Relocation from New York to Florida... 

The YELLOW SCHOOL BUS - Daytona Beach 1958

My father’s family had emigrated from Italy to New York in 1925, not a good time to be an Italian immigrant due to the large influx at that time. In those days, if a 10-year-old did not speak English, the child was put into first grade. It is no wonder that my father, Tony, did not stay in school long. As the oldest of seven children, six born in New York, he found work early to help support his family. Eventually, he served in the American Army and participated in the European African Eastern Campaign from Africa up through Italy to Germany. He suffered injury to his left hip which plagued him for the remainder of his life. 

In 1952, he returned to Italy to marry my mother, Natalina. Mom was the youngest of seven and only 17 at the time. Dad was 37. After I was born in 1953, they took a trip to New York to visit my father’s side of the family. That trip turned into a permanent stay and the family grew with the additions of my brother, John, and my sister, Mary. As a toddler, John could not tolerate the cold weather of New York and almost died three times. The doctors told my parents that John needed to be in a warm climate. So, my father purchased a surplus yellow school bus, took out most of the seats, loaded up his young wife and three little kids to head south. And… I have the photo to prove it!

On Daytona Beach in 1958…Mom holding baby sister Mary… brother John and I feeding the seagulls 

Sacred Heart Catholic School in New Smyrna purchased the school bus from Dad. But, of course, they wanted the seats. So, the story goes, Dad drove a sedan to New York, loaded up the seats in, around and through the sedan and delivered the seats to Sacred Heart. While I do not have a photo, knowing my Dad, this is exactly what he did. 

Perhaps the yellow school bus was prophetic… since I spent 37 years serving Volusia County Schools as a teacher, principal and district administrator.