| What do you do for a living? |
I am currently a Lieutenant for the Town of Ulster Police Department in New York State.
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I opened a cookie store in Ocean City, New Jersey called Crazy Susan’s Cookie Company. Without the help of my family, it would never have been. We are now on the Internet and we ship nationwide. I hope very soon to move to the shore area permanently where I can be near the water.
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Uncle Joe played organ for St. Anne's church for over 25 years. |
| Children? |
I "adopted" a child that I call my son and works for me as a Police Officer. I took him in when he
was about 11 years old.
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I have two children, a daughter, who will be a dentist. My son is in the Atlantic City Carpenter’s Union and has a baby daughter who has been blessed with a wonderful, kind and patient mother..
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No |
| Any family memories or stories to share? |
On our side of the family, I never knew my
grandfather. I remember my Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother very well
and have fond memories staying at their house for months at a time in my
youth.
Great Grandma ( Catarina Caprariello) was deadly
with a broom when any of us kids got out of hand and had me running out of the
house on more than one occasion. She had a healthy laugh and enjoyed her family
greatly. My Great Grandfather was a very sturdy and strong willed man who had
two sides. A very "no nonsense" way that kept the family in line and a very
caring side also that brought out the teacher and family man in him. He worked
hard to make a good home for his family and even in old age kept himself active
and working no matter how slow time had made him. Both of my grandparents would
get frustrated because I wasn't learning Italian fast enough and I often needed
an interpreter until I got older. I still remember alot of what I knew. The
best memories I have is of large Thanksgiving dinners at my Great Granmother and
Grandfather's house in Port Washington. The ENTIRE family would come and the
table would stretch from the dining room to the other end of the living room.
All the cousins (myself included) would have eating contests to see who could
eat the highest number of ravioli. Great Grandma and my Grandmother would get
up at 2 or 3am to begin working on the Turkey (usually a 20+ pounder) and the
pasta they would make from scratch. Wow what a smell in the house all day
long. After dinner that night, the wine and drinks would go around and if you
wanted to be part of the conversation or at least know what the hell was going
on, you better speak Italian or too bad.
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My mother had six brothers and sisters and we had a lot of cousins. My fondest memory was going to my grandparents on Sundays. All the family would be there. The yard was spacious with fruit trees and grapevines and of course, there was an outhouse. We would play outside for hours and there was always a feast waiting for us inside. There seemed to always be a special guest there, like a cousin of my grandparents’ and their family. I remember not many of them spoke English and my cousins and I did not speak Italian. But there were a lot of smiles that would go back and forth. The bonds that were made then have never been broken. Our family has stayed close and we are very involved in each other’s lives which has helped to lead me fulfill a dream.
I am fortunate enough to still have both my parents living. For all the trials and tribulations that life can sometimes bring, there is nothing more beautiful than a good family to turn to. And to think my good fortune started many years ago in a small town in Italy.
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"Despite a weakened arm and leg, he chose to play organ, a mighty and complicated instrument that requires the use of both arms and legs." (read more here)
Check out Joey's song that he wrote at 12 years old.
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Father Jerry, who was pastor at St. Anne's church in St. Louis for many years, told a story of the time when her first met Uncle Joe. Father Jerry had been looking for an organist for some time and had made his way to local community centers, schools and other churches to find someone. Father Jerry wanted to hirte a black musician as they could probably relate a little better to his congregation in terms of music style. As it turned out though, Father Jerry said most of the black musicians were making more money at a larger congregation than what he could afford. Uncle Joe called Father Jerry and said the following, -- "My name is Joe Scotti, I have a PhD in music and I am not drunk". After Uncle Joe had been at the church for a couple of years, Father Jerry thought it would be a good idea to get some music lessons since music was such an important part of the church in which he served. Uncle Joe not only gave him lessons several times a week for 25 years, he never asked or would take a dime from Father Jerry. This was an unbelievable act of generousity as Uncle Joe lived quite a modest life.
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