Giulio Esposito’s father Elia immigrated to America from Tortoreto, Abruzzo where he had a butcher shop.His mother Giannina Tarquinio was born in America in West Virginia; although she was on a visit to Italy when she met and fell in love with her future husband.

Once Giannina returned to the United States, the immigration process for Elia began and the couple had to wait six months for him to arrive. They settled in South Philadelphia, in an apartment at 10th and Carpenter streets, and had their only child, a son, Giulio.