Many of the Italians who came to Vermont in the late 1800s and early 1900s left their homeland to work in the granite, marble, and slate quarries. One of those who settled in Northfield in 1904, at the age of 15, was Stanislau Tucci. Hailing from the small town of Marzi in Cosenza, Stanislau learned to carve stone in the Northfield sheds. He met and later married Miss Teresa Pissani.

They remained in Northfield before eventually moving to Peekskill, New York, where Stanislau started his own monument company. The now very famous grandson of Stanislau and Teresa, Stanley Tucci, wrote a short piece for InStyle in 2021 entitled, “My Grandfather’s Mallet,” in which he references his grandfather’s ties to Northfield.

The article was shared with me earlier this year, and I first learned of Stanley’s Vermont connection. Immediately I began imagining Stanley’s visit—a three-day whirlwind including com-munity events, tours, and food tastings around Vermont. In my role as Vermont Italian Cultural Association President, it seems I am constantly imagining what’s possible. This seemed to fall within that realm.

I shared my dream over coffee with Vermont Italian Cultural Association member and Seven Days publisher Paula Routly who, with one email to a few colleagues, found a connection to Stanley Tucci’s father. Before retiring, Stanley Tucci Sr. had been an art teacher at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York, and Alison Novak, a Seven Days reporter, had been one of his students. Just like that, I was two degrees of separation from the Tucci family.

I soon became obsessed with getting Stanley to Vermont. I knew we’d need to grab his attention by appealing to two important aspects of his life that, through his books, movies, and TV shows, have revealed themselves: food and family.

With the help of Summer Drexel, a local graphic designer, we created the invitation with a not-so-subtle nod to his TV show “Searching for Italy” and his first movie, Big Night. We would need to be clever. In it we referenced some historic Tucci dates, including the arrival of his grandfather in Northfield, the names of his Stanley’s paternal grand-parents, and other important family details. We needed to demonstrate that we had done our homework!

What ensued happened quickly. After reaching Stanley Sr. by phone in Florida, where he now lives, Alison emailed him the invitation which eventually made its way to Stanley in London. Within hours of Alison’s phone call, I received an email from Stanley’s agent in New York who politely declined our invitation because of Stanley’s busy work schedule. She assured me he had seen the invitation. I was briefly satisfied.

So where do we go from here?

While my first effort fell short, I remain undeterred. I have occasional daydreams of greeting Stanley at the Burlington airport or tasting one of his famous Negroni. I remain hopeful that he will feel the familial pull of Vermont and return to his American roots. He would certainly receive a warm Italian welcome from this community.

As with many ideas, mine began with a conversation. Thanks to those Vermont Italian Cultural Association members who helped me connect all the dots, beginning with Beth Campo who shared “My Grandfather’s Mallet” over a glass of wine at Pearl Street Pizza. Special thanks to Paula Routly who listened as I excitedly shared my dream of getting Stanley to Vermont. To genealogist Jerry Carbone, who within minutes of receiving my frantic requests, located the Tucci’s marriage announcement and other vital records pertaining to the Tuccis in Vermont. And, of course, to Alison Novak, who made the connection to Stanley possible. They were all instrumental in reaching Stanley.

As for me? Well, I’m still searching for Stanley.