Finamore
From Central Park Historical Society Encyclopedia
- The Finamore Family settled in Central Park, Long Island, NY in early 1932.
- Antonio Finamore, a 16 yr. old Italian immigrant, entered the U. S. A. through Ellis Island, NY, in 1911 and settled in Brooklyn, NY. He worked as a Tailor's helper making men's coats. He became a U.S. citizen after serving in the U.S. Army in France, during World War I.
- Stella Ruggiero, an eight year old Italian immigrant, entered the U.S.A. through Ellis Island, NY in 1913 with her mother and settled in Central Park, L. I., NY with other family members.
- Stella meets Tony through mutual friends during visits to Brooklyn. After a guarded courtship, they decided to marry and became the first bride and groom to be married in the new congregation of St. Martin of Tours R.C. Church in Central Park on November 18, 1923. Because the flooring wasn't finished in the new church, they were married in the Pastor's house on Herman Avenue. Tony was 28 and Stella was 18 years old.
- Tony and Stella moved into an upstairs apartment over a bakery shop on Corona Avenue in Queens, NY, where Tony worked on a sewer construction crew.
- After a few years and two children, they moved a few blocks east to another upstairs apartment, behind Public School #14, on Van Buren Street. In 1932, after two more children, Tony and Stella decided to move to Central Park, L.I. to be near Stella's family and a job waiting for Tony. They wanted to raise their children in the country.
- Charles Campagne moved them in his "Purina Feeds Company" truck to another upstairs apartment, in the Camerlengo's colonial house on Stewart Avenue (Emil's garden nursery).
- In 1934 they moved again, just around the corner to 36 Burkhardt Avenue, into a whole house of their own with a cellar and an attic, plus a back yard garage. The house was built in 1928 by a local man named Frank Castelli of South First Street.
- Tony worked hard installing sidewalks and curbs for the W.P.A. (Workers Progress Administration). He then became a Grumman Employee (#17170) in October, 1941 and retired in December 1963 at the age of 68. Tony was a lifetime member of the American Legion.
- Stella became a seamstress and was a pattern-maker at Gagliardo's Dress Factory on Broadway for many years.
- Stella became a naturalized U.S. citizen at the Mineola Court House in 1940 at the age of 35. She had two more children in the next four years.
- Stella was a very active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and served as President for two terms. Stella was voted Town of Oyster Bay Senior Citizen of the Year in 1990.
- Tony was still active after retirement, and did jobs with brick and mortar. He created colorful sidewalks at several homes. He then got sick and died in a nursing home at the age 83 in 1978.
- Stella remained at 36 Burkhardt Avenue until dementia and Alzheimer's took its toll. Her home was sold in 1996, when she moved to Florida in the care of daughters Marie and Carmela. She died in November 2000, two months shy of her 96th birthday.
- Stella and Antonio are at peace now in the Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, NY.
Their children are:
| Name | Born | Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Ernest | 1926 | Massapequa Park, NY |
| Carmela | 1927 | N. Fort Myers, FL |
| Frank | 1929 | Palm Bay, FL |
| Marie | 1932 | Palm Bay, FL |
| Janice | 1941 | Gilbertsville, NY (upstate) |
| James | 1944 | Northport, NY |
- The three Finamore boys all served in the U.S, Navy: Ernest in World War II 1944-1946 (North Pacific Theater), Frank in the Korean Conflict 1947-1951 (Chosin Reservoir Survivor) and James in the Vietnam era 1962-1966 aboard the Navy Ship U.S.S. Canberra Misssile cruiser (in the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean Seas). All three have been employees of Grumman Aerospace for many years. James passed away on April 4, 2009 at the age of 65.
- The Finamore homestead at 36 Burkhardt Avenue is now the home of Stella and Tony's grandson, Richard Resto.
Respectfully submitted by Ernset Finamore, February 2008
