Please take a look at the bocce court and enjoy some pasta fagioli and coniglio. There is plenty of wine at every table. Most importantly, you will have the pleasure of meeting Bruno Massaro. His story will touch your heart. Enjoy the story and the photo of Marie and Bruno Massaro!

Bruno and Marie Massaro's wedding photo was taken on September 12th, 1970.   Their wedding song was "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago.     Where are you going tonight?" Marie Lombardi Massaro asked her son, Bruno.  "I am going for a walk," he said. "Bring a sweater, it's a little bit breezy outside," his mother replied.  Bruno grabbed his sweater and took a stroll down George Street in Hamden, CT.  It was not an ordinary stroll. It was a walk that led to a garden of love as Bruno met a beautiful woman named Marie Russo. She lived on George Street, too.  Bruno stopped in his tracks as he noticed Marie while he walked past her house. They smiled at each other. "What a beautiful smile," Bruno thought to himself.   Bruno courted Marie and felt that her love completed him. "Marie is always in my heart," he told his family and friends.  Their relationship was built on love, trust, loyalty, and devotion. Marie and Bruno planned to get married. "We are getting married on September 12th," he announced as they sipped homemade wine and champagne. They were so excited about their wedding day that they told everyone at the butcher shop, grocery store, and the barber shop. It was all over town! The delicately designed invitations reached 400 friends and relatives. Even Marie's dog was excited!   "Put the tie on the dog!" Marie Russo told her parents on her wedding day.  She had a white and auburn colored Beagle. Marie and her parents tied a gray, silk, Italian bow tie on the dog that morning.  The mother of the bride started to fuss with her hair and sprayed a little hairspray on her fresh hairdo. A few relatives gathered on their front lawn to take a few pictures. "Get closer," they said as they wanted to be sure everyone fit in the picture.  Some of the relatives sipped espresso and ate a few pastries at the dining room table while Marie admired her beautiful wedding bouquet. The men put on their suit jackets and placed a fresh handkerchief in their pockets.   Marie Russo was beautiful with soft, flawless skin. Her eyes radiated love, excitement and joy. She was a natural beauty, but most of all, the love that she had in her heart for Bruno Massaro travelled from her heart to her eyes and soul.  She did not need a lot of lipstick or cosmetics. The love of her life was going to become her husband and the love that she felt for him seeped through her skin.   One of Marie's relatives stood in front of the mirror and put on an old catena, or medallion of the Madonna. All of a sudden, the dog ran out of the front door. He ran past the espresso pot, tray of cannoli, and all of the relatives who were taking pictures on the lawn.  He even knocked over a few plants near the driveway. A few cars slowed down on George Street as he wandered into the middle of the road. No one understood where the dog was going or what was wrong. Someone thought he may have accidentally eaten a hot pepper.   The dog ran directly to Bruno's house! As soon as  the dog reached the side door, he stood up on his hind legs, scratched at the door, and barked, as if to say, "Are you ready to go? We have to get to St. Brendan's Church!"   There were 400 guests at the Italian wedding which was held at the Italian American Club of West Haven, CT. They danced to their favorite Italian songs, enjoyed delicious food, and mingled with their guests. Bruno led Marie on to the dance floor. He held her tenderly as they danced to "Lara's Song," which is from the movie, Dr. Zhivago. The bride and groom looked into each other's eyes and said, "God has truly blessed us. We are lucky to have each other." It was destiny that brought them together as they lived on the same street and bumped into each other during Bruno's stroll down George Street.   The next day, they left for a six week honeymoon in Italy. Their relatives waved and said, "Buon Voyaggio."  As they walked down the cobblestone roads  of Italy, Bruno said, "let's buy some liquore to bring home," while Marie said, "We have to take a look at the gold link bracelets and crucifixes, too, Marie said.  They did not have to worry about money. "We spent all of the money that we received as gifts on our wedding day," Bruno said. They enjoyed gelato, freshly baked pastries, home made ravioli, minestrone, and fresh fish while they were in Italy. Also, they strolled hand in hand past the Trevi Fountain and embraced each other lovingly in the piazza. A simple walk down George Street led to 38 beautiful years of marriage.  Bruno held Marie's hand tightly as they walked through the ruins of Pompeii and past the turquoise waters of Amalfi. "Pisa was unbelievable," Bruno said. Their voices echoed as they toured the interior of the  La Scalia Operahouse. Marie placed a blanket under a tree on Lago di Cuomo. They gazed at the beautiful lake and sipped Chianti. The blue sky watched over them and the scent of pine trees filled the air.   Bruno has fond memories of Venice. "I remember buying Murano glass in Venice," Bruno told me.  "Look at this one!" Marie said as she held up a beautiful, light green vase. "I think the blue bowl is so beautiful!" Bruno said. They adored the shades of amber, green, red, and blue glass along the crystal clear, glass shelves.   Bruno explained to me that he worked hard at a book binding company for 10 years and then became the owner of Bruno Massaro & Sons Dry Wall Company in Hamden, CT. "I bought a piece of land for $8,000.00 back in 1970 on George Street," Bruno said. He took me on a journey of his life. At the center of every page of his photo album are his wife, children, parents, sisters, brothers, grandchildren, and friends. His siblings are Marcello, Carmela, Silvio, Angelo, Alberto, Benito, Bruno, Rita, Vinny, Lena, and Lucy. They were all born in Faicchio, Italy.   "What are your favorite traditions?" I asked, as I ate my coniglio at The Bocce Club in Hamden, Ct. "Coniglio" means "rabbit". Also, I had pasta fagioli, or pasta and beans. As he told me the story, I envisioned his wife, Marie, carrying bags of clams and shrimp from the local seafood market.  She prepared the shrimp and clams. "We always had ice sculptures on Christmas Eve. One year it was a carving of a ship, while another year it was a carving of a Christmas tree," Bruno said proudly. Marie placed the shrimp and clams around the delicately carved ice sculpture. He remembers the way his grandmother and wife made escarole and beans with hard bread. "Back in Faiocchio, Italy, we never threw away food," Bruno said.   "What is the most important message that you want to tell your friends and family about being Italian?" I asked Bruno. He said, "Stick together. That is the most important thing about being Italian or Italian American. Respect each other and I believe that when someone needs help, another person will be there for you."   This is so true , as I remember how my own father helped some of our relatives as he "called for them" to come to America and  leave the Provincia di Frosinone area. Also, he helped them to find jobs back then. My father never turned his back on anyone who needed help. As a matter of fact, my father used to help elderly ladies carry their groceries. He made time for complete strangers. He might not have won an award and he might not have been famous, be he never said "no" to anyone who needed help. He had a heart of gold.   Bruno told me about the way he raised his sons. I envisioned his sons sharing toys and helping each other with their homework. "Go and see where your brother is, go outside and play with him," Bruno often said. He told me that he always taught his children about the importance of getting along. "I set an example for my children," he told me.  It is obvious that Bruno's strong work ethic has molded his sons as they work at their family dry wall business. After the Woolson H. Lee Book binding factory closed, Bruno never collected unemployment because he was too proud and a very hard worker. He found work immediately without collecting a dime of unemployment. "Although I set an example for my children, they make their own choices about staying close to the Italian traditions. They do it on their own without being forced. There are many things that they do automatically," Bruno said.  I admired the espresso machine at The Bocce Club. "My sons bought the machine," Bruno said that his sons stay close to their traditions in many ways, such as through food, wine, and staying close to many other traditions.   Bruno said that he is a wealthy man because of his late wife and children. If someone asks Bruno how much money he has in the bank, he always says, "I have 4 million dollars," which means that he has 4 wonderful children. They are the most important and precious people in his life. He is a wealthy man because his riches are his children. Donna, Bruno, Guy, and Joe are in his heart, and he is rich with love because of them.   My visit to The Bocce Club in  Hamden, CT was more than the game of bocce and the bocce courts. It was the way I was welcomed there by everyone. They made room at their table for me. As a matter of fact, I was able to taste Bruno's homemade wine. Also, another man named Giovanni asked me to try his wine, too. Although they were both delicious, one wine was more dry while the other was sweeter. I loved both of the wine samples. Someday soon, I will write about wine making, too.   I felt like I was in Italy as I noticed the glass refrigerator filled with  Red Bitter, Chinotto, and other Italian beverages. Most of all, I noticed the comraderie between the club members. "Would you like something to drink?" a couple of men asked me. I spotted the television and asked, "Do you have RAI tv?" Bruno said, "Of course we do!" Now that is a real Italian place. It was a place where I was greeted with friendly and warm smiles. By the way, I always like to bring food when I am invited somewhere, so I brought the guys a small box of lemon pizzelles. A man named Dominic stood over the stove cooking the pasta fagioli and rabbit. The juicy slices of watermelon were lined up on the table waiting to be eaten. Most of all, I realized that it was more than just a Bocce Club. It was a place filled with respect. As a matter of fact, Bruno built the entire Bocce Club building. The Bocce Club is a place for men to gather, spend quality time together, catch up on things, and share a few laughs. I noticed a poster on their wall announcing a fundraiser for the victims of the earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy. A very kind man named Giancarlo explained the fundraiser to me. The Bocce Club had a dinner dance on June 6th to raise money for the victims. I was warmed by their generousity and I have mailed my donation to Giancarlo.   The most important thing that I have noticed about men at The Bocce Club is how they cared about the people of L'Aquila during this time of tragedy. No matter how busy they may be, or what hardships they endure, they always reach out to Italians to help them.   I know that Italian neighborhoods may have changed and things are not the same as they used to be, but the one thing that continues is the way the Italian Americans and Italians protect their heritage and help each other in times of need.   Bruno's eyes reflected sadness as he told me that his wife passed away on August 10, 2008. She died of Shay Dragger's disease. Tears filled his eyes as he told me that his wife was a fantastic cook. He told me that his wife used to cook duck every June 13th. That was his lucky day because it was the day he came to America.  June 13th,1958 will be etched in his heart forever as he left behind his life in Faiocchio to begin a new life in America.   I told Bruno that I believe his wife is listening to us and that can always see and hear him. I asked him, "What do you want to say to your wife?" Some people that I have asked this question to mention a song, poem, or  a long sentence. However, Bruno looked at me and simply said that his message to his wife would be, "I love you".   I will be sure to send something special to Bruno this June 13th. I know his heart is aching as he misses his wife, Marie. I was so touched by this story, that I will make it a point to call him and send him something special. I hope June 13th brings him joy as he spends it with his children and grandchildren. His garden of love began with his wife, Marie, but will continue to grow with the loving circle of friends and family.   Bruno is an interesting and intelligent man. He has a patent with the US Government for the Insta Arch.  It is a prefabricated arch used during construction of archways for doors, windows, or openings in buildings.  Hard work and intelligence runs through Bruno's veins.   Although Bruno yearns for his wife and there is a hole in his heart since her death, Bruno moves forward with his life. He puts his face towards the warmth of the sunshine as he cherishes the precious moments with his his grandchildren: Nico (7 years), Skylar (6 years), Dario (3 years), Antonia (3 years), Bruno (2 years), baby Massaro (due in March 2010).  He is determined to live a long and healthy life so that he can be a part of his grandchildrens' lives. Also, he wants to see his grandchildrens' life events and how their lives turn out. Bruno will always love his wife and will keep her memory alive, especially through his children. His beautiful daughter, Donna Massaro is married to the loving and caring Bruno Mauro . They are blessed with a precious daughter,  Antonia.  Bruno's cherished son, Bruno Massaro Jr, is married to his loving wife, Antonietta . Their precious gifts are their children, Nico and Dario. There is one more on the way! Bruno's hard working son, Guy Massaro is blessed with his adorable daughter Skylar. Last, but not least,  Bruno's dedicated son, Joe Massaro , who is married to Marcela. They have a son named Bruno. Everyone in the Massaro family is hardworking, devoted, loving, and honest .  My heart is warmed by this special family.  Knowing them is a special gift.     "Someday we'll meet again my love Someday whenever the Spring breaks through You'll come to me out of the long ago Warm as the wind, soft as the kiss of snow."   Lara's Theme song from Dr. Zhivago