The Government Job, Solofra #1

Table of Contents

A Memorial!

I am writing this on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion at Normandy. My mother (Grandma Joanne) had a “natural” brother, Michael, (she also had an adoptive brother, Michael) who, as they used to say at the time “he lost his mind” during the invasion.

Today, we’d say that Uncle Michael had a severe case of PTSD which resulted in his being committed to a VA hospital where he never left. The best that I understood, only Grandma Joanne, his littlest sister, was permitted to visit.

Two cousins and I are named after Uncle Michael, thank you!

After an unforgettable sojourn in Serino, the cradle of my Grandma Ruocco’s (aka Florence Rocco) life, I felt an irresistible pull towards Solofra—the town named on Grandpa Lucio’s birth certificate as his origin.

In Search of Lucio – The Government Job

Merely a mile as the crow flies from Canale di Serino, yet separated by a mountain (or is it just a big, big hill?), the trek between these hamlets is a formidable 12k round-trip (7.5 miles), ascending 2000 feet—a journey that mirrors the arduous path of life itself.

Despite the physical divide, the proximity of these towns sheds light on Grandpa Lucio’s early years. Born as an orphan in Solofra, the church and government whisked him away to the care of a wet nurse in Canale. Against the backdrop of the very lean times in Southern Italy, his 10% chance of survival (don’t believe me, see this book, I have a copy if you don’t want to spend between $100 – $2000 to buy it yourself) was miraculous; truly a stroke of luck for him to find such a person for nursing! In an era where an orphan’s life hung by a thread, Grandpa Lucio’s survival is his legacy, woven into the fabric of our family. It stands as a testament to a skill set that pervades his offspring.

When I first started at Kodak, we had the term “Government Job.” These “Government Jobs” were typically small and charitable. An example was going to a local church to check its piping. Sometimes this would result in a larger “Government Job” like re-engineering and construction to fix a problem.

At that time, we had one of the largest in-house construction companies in the US. Tongue in cheek, it was called “Ridge Road Construction”! We had an internal charging system at Kodak to charge our work back to the business units, however, somehow on the Government Jobs the charges didn’t appear! It was a great time to be at Kodak. It’s benevolence to Rochester institutions continues to prop up the area today.

By my time in the early 1980s, the practice of Government Jobs was waning, it was not fully gone. I spent some time working in the Seminary adjacent to Kodak Park. A set of buildings that Kodak eventually bought and turned into office. These weren’t always charitable; I also had a similar project at Disney Epcot in the late 90s but on a grander and much more costly scale.

In any event, back to Solofra…Cathy and I made the short drive from Sala to Solofra. I was in search of the Collegiata di San Michele Archangelo (see here – Collegiate Church of St. Michael the Archangel – Cultural Heritage Solofra (beniculturalisolofra.it)…and, of course, Michael is the leader of all angels! Per my brother, this church might have records of Grandpa Lucio.

As usual for this trip, mass was in session when we arrived. I took some pictures, and we decided to get a coffee, and then return.

Upon our return, you guessed it, the church was closed! I’ll plan better next time…a theme, as it will turn out, repeated itself on this day! Not knowing what to do, I turned around and discovered that the Commune of Solofra offices were across the street!

The Commune Offices is another beautiful building! The architectural symmetry is pleasing to my engineering eyes that desire order. It turns out that this is the former Orsini Ducal Palace (see here); makes sense that a feudal (read that as slave-driving) family, the Orsini, lived across from the “big” church!

Commune di Solofra (Solofra town Offices) – immediately across the street from the Collegiata!

Again, not knowing what to do, I entered the archway at the center. There was a gate that prohibited access, but to the right of the gate was a doorway. The doorway walls were two feet thick like most doorways in ancient Italian buildings. I entered, and to my surprise, I walked into an office area with a receptionist.

Once again, no English spoken here! So, with the help of Google Translate, I “spoke” with the receptionist. Funny thing, she seemed to understand English, but spoke back in Italian! Then, to my astonishment, I gave her my trusty phone with our family trees AND GRANDPA LUCIO’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!!!

She patiently read the birth certificate, and with a smile, she said, “Ufficio del Registro” and pointed upstairs. After over 130 straight days of Duolingo, I know “ufficio” is office, “di/del” is of, and I guessed at “Registro” as Registrar.

Once again, stunned by the kindness of strangers in Italy, I turned, and walked through the thick wall, but the gate to get upstairs was locked, another unfortunate remnant of our times. Luckily, another stranger arrived, I think I said, “Ufficio del Registro” pointing simultaneously up the stairs now in sight and to Grandpa Lucio’s birth certificate.

The Sign Behind the Gate – Anagrafe = Registry Office

HOLY CRAP! He opened the gate!

Triumphantly, albeit temporarily, we marched up the steps and down the hall following the “Anagrafe” signs.

Then another sign on the Registry’s door! HINT – it was Monday and it was 12:15pm!

The real definition of a Government Job! Closed at 12:00 on Monday and not open again until Tuesday afternoon after we’re gone. And, although I could hear people behind the door, I dared not knock (another unfortunate sign of our times).

My heart sunk…but knowing that I’m so close to finding more about Grandpa Lucio, I drive on AND WILL BE BACK with the hope of making him proud of my (our) perseverance too!

Nebaletan Word and Gesture of the Day – Che Vvuo!!!

My mother, Grandma Joanne, used many hand gestures. I didn’t know the “true” Neapolitan or even Nebaletan (Neapolitan-American) meaning. Their definitions were implied by the situation in which I found myself with her.

In Solofra where I found myself with the receptionist and the man at the gate, their replies to my inquiries could have been like Grandma Joanne, but they were gracious.

One hand gesture that might’ve been used by the two gracious people in Solofra – CHE VVUO!!! Pronounced Kay-Voo-Oh. Its definition, among many more colorful definitions, is “What do you want?”

In Tuscan/”Real” Italian, it’s CHE VUOI, pronounced Kay-Voo-Oy.

The hand gesture (from – https://www.portanapoli.com/en/naples/neapolitan-gestures/):

“’What are you saying?” – the thumb [joins] all other fingers of the hand turned upwards and the wrist oscillates repeatedly towards the shoulder. This gesture is addressed to a person, who talk[s too] much, but without making {himself] understandable (often ironically).

‘What do you want?‘ – Often it can be more than a question, because [he] understands a hidden threatening tone, nearly to the…challenge launched [at] you and for this reason is considered provocative…or dangerous.”

Depending upon Grandma Joanne’s tone and inflection of the words that followed the gesture, she had no problem being provocative or dangerous!!!