Page 72: (photo) Caption: 1900 – Mother Paterno and her ten orphan children. Seated from left: Rose, Michael, Theresa, Marie, Anthony. Standing from left: Joe, Saverio, Celestina, Charles. In mother’s lap is Tina [Christina]. Father’s photo in center.
Page 73: In Memory of Carolina T. Paterno whom I loved and respected as my own mother.
It is with a heavy heart that I take on myself the arduous task, the painful privilege, of bidding the last farewell to you, noble mother. Devoted mother of ten children. Those few words would glory any woman’s name – they symbolize the poem of your life-work, the work you fulfilled with such zeal and self-denial.
Through my mind flashes a picture of forty years ago when, leaving the quiet peaceful life, the sunshine of our mountains, you, with four little tots, crossed the ocean, to join your dear husband, who was laboring feverishly, for the well being of his beloved ones.
How strange these shores must have seemed to you, fair mountain girl, how different from your dreams of the promised land! But it didn’t matter…The goal was set, a better future for your family meant everything to you both, and you forged your way with unwavering courage. You were like two brave soldiers, in the midst of a greta battlefield, determined to win. And the victory was in sight, the sun of happier days was dawning on the dim horizon, when fate willed on you a great catastrophe – the loss of your faithful companion.
What a tragedy!
The little ship, battered by high seas, would have foundered, but for your stout, indomitable will. O valiant woman, o fond mother, o pure example of our strong race, who ever knew of your sleepless nights…who ever knew the throbs of your heart!
A splendid shepherd you were. Through hills and valleys, through woods and rough roads, you held your little flock together and led it to the great highway. From childhood you had inspired your five boys with the rugged spirit of sacrifice, honest work and ambition for achievement; your five girls with the home virtues of modesty, frugality, devotion to their families. Your success was complete, and the tender love and gratitutde of your children were your greatest reward. Wonderful mother, you can be proud of your record.
A deep void will be left in our hearts, a deep void in the once happy home where at ever corner, are seen relics of your thrifty, simple life; but you shall continue to live with us, in sweet memories. Before departing, please forgive us for our errors, forgive us for any act of disrespect, forgive us for our faults of human weakness.
Watch over us, guide us in times of doubt, show us the light and truth and, most of all, hold firm the bonds of our family, so dear to you; keep us united, as united we are in this great sorrow. And now, go and join again your waiting pal, who, with the grace of God, will show you the way to eternal peace and happiness, so well deserved by your accomplishment in life.
Anthony Campagna
April 20, 1925
Page 74: ANTHONY CAMPAGNA
Uncle Anthony Campagna wrote his autobiography in 1944. Updated in 1957, it is cited for some familial history in old Italy. His father was Giuseppe Campagna, brother of Carolina Paterno as wife of Grandfather Giovanni Paterno.
[Note: Carolina Trivigno Paterno was the sister of Antony Campagna’s mother, Maria Arcangela Trivigno.]
In it is a charming, nostalgic photograph of the widowed Carolina with her brood of ten children: Rose, Michael, Theresa, Marie, Anthony, Joseph, Saverio, Celestina, Charles and baby Tina. Charles, my Father, was the oldest son in America at the time of my grandfather’s death.
The families go back to Castelmezzano, meaning “castle in the middle” of dual castles in nearby hamlets of the Appenines southeast of Naples, on the Mediterranean Coast, and Foggia on the Adriatic Sea. As cited previously, the province is Basilicata, known in ancient Roman times as Lucania. Potenza is the city.
While a law student at the University of Rome, Anthony Campagna was agreeably surprised when visited unexpectedly by Dr. Charles V. Paterno of America on first return to the old country since leaving Italy in 1887 as a little boy.
“I had called Dr. Paterno in his hotel,” the book says, “but on this morning of February in 1903 he popped into my place on Via Sicilia. He was 26, but looked older. He spoke accented Italian haltingly, but correctly. So I showed him Rome. From this meeting my interest in English language came about.”
Page 75: Anthony Campagna related that an old friend from Potenza had emigrated to Chicago and started an Italian language weekly newspaper. This friend wanted Anthony to come to America and publish this, considering that his own work-a-day job took so much of his time.
Anthony’s reply was: “No, I’m a lawyer.”
Then in 1907, while in Naples, Italy as a legal apprentice, he was visited by Joseph Paterno from New York on his first-time re-look at the old country. Joe Paterno jeered when Anthony said that he was working free of pay in the lawyer’s office.
“You have studied so many years,” the autobiography reports Joe Paterno as saying. “You have a law degree, and you are working for nothing. That is ridiculous for a smart fellow. In America, even as office boy gets ten dollars a week. If things are so bad here, why don’t you come to America? I can get you a job and you can work your way up. Don’t waste your time. Why go to Chicago? Come to New York. My brother and I can help you.”
So Anthony Campagna did come to America in 1908 and prospered. His sons, Joe and John Campagna, are graduates of Princeton University. During the 1939-42 period they did pioneering construction work for low cost housing project in Stamford, Connecticut.
Right after World War II Uncle Anthony obtained delivery of steel for a large apartment house to be built in Manhattan. At that time he was a member of the New York City Board of Education and he was persuaded to sell the property on which he planned to build to the City College of New York.
Page 76: He summoned his son, Joe, to find another site on which to use the structural steel that was hard to get in those post-war days. Joe Campagna found a lovely corner location in St. Louis, Missouri. There he built the luxury apartment house, “Montclair,” with the steel which had been planned for his Manhattan project.
Joe moved to St. Louis with his family, where he put up other luxury apartment buildings.
NEXT: CHAPTER X • PRIDE OF WINDMILL FARM
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