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PAGE 4 LA CANNA SIREN VOLUME IV ISSUE 2 Those Who Came This section is devoted to the memory of those who came to America from the Eolian Islands. They taught us the values of hard work, devotion to family, and caring for others even . .strangers. Feel free to contribute to this column. Proud of my Eolian heritage? by Julie Rando Ranucci Proud of my Eolian heritage? How could I not be? My grandfather, Stephen Rando, who is still alive at 86, and lives in Waltham, is one of the "Good ol' boys from Filicudi." Filicudi, his birth-place, and what he refers to as the "Old Country," is one of the seven Eolian Islands clustered between Naples and Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It never ceases to amaze me how at age 17, my age now, my grandfather kissed his mother good-bye and faced the long arduous journey to America. He still refers to some of his surviving friends as those “ he came over with on the boat.” Imagine being all alone sailing to this new, mysterious land! I wonder if I could have done that. But the opportunities of America must have been worth the sacrifice. Yes, it was my grandfather who sailed to America in 1921, through New York Harbor, viewing the Statue of Liberty and facing the trials of the infamous Ellis Island. All those rooms, bedlam, and the confusion of immigrants from all over Europe speaking many different languages and cautiously eyeing each other. Even at this point these immigrants didn’t know if they would fail the medical exams and possibly have to return to their own countries. But, thankfully, my grandfather passed the exams. And that was only the beginning. He now faced a whole new world without his family. But with self-determination he made his way through odd-jobs, from digging “pick and shovel” in the Newton cemetery to working a farm in Woburn. My grandfather recalls the Great Depression and still bears the mark on his back from carrying the hod. In the 1920’s my grandfather married my grandmother, Rose Giardina, and although she was born here in America, her father and mother were also born in Filicudi. Eventually, with encouragement from my grandmother, my grandfather, Stephen, developed a successful landscaping business. I am also proud to admit that at times I have helped him at his business. The experience of coming to know about my grandfather’s life has developed in me a great sense of appreciation for the saga of the immigrant of all nationalities. Today the Filicudi Association is one of the more prominent societies in Waltham because of people like my grandfather who took that brave step to come here so many years ago. I feel that I have inherited that determination of my grandfather and I am hopeful, that with the opportunities afforded me, I can be as successful in my own life as he was in his. Proud of my Eolian heritage? You bet that I am! PLEASE SUPPORT OCTOBER IS ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH PARTAKE OF THE MANY ITALIAN EVENTS IN OUR AREA. www.ItalianHeritageMonth.com for event listings.
VOLUME IV ISSUE 2 Salina, the Second Time Around by Joy Mandile Wolber Wally, my husband, our two children and I first visited Salina, the heart of the Eolian archipelago, in July of 1983, while he was a commissioned officer, stationed at Sigonella in Catania. Wally borrowed a car and took us on the ferry to Salina. Summertime is very hot there. When we got off the plane, at the military base the temperature was 104 degrees F and stayed in the 90's the entire time of our visit. Airconditioning was unheard of, and I thought "This is an experience I do not want to repeat." In spite of the intensely hot weather, however, as we approached Salina, it brought tears to my eyes, knowing that I was the first grandchild ever to go there. I had in my hand a stack of photos and postcards that my father, Joseph Mandile, had given me, to see if I could find anyone who knew my grandparents. In Santa Marina we came upon an old man, sitting in a doorway, who scanned the photos and postcards and took out one, written to my grandfather and signed by a man named Antonio Ravisi. The old man then sent us to the bread store in Malfa where a LA CANNA SIREN lady who spoke English directed us to 1 Via Fontana, a street behind the church, and to the court yard of 70 year old Bernardo Ravisi. Bernardo looked at the post card and to our delight, told us that it was, in fact, his father, Antonio Ravisi's signature. We instantly bonded with the Ravisi's, Bernardo, his wife and her brother, who so kindly invited us into their home, served us biscotti and cider and talked L to R: Jim Mandile, Mimi Mandile, Joy Mandile Wolber, Wally Wolber with us about our search for relatives in Salina. Fast forward to Wednesday, March 16, 2006 when my husband, Wally, my brother, Jimmy, who was celebrating his birthday, his wife, Mimi, and I landed in Rome. I wasn't eager to come back after having felt the heat of 1983, but I wanted to be with Jimmy when he experienced what I had felt seeing Salina for the first time. We decided to head south right away to Messina and thought it would be fun to take the train, but it was a very long 7-hour trip. When we finally arrived in Messina we spent the night and decided to stay the next morning until its famous clock tower PAGE 5 gave its concert. At noon, every day, its mythical statues are set in motion and play music. Don't miss it if you ever get to Messina! We then rented a car big enough to haul four adults and all our luggage, and after stopping briefly to visit the town where Mimi's ancestors came from, we headed off to Milazzo where we caught a ferry to Lipari. Lipari is a beautiful island. We settled in for a couple of days and while there drove around the entire island taking lots of photos of Salina in the distance and visiting the ancient dig-sites and archeological museum. It probably appeared strange to the natives, but feeling compelled to take "a piece of the land" of our ancestors home with us, we scooped up a few chunks of pumice and lava rocks. Early the next day, Sunday, March 19, we got the 9am ferry to Salina and while on board, learned about the San Giuseppe Festival to be held that day on Salina. After arriving, it took us a while to find the Hotel Signum where we were to stay because it is set back away from the road, high up on the island, in a quiet area, overlooking the sea. The air smelled so beautiful from all the lemon trees covered with lemons. Once we settled into the hotel, we (Salina, Continued on page 6)
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