My father bought a house in Panther Hollow. We were the first Italians in the neighborhood.
Oddly enough, my mother was born in Southampton. I have roots in Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor. My grandfather, her father, Stefano Rullo, when he came from Naples, he went to Pennsylvania and worked coal mines.
Italian-Americans are not the Mafia.
The United States didn't ban Italian immigration in the 1920s because a small minority of Italians became members of the Mafia, and the country is a richer place for it.
My mom's father came from a family of 11 children who came over from the island of Ischia, Italy, and settled in Providence, RI. Her mother was part of the large community of French-speaking Canadians who settled in Woonsocket, RI.
Everybody I play probably has some Italian in them.
I am a proud Italian American, raised by an Italian mother and Italian grandparents.
I cherish my beautiful Italian heritage.
The secret is that I am Italian.
