Giuseppe (Pino) and Maria (Libretti)

Giuseppe, known as Pino, was the first born of Marino and Marianna (Pazzini) Grilli.

He was born Dec. 29, 1888, in Verucchio, Forlì.

As a child, his schooling consisted of grades 1 through 5, which was all that was provided at that time.  As a teenager, he worked with the family, learning several trades.  It was suggested by one of his teachers that he should be encouraged to seek further education;  thus, his six years of studies at a nearby seminary.  His education was interrupted when he reached the age of 20 and he was summoned to fulfill his commitment to serve one year in the Italian military service.  At this same time (1908), the entire family moved from Verucchio to live at the rectory of  a church in Montefiore, Forlì.  His uncle, Don Secondo Grilli, an ordained priest, had become pastor of the parish of San Gaudenzo and needed support, both financial and physical, to maintain his new position.

While on a summer break in 1911, 23-year old Pino was asked to accompany his younger sister, Brigida, to join her new husband, Nicola Betti, in America.  Upon Pino’s arrival in the U.S.,  he received a letter informing him he was again being summoned to serve in the Italian military, as the War of Tripoli (1911-1912) had begun.

 As instructed by his family, he sent a letter to the military authorities explaining his plans to remain in America and therefore was not available.  This perhaps was the beginning of a new life for the Grilli family.

 Life in the small town of Montefiore had become more difficult once the Grilli family moved from their beloved home town of Verucchio.  Pino soon made plans to bring his family to America.  Among the very first to arrive was his sister, Caterina, and a close family friend, Maria Libretti.  Maria, known as Marietta, who was an orphan, had lived with the Betti family in Montefiore and, eventually she became Pino’s wife.  They settled in Everett, Mass. with their four children, Angela, Marion, Luisa (who died at age 3 in 1924) and Joseph. 

Pino and Marietta, with their young family, were more than generous with their home, welcoming family members immigrating to America.  Pino fulfilled his role of family patriarch in America with responsibility, love and caring that extended not only to his brothers and sisters, but also to their children.  When his brother, Luigi, died at age 29 in Italy on June 5, 1920 as a result of war injuries, Luigi’s widow, Maria, was left destitute with four young children.  At Luigi’s request before he died, the two oldest boys, Emilio, 8, and Eugenio, 6, were sent to America in 1921 to live with Pino and Marietta and their 4 young children in Everett.  They lived there through their high school years.

Pino passed away on Sept. 10, 1976 and Marietta died on Dec. 26, 1992.

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