Casa Emigranti Italiani 

Nato a Siracusa, Maggio 1935, Joe e’ l’unico membro della sua famiglia ad essere emigrato.

Joe e’ anche uno dei pochi Siracusani che faceva il mestiere nativo e cioe’ marinaio!

Nel 1955 ha iniziato a lavorare con una compagnia marittima di Genova , faceva il fuochista, e spesso passavono 12 a 14 mesi a mare. Specializzati in trasporti merci dall’ Italia alla Francia, Inghilterra, India, Spagna e anche gli Stati Uniti. Nel 1959 e’ venuto negli stati uniti, ha conosciuto sua futura moglie, si sono fidanzati. Lui ha continuato a lavorare fino al 1964 con la ditta di Genova prima di ritornare negli USA per poi sposarsi con la fidanzata.

Negli Stati Uniti Joe ha lavorato principalmente nella costruzione edilizia e addetto alla compagnia d’acqua dove ha passato tantissimi anni.

Membro della societa’ Santa Lucia di Siracusa. Organizzavono la festa di Santa Lucia ad Hartford e conteneva molti paesani.

Joe ha sempre lavorato nel trasporto marittimo e quindi era abituato a trascorrere 14 mesi fuori casa. Per la prima volta nella sua vita negli Stati Uniti invece ritornava a casa dal lavoro ed era con la sua famiglia.

Sposato e con due figlie, un figlio e 5 nipotini.

Joe ritorna spesso a Siracusa e gli piacerebbe anche ritornare a vivere li ma naturalmente la famiglia non lo permette.

Born in Syracuse, May 1935, Joe is the only member of his family to emigrate.

In 1955 he started working with a shipping company of Genoa, often 12 to 14 months at sea. Specialists in cargo transport from 'Italy to France, England, India, Spain and the United States too. In 1959, came to the United States, he met his future wife, were engaged. He continued to work with the company until 1964 before returning to USA marrying his fiance’.

In the United States, Joe has worked mainly in construction and the local water company where he spent so many years.

Member of society 'Saint Lucia of Syracuse. Responsible for organizing  the feast of Saint Lucia in Hartford.

Joe has always worked in shipping and so was accustomed to spend 14 months away. For the first time in his life in the U.S. he experienced   returning home from work and with his family.

Married with two daughters, one son and 5 grandchildren.

Joe often comes back to Syracuse and also would like to return to live there but of course the family life will not allow it.

I asked Joe how common was contrband back then, mid 1950's. Apparently workers were very careful and would only take care of their own needs, almost never buy to resell.

But it was not uncommon, in those day, for people with money to approach the owner of a shipping vessel and offer plenty of money to make a trip to Malta, pick up coffee and cigarettes, and bring it all back to Siracusa for re-sale! Of course if you got caught you lost the boat!

The  next several pictures donated by Joe Eliggio depict the widely celebrated Festa of Saint Lucia in Hartford, which Joe was instrumental in organizing during much of the 1970's.