By

Andrew DeMarco

The past few years during February, which is Black History Month, I have written about lesser-known African Americans. In keeping with this tradition, I would like to tell you the story of Eunice Hunton Carter.
Eunice was born in Atlanta Georgia in 1899 to college educated parents which was unusual at that time. Her father William A. Hunton Sr. was the founder of the black division of the Y.M.C.A. and her mother Addie Hunton was a social worker. In fact, her paternal grandfather purchased his freedom from slavery just before the beginning of the Civil War. Her brother W. Alphaeus Hunton Jr. was also an author and activist involved with the Council of African Affairs. In 1906 the family moved from Atlanta to Brooklyn, New York where they both attended local schools. In 1921 she graduated from Smith College with a Bachelors degree and at the same time a Masters in social work. She worked briefly as a social worker but then decided to study law. In 1932 her career took a turn to the trailblazing path, when she became the first African American woman to receive a law degree from Fordham University. But this was just the beginning of many firsts for Eunice. In 1935 she became the first black woman to serve as Assistant District Attorney in New York state.
It was while serving as an A.D.A. that she once again blazed new trails. She was Robert Kennedy of the 60’s and Rudy Giuliani of the 80’s in mob busting before either of them even dreamed of it. Until Eunice Carter came along, most organized crime figures had been prosecuted and brought to justice through tax evasion laws, but Eunice found a different way. She determined that Charles ‘’Lucky” Luciano was involved in prostitution and put together a massive prostitution racketeering case that implicated Luciano. She then convinced District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey to prosecute the case. Luciano was convicted and after serving time in prison he was deported back to Italy. Although Eunice Carter did not play a prominent role during the trial, Dewey publicly acknowledged her contributions. The case was a steppingstone for Dewey’s career and Eunice Carter became an advisor and confidant to Dewey. Eunice Carter would later become active with the U.N., serving on committees that advocated for the improvement of women’s rights.
So, this is the story of an African American woman who bucked the times and went against the odds and made a difference and blazed new trails for all women. It was because of her success that public attorneys who came later, like RFK and Rudy Giuliani took the steps they did in fighting organized crime. So for this year’s Black History Month, Eunice Carter’s life and achievements should fill us all with pride and that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…..Rosy Glow!

For more information regarding the Luciano case you can go to:
https://www.biography.com/crime/eunice-hunton-carter-lucky-luciano

By

Andrew DeMarco

With the holiday season now over, I would like to tell you all about the best gift I received this past Christmas. Well, it was actually a gift I gave but what I got in return by giving this gift was immeasurable.

This story begins over 25 years ago when my niece Elaina and I would set up the train set and Christmas Village for the holidays. At that time, I gave her a simple toy. Well, this year while decorating the house for Christmas I came across this toy. Elaina is now engaged and before I go any further, I want to wish her and Scott all the love, health and happiness they can find. We eventually stopped putting up the trains but Elaina and I kept up the tradition of setting up the Christmas Village.  Now back to my story. I thought I would “re-gift” this gift that I gave her 25 years ago, so I wrapped it and put it in the bag with Elaina’s other presents.

On Christmas Day when it was Elaina’s turn to open her presents, she reached into the bag and as luck would have it this re-gift was the first one she pulled out. When she finally unwrapped it her expression was priceless and she exclaimed, “my train whistle.” As she clutched the whistle, all her other gifts did not seem to matter and then she began to blow it in Scott’s ear, for which he thanked me. Knowing my niece, she will probably use it any time she has to get Scott’s attention.

This was just the beginning because this re-gift just kept on giving. It opened a flood of memories and we all had those “do you remember moments” about the train set and all the past holidays. More importantly, it was also the memories Elaina had with her Pop-Pop and Nanny and the train set. I seemed to remember that my mother didn’t appreciate Elaina constantly blowing that whistle but my father enjoyed it because it was annoying my mother. The bottom line was that they really didn’t care because we all had fun and it meant that the family was together.

So, there you have it, a simple wooden toy given to my niece 25 years ago and now one I gave to her again years later led to the best present I received because of the memories that it brought to me and the rest of us. I know it filled us all with the Holiday Spirit and with an assist from some spiked eggnog all of which gave us that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…..Rosy Glow.

By

Andrew DeMarco

With all the craziness going on in the world today, my wife thought it would be a good idea to get in the Holiday Spirit by decorating a bit earlier than usual, hoping that it would provide some good tidings. This reminded me of my Christmas Rosy Glow from a few years ago where I wrote about the gift of needing nothing which got us into the giving spirit.  The gift of nothing except for good health, family and friends is a gift that I can only wish for everyone.

A little over nine years ago I posted a eulogy by an anonymous author regarding the death of Common Sense and unfortunately little has changed. Some simple examples for the return of common sense are: There are some who are advocating that mathematics is racist. I don’t see how and I do not know if it is something that anyone will ever need at some point in their life. Another example of a lack of common sense is when our politicians want to pass laws lowering the penalties for crimes when that particular crime is on the rise. Finally, there are those who want to change history by erasing it instead of learning from it. Something which my Rosy Glow from nine years ago proves that we have learned nothing from our past and you can’t erase it.

Rosy Glow – Common Sense

However, this year will be different because I do want something and it is something that we need and would all benefit from.  What I want is in no way selfish but it is something which is much needed in the world today.  All I want for Christmas this year is a return to simple Common Sense which doesn’t seem like too much to ask for but isn’t quite that simple a request. It isn’t simple because folly and stupidity and a lack of common sense have taken over and is running rampant in today’s world especially among our educators, politicians and media and is infecting all parts of our lives today. Rather than continue my rant and put a damper on your holiday, I really would like you all to reread my Rosy Glow regarding this.

So, this holiday season as we all gather with our family and friends, let’s have a Common Sense Christmas or whatever holiday you may celebrate. Have civil discussions on all topics, especially about family traditions and experiences and remember those who are no longer with us to see all the common sense decisions and sacrifices they made to make us who we are today. This will hopefully lead to a new move toward common sense, one which can truly bring us all Peace on Earth and good will towards men. But also that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that….. Rosy Glow!

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

&

Happy New Year

To All

By

Andrew DeMarco

About a month ago I attended my second family reunion in two years and this one was on the other side of the family. Before I go any further, I would like to thank Mike, Chris, Krisie and Colin for hosting us at their beautiful home and making this reunion possible. With the most recent reunion, I had the benefit of I won’t say comparing but rather to see what makes either side unique. Well, I am here to report that there is no real difference and if anything, there is so much in common.  In June of 2022 I wrote a Rosy Glow about the first family get together which was with my cousins on my father’s side and I talked about how the family has grown and how the next few generations turned out well.

The same can be said here that the family has indeed grown and if anything we are just getting bigger and better. I looked around the room and realized that everyone from my generation has done well for themselves and all seem happy with where they are at this point in their lives. I am sure that that there were bumps along the way which everyone experiences, but that in no way stopped any of them. I also learned from these get togethers that we may not agree on everything, but we are able to discuss our differences in a civil manner and respect one another’s thoughts and opinions which is something that was passed down to us by previous generations. It is also something that some of today’s “leaders” can learn from.

Looking at the next generation, the same can be pretty much said about them. There is not one who is not doing well and all seem happy. I can honestly say there is not one black sheep among them. Looking at my cousin’s grandchildren, some of whom have kids who are older but it was with the younger ones that I saw myself and my cousins when we were younger. Watching the youngest generation of cousins playing with one another and being so attentive to each other brought me back to my grandparents’ homes when I was young. It also got me thinking how each succeeding generation was much like the previous one. This got me thinking how well our grandparents taught our parents and our parents taught us. They taught us ethics and a sense of family and most importantly to love one another which made us successful and will help make future generations of our family just as successful.

This also brought to mind something from a few years back when people were saying how it takes a village to raise a child. Boy were they ever wrong! It doesn’t take a village it just takes a caring and nurturing family to raise a child. Family is the foundation upon which a village is built and if that foundation is strong, that village will be just as strong and so will the society and morals that go with that village.  

This Thanksgiving when you sit around the table take a good look at the family that is with you and hopefully you will see what I saw at those reunions which is a family that is strong, thriving, growing, loving and has a promising future. Once you realize this, I am sure it will fill you all with that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…..Rosy Glow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

By

Andrew DeMarco

During Black History month I have written about lesser-known African Americans who have made significant contributions to us all. In the past, I have written about Nathan Green, Dovey Johnson Roundtree and “Stagecoach” Mary Fields. This being October, which is Italian American Heritage Month, I thought I would write about some lesser-known Italian Americans.

Today I would like to tell you about Guiseppe Piccirilli and his family. Guiseppe was a stone cutter and carver from Massa-Carrera in Italy and emigrated with his family to the United States in 1888. He along with his wife and seven children, six boys and a girl settled in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. It is there where Guiseppe and his sons all of whom followed in his footsteps as marble cutters and carvers set up shop. The Piccirilli Brothers created some original works but were mostly known for doing the heavy lifting for other sculptors and architects, that being the actual cutting and carving of the architectural designs of others. They became so in demand for their talents that today there are few places in New York where you cannot help but walk by the work of these brothers. From the New York Stock Exchange, the U.S. Custom House, The Washington Square Arch, The Brooklyn Museum and the New York Public Library to name a few. It was their blood, sweat and hard work that brought the design of others, who get all the credit, to become a reality.

The Piccirilli brothers’ works were not confined to New York. There other works include The Dupont Circle Fountain in Washington D.C. and the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery and others. But perhaps their best “unknown” work for which they receive very little credit is one of the most visited sites in Washington D.C., and that is the Lincoln Memorial. Their work the statue of Abraham Lincoln is carved from Georgia white marble, the sculpture weighs 175 tons and had to be shipped in 28 separate pieces from their Mott Haven facility. It was then reassembled piece by piece like a huge jig saw puzzle in the memorial itself. Daniel Chester French the architect who designed the memorial and statue always seems to get the glory while the Piccirilli Brothers are rarely mentioned or given any credit for their efforts.

So, this month while Christopher Columbus and others are under attack by the cancel culture mob and those who seek to change history, This Italian American Heritage Month I would like everyone to think about the Piccirilli Brothers. These proud Italian Americans who did great work in their adopted country while toiling in anonymity and have made a difference just like those others I have written about in the past. If we take some time and learn more about our past, good or bad, we will all be better for it. The story of these brothers is one which should fill us all as Americans with that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…..Rosy Glow!

N.B. It is said that one of the great losses in American art history occurred when the Piccirilli Brothers studio quietly closed in 1945 and no move was made to secure their records, so many more of their accomplishments were lost.