My parents immigrated from the picturesque town of Isca sullo Ionio in Calabria. In 1964, after completing his two years in the Italian army, my father, Saverio, left Italy to meet up with his father, Domenico, who had already been in the United States.

He found work right away in a clothing factory, then eventually in his trade as an auto mechanic. He endured many challenges, including the death of his father shortly after arriving here. In 1969, my father went back to Italy to eventually meet and marry my mother, Giovanna.