This was Frank Biviano in 1945. Today, he is celebrating his 99th birthday in heaven. It’s hard to believe that it has been 25 years since he passed away, but his memory is a constant for me, as is my Mom’s. We were raised right and we were proud of our Italian and Sicilian heritage.
My uncles on the Cifonelli side called him “St. Francis” because he was so kind to others, always lending a helping hand.
One of my favorite stories happened when he and Mom were dating. Dad showed up at the home on Bartlett Avenue, Cortland, NY, to pick up mom for a movie. Grandpa Cifonelli was sitting at the table drinking an ounce or two of his homemade wine out of one of those little 4 oz. glasses. He was upset because all four of his sons had sports and band practice and couldn’t help him turn the wine barrel in the cellar.
Dad said he would help. He took off his white dress shirt (dad always wore a t-shirt under his dress shirts) and went downstairs to help turn the barrel. My Mom & Dad missed the movie that night but they got something even better – my Grandfather’s blessing.
You see, back in the day, Italians from “the Old Country”, like my Grandfather, didn’t trust Sicilians. My Grandfather was also an elder in the “Old Timer’s Band” in Cortland, and my Dad was one of the younger generation. The old guys and the young guys didn’t always get along and it went beyond being from different parts of Italy.
These stories resonated with me as a child. Even those who fled their homeland for a better life carried cultural prejudices—a different color or a different generation.
But that day, they did get along, due to kindness, support, and my Dad rolling up his sleeves to help an elder who needed it.
The rest is history. My parents were married more than 50 years, prior to Dad’s passing. They had two daughters – me and my sister, Lori. We grew up in that Italian—Sicilian—American household—a small house on 24 Mildred Ave with lots of love, wonderful cooking and even more great memories.
I’ll always cherish this story about my Grandpa Cifonelli and my Dad. It will be part of our family cookbook. More on that soon.
Judy Biviano Lloyd grew up in Cortland, NY. She went on to a storybook public service career in Washington, D.C. She has never forgotten her roots and continues to value her Italian Sicilian American heritage—food, family, and good old-fashioned fun!
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Dad!
