The DeGirolamo Story

by Michael DeGirolamo

My grandfather, Giuseppe DeGirolamo, was born in Faeto, Foggia, in 1892. At the age of 13, he left Italy to find work in America.


His first job was as a laborer on the railroad in Ohio. In 1913 he met fellow railroader and paisan, Gerardo Montanaro, in Cleveland. Gerardo told him that he had just sent for his daughter,Isolina Montanaro, and she was living in Bridgeport, Connecticut.


Giuseppe went to Connecticut and asked Isolina to marry him. They were married and settled in Alliance, Ohio, were Giuseppe was a blacksmith in a forge shop. They were parents of seven children, my father Anthony, being one of them. Giuseppe died in 1956 and Isolina died in 1976.


I could write volumes about these two beautiful people, their courage, strength, and love was unending.

- Michael DeGirolamo


Thank you Michael for a great story. Faeto is a small town of around 800 people in the province of Foggia in the region of Puglia. For more information on the region of Puglia you can visit Italian Visits.com.
- Phillip J. Speciale