Casa Emigranti Italiani

" To Remember and Understand"

Indomenico, Gaetano

In youth we learn lessons which help lead our entire life!

My good friend Gaetano, one of seven children, still remembers fondly the time spent with his parents sitting around the "conca" ( round copper tool with a center sunk-in where we would burn coal to warm up an entire room!)

While the setting may haven simple and bare, the time was spent together as a family, usually at dinner time, listening to his father tell local folk stories or the Count of Montecristo. But most importantly Gaetano remembers the life teachings: about respect for others; about the value of being your own boss and running your own business; how to respect women and believe in marriage!

The 1940's were tough times and Paolo went to work in construction at the tender age of 9: and yet he preferred that to going to school which was not his calling ( he would quit after the third grade)! He recalls one incident when on his first day at a new job he got up at 4am and went to meet his new boss only to find the house shut. He returned home crying assuming that he had shown up late only to be reassured by his mother that he was a bit too early!!

His youth was one of work: no-one imposed that view, it was his own choice! So while other children would be playing soccer he never did participate in any sports other than an occasional trip to the soccer stadium to see a game of his town team.

Gaetano did show an interest in writing and the theatre from early on, surely prompted by his father's nightly stories! He participated in a number of recitals but one in particular he recalls when he needed a dark suit for the part he was playing and, not having one of his own, decided to borrow ( without asking) his brother suit. As faith would have it his brother came home and needed the suit! Found out what had transpired, went to the theatre and. in a Sicilian way, kept directing dirty looks at his brother who was on stage!

At work his abilities and initiative were noted immediately by his bosses. Early on he decided to go on his own! He would work extra hours to deliver a quality and unique product forgetting to show up on time for dinner and prompting a visit by his father to Gaetano's place of work to remind him, gently, of his family obligations!

The mid 1950's were not kind to him! His mother died in 1957 at the young age of 51 and a brother would die a couple of years later! He was probably depressed, closed within himself, always at the cemetery. Friends suggested he join the Carabinieri and had even taken a first step in that direction but fortunately did not follow thru.

In the late 1950's he would fulfill his two years military service. Once he returned home he restarted his career in construction.

But unknown to him others would put in motion plans which changed his life for the better in ways he could have never anticipated.

A neighbor invited him to his house and there he was introduced to the possibility of an "arranged marriage" to a paesana who lived in the USA. Now I am sure that our modern generation would look unkindly to that type of approach to marriage but the times were different and sometimes destiny works in mysterious ways!

In 1960 Gaetano ( following his background having been checked and cleared by friends of the future fiancée!) became engaged to his future wife never having seen her in person and not meeting her in person for another 3 and half years!! They knew each other via pictures and would write letters three times a week!

In 1964 she would come to Siracusa, they would marry and leave for the USA shortly thereafter. The beginning of a new and important chapter in his life but one where the father's teachings would guide him as surely as if he had been there in person!

Paolo and his wife would spend the next seven years living with his in-laws! These were trying time personally: happy to be with his wife but always sad about having left his family. He could still recall the ship leaving port and inexorably going away while his father's figure would become ever smaller before disappearing in the horizon.

He went to work in construction ( $2.25 per hour) while his wife worked briefly in a clothing factory until the first child arrived, after which she would work tirelessly for her family!

Gaetano found a job in construction with a well known local firm but would leave only after 7 months to start his own with two other partners. He bet his life savings and borrowed money from his father-in-law to be able to contribute his share.

The first couple of years were extremely difficult. Income was minimal and with no health insurance was forced to pay the full hospital bill for the birth of his first child! He did pay but in installments! Except now the second child was on the way and the hospital requested that he pay in full his first bill before delivering the second child!!

The construction firm they started took off slowly. They started by building fireplaces except they did not really know how; had limited english skills and even less equipment!

But age was on their side and improvisation their strength: they slowly began to generate ever more work. Over the years they specialized in building large apartments where they would almost exclusively do the brick work Eventually a new partner also joined in the 1980's who allowed for a significant expansion of capabilities with his ability to do large school projects.

The number of partners has changed since their initial 1965 establishment but the firm continues to flourish to this day now lead by three of his children.

At its peak the firm has had as many as 130 employees and done single jobs as large as $7,000,000.

Gaetano has always been a keen observer, not afraid to ask questions, to learn from others and then to adapt ideas to his values.

In 1967 he became the founding member of an organization called 17 Italian Americans: a finance company dedicated to lend funds to members to finance purchases such as cars. The company started with a $100 equity contribution followed by a $20 monthly fee. The first meeting took place in a basement with all members standing due to the smallish size of the room!

In 1971 the association decided to start investing in real estate! They purchased a building in the South End paying the back then high price of $36,000, renovated it into 4 apartments and two offices. It was to be the beginning of a very successfull enterprise.

In 1980 the company name changed to Marconi Enterprises and in 1990 it stopped its original finance focus and limited its activities to the real estate market in Hartford, New Britain and West Hartord.

Today the company which started in the basement has 59 members ( mostly relatives of the original 17 founders), owns some 550 rental units and employs 10 people!

No doubt that none of this could have been accomplished for the unique leadership provided by Gaetano! A man trusted by all; a man of clear family values; a modest and unassuming fellow with tremendous work habits and a dedication to friend and family unmatched by any!

A son of family values learned long ago around a conca from loving parents!

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