By Mario Malvizzi

My coming to America took place in a kind of roundabout manner. I was born in Pittsburgh in 1930, but because of the untimely death of my father, Mario, my mother, Maria, along with me, at 6 months old, and my sister, 5, returned to Italy to be with my mother's family. She had emigrated to America in 1920 and married my father in 1924.

I lived in Italy until I was 16. There, I completed my elementary education and Italy's equivalent to high school where I studied business and commerce. From my earliest age, my mother suggested that when I grew up, I should return to America, my country. I returned, arriving in New York on my 17th birthday, March 18, 1947.

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Source: http://timesleader.com/