Family & Religion
Antonio was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the third oldest child in a family of four. His parents were an unlikely match with his mother being from a small Jewish family and his father being from a large Italian Catholic family. Antonio did not know his grandparents well as his maternal grandmother passed away before he was born as well as his paternal grandfather.
Antonio remarked that he remembered going back to Boston as a small child to visit his maternal grandfather who was in a nursing home at the time.
Antonio's maternal grandmother passed away before he was able to know her and for many years, she was not spoken about at home because her death had such a strong impact on Antonio's mother. Both Antonio's maternal grandparents had been older in life when they started a family.
Antonio's maternal grandparents - last photo of them together
Antonio spoke a great deal about his paternal grandmother, Gloria. His grandfather passed away when Antonio's father was 19-20 leading to Antonio's father leaving the military to become the head of the house as he was the oldest son.
Gloria, Antonio's grandmother "was a light for us kids", Antonio remarked when I asked about his relationship with her. "I always loved when she would send us presents from Mass or when she would come visit us. She made each of her visits feel like Christmas", he said. Antonio also recalled that when she would come to visit the family was a "little more conscientious of our worship then when grandma wasn't here." Antonio's paternal grandmother was a very devout Catholic and never missed service therefore when she was visiting, neither did they.
Antonio remarked that even though he has chosen to not actively practice, he still understands the importance of the beliefs that guided his father's family and his grandmother. He said that his grandmother always said she would be reunited with her husband in heaven when her time was done on Earth. Family connectedness, honesty, kindness and giving to others are the hallmarks that Antonio has taken from his time with the Church and still honors today.
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