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Page 195: Biography of Michael J. Paterno {1909-1992]
Michael Jeremiah Paterno was the sixth of twelve children. He was born in Castelmezzano, Italy. In 1912, his family moved to London, England where he attended kindergarten. If he encountered a bobby [policeman] on the way home from school, he would pull of their coattails. Sometimes, he was taken to a candy shop by a friendly bobby for a candy treat. His family returned to Italy early in 1914.
While growing up in Castelmezzano, he enjoyed playing games in the “Piazza” the town square in front of the church. It was one of the few level spots in town. Children usually improvised toys from things provided by Mother Nature. They entertained themselves by climbing trees and consuming ripe fruit. The Paterno home had and old horned hand-crank Gramophone, which played opera as well as the latest songs. The Tarantella and Polka were popular dances. The huge family garden on the second floor of this home had pergola walks, which were used to play bocce. Another favorite activity was to climb the worn-out steps to the dilapidated Castle. From the top, the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Seas is visible to the naked eye.
Michael’s education in Italy consisted of four grades of elementary school in Castelmezzano, one grade of elementary school in Melfi, three years of high school in Melfi, and three years of high school in Salerno. When attending high school in Salerno, he was assigned the duty of accompanying his sisters to and from Naples at the beginning and end of school terms as well as for Christmas and Easter vacations.
When he was seventeen and one-half years old, he traveled to America, departing from Naples on September 18, 1926 on the Steamship “Colombo.” He arrived in New York on September 20, 1926. Shortly after the Ellis Island immigration agents boarded the ship, his name was called on the loudspeaker. He was afraid that something had gone wrong and that he would be returned to Italy, so he did not respond. When the ship’s Purser found him and took him to the agents, he found himself facing a very stern person. Through an interpreter, he was informed that he could legally enter the United States. Later, he found that the agent had been the head of the New York Immigration Department and a very good friend of his brother John. After clearing customs, he was met at the gangplank by his brothers John, Charles, and Joseph. He stayed with John and his wife, Gladys at 425 Riverside Drive. Michael received English language lessons at the Berlitz School on 34th Street and then attended St. Michael’s boarding school.
A cooperative high-rise apartment hotel was being built by his Uncle Joseph at 825 Fifth Avenue. He worked as a messenger, timekeeper and labor foreman under the supervision of his brother John. Michael continued his education at Columbia University while working for Paterno Brothers. Some of his evening courses were in architectural drawing and estimating. After failing College Board entrance exams due to his grades in English, Michael decided to return to Italy for a four-month visit. He sailed on the S. S. Rome on December 12, 1930 and arrived in Naples on December 22nd. After he returned to America on the S. S. Augustus, April 21, 1931, he worked at various temporary jobs and then for his Uncle Charles in the accounting department. Michael attended evening courses at Pace Institute for two years. He also worked for Dr. Charles as an…
Page 196: …assistant construction superintendent at Windmill Farms for two years.
In July 1935, he met the woman he was destined to marry, Louise Massari at his Uncle Anthony’s Dottoni Farm. They were married in 1936 in New York City. Shortly after they built a home in Englewood, New Jersey in 1938, Michael resigned his position with his Uncle Charles. He and Joseph Halpen formed Paterno-Halpen Construction C. Inc.. Then he formed a new company in Teaneck, New Jersey called L.M.P. Construction Co., Inc.. In 1952, he and John Massari formed a new company called Paterno Brothers, Inc. [Note: not to be confused with the original Paterno Brothers Construction] to build homes in Teaneck. They dissolved the company in 1965.
Michael and Louise visited the family in Italy in 1949 and again in 1965. They also visted his maternal relatives, the Breden family in England in 1965. Their last trip to Europe was in 1976 when they visited both the Paterno and Breden families.
Michael and Louise moved from Englewood, New Jersey to Hollywood, Florida in 1957. They lived there for the rest of their lives. Two of their three children, Saverio Joseph Paterno and Robert (Bobby) Paterno stayed in Florida. Their daughter, Mickey Rose (Paterno) Zadrozna settled in Texas.
In 1985, Michael published The Family Heritage Book, which contained a weather of information about the Paterno family and its history. He recorded his memories of his life and family in Castelmezzano and in America.
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