Peter Petrucci has lived the American dream, one stitch in time at a time. The dream that started in his native Italy took Petrucci on a journey to the U.S. by way of Canada. He opened his business, J&P Upholstery, more than 50 years ago in Rochester and has been in Fairport since 1979. His expertise has led to jobs that include reupholstering all the seats at the Eastman Theatre during its big renovation project a few years back.

The 79-year-old Petrucci was only 18 when he left Italy. “I was tired of being poor,” he said of his reasons for starting anew across the Atlantic Ocean. “My family, we had a little farm. I didn’t want to be a farmer.” So, first he headed to Canada in 1957 because he believed at that time it was easier to enter than the U.S. There, he learned a trade in upholstery. His brother, Rino, followed and joined him in Canada.