top of page
Our Stories
Many thanks to our generous Italian American friends, families, and neighbors who have contributed to preserving the history of our Central Coast by sharing their photos, videos and stories.
We are looking for Italian American stories relating to fishing, canning industry or community service, where individuals help promote our Italian Heritage.
Wondering about how to get started? Talk to relatives, look at your grandparents' photo albums. Our volunteers. can help you overcome inertia and get you. started on your own story or photo album..
Search
John LaSala
John Benny LaSala is a third-generation Sicilian on the Monterey Peninsula. His parents were Johanna Catania and Benny LaSala. Their parents were from Isola delle Femmine and San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily. John and Johanna His mother, Johanna, worked in the sardine canneries on Cannery Row as a young girl, and his father, Benny, fished for sardines as a young man in Monterey Bay. John continued the tradition of fishing and followed in his Nannu Catania’s footsteps who inspired Joh
2 min read
Gasper Spadaro
Gasper was the first of four children born to Giuseppe and Vitina Spadaroof Marettimo Sicily on December 21, 1947 Gasper attended both public and parochial Schools here on the Monterey Peninsula. And elected to Student Body Vice President of Junipero Memorial High School.1966. While at Junipero, he led the junior varsity and varsity football squads as Quarterback for the respective teams. For several years, Gasper worked alongside his father, Giuseppe Spadaro, fishing for sar
2 min read
Memoires of Hope “Ventimiglia” Cardinalli About Her Father Salvatore Ventimiglia Editing by Mike Ventimiglia
Hope "Ventimiglia" Cardinalli My grandmother, Speranza “Bruno” Ventimiglia (Hope) bore six sons, of which my father Salvatore was the...
4 min read
Bella Mangiapane Cutino
BANKER WRITTEN BY BELLA MANGIAPANE CUTINO Bella Magiapane Cutino was born in Monterey, California to Albert and Nancy Mangiapane....
2 min read
Ann Ciaramitaro Ferrante
1933 BOOKKEEPER WRITTEN BY ANN CIARAMITARO FERRANTE Ann was born in 1933 to Sicilian Immigrants, Neno (a fisherman) and Antonia...
3 min read
Bartolo “Bart” James Bruno
1939 CIVIL ENGINEER, CONTRACTOR, DEVELOPER WRITTEN BY BART BRUNO Bartolo James Bruno was born in Carmel, California, to James and Johanna...
7 min read
Dominic Mercurio
1958 RESTAURATEUR, WEEKEND FARMER WRITTEN BY DOMINIC MERCURIO Sicilian American Dreams and Sardines I was born and raised in Monterey. My...
14 min read
Terry & Angela Mangiapane Wecker
Terry L. Wecker was born on March 25, 1946 in Carmel, California. He is the second of seven children. His older brother is Richard...
5 min read
Kay Russo
On November 14, 1942, Kay was born at the Monterey Hospital to her loving parents, Anne and Allie Russo. She was the first born and only...
5 min read
Frank Nuovo
The Nuovo family dates back nine generations in Monterey to a Spanish cadet named Joaquin De Latorre who arrived in 1801 with the Spanish...
5 min read
Teresa Aldisert Del Piero
Teresa Aldisert Del Piero was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, Caesar Octavius Aldisert was born and raised in...
4 min read
Francesca Coniglio Crivello 1862-1940 Rosa Davi Floris 1862-1924
WRITTEN BY JERILYNN SMITH CRIVELLO Two Stories of Sicilian Women’s Strength and Loyalty During the Emigration to Monterey There are many...
8 min read
AnnaMarie Della Sala-Stanton
1950 TEACHER, REALTOR, MUSICIAN, SINGER-SONGWRITER WRITTEN BY ANNAMARIE DELLA SALA-STANTON I was born on August 22, 1950, in Carmel...
18 min read
Charles “Charlie” Della Sala
1927 – 2020 FIREFIGHTER, REAL ESTATE BROKER WRITTEN BY ANNAMARIE DELLA SALA-STANTON & CHUCK DELLA SALA Charlie was self-motivated and...
13 min read
Salvatore Peter Cardinale
1932 - 2019 BUSINESS OWNER, MOVER WRITTEN BY SALLY CARDINALE The Cardinale Family has been moving families for more than fifty years!...
4 min read
William A. Carnazzo, M.D.
1923 - 2003 MONTEREY MEDICINE, SICILIAN STYLE WRITTEN BY GERALD CARNAZZO,M.D. This is the story of my father--a loving, dedicatedand...
9 min read
James Joseph Culcasi - 1933 & Rosine Louise Costanza Culcasi - 1939
James Joseph Culcasi - BARBER, RESTAURATEUR Rosine Louise Costanza Culcasi - BUSINESSWOMAN, RESTAURATEUR, BAKER WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER...
4 min read
Joseph "Joe" Cerchi 1924 - 2009 & Jackie Oldani Cerchi 1931
JOE - FIREFIGHTER, HANDYMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE JACKIE - SEAMSTRESS, OFFICE CLERK, CAFETERIA MANAGER WRITTEN BY JACKIE CERCHI A Special Man...
4 min read
Dan Albert, Sr.
1930 TEACHER, COACH, COUNCILMAN, MAYOR WRITTEN BY JOE AMELIO My name is Joe Amelio, proudly married to Dan and Joanne’s daughter, Tawny,...
9 min read
Sabu Pullano Shake, Jr. HONOREE 2021
WRITTEN BY SABU PULLANO SHAKE, JR. Sabu Shake, “JR”, was born and raised in Monterey, California. He is the 4th son of Isabella Pullano...
3 min read
bottom of page