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.
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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