Casa Emigranti Italiani

" To Remember and Understand"

Ciarcia', Sebastiano

Born in Canicattini in 1942 Nano emigrated to the USA in 1955. His mother was a full fledged USA citizen by birth but had returned to Sicily with her parents at the tender age of five! Eventually the entire family would find itself in Hartford.

One of the few immigrants to actually go to school here, Nano attended and finished the four years of High School.

He would not go back to visit Canicattini until 2008!

Most of his career was spent working in construction at first and then in 1975 opened the South End Bakery on Franklin Avenue, then and now Little Italy. A successful business which he has been running with his wife Maria and more recently with his son Sebby and wife.

Nano has had an illustrious soccer career. In the mid 1950's he was part of a youth soccer team which played for a regional title against a NY team composed mainly by German immigrants. Nano scored the winning goal with about 2 minutes to go in the game and was the unquestionable hero! He was interviewed on radio and asked for a comment the only thing he could say was: " Viva Italia"! To which the partisan crowd of some 30,ooo erupted in a joyous roar!

The icing on the cake and the reason 30,000 were at this event? This game was a preliminary to a friendly match between Milan and Santos being played in NY! What an experience!

Nano continued to play soccer: first for Balnea until the mid 1960's and then with a local Argentine club until the mid 1970's. The newspapers clipping to the side recount some of his more memorable accomplishments, including one 4 goals game and one 3 goals game!

However Nano’s luckiest break was getting married to Maria ( Ficara) back in 1964 in Canicattini! A smart business woman and hard worker, Maria has been at Nano's side since their marriage and has done a lot to make the bakery the success it is!

Maria and Nano have four children and six grandchildren.

Now semi-retired ( depending who you ask he may be fully retired!!) Nano can be found more often at the golf course rather than the bakery!

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