The Origins of Gina Niceforo

Gina Marie NiceforoBorn January 29, 1980• I was born in Methuen,

Massachusetts, to Robert and Evelyn Niceforo.

• My parents each had two children from previous marriages, so I was lucky enough to have three older brothers, and one older sister.

• My siblings were all at least nearly ten years older than me, so I grew up as the ultimate baby of the family. There was always plenty of love for me growing up in this tight knit family!

My SiblingsPaternal Brothers:

Kevin Niceforoand

Robert NiceforoMaternal Sister and

Brother:Gayle Perino

andGregg Mezzapelle

Gayle

Gregg

Rob

Kevin

My Dad

• Robert Phillip Niceforo• Born December 30, 1943, in

Brooklyn, New York.• Moved with his parents to

Lawrence, Massachusetts at a young age along with his older brother, John Niceforo.

• His parents were old fashioned Italians, and my father was raised to be a good student, hard worker, and family orientated husband and father.

My Paternal Grandparents

• My paternal Grandfather, John Niceforo (Nano), was born In Sicily and immigrated to Brooklyn, New York as a young child with his family in the early 1900’s.

• My paternal Grandmother, Mamie Ambra (Nana), was born in Sicily, also coming to New York with her family in the early 1900’s.

• My Nano and Nano met in New York City and had two children, John and Robert.

• The four of them moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts when my father was a child, though he has fond memories of spending summers in Brooklyn with his maternal Grandparents.

My Paternal Grandparents• My father’s parents were both

100% Sicilian, and very proud of their Italian heritage. My Nana was known as an incredible Italian cook, and both were deeply committed Catholics.

My Paternal Great Grandparents• My paternal Grandfather’s dad was unknown, but his mother was

Filligina Sgarlata, the women I was named after.• She was from Sicily as well, bringing her family here in the early

1900’s and settling in Brooklyn, New York.• My paternal Grandmother’s parents were Filippo Ambra and Maria

Guerrera, they met, married, and had children in Sicily before immigrating with them to New York in the early 1900’s.

• They remained in Brooklyn their entire lives, and my dad and his brother spent every summer of their childhood staying with them in the heavily Italian populated part of Brooklyn.

• My dad has amazing stories of the rich Italian culture that was Brooklyn in the 1950’s, such as stickball in the streets and constant Italian home cooking.

My Mom• Evelyn Ruth Annaloro• Born January 21, 1943 in Lawrence,

Massachusetts.• My mother was the youngest of five

children, and they were victims of the Great Depression, always struggling to make ends meet in the immigrant area of Northeast Massachusetts.

• Her father left their family when she was young, and she depended on her older siblings to act as makeshift father figures.

• Although they had little money, they were a very close, loving family, and my mom spent a lot of time with her maternal Grandparents, and her paternal Grandmother and Great Aunt.

My Maternal Grandparents

• My maternal Grandfather was Joseph Annaloro, born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, along with two sisters and one brother, to parents of 100% Sicilian descent.

• My maternal Grandmother was Evelyn Kunert (Grammy), born in Lawrence, Massachusetts to a German father, and Scotch-Canadian mother, along with her younger sister.

• They met and married at a young age, having three boys and two girl children.

• They resided in Methuen, Massachusetts, another town in Northeastern Massachusetts, where immigrants from all over Europe settled in America.

My Maternal Grandparents• My maternal Grandfather was a saxophone player in a group that was considered “Big

Band” music.• My Grandmother worked hard in the mills to support her family on her own.• Although my Grandfather was not around for long, my mother, aunts, and uncles had a

wonderful childhood in fast-growing Massachusetts. • Since my family still lives in that area, it was fun growing up and getting to know first hand

the places my mom and her family frequented throughout almost the entire 20th century.

My Maternal Great Grandparents• My maternal Grandfather’s father was

Cologero Annaloro, and his mother was Giacomina Annaloro (maiden name unknown), born in Sicily and immigrating to Massachusetts together in the late 1800’s.

• Giacomina and her husband had four children, all raised in Northern Massachusetts.

• Giacomina and Cologero remained in Massachusetts and stayed close with my mother and her siblings, but not much is known of their history because they passed away while my mother was a young teenager.

• They both passed away before my birth, but my mom has wonderful stories of growing up enjoying their Sicilian heritage of wonderful Italian food, a deep-rooted love of music, and stories of the “old country.”

My Maternal Great Grandparents• My Grandmother’s parents were Paul Kunert

and Margaret Dinsmore.• Paul Kunert was born in Germany and moved

to Lawrence, Massachusetts with his parents in the late 1800’s.

• He was a proud, strong, German family man, and my mother had a special relationship with him, telling me wonderful stories about him, “He could do anything, and was so much fun!” He liked to drink beer and spoke German often, particularly when he was drinking.

• Margaret Dinsmore was born in the East Coast of Canada to Scottish immigrants. Her family moved to Massachusetts when she was a child, but she was always very proud of her Canadian Scotch heritage.

• The Scottish were brought to Canada as slaves in 1010 AD, and now Canadian Scotch is the third largest ethnic group in the country.

• Paul and Margaret married around 1900 and had two daughters, my Grandmother Evelyn and her sister, Ruth.

• They all remained in Massachusetts their entire lives, but unfortunately Paul and Margaret passed away long before I was born.

Growing Up on the East Coast• Growing up on the east coast was amazing, we lived within an hour from the

beach, the mountains, and all of my extended family, who were spread throughout New England. We all met in Connecticut at my Uncle Charlie’s house for every holiday.

• We would enjoy two big meals each time, filled with Italian specialties. However, my mom and her family never forget their German and Scottish Canadian roots, so dishes like traditional sauerkraut were served with every Italian meal.

• We all were very close, and I not only had four older siblings, but many cousins, and even a nephew (Keith), who was born when I was only three years old, to my older sister.

My Family Today• My entire family remains in the Northeast except me. However, although I moved

to Lake Tahoe 15 years ago, I am closer with my parents and siblings than ever before.

• My aunts and uncles have all passed away by now, since I was born when my parents were nearly forty years old, but I will never forget my childhood, in which they were all prominent figures.

• My sister and brothers all have children, and even my nephew has a son, making me a Great Aunt.

• I visit at least two or three times a year, and all my nephews and nieces know me as their favorite “cool Aunt from California.”