffaele Gliatta, to my dear aunt, uncle and cousins. Kisses." Raffaele is now deceased, but his brother Alfredo still lives in Greci where he grows grapes and olives.
School picture - Greci - 1938
Angiolina Paglia, daughter of Nicola and Carosena (Costanza) Gliatta, sent
this picture from Greci to her sister Raffaela Norcia in Minnesota. Included
in the photo are Angiolina's children, Vittorio and Erminia Paglia.
The message was simple: "Dear aunt, uncle and cousins,
we are at the right of our teacher. Affectionately with kisses, Vittorio
and Erminia Paglia." Vittorio is now deceased, but Erminia still
lives in Greci.
Composite photo 1930's-1940's
A peddler from the Mesabi Iron Range in Minnesota guaranteed to make "uno bello ritratto" (a beautiful portrait) for my grandmother Raffaela Norcia, using several individual photos that she had. This is the result, and GrandMa wouldn't want her reaction to the finished product posted on the Internet!
From left to right: Francesco and Raffaela (Gliatta) Norcia, Pasquale Norcia (died in 1919 in a mining accident at the Tomboy Gold Mine in Telluride, Colorado), Antonio Gliatta (accompanied his sister Raffaela to America in 1913 and returned to Greci just before WWI), Angiolina (Gliatta) Paglia (She stayed in Greci even after her husband went to South America).
Sons of Francesco and Raffaela Norcia
Left to right: Alfred, their first child born in America at Mountain Iron, MN in 1914; Matteo, born in Greci in 1909; Leonard, born in Mountain Iron, MN in 1916. This photo was taken in 1994 in Virginia, MN just a few months before Matt died unexpectedly.
Greci Cugini in Wauskesha, Wisconsin
Back row: Joyce Gliatto (wife of the late Tony Gliatto), Mike Scrima, Helen & Tony Norcia. Front row: Carmela (Scrima) Gliatto, Judy Scrima (Mike's wife), and Dorothy Gliatto (Carmela's daughter).
This photo was taken in 1993 when we traveled to Waukesha to meet other Grecesi (I had never met anyone else from Greci), and to attend La Festa Italiana in Milwaukee. The photo was taken in the home of Joyce Gliatto, where we all met and told of our Greci connections.
Carmela was 91 at that time. She was born in Greci and came to America in the 1920's. As you can tell by the photo, she was still in full charge of her life. Mike Scrima visited Greci in the 1960's while he was in the Armed Forces, and he had many wonderful stories to tell. Tony Norcia's parents were born in Greci, and he regretted not going to Greci with his father for a visit. Tony has since passed away. Although I didn't establish a direct familial connection with them they decided unanimously to adopt me.
- Cugina Marjorie Norcia Gallagher