To the editor:
About a year ago, after my father, William "Vito" Frontiero, passed away, I came to the realization that, since moving to Washington, D.C., area more than 30 years ago, I'd lost track of my Frontiero relatives back in Gloucester.
Many of them paid their respects at my father's funeral, and it was then that I got the idea that we should have a family reunion in his memory. My sister, Joan Fugalli, eagerly helped me pull together the contacts from each family member from most of the eight descendants of the late Polido "Paul" and Vincenza (Ciaramitro).
Paul and Vincenza's eight children were Anna Maria, wife of John Polizzia; Joseph, husband of Anna Lovascco; Michael, husband of Mary Picscitello; Rosalie, wife of John Lafata; Rose "Rita"; Salvatore, husband of Mary Parco; Virginia; and William "Vito," husband of Lillian Kyrouz. They raised 30 children in Gloucester.
The response to the reunion idea was favorable, and many of the descendants were represented at the reunion this past summer at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. Almost 50 Frontieros attended, from age 2 weeks to 80. Several people brought old photographs and we were able to identify some who were previously unknown.
We shared stories about our grandparents and parents whose livelihoods revolved around the sea. They grew up on Beach Court at the Fort in the Italian area of town. Most worked in the fishing industry and several owned fishing vessels — Little Flower, Irma Virginia, Carol Jean, and Lady in Blue — which we remembered partying on during the St. Peter's Fiesta.
Many of us of a certain age remember gathering at the Frontiero home during St. Peter's Fiesta, where the children were relegated to the upstairs, while the adults partied on the floor below. Little did they know that we were spying on them through the grated floor. One of my most memorable childhood memories of Fiesta was going on one of my uncle's fishing boats for the blessing of the fleet, inhaling the warm, salty air, playing with my cousins, and eating watermelon.
Last year, I visited the Beach Court neighborhood to find the Frontiero home. A neighbor came out and told me that Italians from my grandmother's birthplace reside there. One of these days, I'm going to knock on the door and ask to see the place — I have to see if the grated ceiling is still there!
We look forward to future reunions and hope to attract other Frontieros in Gloucester and around the country.
As I learned at this reunion, we have relatives in other parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Texas and California, as well as in Italy (Terrasini) and France.
If you would like information about this or future reunions, please contact Janet (Frontiero) at JanGrissett@gmail.com.
JANET (FRONTIERO) GRISSETT
Centerville, Va.
