cusimano family roots

Dedicated to Giovì and Perì

In 1920, while the economical, social, political and cultural gap between north and south of Italy enlarged more and more and the small centers experienced alarming phenomena of misery, anaiphabetism and backwardness, Gaetano Cusimano left Villabate, his house and relatives to go towards an ukknown fliture, risky but rich in expectations. He took his wife, Caterina Bellisi, and his four elder children with him: Simone, Domenica, Antonina and Pietro. Their younger son, Giuseppe, was born in the States. In the "land of opportunities", across the Atlantic Ocean, he started to work in a chewing gum factory and little by little he managed to grant his children a good life standard and the hope of a prosperous future. However, he never stopped keeping his mother-land in mind. He immediately began saving up money as to be able to go back to his roots a day, finally freed from the yoke of misery and want. Finally, in 1929 he went back to Villabate, together with his younger sons, Pietro (Peri) and Giuseppe (Giovì)). His elder children, who were already married, stayed in the USA and the Cusimano family splitted up for ever. Once in his country again Gaetano Cusimano bought houses and lands (the old, long-standing value of the "home" typical of Mediterranean people) and here he started a new life as a landowner and businessman. In few years he managed to change his social status not only for himself but for also for his descendants. The Cusimano heirs who settled in the USA for good became real "American". They contributed to enrich American social tissue with their composite humanity. They played an important role in the economical and social development of America and contributed to make it a great country. They had children and grandchildren who were and are American, who married American people and live a typically American life style. Yet, in the bottom of their hearts, they will always feel Sicilian and sooner or later they will try to re-discover their lost origins. Of course, the contacts between the "Sicilian" half and the "American" half ofthe family have never broke up and the Cusimano brothers and sisters, grandchildren, cousins and heirs have always tried to keep their link alive by means of visits, letters and phone calls.

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