Back to Table of Contents
Next: Direct Descendant Tree of Giovanni Paterno & Carolina Trivigno Family
Giovanni [1851-1899] & Carolina (Trivigno) Paterno [1853-1925] Biography
With a growing family, Giovanni and Carolina decided to build a new house in Castelmezzano. Giovanni underestimated the cost of building and incurred considerable debts. When the structure collapsed, Giovanni suffered a tremendous financial loss. This setback led him to move to America in order to regain his financial stability. He arrived in New York City in 1880 according to family history. Immigrations records show a Giovanni Paterno arriving on March 19, 1892; however, our Giovanni arrived before 1885.
Giovanni, who was “John” in America, distinguished himself in the construction field and became a foreman on a building job. By frugally managing his money, he saved enough to pay off his debts in Italy. Then he sent for his wife and four children. Carolina, Celestina, Saverio, Charles, and Giuseppe sailed for America in the winter of 1885.
The steamer ran into a devastating storm in the Atlantic Ocean and floundered for several days. When the ship was overdue and given up as lost, John was frantic. He quit his job so that he could set up vigilance at the dock. He would not give up hope that his family had not perished. He continually prayed for their safety and begged God to let him see his family again. After ten days of living on the dock and scanning every passenger disembarking from numerous boats, he was informed that a boat fitting the general description of the missing boat was making its way into port. John, disheveled, and unshaven, had gone without food and sleep in his quest for word of his family. When they arrived, Carolina and the children did not recognize the bearded, scruffy man who greeted them. The grateful family had a joyous reunion!
John was promoted to general construction supervisor. The family worked and added to the family savings so that John could build his own building. He and a Mr. McIntosh entered into a partnership and built a five-story walk-up on the north side of 106th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. The pair reinvested their profits and built two more buildings and then dissolved the partnership. John built two other buildings and established a reputation for his skill and honesty. The solid foundation for a family of great builders was established and would continue for over fifty years in the construction of high-class apartments in New York City. In 1899, John’s health began to fail and he was unable to continue in the business. His sons, Joseph and Charles formed a firm under the name, Paterno Brothers and continued to build high quality apartment buildings.
In 1899, John became too ill to work and returned to his beloved Italy. He died in Castelmezzano at the age of forty-eight and was interred in the family mausoleum. After Carolina died in 1925, the family built a mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery and moved his body to lie beside her.
Back to Table of Contents
Next: Direct Descendant Tree of Giovanni Paterno & Carolina Trivigno Family
