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Page 105: Charles V. Paterno & Annette (Silvestri) Paterno Biography
Charles Vincent Paterno was the third child of Saverio and Minnie Rose and was born July 3, 1903 in Castelmezzano, Italy. He was baptized Canio Paterno. [Charles was named after his father’s younger brother Dr. Charles (Canio) Vincent Paterno (1878-1946)].
On September 20, 1912, he traveled to America on the “Koenig Albert” with his grandmother, Carolina Trivigno Paterno, his brother John Anthony Paterno, and his aunts, Rose, Theresa and Christina Paterno. [Note: The Ellis Island Ship Manifest shows John as age 9 and Charles as age 6. However, their ages were incorrect on the manifest.]
Charles joined his brother, John at St. Joseph’s Convent, a school for young boys that was administered by the Sisters of Charity who were primarily attached to St. Elizabeth’s College in New Jersey. The transition from life in a small town in Italy to a convent in America was very traumatic for the boys. They struggled with a new language, a foreign culture and unaccustomed foods. Charles, who detested the oatmeal usually served for breakfast in the convent, contrived to avoid eating it by stuffing the mushy substance in his pockets. He was severely punished by the strict nuns for wasting his food and soiling his clothes.
When his schooling was complete, Charles began his career by working in the office of the Morell Brothers. In 1922, he worked on construction jobs for his uncle, Joseph Paterno. He also worked with his brother John as an assistant superintendent. John described Charles as “a model of a truly devoted, loving and caring father, always very pleasant, with a quiet personality.” Charles often visited John and helped him with household improvement. John said that Charles spoke often about his family and stated how much he missed his kids when separated from them.
Annette was born in New York City on April 25, 1899 to Angela and Vito Silvestri. (The family name was later changed to Silvester.) She was their fourth living child of a total of seven children. A tomboy in her youth, she was often found climbing trees and playing games with the boys. Coming from a very struct family, she was a very obedient child and performed her chores and studies with diligence.
She grew up learning all the things that a young lady should know and then some. She was quite an equestrian, and also studied Spanish dancing. She appeared in a few small shows and benefits. She loved to dance and learned all the popular dances of the time. She could attend some dances as long as she was chaperoned, though, if she thought that her mother would disapprove, she would tell her that she would be with some girlfriends.
She met Charles Vincent Paterno in her early twenties and they fell in love. After an appropriate courtship, they became engaged and were marred on July 11, 1925. Her sister, Lisa and his brother John signed their marriage license as witnesses. She was 26 and he was 22. There must have been something about her being an older woman that stirred Charles’s blood. The tall, dark, handsome man and the vivacious, petite brunette made a handsome couple. They enjoyed entertaining family and friends, playing bridge, and attending social events.
As a hobby, Charles raised homing pigeons. He was also interested in magic and was a member of the Society of American Magicians. Charles was also an accomplished juggler.
Page 106: Annette and Charles first lived at 425 Riverside Drive overlooking the Hudson River in a building constructed by Charlie’s uncle, Joe Paterno. It had a lovely park near by and was one of the nicest sections of New York City at the time. It was at this same location that Minnie Rose Breden, Charlie’s mother, had her headquarters when she came to visit in 1934. They gave up the house in Riverdale and moved to an apartment at 270 Seaman Avenue which was near 207th Street in New York City.
Charlotte was born a year after they were married on July 1, 1926 missing Charlie’s birthday by one day. Lisa came along two years later on September 30, 1928. They were now the proud parents of two lovely girls. Six years later Annette was born on August 30, 1934 while they were on vacation in Dover, New Jersey. In the Italian tradition, Charles was looking for a boy to pass on his heritage and genes, but, alas, he was to be denied again.
During the depression, Charles had worked for various family members collecting rent and doing odd jobs. He and Annette struggled in the lean years to provide for the children. After moving into a large home that they rented in Riverdale, New York, Charlie finally got his wish for a son. Thomas was born on August 20, 1937 and Charles was ecstatic. He passed out cigars to everyone he met and ran up a tremendous phone bill while proclaiming the wonderful new to the entire family.
Charles often entertained his children with his magic and card tricks. The couple had a nurse to help with the children but Charles was helpful in caring for the children and in the kitchen as well.
At the age of forty, Annette became pregnant for the fifth time and a second son, Robert, was born in October of 1940. This time Charles was very unhappy about the pregnancy. It seems that Charles and Annette had agreed that there would be no more children, but Annette, being a very stubborn and independent woman had decided to have another child. Six weeks later Charles left after an argument with Annette and never contacted his children again.
Charles Vincent Paterno mysteriously disappeared on November 14, 1940, just six weeks after the birth of his second son, Robert. He left the house that night after an argument with Annette and never returned. His brothers, John and Michael, called hospitals, police stations, and visited the morgue to see if he had been in an accident of was dead. After searching in vain, they decided that the next step was to file a missing person’s report. Annette rejected that idea because she did not want to embarrass the family. Months and then years passed with no word from him.
After the disappearance of Charles, Annette struggled to raise her five children. When some of the relatives offered to adopt Thom and Bob to “give them a better life,” she refused the offer and chose to keep her family intact. Annette managed to keep her family together despite the fact that there was a war going on (World War II) and times were very hard.
When the owners of the house she lived in wanted to sell the house and she could not afford to buy it, Annette moved back into the City. She rented a seven-room apartment at 75 Fort Washington Avenue, a respectably neighborhood primarily comprised of Jewish families.
Page 107: At first, she used her craft skills to make flowers, aprons and hats, which she sold. An excellent seamstress, she also made clothing for herself and the children as well as draperies and items for the home. When it became evident that she needed to work outside the home to insure an adequate income to support her family, Annette tried several different jobs. She worked in a bakery and as a sales clerk. Eventually she became a practical nurse and specialized in the care of newborn babies. She took care of newborn babies from the time they arrived home from the hospital until they were four-to-eight weeks old. She would train the infants to sleep through the night and put them on a feeding schedule during that time. Her skill and devotion to her charges was rewarded with referrals and repeat clients.
In order to work outside the home, Annette temporarily placed Thom (Thomas Charles) and Bob (Robert S.) with foster parents and sent her daughter Annette (Annette Elena) to live with her grandmother, Angela Centrone Silvester. As soon as she was financially able, she brought her children home where they all enjoyed being a family again despite financial struggles and hardships.
[Annette Elena Paterno recorded her family recollections in her book Family.]
To supplement her income during this difficult time, she took in tenants, renting two of her four bedrooms. Later she felt that she would get away with only renting on bedroom. One of the tenants stayed with her for several years.
Annette was also a terrific cook, so she opened and managed a restaurant. She was a very frugal person and possessed the ability to stretch food and money to accommodate the needs of her family.
After Charles had been missing over seven years, Annette tried to cash in a life insurance policy [company name unknown] on Charles, presuming that he was dead. The life insurance company gave her a picture of a man reported to be Charles and stated that he was still alive and living somewhere in New England. The claim was denied.
Sometime later, Annette received divorce papers from Charles so he was obviously alive at that time. Annette did not mention the divorce papers to anyone but Bob (Robert S. Paterno) who was home at the time and witnessed her fury at receiving the papers. It is not known if she had any contact with Charles or his attorneys. She obviously did not sign the papers since she tore them up when she received them. She did subsequently file and obtain a divorce. However, there are no records in the family as to when the divorce was finalized. Annette never remarried.
Throughout her life, Annette would not accept defeat and met adversity head-on. Her determination, high standards and strong-will kept her active until her death at the age of ninety-one. Annette died in August 1, 1990 in Deland, Florida, while residing in a nursing home. She had led a full and adventurous life. She possibly now has the answers to all of her questions and may be enjoying tea with her mother (Angela) and a close friend, Mother Cabrini (nee, Maria Francesca Cabrini, now St. Francis Cabrini).
Various rumors have been circulated regarding Charles. Some people think that he may have gone to England or Canada, others think that he may have gone back to Italy. There was some speculation that he had a new family in another state. One individual thinks that he sent child support payments to Annette through an attorney. His children doubt that Annette received child…
Page 108: …support payments since they all remembered very difficult times when money was scarce.
If anyone in the family saw or heard from Charles, they did not admit it. His brothers, Michael and John became very emotional when his name was mentioned. They both denied hearing from him after his disappearance. Each of them said or wrote that they could not believe that Charles would abandon the children that he loved.
Speculations and rumors regarding the disappearance of Charles have circulated for years, however no proof has been submitted.
One theory is that there could have been a death-bound oath made by one or more of the siblings to never divulge information about what happened to Charles. If so, John Anthony Paterno was not included in the pact as he wrote a poem [see following page] to his missing brother sometime between 1980 and his death in 1988.
A daughter of Michael Jeremiah Paterno heard that Annette received alimony and/or child support from Charles through an attorney.
Others felt that he would not reveal himself because of his estrangement form his wife, Annette. Even after Annette’s death, no Paterno family members would or could satisfy the curiosity of her children and tell them what had really happened to their father.
Another theory is that Charles migrated to Canada and joined the army under an assumed name. He may have been sent to Europe and killed in World War II.
Speculations that he returned to Castelmezzano have been disproved by visits of various family members, including his youngest son.
Others have felt that Charles went to England to live. Contacts with the Breden family seem to dispel that theory unless he moved there and never contacted any family member.
The theory that he may have remarried and had another family has also circulated.
In 1999, his son Bob (Robert S.) went to the Social Security Office in Houston, Texas where he obtained his father’s social security number. According to Social Security records, Charles never claimed any social security benefits under his birth name. He did not make any contributions under that number after 1940.
In September 1999, sibling Charlotte, Lisa, Thom, and Bob hired a search firm, International Locator Services, to located their father. The search was unsuccessful as were various Internet searches under the name Charles Vincent Paterno, Canio Paterno, and Vincent Paterno.
Will the mystery of the disappearance of Charles Vincent Paterno and his life after 1940 ever be solved?
Page 109: Dear Brother Charlie
Dear Brother Charlie, where are you?
It’s almost a half century ago
When from family and friends, too
You left us, where, we do not know.
The children you love are still dear
At the last time you saw them, brother,
the older ones remember and love, I fear
But have only a memory, no other.
The small fry and baby only know
about a father they’ve been told about
Frankly, this should not have been so
I’m sorry; I did not mean to shout.
These many years I dared not think
What might have happened to you
But no where could I find a link
I’ve never known what I should do.
Brother we still love you dearly
We grow even fonder that the years
But it isn’t the same or even nearly
As having you in person to dry our tears.
If you are one of us on this earth,
Soften your thoughts for us your kin
We are chains to you from birth
Same blood in our veins, thick or thin.
Coming, you can create a bit of Heaven
Your grandchildren, sons and daughters
Have multiplied seven times seven
You would be so welcome in many quarters.
Well, I know you have grown old
But I remember well when we were small
To me and yours you’re as precious as gold
We love you dearly one and all.
Brother John
Page 110 is a blank page.
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