Alfonso Cirillo (abt. 1928 - 2020)

Born about 17 Sep 1928 in San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore, Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy

Ancestors

Died 27 Mar 2020 at about age 91 in Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gary Spring [send private message]

Biography

Alfonso was born to Domenico and Domenica Maria (Marulli) Cirillo on 17 Sep 1928 in San Valentino, Abruzzo Citeriore, Italy.^[1][2][3]

In June 1947, at age 18, he immigrated to the U.S. from the port of Naples, Italy on the Marine Shark arriving on Ellis Island at the port of New York with his elder brother Leonino, then 22 years old.^[4][5] The ship was built by Kaiser Co. Inc, Vancouver, Washington, 1945. 12,420 gross tons; 496 (bp) feet long; 72 feet wide. Steam Turbine engines, single screw. Service speed 17 knots. 10,159 passengers Passenger ship. US registration 248095. 1968 made larger. It was built for the United States Maritime Commission (USMC), United States flag, in 1945 and named Marine Shark. Sold to American owners, American flag, in 1968 and renamed Charleston. Containership service. Litton Industries. The Marine Shark was scrapped at Brownsville, Texas in 1986.^[6]

After his military service in Germany, he traveled back to Italy and met and married Maria in 1952. After the birth of their daughter, Anna, they immigrated to the US on the ship Saturnia, leaving Naples on 24 Jun 1954 and arriving, once again, on Ellis Island at the port of New York on 8 Jul 1954 with Anna, 21 other passengers and five pieces of luggage.^[7] The Saturnia was built by Triestino, Monfalcone, Italy, 1927. 23,940 gross tons; 601 (bp) feet long; 80 feet wide. engines, twin screw. Service speed 21.5 knots. 9,914 passengers Diesel engined passenger-refrigerated cargo ship. It was built for Cosulich Line, Italian flag, in 1927 and named Saturnia. Passenger and cargo service. It seems a much more comfortable ride than the Marine Shark that Alfonso had made with his brother in the decade before. The ship was seized by United States Army Transports, American flag, in 1943 and renamed Frances Y.Slanger. Transport service. It was returned to the Cosulich Line, Italian flag, in 1947 and reverted to Saturnia. It was scrapped at La Spezia in 1965.^[8]

He died on 27 Mar 2020 in Pittsfield, MA and is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery.^[2]

Obituary^[3]

Mr. Alfonso Cirillo, age 91 of 72 Leona Dr. Pittsfield, died Friday afternoon after a long illness. He was born in San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore, Italy, and was the last of the 4 children of the late Domenico and Domenica Marulli Cirillo. Educated in the local schools, he was a graduate of LaScuola Secondaria di San Valentino. He emigrated to this country settling in Pittsfield in 1948 and became employed at the former General Electric Co. Upon being drafted into the U. S. Army, he was stationed in Germany.

When granted military leave, he would travel by train to his sister's home in Italy. There, he was introduced to the former Maria Danese, whom he courted and ultimately married July 13, 1952. Following the birth of their first daughter, Anna, they came to America Aug. 13, 1953.

Mr. Cirillo rejoined G.E. where he was employed initially as a painter and later in assembly. Prior to his retirement, he helped assemble transmissions for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Alfonso retired in 1988 with a total of 40 years of service with the company.

Generous and giving to a fault, he most enjoyed being with his family and extended family. He changed his shifts at the GE to evenings so he could care for his daughter. If you lived near North Street, you would see them both walk late in the afternoon to the former Coat Factory to greet his wife and to share the childcare responsibilities. Together they would walk home and he would turn around then to walk to the GE to begin his shift.

Alfonso was a long time communicant of Mount Carmel Church and upon its closing became a communicant of St. Joseph's Church. He loved to travel to Canada to visit with their relatives and especially loved to watch his three grandsons play Soccer for the former St. Joseph's High School.

You could tell what time of the year it was by observing Alfonso's activities. Springtime was for getting his large garden prepared and ready and the Summer was for tending the plants and working in his yard. Fall was the time for the Harvest and making his own wine followed by Winter which was for eating and drinking the fruits of his labors. You knew you were a valued member of the extended family if you were gifted a bottle to enjoy in your own home. Again, a generous man.

In addition to his wife, Maria, he is survived by his daughters, Anna F. Stack and her husband Shaun, of Pittsfield and Donna M. Hanson and her husband, Christian, of Pittsfield. He was the very proud 'Nonno' of his three grandsons, Christopher J. Stack and his wife, Catalina and their daughters, Marcella and Isabella, Corey M. Stack and his wife, Anna Maria and their son Brandon, and Nico J. Terpak. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and his greatest competitor whether it was concerning wine making or Bocce, Tony and Lella Danese of Pittsfield and all of his extended family here, in Canada and in Italy.

SERVICES: Funeral services will be private for the immediate family given the restrictions placed on us all. Entombment will take place in St. Michael the Archangel Mausoleum at St. Joseph's Cemetery. A Memorial Mass, celebrating the life of Alfonso "Nonno" Cirillo, will take place at St. Joseph's Church at a future date and time to be determined. In lieu of flowers, and in the spirit of Alfonso's doing for others, memorial donations may be made to the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center (Girl's Inc. of the Berkshires) in care of the DEVANNY-CONDRON FUNERAL HOME, which has been entrusted by the family with his care.

Sources

1. ↑ Family knowledge
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z5T3-2J6Z : 7 August 2020), Alfonso Cirillo, ; Burial, Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States of America, Saint Joseph's Cemetery; citing record ID 208564558, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} The Berkshire Eagle on Mar. 31, 2020
4. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24PG-4H4 : 2 March 2021), Alfonso Cirillo, 1947; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "United States, New York, Index to Passengers Arriving at New York City, compiled 1944-1948", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7XRK-F9T2 : 23 October 2019), Alfonso Cirillo, 1947.
6. ↑ https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/
7. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H46-KKY : 2 March 2021), Alfonso Cirillo, 1954; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/