A crowd of 300+ enjoyed the festivities of kicking off Italian Heritage month in the sister towns of Belleville and Nutley. Held at The Landmark in East Rutherford, those in attendance supported the honorees of the event, including Grand Marshal Joe Cervasio. Below is his acceptance speech:
PARADE ACCEPTANCE
THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE COMMITTEES OF THIS BELLEVILLE- NUTLEY COLUMBUS DAY PARADE DINNER, PARTICULARLY, GERARD TOLVE, DR. KATHLEEN BISSELL, AND FRANK RUSSO.
GERRY WILL ALWAYS BE A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE—IT WAS HE WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO JOIN THE NUTLEY UNICO SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MY NOMINATION AS GRAND MARSHAL.
ALSO FOR DR. BISSELL’S SUPPORT AND FOR HER GREAT EXAMPLE OVER THE YEARS TO ALL YOUNG ITALIANAMERICAN WOMEN CONTEMPLATING THE FIELD OF MEDICINE.
TO FRANK RUSSO, THE PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE PARADE, I SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXAMPLE OF SINCERE SERVICE TO BOTH TOWNS, IN ALL YOU DO IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE AT HOFFMAN LAROCHE, AND AS A HUSBAND AND FATHER.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FELLOW HONOREES, ... BUT AS THE BIBLE SAYS, “NOW, TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED.” FOR EACH OF US, IT HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
IN CONTEMPLATING THE LEGACY OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, I THOUGHT THAT AS ITALIAN AMERICANS, WE SHOULD ALL … “DISCOVER NEW WORLDS OF OUR OWN,… EVERY DAY.” SO MANY LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM COLUMBUS’ ADVENTURE TO THE NEW WORLD—PRIMARILY THAT EACH OF US HAS THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TODAY AND IN OUR FUTURE TO APPLY HIS PERSISTANCE AND COURAGE IN ALL THAT WE DO.
I’M A BELLEVILLE-NUTLEY GUY. 711 BELLEVILLE AVENUE, BELLEVILLE, NJ IS WHERE I GREW UP … PERHAPS THEN AND STILL NOW, IT IS THE CENTER OF THE WORLD FOR MY SISTER DONNA, MY BROTHER ALAN, AND ME.
OVER THE YEARS THERE I SPENT HOURS AT THE NUMBER TEN SCHOOL PLAYGROUND AND AT BELLEVILLE MUNICIPAL STADIUM, THE BOG, PLAYING FOOTBALL, BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL. MANY OF MY TEAMMATES AND CLASSMATES HAVE BECAME LIFE LONG FRIENDS, … AND EVEN MY HEROES TO THIS DAY. AFTER COLLEGE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY IN ITHACA, NEW YORK, I MARRIED MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, BELLEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER, MARIA CORINO. I MOVED TO THE “BIG TREE” SECTION, RIGHT ON THE BELLEVILLE-NUTLEY LINE AT THE JUNCTION OF ST. MARY’S PLACE AND CARMER AVENUE.
DURING THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF MY MARRIAGE, I SAW AND EXPERIENCED, FIRST HAND, HOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WORKED HARD AT KEEPING ITS ITALIAN TRADITIONS, AND HOW THEY HELPED THEIR FELLOW MAN THROUGH THE OLD ITALIAN FIORENTE SOCIETY, OF WHICH I KNOW MANY OF YOU AND YOUR RELATIVES WERE MEMBERS.
FOR THE LAST 38 YEARS MARIA AND I HAVE BEEN IN NUTLEY WHERE WE RAISED OUR FAMILY. MY DAUGHTER TINA, A NUTLEY AND UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND PRODUCT, IS A SPORTSBROADCASTER WHO CAN’T FORGET THE SPORTS AND ITALIAN AMERICAN FAMILY STORIES OF HER LATE GRANDPA ROCKY CERVASIO —YES, IN LISTENING TO MY FATHER’S TALES FROM THE STREETS OF NEWARK, TO CITY STADIUM, TO THE SANDS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC ATOLLS WITH HIS BELOVED SECOND MARINE DIVISION,—TINA LEARNED THE POWER OF STORY-TELLING.
IN ADDITION, REALTIVE TO MY MOTHER, TINA HAS BEEN ABLE TO ARTICULATE, THROUGH HER OWN IMAGINATION, THE VIVID IMAGE OF HER GRANDMA MARIETTA’S LOVE OF THE NEW YORK YANKEES AS SHE WOULD LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF MEL ALLEN AND WATCH ON HER LITTLE BLACK AND WHITE TV, IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOT SUMMER DAY, WHILE SHE IRONED.
TINA ALSO INHERITED HER GRANDMOTHER’S SKILLS OFLISTENING, WRITING, AND THE ENERGY TO WORK THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT. IT’S AMAZING HOW I SEE MY MOTHER IN TINA AS SHE SUCCEEDS IN HER ROUND THE CLOCK WORK AS A SPORTS BROADCASTER.
MY SECOND DAUGHTER CORRINE ALSO ATTENDED NUTLEY HIGH, AND IS A GRADUATE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. SHE’S PRESENTLY A TECHNOLOGY SALES EXECUTIVE IN THE HEALTH INFORMATION INDUSTRY. HER WORK ETHIC IS RIVALED ONLY BY THAT OF HER POP-POP, … THE LATE ANGELO CORINO OF C. CORINO AND SONS,CONSTRUCTION AND ESCAVATION, BELLEVILLE. HER GRANDFATHER’S SIMPLE BUSINESS SENSE CAPTIVATED HER AT THE KITCHEN TABLE.
SHE ALSO SAW THE DEPTH OF CHARACTER IN HER NANNY SALLY’S EYES, THE LATE SANTINA GIARDINA CORINO, AS SHE WITNESSED NANNY’S UNCANNY ABILITY TO BE HONEST, YET GENTLE AT THE SAME TIME; SHE OBSERVED COURAGE IN SALLY. AND CORRINE EMBRACED THE REPORTS OF THE MONTHLY CORINO/GIARDINA COUSIN CLUBS—TODAY, COUSINS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO CORRINE.
I WAS TEMPTED TO LEAVE BELLEVILLE AND NUTLEY FROM TIME TO TIME DUE TO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THANK GOD I LISTENED TO MY WIFE. IT WAS THE BEST BUSINESS DECISION I EVER MADE, …OR PERHAPS MY WIFE EVER MADE FOR ME. STAYING IN BELLEVILLE AND NUTLEY BECAME A PRICELESS WAY OUR CHILDREN WOULD LEARN ALL ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AND THEIR ITALIAN AMERICAN TRADITIONS.
MY WIFE AND I ARE TRADITIONALISTS. MY CERVASIO/FRASSO/MARIANI/PARRILLO MEMORIES ARE VIVID. THE MOST VIVID? MY GRANDPA JOE CERVASIO WAS BORN IN LEONI IN AVELLINO. I CAN STILL PICTURE HIM EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE, STANDING PROUDLY IN TIE AND STARCHED WHITE COLLAR SHIRT AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS TO HIS PORCH ON NORTH ORATON PARKWAY IN EAST ORANGE, AS THE FAMILIES OF HIS TWO SONS AND FIVE DAUGHTERS ARRIVED. WHITE SHIRT AND TIE, ALWAYS… !!
AS MY FAMILY KNOWS, WHEREVER WE SPEND CHRISTMAS EVE, OTHERS EXPECT UNCLE JOE CERVASIO, ME, WILL BE WEARING A WHITE SHIRT AND TIE! … ALL IN MEMORY OF MY GRANDPA JOE, MY DAD ROCKY, AND ALL OF MY UNCLES.
THE FAMILIES OF MY WIFE ARE THE CORINOS, CAPALBOS, MACCAS AND GIARDINAS—SHE YEARNS FOR THOSE DAYS WHEN FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WERE SO MUCH CLOSER!! HOW DID SHE LEARN ABOUT THIS? HER GRANDFATHER WAS CARMINE CORINO, BORN IN ACRI, COSENZA, CALABRIA; HER GRANDMOTHER, MARIA CAPALBO, … FAMILIAR NUTLEY/BELLEVILLE NAMES.
AFTER 6 DAYS OF BUILDING WALLS, ESCAVATING AND CONSTRUCTING HOMES ALL OVER BELLEVILLE, NUTLEY, AND LYNDHURST, OR TRAVELING THE STREETS OF ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WEE HOURS, PLOWING SNOW…. FINALLY WOULD THE CORINO BOYS AND THEIR FAMILIES EMBRACE THOSE PRECIOUS SUNDAYS WHEN THE FAMILY WOULD GATHER: AFTER THE SOUP, MACARONI, GRAVY MEAT, CHICKEN, VEGETABLES, HOME MADE WINE, SALAD— AFTER DINNER, …PERHAPS THEN A NAP, … EVENTUALLY CAME THE COFFEE AND…
BUT ALSO, THE CORINOS AND CAPALBOS WERE READY FOR THEIR FRIENDS FROM THEIR NEW AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD, PERHAPS ALSO FROM THEIR PAESE BACK IN ITALY, TO PAY A VISIT TO ST. MARY’S PLACE. YES, THERE WAS MORE FOOD, BUT THERE ALSO WAS…. MUSIC.
MY WIFE HAS THE CONCERTINA, … AND ITS ALL IMPORTANT CASE OF PROTECTION AND STORAGE. THIS WAS THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYED BY GRANDPA CORINO,… THE CASE CRAFTED BY MR. GENEROSO COCCHIOLA, HIS FRIEND AND PATRIARCH OF THE GREAT COCCHIOLA FAMILY OF NUTLEY; GRANDMA CORINO WOULD PLAY THE TAMBORINE I AM TOLD, … AND THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN AND FRIENDS WOULD RELAX AND SING, ALL OF THEM—MEMBERS OF A GREAT BELLEVILLE FAMILY, AND A GREAT NUTLEY FAMILY.
NO TV, NO BLACKBERRIES, NO IPADS, NOTHING TO DISTRACT FROM THE MOMENT… REMINISCING THEIR NATIVE HOMELAND, BUT THANKFUL TO SING IN FREEDOM IN THEIR NEW COUNTRY. THEIR CHILDREN SAT AT THEIR FEET AND LEARNED ABOUT LIFE, … ITALIAN AMERICAN STYLE.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN, WHAT CAN WE TEACH…FROM OUR IMMIGRANT ANCESTORS AND OUR FIRST GENERATION ITALIAN AMERICAN PARENTS—WHAT CAN WE PASS ON TO OUR CHILDREN OF THE “ME GENERATION” AND “NEXT GEN GROUP”?
PERHAPS: IT CAN BE BEST SUMMED UP WITH ONE PROVERBIAL THOUGHT…HAVE MACARONI EVERY SUNDAY WITH YOUR FAMILY, …FORGET THE DIET FROM TIME TO TIME.
ONE OF MY LAST CONVERSATIONS BY PHONE, WITH NUTLEY’S LATE, GREAT MIKE GELTRUDE, IN WHOSE MEMORY I WROTE MY SECOND BOOK, WAS ABOUT HIS SUNDAY ACTIVITIES THE WEEK BEFORE HE DIED. “JOE,” HE SAID, “EVERYBODY WAS OVER FOR PASTA, … IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER—IT WAS PRICELESS TO ME.”
THE ULTIMATE LESSON? LET US NOT ALLOW THE TRADITIONS, THE STORIES, AND THE LOVE OF FAMILY DIE.
PEOPLE TO THANK? TOO MANY TO SINGLE OUT: I THANK GOD FOR THE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND COACHES IN THE BELLEVILLE SCHOOL SYSTEM; NUTLEY TOWN FATHERS WHO WELCOMED US AS FAMILY; FRIENDS, CLASSMATES, TEAMMATES— BUT IN THE END, OUR FAMILY, OUR ITALIAN AMERICAN FAMILY, THOSE OF THE GREATEST GENERATION,OUR GRANDPARENTS AND OUR AUNTS AND UNCLES, OUR COUSINS. IT WAS ONE FAMILY!
SOME ARE STILL AROUND, … AND I’D LIKE TO QUICKLY INTRODUCE ONE: UNCLE TOMMY DAPPER CORINO AND AUNT JEAN, … UNCLE TOMMIE, MY FIRST COACH IN LITTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL ; … HE’S TAUGHT ME TO BE READY TO VISIT AN AUNT, UNCLE OR FRIEND, NO MATTER HOW BUSY I MAY SEEM TO BE —THEY WERE THERE IN THE PAST TO STEP IN WHEN OUR PARENTS NEEDED A LITTLE HELP. “DON’T FORGET THEM …” IS A LESSON FROM UNCLE TOMMIE.
AND WHO COULD HAVE PREDICTED I WOULD MARRY MY FIRST FOOTBALL COACH’S NEICE (HIS OLDER BROTHER ANGELO’S DAUGHTER?
IN CLOSING, … NUTLEY’S POPULAR JIM PIRO WROTE OF MY FIRST BOOK, THAT THE SAYING, … “WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, MERELY GLANCE AND NEVER STARE”— THAT THAT COUNSEL ALONE… MADE THE BOOK A WORTHWHILE READING FOR HIM.
AND SO, I END BY GLANCING BACK, TRYING NOT TO STARE:
IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1963 AND IN OUR BACK YARD AT 711 BELLEVILLE AVENUE, THE GOOD LORD GAVE ME A LITTLE GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN LATE ON A HOT SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN JULY. MUCH ABOUT OUR ITALIAN AMERICAN LIFE WAS CASTE IN BRONZE FOR ME THAT DAY.
IT WAS AFTER AN AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL GAME. I HAD A COUPLE OF EXTRA BASE HITS, A GOOD DAY AT THE PLATE—MY PARENTS WERE DISCUSSING THE SENSITIVE SUBJECT OF MY CONTINUING BASEBALL, OR TRADING IT FOR TRACK TO PREPARE ME BETTER FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
AS I SAT ALONE WITH THEM , … IT WAS SO APPARENT HOW MUCH THEY HAD SACRIFICED FOR THEIR CHILDREN, TAKING JOBS AFTER THE WAR, TOO SOON, LEAVING SCHOOL TOO SOON, … ALL TO PROVIDE FOR US.
THEY WERE FOCUSED ON ME, BUT I KNEW THEY WERE READY WITH THAT OPEN INVITATION TO SERVE ANYONE WHO MIGHT ARRIVE THAT DAY, … ANYONE:
… MAYBE IT WOULD BE MY NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS, THE HATCH BOYS AND THE HARVEY BOYS, ALWAYS HOPING FOR SOME OF MY MOTHER’S ITALIAN FOOD…;
… OR MAYBE MY UNCLE PETE, MY MOTHER’S ONLY BROTHER—MY BIGGEST FAN, THAT LOVING CHUBBY BUTCHER FROM BLOOMFIELD AVENUE, WHO COULD SHOW UP AT ANY MINUTE WITH HIS ARMS FULL OF A BAG OF DIRTY WATER HOT DOGS FROM LOUIE TING A LING’S,
… OR AT LEAST THE GRAVY MEAT FOR SUNDAY … HE NEVER CAME EMPTY-HANDED;
… OR PERHAPS MY GODPARENTS, UNCLE ANTHONY AND AUNT ESTHER CERVASIO, FROM SMALLWOOD AVENUE;
…OR MAYBE EVEN OUR GLAMOROUS AUNT GRACE BRUNO.
INDEED, THEY AND EVEN STRANGERS WOULD BE WELCOMED.
BUT, … FOR THOSE FEW MOMENTS, MY ITALIAN AMERICAN, FIRST GENERATION PARENTS WERE JUST CONCENTRATING ON ME. I WAS ALONE WITH THE GREATEST GENERATION, I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THEIR MINDS—THESE WERE QUIET, CONTEMPLATIVE MOMENTS, FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL, HOPEFUL THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.
...THE HUMID AIR WAS LACED WITH THE SWEET TRACE OF ONCOMING RAIN.
...THE SCENT OF LILACS WAS LAZILY WAFTING OUR WAY .
...THE ROBUST SMELL OF COFFEE FROM THE RHYTHMIC, PERCOLATING POT COULD NOT BE DENIED.
...YES, SUNDAY’S GRAVY WAS SIMMERING ON THE STOVE AS WELL.
MY PARENTS WERE SMOKING LUCKIE STRIKES MIXED SO PROVIDENTIALLY WITH THE BOUQUET OF MY DAD’S MENNENS AFTER SHAVE, AND MA’S INEXPENSIVE PERFUME, PROBABLY PURCHASED AT KRESGE’S OR BAMBERGERS, DOWNTOWN NEWARK.
SHE WAS WEARING HER GRAVE-YARD SHIFT BLUE UNIFORM, PACK OF CIGARETTES UP HER LEFT SLEAVE; DAD HAD NO SHIRT ON, HIS STATUESQUE PHYSIQUE NEVER HAVING LEFT HIM FROM HIS DAYS AS A LITTLE ALL AMERICAN END AND WORLD WAR II VETERAN. (INDEED, THEIR COUNSEL THAT DAY WAS PALPABLE, … THEY HAD NEVER TAKEN A PARENTING CLASS.)
MUCH OF THE TIME THERE WAS SILENCE.
YES, THAT DAY I WAS A LITTLE SOUTH OF HEAVEN WITH MY ITALIAN AMERICAN PARENTS…
“AND, I MUST CONFESS, … I HAVE NEVER SINCE HAD AN EXPERIENCE AS HEAVENLY AS THAT ONE.”
SOMETIMES IT’S HARD NOT TO STARE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF BEING YOUR GRAND MARSHAL.
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