It's All About Family Final for Yumpu

It’s All About Family
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Salvatore & Maria Theresa Mazzotti,
Their Children & Grandchildren
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It’s All About Family
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Salvatore & Maria Theresa Mazzotti,
Their Children & Grandchildren
Joan C. Mazzotti

Produced by Family Heirloom Arts
www.FamilyHeirloomArts.com
Portland, Oregon
Joan C. Mazzotti: Project Director
Lisa Kagan: Project Manager, Book Designer
Emily García: Book Designer, Production Manager
Joseph Webb: Digital Graphics Artist
Elizabeth Hibbard: Digital Photography Artist
Copyright © 2012 Joan C. Mazzotti
All rights reserved.
Printed by Stevens Printing, Portland, Oregon.
Book binding by Grossenbacher Bros., Inc.
Front Cover Caption: The Mazzotti family, from left: Josie, Millie, Rose, Louie, Salvatore, John,
Maria Theresa, Frank, Tony, Lena and Peggy.
Cover design by Emily García.

This book is
for my son, Andrew
dedicated to the
memory of my parents

Contents
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Preface
vii
Chapter 1
Grandpa & Grandma: Salvatore
& Maria Theresa Mazzotti
3
Chapter 2
My Father & Mother:
Frank & Carol Mazzotti
17
Chapter 3
Aunt Rose &
Uncle Frank Romeo
45
Chapter 4
Aunt Josie &
Uncle Louie DeSant
69
Chapter 5
Uncle Tony &
Aunt Jennie Mazzotti
81
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Chapter 6
Aunt Lena &
Uncle Nick Fuccillo
89
Chapter 7
Aunt Peggy &
Uncle Mike Salamone
105
Chapter 8
Uncle John &
Aunt Edith Mazzotti
119
Chapter 9
Aunt Millie &
Uncle Larry Fusaro
129
Chapter 10
Uncle Louie &
Aunt Lee Mazzotti
139
Epilogue
149
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My son Andrew, me and my husband Michael Kelly

Preface
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I have created this book for my son, Andrew Graff Kelly. I wanted to capture the life and
legacy of my grandparents, parents, brother, aunts, uncles and cousins. I wanted Andrew to
experience his great-grandparents’ immigration to America, the impact of World War II, the joy
of growing up in Patchogue and the music, food and love that filled our homes and defined our
lives. I wanted him to know his roots and carry them with him forever.
This book, which covers the first half of the 20th Century, is a collection of personal recollections,
photos and artifacts, along with articles that appeared in the Patchogue Advance
during the period 1927 to 1959. Taken as a whole, these materials tell the story of our family:
Salvatore and Maria Theresa Mazzotti, their nine children and twenty-six grandchildren (of
whom I am the youngest).
As you read the articles, study the photos and enjoy the reminiscences, you will see how the
large family was intertwined. Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins served in the War
together, worked together, played together, went to school together and celebrated together. It is
this solid foundation on which our lives are built.
I have done my best to include every cousin, but was limited by the resources available to me.
I also have one note of caution as you page through this book: it is very possible that dates may
be inaccurate, individuals in photos misidentified or recollections not quite right. If that has
occurred, we must consider that years have passed and memories have faded. But, in all cases the
story remains rich and vibrant.
I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone who generously shared their photos and personal
recollections. A special thanks to these very special resources:
KK
Deanna Salamone Ayers not only added her wonderful memories and photos
from Aunt Peggy’s collection, but also was my cheerleader throughout this
process. We found it great fun to pore over family photos and share our favorite
stories and recollections.
K K Rita Crocitto King made an enormous contribution to the book by sharing an
interview of Aunt Rose, which Rita conducted in 1984. Aunt Rose’s recollections
are central to the family’s story in Chapter 1. Without Rita’s work, much
of our family’s rich history would have been lost to many of us. Rita also generously
added her memories of her grandmother Rose and grandfather Frank.
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Rita is a beautiful writer and we are very fortunate to have her involvement
in this project.
KK
Jean Fuccillo Aragona Korosh was my “go-to person” for details and contact
information. I called her often as we tried to remember names, dates and
places. We had many laughs as I tested her memory on a number of details.
I am thankful that her memory is much better than mine.
KK
Joe Fusaro added a number of wonderful photos from Aunt Millie’s collection
that filled out many of the chapters. I had not been in touch with Joe for many,
many years and was delighted to reconnect with him.
KK
My brother Frank added his recollection of his older cousins and the impact
they had on his life. He is the only family member with whom I shared pages
of the book while it was in progress.
KK
And cousins, Michaelyn DeSant Reed, Ellen Mazzotti Farrell, Robert Mazzotti, Jr.
and Marie Mazzotti Maler Krapf, graciously searched their photos and contributed
images of additional family members.
This book would not have been done without the generous and loving spirit brought to the
project by my husband, Michael Kelly. Mike helped me select photos, type copy and navigate the
technology needed to move the pieces around. I love him for his collaboration on this book and
for making all my dreams come true.
This undertaking has been for me a truly life-affirming endeavor. I have loved looking at
each picture, reading each article and appreciating each recollection. As we live our busy and full
lives, taking a moment to remember from where we came is truly a treasured opportunity.
After all, it’s all about family.
Joan C. Mazzotti
Haverford, Pennsylvania
October 1, 2012
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Grandma and Grandpa

Chapter 1
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Grandpa & Grandma:
Salvatore &
Maria Theresa Mazzotti
Salvatore Mazzotti
(1868 – 1941)
Maria Theresa Mazzotti
(1872 – 1946)
Rose Mazzotti Romeo (1893 – 1993)
Josephine Mazzotti DeSant (1895 – 1996)
Anthony Mazzotti (1897 – 1957)
Lena Mazzotti Fuccillo (1899 – 2000)
Margaret (Peggy) Mazzotti Salamone (1912 – 1992)
John Mazzotti (1907 – 1959)
Amelia (Millie) Mazzotti Fusaro (1908 – 1993)
Frank Mazzotti (1913 – 1982)
Louis Mazzotti (1915 – 1983)
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In 1896, Grandma and Grandpa Mazzotti
arrived in America with their two young
daughters, Rose, who was born in 1893, and
Josephine, who was born in 1895. They came
from a village in Calabria, Italy, called Terra
Nova di Sibari. They decided to travel to the
United States at the request of Grandma’s
brother, Louie Lotito, who needed help working
as the caretaker on the Roe farm in
East Patchogue.
After they settled in America, their first
son, Anthony, was born in 1897, and two years
later their third daughter, Lena, was born.
Grandma and Grandpa stayed on the Roe
farm for about five years and then returned to
Italy with their children for reasons that are
not known. During the voyage back to Italy,
Grandma was pregnant with a fourth daughter,
Margaret (Peggy). Not long after their
return to Italy, Grandpa soon realized that life
in the United States was better for their family,
so after sixteen months, he returned to the
Roe farm by himself. He left the rest of the
family in Terra Nova until he could get established
and send for them. Grandma and their
children rejoined Grandpa in about 1905.
Grandma and Grandpa and their children
shared a house with Uncle Louie’s family
on the Roe farm. They did not have electric
lights, only kerosene lamps; and one of the
children’s jobs was to keep the lamps cleaned
and filled. Their main forms of transportation
were by bicycle or horse and carriage. Aunt
The Story Begins
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Rose would deliver milk throughout the area
with Grandpa in a horse and carriage. A coal
stove provided heat in the house and the coal
was stored outside the kitchen door in a bin.
At Christmas, the tree was decorated with
candy and little homemade treats. The children
hoped that the “ornaments” would fall
off so they could eat them. Christmas gifts
were practical rather than frivolous and fun.
The children usually received clothing rather
than toys.
In 1905, Uncle Louie Lotito left the Roe
farm to pursue other endeavors. He opened
a number of stores in Patchogue on the four
corners of South Ocean Avenue and Main
Street. Uncle Louie and his family moved
to 48 Railroad Avenue, and, when they
later moved into a larger home at 68 Jayne
Avenue, he offered the Railroad Avenue
house to Grandma and Grandpa in exchange
for assuming the mortgage on the property.
When Grandma and Grandpa moved from the
Roe farm to the house on Railroad Avenue,
Grandpa opened a taxi service with very
attractive, enclosed horse drawn carriages.
Grandma and Grandpa then completed
their large family with the birth of three more
sons: John in 1907, Frank in 1913 and Louie
in 1915. Their youngest daughter, Millie, was
born in 1908.
These reminiscences were provided by Rose Romeo,
as told to her granddaughter, Rita Crocitto King,
and by Jean Fuccillo Aragona Korosh.
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Ship’s manifest, April 1902, with Salvatore Mazzotti listed on line 29
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The Patchogue
L O N G I S L A N D ' S L E A D I N G N E W S PA P E R
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Articles featuring Salvatore & Maria Theresa
Mazzotti & their family, July 1928–February 1946.

My Parents

Chapter 2
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My Father & Mother:
Frank & Carol
Mazzotti
Frank Mazzotti
(1913 – 1982)
Caroline Graff Mazzotti
(1917 – 1994)
Frank Mazzotti
(1948)
Joan Mazzotti
(1950)
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L O N G I S L A N D ' S L E A D I N G N E W S PA P E R
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My Dad, receiving the Bronze Star Medal
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L O N G I S L A N D ' S L E A D I N G N E W S PA P E R
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A Joyful Legacy of Food
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“Cream puffs were a tradition in my family. My mother’s mother, Jeanette
Damizi, lived with us and was a great baker. In addition to cream puffs, her
pies and cookies also were ever-present in our house. When my grandmother
died in 1967, my mom picked up the baking mantle. I am fortunate to have
all of my mother’s recipes, many in her handwriting. My mother’s cream puffs
were amazingly popular. All of her recipes were informal... as is this one.”
Joan Mazzotti
Cream Puffs
Melt 4 tbs. of butter with ½ cup of
water in a small saucepan.
Add ½ cup flour — all at once.
Take the pan off the burner.
Add 2 eggs.
Beat until stiff.
Drop small balls onto an
ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 35 minutes at 400°.
Fill with whipped cream or other
sweet fillings.
My Mother, Grandmother Jeanette Damizi and me
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Uncle Frank and Aunt Rose

Chapter 3
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Aunt Rose
&
Uncle Frank Romeo
Rose Mazzotti Romeo
(1893 – 1993)
Frank Romeo
(1884 – 1952)
Salvatore Romeo
(1911 – 1911)
Matilda (Bunny) Romeo Crocitto Salamone
(1912 – 1977)
Eugene Romeo
(1914 – 1998)
Edward Romeo
(1916 – 1981)
Marguerite Romeo Pontieri
(1920)
Arthur Romeo
(1921 – 2006)
Albert Romeo
(1924)
Richard Romeo
(1930)
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The Romeo Siblings
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Matilda
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Aunt Lena and Uncle Nick and their wedding attendants

Chapter 6
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Aunt Lena
&
Uncle Nick Fuccillo
Lena Mazzotti Fuccillo
(1899 – 2000)
Nicholas Fuccillo
(1889 – 1969)
Jean Fuccillo Aragona Korosh
(1919)
Elvira (Vee) Fuccillo Bacelli
(1922)
William Fuccillo
(1924)
Arthur Fuccillo
(1927)
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