Chapter I — July 1902
A Foothold in Hell's Kitchen
Our story begins in the rolling hills of Fubine, Piedmont. The Garlasco family didn't just move to America; they built a bridge across the Atlantic. It all started with my great-aunt Maria, who first laid down roots in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen.
When my grandfather, a 16-year-old blacksmith named Albino Garlasco, arrived on the S.S. La Savoie in the summer of 1902, the journey wasn't quite over. He was briefly detained at Ellis Island until he could be released into Maria's custody. Her tenement at 341 W. 38th Street became the family's vital landing pad—the safe haven that allowed parents, siblings, and cousins to finally call New York home.
Chapter II — June 1913
From the Valleys of Bergamo
Meanwhile, my grandmother's family, the Rodeschinis, were making their own courageous journey from Zogno in the mountain valleys of Lombardy. My great-grandfather Pietro scouted ahead in 1911, preparing a life for them in Greenwich Village.
In June 1913, his wife Caterina crossed the ocean with their children. Among them was my grandmother, Elvira Rodeschini, just 15 years old at the time. The family's joy of reunion in New York was tested just a few years later when Caterina tragically passed away in 1918. Elvira was forced to grow up fast, navigating the close of World War I as a young woman taking on immense family responsibilities.
Chapter III — July 1919
Two Worlds Collide
Two distinct Italian worlds—the Piedmontese Garlascos and the Lombard Rodeschinis—finally intersected in the bustling streets of New York City. By the late 1910s, Albino had transformed from a teenage blacksmith into an ambitious, licensed chauffeur and mechanic.
He met Elvira, and a romance blossomed. In the summer of 1919, they were married twice: first in a civil ceremony at the Manhattan Municipal Building, and weeks later in a beautiful Catholic service at St. Boniface Church. Through it all, the tight-knit Garlasco siblings stood by their side, with Albino's brother Lorenzo and sister Luigia acting as witnesses. It was the true beginning of our family tree.
Chapter IV — 1920s
A Life in Motion
Albino and Elvira didn't just settle down; they took on the world. Their lives became a whirlwind of travel, fueled by Albino's passion for automobiles and his ventures into the racing scene. They lived a highly mobile, transnational life, splitting time between New York, Italy, and Havana, Cuba.
My aunt Yolanda was born during their time in Havana in 1921. After spending time back in Italy—where Albino maintained his ties and official standing—the family boarded the S.S. Giulio Cesare in August 1923. They sailed back into New York Harbor, reuniting with Lorenzo on West 44th Street, permanently cementing a legacy of resilience, love, and speed that I am proud to share today.
