"Family and Friends" Personal Page by icunme

It was inconceivable when I arrived in Italy in May of 2004 that I had set foot on the homeland of my family exactly 100 years to the month from the time my grandfather left Verona for New York. With affectionate retrospect, I understand only now in my twilight many things I heard as a child. I remember "Nonno" saying he would return to die in Italy and only feeling so sad at the time to think that he might ever die. He never had that chance to return home - so, perhaps, I might be able to somehow honor his wish and spend the rest of my days here in Italy. I would do that gladly. Good fortune has blessed me with my daughter close by - living in Frankfurt. I am fortunate also in that I am here with my "adopted nephew" who was born and raised in Milano. He has taken me on adventures to my family's native Verona, Lago di Garda, Valpolicella (Verona wine country), Milano, Lake Como, Porto Cervo, Mondello (beach in Palermo) and finally settling, hopefully, here in Roma.

I enjoyed many blessings as I lived, labored, loved, and raised my family in America. Fond memories of those great cities are still fresh - New York, Washington, DC, Palm Springs, Beverly Hills, - growing up in Pennsylvania with my best friend - and with cousins who visit now in Rome from NY, NJ, and RI.

Merita with me at Villa Borghese

Merita lived at my Beverly Hills home for three years - lives now back in her Denmark homeland and visits me in Rome as often as possible.

Friend, Joe, comes to visit every year from Univ Rochester, NY

My in-house Italian concierge and caro nephew Lorenzo - born in Milano - with me 17 years in Beverly Hills - the son I never had..... Her at the water ski club on Lake Como - 2004.

With Nellie at Lake Geneva - Nellie met her husband, Raffa, the first day he arrived for a homestay at my Beverly Hills home. They married and have a beautiful son, Dylan in Geneva.

Lorenzo and Rebecca

Hanging out on Via Veneto with Rebecca, Derek and Lorenzo - Looking for the photos with all of us - Derek and I are among the missing here!

Lunch with Nellie, Antonio, Anna in Yvoir, France - Raffa is taking the photo!