Clinical Correlations The NYU Langone Online Journal of Medicine .
MICHELE A. LANGONE
Transcript of MICHELE A. LANGONE
MICHELE A. LANGONE
(1870-1939)
and
SAVERIA “SARAH”
MARIA VENTRE
(1871-1934)
By Chris Mulholland
Revised 9 April 2011
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
1
Michele "Michael" was born on 8 Oct 1870 in Potenza, Italy to Raffaele “Ralph” Langone
and Maria A. Innella. "Michele" (the original Italian spelling) was his birth name according to
state records but he Americanized his name as "Michael". A great-great-granddaughter would be
named after him many years later. Michele was Raffaele and Maria‟s first child and was
followed by five more: Pasquale (1875-1945), Maria Grazia (1876-1909), Antonio (1877-1946),
Maria (1879-1941), and Caroline (Carolina?) (1883-1950).
Just one month before Michele‟s birth, Italy had finally realized total unification when Rome
became the last state to join the rest of the peninsula on 20 September 1870. Nine years before,
on 17 March 1861, most of the states on the peninsula had united under King Victor Emmanuel
II from Piedmont, except for Rome which had remained under French authority. The architects
of that unification were Count Camillo Benso di Cavour, Emmanuel‟s Chief Minister, and
Giuseppe Garibaldi, a general and national hero. When the Franco-Prussian War of 1870
required France to withdraw its forces from Rome to fend off the Prussians, Italy was finally able
to take over the Papal State and move
the new nation‟s capital to Rome.
The Langone family lived in the
province of Potenza in the region of
Basilicata in southern Italy. Potenza lies
in the northwestern edge of Basilicata
along the Campanian border in the
middle of the Apennine Mountains. Its
capital city, also named Potenza, is the
highest regional capital and one of the
highest provincial capitals in Italy. The
Langone name is almost exclusively
found only in this part of Italy.
The city of Potenza was established
several hundred years before Christ by
Greek settlers and over the next 2,000
years was fought over and conquered by
many including Romans, Goths, Lombards, Byzantines, Saracens, Normans, Holy Romans,
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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Marsico Nuovo, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy
Angevins, and Bourbons. In 1860 it changed hands for the last time when Garibaldi‟s
revolutionary army united all of Italy. Over this time the city also suffered several devastating
earthquakes, however, its medieval architecture has survived quite well. During 1943, it suffered
additional abuse when it was heavily bombed by Allied forces as they pushed the German Army
out of the Italian peninsula.
When Michele applied for US citizenship in 1893, he stated that he was born in “Marsico
Nuovo Italy”, a small but historic town less than 20 miles to the south of Potenza. Interestingly,
his sister, Carmen Langone, married an Attilio Mortelli in 1908 who stated on his World War II
registration card that he was born in “Italy, Marsico Nuovo”. This was not surprising since
Italian immigrants had a tendency to marry others from the same region – if not the same town or
village – as where they came from. However, their children, the first generation of Italian-
Americans, were less willing to select their marriage partners based only on their place of origin
in Italy or the concept of „la via vecchia‟, “the old way.”
The Catholic
Encyclopedia says
that after the
Saracens destroyed
much of the
province including
the reigning capital
of Grumentum, the
town of Marsico
Nuovo grew in
importance, and
became the seat of
a county under the
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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Normans in the 11th
century. When the Bishop of Grumentum established his residence there it
became an episcopal seat
and in 1818 the diocese
was united oeque
principaliter to that of
Potenza. Between 1282
and 1816, it was a part of
the Kingdom of Naples
and was under either
French or Spanish rule,
depending who was last
victorious. In 1816 the Kingdom of Naples was merged with the Kingdom of Sicilies to form the
“Kingdom of the Two Sicilies” until 1861 when it was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy as part
of the unification of Italy by Giuseppe Garibaldi. Today, Masico Nuovo still only has about
6,000 residents.
At the young age of 16, Michele left his home and traveled to America, arriving there, “on or
about the 15 day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and 86”, according to his
application for US citizenship many years later. Michele was like many other Italian men of
that time period; he did not plan to stay permanently in the United States and came alone as a
bachelor migrant worker, sending a good portion of his hard-earned wages back home to his
family. Periodically, he would return back to Italy to visit. In the late 19th
century, these
migratory workers sent millions of dollars back to Italy. Expecting their stay in America to be
brief, they lived as frugally as possible under conditions that native-born families considered
intolerable.
When Michele first stepped on American soil he had to deal with „padrones’. Back in Italy a
padrone was someone who owned land and held stature in the community. This was all different
in the US. Here, padrones were loan-sharks, bankers, and middle-men who preyed on the new
arrivals. On behalf of employers and/or tenement owners the padrones steered the immigrants
into low-paying jobs and poor lodging while taking money from both.
Around 1888 or early ‟89 Michele returned home to marry Saveria “Sarah” Ventre and she
quickly became pregnant (their first son, Francesco “Frank” (1889-1966), was born in August
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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1889.) Sarah was the daughter of Luigi Ventre and Giuseppina Parente. They later renewed
their marriage vows in Boston on 30 October 1905.
For several years, Michele traveled back and forth between America and Italy. “Despite the
perilous conditions in Southern Italy and Sicily, the love of family and village called many back
to the Old Country, a siren‟s song whose mesmerizing strains were strengthened by the chaos,
confusion, discrimination, and homesickness
Southern Italians experience in American cities.”
(Puleo) This „return migration‟ made Italians
unique from other immigrants and created an
atmosphere of suspicion amongst Americans that
would last for decades. Italians who traveled
back and forth were disparagingly called “birds
of passage”. Nonetheless, despite the
discrimination and hardships, Michele would
return several times to Sarah over the next 10
years and they would have four more children,
Maria “Mary” A. (1891-1971), Carmella (1891-
1922), Dominic “Nick” J. (1898-1971) and an
unnamed baby who died young, all born in Italy.
On 27 October 1893, Michele Langone applied to become a citizen of the United States. He
stated that he had lived in America for six years after arriving “on or about the 15 day of March
in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and 86” and listed his address as 149 Endicott Street in
Boston‟s North End. His occupation in 1893 was “Candy Maker” and he was sponsored by
Joseph Langone [An uncle? A brother?] of 149 Endicott Street and Edward P. Clark of 1
Endicott Court both of whom were “Citizens of the United States”. They verified that Michele
had “conducted himself and behaved as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles
of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed towards the good order and happiness
of the same.” Michele then took an oath “that I do absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure
all allegiance and fidelity to every Foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever –
particularly Humbert King of Italy.” Humbert‟s name (in Italian, “Umberto”) was handwritten
on the application after „Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland‟
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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had been lined out. On 27 November 1893, Michele took the oath before Boston‟s Circuit Court
and was given US citizenship.
Candy making in Boston
– and the US – began in
1765, when an Irish
immigrant named John
Hannon established
America's first chocolate
mill, on the banks of the
Neponset River in
Dorchester. “While the
British called such
confections, „sweetmeats,‟
Americans came to call
„candy,‟ from the Arabic
qandi, „made of sugar,‟
although one finds "candy"
in English as early as the
fifteenth century...A
significant moment in
candy history occurred at
the 1851 Great Exhibition
in London, where „French-
style‟ candies with rich
cream centers were first
displayed...But it was the
discovery of milk chocolate
in Switzerland in 1875 that made the American candy bar such a phenomenon of the late
nineteenth century." (Mariani) Through the introduction of machinery in the Industrial
Revolution, many new candies became possible and the industry began to grow rapidly.
Foremost among this new technology was Oliver R. Chase's lozenge-cutting machine, which
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
6
Candy Store, 1900’s
back in 1847 began producing the wafers later known as Neccos. Both Chase and W.F. Schrafft,
the city's other major candy concern, served as major suppliers during the Civil War. In the US,
the industry grew from 383 large factories employing 1,733 in 1850 to 4297 factories employing
33,000 and producing $80,000,000 worth of goods in 1900. In 1909 the value of goods produced
had jumped to $135,000,000 and by 1924 the
U.S. was leading the world in candy
production – and also consumption. The
days of the penny candy in the late 1800's
were probably the most colorful days of
candy in the United States. Every grocery
store had buckets of such favorites as
jawbreakers, licorice ropes, Gibraltars, all-
day suckers, heart-shaped sweets with
sentimental sayings imprinted on them, and
sugar-coated nuts that were known as Boston baked beans.
In 1901, Chase bought two other companies and dubbed his outfit the New England
Confectionery Company, producing the world's first candy conglomerate. "The first 50 years of
the 20th century was Boston's golden era," Walter Marshall of Necco says. "We had 140
companies here. By 1950, we had sales of $200 million. You have to remember, there were no
snack foods. You had fruit and you had candy." (Almond)
Around 1898-‟99, Sarah and her children finally arrived in America. Michele might have
gone over and brought them back with him, or, just as plausible, Sarah might have made the long
trip by herself with the four children – like so many others did at the time.
More than 5 million Italians immigrated to America between 1875 and 1930 – about 80% of
them from southern Italy. This exodus of southern Italians was due to the desperation caused by
40 years of poverty, natural disasters, disease, and cultural discrimination from northern Italians.
Italy had become a unified country only a few years before but the national government was
primarily led by northerners who had little sympathy of understanding for the conditions of the
poorer south.
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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“By the end of the nineteenth century, taxes in Italy were the highest in Europe...When
considering the emigrant, 'two words may describe the forces which drive him from his native
land, and these two words are
poverty and taxes. Perhaps the
formula may be reduced to one
word - poverty - for his poverty
is in no small measure the result
of the direct and indirect taxes he
has to bear.'" (Puleo)
Droughts and diseases killed
off much of the citrus, wheat and
vineyards in the 1880s. In 1882
a cholera epidemic ravaged
Naples and, in 1887, more than 21,000 southern Italians died of malaria. The national
government was headed primarily by northern Italians who had little sympathy or understanding
for the conditions of the poorer south.
In a widely published essay in the 1880s, one writer described the harsh conditions in the
South: “Our peasants are in worse conditions than the serfs of the Middle Ages. The landlords
treat them like slaves. Peasants live like beasts. Their sense of dignity seems to have died
centuries ago. They have two equally hard choices before them – submission and work until an
untimely death, or rebellion and violent death – unless they are willing to escape somewhere
else.” (Puleo)
Michele and Sarah left their beloved
hometown to escape a crushing
existence. Through the stories of
previous immigrants, all they knew was
that they needed to get to America, the
land of opportunity. Leaving the only
place they had ever known, they walked,
rode donkeys or boarded a train for the
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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first leg of their journey. Arriving in Naples, they boarded a steamship along with hundreds of
other emigrants: “At last the sailors were heard shouting fore and aft, “Chi non e‟ passeggero, a
terra” – „All ashore that‟s going ashore.‟…in a few minutes a whistle sounded and the ship began
to move. Then women burst out crying and bearded men hitherto stolid were seen to pass a hand
across their eyes.” (Puleo)
For the next three weeks, the small Langone family endured a long and uncomfortable trip in
steerage class in conditions that were crowded, filthy, uncomfortable, and often dangerous,
especially for infants. Lice, scurvy, and seasickness all contributed to the misery of steerage
passengers. “Passengers were „crammed into overcrowded berths; stacked to the ceiling below
decks, breathed foul air, suffered from seasickness, contracted diseases, and continually feared
the ship would sink,‟ in the words of one writer.” (Puleo)
Upon their arrival in America, Michelle settled his family on Endicott Street in the North End
neighborhood of Boston. The North End is a vibrant part of the city, the oldest neighborhood,
and the home to numerous
immigrants to the „new country‟.
The area is surrounded on three
sides by water which makes it
the hub of commercial activity.
In early America, it was the
home to some of Boston‟s
wealthiest residents, including
Paul Revere, and was later the
first community of freed and
escaped slaves. The
neighborhood played an integral
role in the establishment and independence of America and was referred to as "the cradle of
liberty", by Sam Adams, John Hancock and many other famous patriots. During the 19th
century, massive landfill projects created Quincy Market and moved the waterfront from Faneuil
Hall to the waterfront boundaries of today‟s wharves.
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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The first immigrants to the North End were the Irish in the early 19th
century, followed by the
Germans, Russians, Polish Jews, a few
Portuguese, and finally a wave of Italian
immigration in the 1880's whose presence
eventually gave the North End the name of
“Little Italy”.
Guild Nichols stated in his history,
“Boston‟s Little Italy, 1900-Today”: “The
Italian masses that flowed into the North End
on the heels of the departing Irish and at the
apex of the Jewish settlement found a neighborhood in dire physical condition; a rundown,
overcrowded slum of deteriorating tenement buildings. Like their predecessors, these newly-
arrived Italian immigrants also had to contend with Bostonians' disdain for foreigners.”
The first Italian immigrants came from Genoa and were followed in successive waves by
Campanians, then Sicilians, Avellinese, Neopolitans, and Abruzzesians. Each group settled in
their own area within the neighborhood, creating separate enclaves within the greater North End.
Many of the homes in the North End were “cold water flats” and residents had to use public
baths until the mid 1960s. For example, up through 1966, the residents of 181 Salem Street
(which included Massachusetts Speaker of the House, Salvatore DiMasi) had to walk two blocks
to shower every day. “There
was no heat or hot water, no
shower or bathtub, and a toilet
out in the hall,” DiMasi recalled.
“I had to walk to the bathhouse
to take a shower.” (Puleo)
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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Michele A. Langone
By 1900, the Italian population in
the North End was 14,000 and over
the next 20 years it would more than
double to 37,000. At its peak, in
1930, 44,000 Italians were packed
into an area less than one square mile
in size. By then the neighborhood
had become 99.9% Italian and was
said to be more densely populated
than Calcutta. As North End
historian William DeMarco notes,
"By comparison, the parking lot at
Florida's Disneyworld is three times
larger than the inhabited area of the
North End."
The North End is one of
America‟s most historic areas with
one of the country‟s oldest cemeteries, Copp‟s Hill, which includes the graves of famous
Puritans such as Cotton and Increase Mather. The North End has been the scene of several
historic incidents such as Charles Ponzi with his “Ponzi Scheme” in 1920 and the Great Brink‟s
Robbery in 1950 which netted the robbers $2.7 million. But of
course, the North End is mostly remembered for Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow‟s poem, “Paul Revere‟s Ride”:
He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea…”
Not long after her arrival in Boston, Sarah delivered another child,
Catherine “Katie/Katy” (1899-1992). Over the next 10 years she and
Michele would have several more children; Luigia “Louise/Louisa” (1901-1947), Rosina “Rose”
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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(1903-1985), Raffaele “Ralph/Fred”) (1905-1971), Guiseppe (1906, who died as an infant in
1908) and Angelina “Angie” (1909-1964). They would also have 3 children who died young and
unnamed.
The Langone family of Boston is large and currently extends all over the metropolitan area.
The first generations consisted of many brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and cousins who
intermarried with other Italian families and eventually moved out of the Italian neighborhoods of
Boston‟s North End and East Boston. Fred‟s father, Michele, was one of 4 boys and 3 girls, each
of whom had between six to fourteen children of their own. Interestingly, Michele‟s three sisters
each married another Langone, possibly distant cousins. Maria Grazia married a Stephano
Langone, Maria (Mary) married a Carmine Langone, and Caroline married a Genovario (John)
Langone.
The Langone family is related to former state senator Joseph A. Langone Jr., and a couple
former Boston city counselors as
well as the Langone Funeral Home
in the North End.
Michele and Saveria celebrated
the first marriage of one of their
children in 1908 when their
daughter, Carmen, married Attilio
Mortelli, another former resident of
Marsico Nuovo. They provided
Michele and Saveria four
grandchildren: Michael (1909-
1986), Ralph (1911-1975), Lillian
(1912-1999), and Alfred (1915-1997). Unfortunately, Carmen would die at the young age of 30
on 19 February 1922.
The next marriage in the Langone family was on 27 April 1913 when Maria “Mary” married
Raffael “Ralph” Michael Fiore. They went on to have 9 children: Michael "Mike" R. (1914-
1979), Albert A. (1915-), Romilda Nunziata (1917-2003), Dorothy "Dot" (1919-), twins Ralph
(1921-1994) and Attillio "Tillio" (1921-2002), Anthony A. (1924-), Joseph M., and Richard J.
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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Despite the closeness of the family, a major schism occurred when Michele and Saveria‟s
oldest son, Frank, became romantically involved with a girl of British descent from Canada,
Violet Hing, instead of an Italian girl like his parents expected. Frank and Violet had two
children out of wedlock before they were officially married on 25 June 1916. Frank then moved
to Everett with Violet‟s family, leaving his own behind in Somerville.
The next son to be married was Dominic “Nick” who married Amelia Booth on 30 September
1917. They would have 6 children: Michele Domenic (who died as infant) (1918-1918), Michael
Domenic (1919-1970), Robert F. (1922-2003), Carmella (who died as child) (1923-1925),
Domenic J. (1925-1945), and Lillian F. (1928-).
The next marriage took place on 29 June 1919 when Catherine “Kate” married Joseph
Cremone. They had 6 children: Frank (1920-1987), Joseph (1921-1991), Marie (1924-1998),
Robert J., Vera (1927-2001), and Kathryn.
On 4 April 1917 the United States declared war on Germany and entered World War I.
Sometime before or during the war, Michele worked at the “Rueter and Company/ Highspring
Brewery” in the Jamaica Plain/Mission Hill area of Boston. An early photograph of shows him in
what appears to be in a
basement surrounded by
wooden brewery kegs.
The ends of several of the
kegs read “Rueter‟s
Sterling Ale” and display
Rueter/ Highspring labels.
Interestingly, the
photograph seems to
show that the brewery
was producing Sterling
Ale. Since the Sterling
Brewery was based in
Evansville, Indiana the
Rueter/Highland Spring Brewery was either producing locally brewed Sterling Ale on their
behalf or using barrels purchased from Evansville.
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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In the early 1900‟s beer making in Boston was in its
heyday. With 31 breweries, Boston had the highest number of
breweries per capita in the United States – within just a mile
and a half radius in the Stony Brook corridor of Jamaica Plain
and Mission Hill there were 24 breweries. The reason for this
concentration was the abundance of crystal clear water from
the brook‟s aquifer and artesian wells bubbling around
Mission Hill; and the relatively cheap land after the City of
Roxbury was merged with Boston in 1868. The Stony Brook
aquifer is now buried under a railroad bed.
The highly-regarded “Rueter and Company/ Highland
Spring Brewery” was established in 1867 by one of
Massachusetts' most famous beer barons, Henry H. Rueter, at
148-168 Terrace Street in Mission Hill. By 1872 it was the
largest brewery in America and made more ale than
any other. At the 1876 Centennial Exposition in
Philadelphia it won the gold medal for ale, stunning
the Philly brewers, who claimed to make the best ales.
(Jamaica Plains Historical Society) But at the end of
1918, this renowned brewery was closed down with
the advent of the institution of prohibition and Michele
was out of a job.
The “Great Experiment” of a national prohibition
against the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol
was instituted after Congress had passed the 21st Amendment in 1919. The prohibition had
mixed support when it was enacted and became increasingly unpopular as the Great Depression
fell upon the US. In December 1933, the prohibition was ended and a former Rueter/Highland
Spring Brewery brew master, Walter J. Croft, reopened the brewery after it had been used by a
metal and rubber company during prohibition. Croft had the entire building steam cleaned and
sterilized and then refitted for brewing with all new equipment. With the resumption of
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
14
business, the brewery needed new employees and Michele‟s son, Raffaele (who also went by
“Ralph” or “Fred”), was hired about 1934.
Ironically, the Volstead Act which started the prohibition had no restrictions on the making of
wine and hard cider at home (up to 200 gallons a year). Until very late in his life, Michele
enjoyed making his own wine in his cellar.
By 1921, the Langone family moved out of Boston to the working class neighborhood of
Somerville, three miles to the northwest. Their first address was likely 12 Rush Street in East
Somerville since that is where both Michele and Sarah died years later.
They may have moved as a result of the construction in their neighborhood of the first
commercial airport in Boston. This airport was to be named after a prominent Boston soldier,
Lieutenant General Edward Lawrence Logan.
Somerville was first settled in 1630 as a part of Charlestown and was known as "Charlestown
beyond the Neck". It was incorporated in 1842 when it separated from the more urban
Charlestown. A report commissioned by the Somerville Historical Society found that name of
Somerville was a "purely fanciful name.” (Haskell) During the Battle of Boston, the area
became famous when George Washington‟s army raised the first American flag, “the Grand
Union Flag”, on Prospect Hill that could be seen from anywhere in Boston by the encircled
British.
On 25 October 1923, Michele and Saveria celebrated
another marriage when their daughter, Luigia “Louise”,
married Vincenzo Martino. A year later, Rosina “Rose”
married Frank A. Cantalupa on 27 November 1924.
In the spring of 1929, Michele‟s youngest son, Raffaele
“Ralph/Fred” married Mary “Mame” B. Toscano. By that
December, they had their one and only child, a son they named
after Michele, Michael Angelo Langone.
The last of the Langone children was married on 1 January
1931, when Angelina “Angie” married her sister‟s brother-in-
law, Anthony Cantalupa. They would have 8 children:
Eleanor, Rita, Joseph "Joe", Theresa, Mary Ann, Anthony,
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Michele Langone with Dominic Toscano, his
daughter-in-law’s brother, in mid-late 1930s
Ann, and Barbara.
At some point in the 1920s or early 30s, Michele began
working as a “Laborer” with the “Boston Cons[olidated]
Gas Co.” (Michele‟s 1939 obituary) Boston was one of the
pioneers in the use of gas in America. In 1822 a half-dozen
leading business men formed a company called the Boston
Gas Light Company and in 1905 the Company was merged
with others to form the Boston Consolidated Gas Company.
In later years other companies were merged with Boston
Consolidated and in 1955 it was renamed the Boston Gas
Company. By 1980 it was the largest gas utility in New England.
On 17 November 1934, Sarah died at home at the age of 63. Her death certificate states that
the cause of death was "Angina Pectoris; Arterio-Sclerosis" – chest pain or discomfort and the
hardening (loss of elasticity) of arteries – and that her
occupation was “Domestic”. Her obituary (in the
Boston Globe?) reads: "In Somerville, Nov. 17th,
Sarah (nee Ventre), beloved wife of Michele
Langone. Funeral from her late residence, 12 Rush
St., Nov. 20, at 9 a.m. Solemn Requiem high mass in
St. Benedict's Church at 10 a.m. Relatives and
friends kindly invited."
Saint Benedicts Catholic Church was built in 1911
on 25 Hathorn Street, four blocks from Fred and
Mame‟s home, and was the spiritual center for the
Langones while they lived in Somerville. Sarah was
buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.
Five years later, on 30 January 1939, Michele
passed away in his home on Rush Street. His
obituary (in the Boston Globe?) reads: "LANGONE -
In Somerville, Jan. 30, Michele, beloved husband of
the late Sarah (nee Ventre). Funeral from his late residence: 12 Rush St., Thursday, Feb. 2, at
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
16
8:30 a.m. Solemn Requiem High Mass at St. Benedict's Church at 9:30 a.m. Relatives and
friends kindly invited." Michele‟s death certificate states that he died at home of "Carcinoma of
oesophagus; secondary anaemia; malnutrition" – essentially, he died of throat cancer. Michele
was buried next to his wife in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. Their son, Dominic, was
later buried with them when he died in 1971.
MICHELE LANGONE and SAVERIA MARIA VENTRE
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References:
1. Stephen Puleo, “The Boston Italians” (Beacon Press, Boston; 2007)
2. Catholic Encyclopedia ( http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09719a.htm)
3. Italian website with frequency of names in Italy (http://gens.labo.net)
4. Lenny and Deborah Herrmann (Langone family genealogists),
5. “Boston’s Lost Breweries”, Jamaica Plain Historical Society,
(http://www.jphs.org/victorian/bostons-lost-breweries.html)
6. Albert L. Haskell, "Haskell's Historical Guide Book of Somerville, Massachusetts"
7. J.L. Richards, “The Boston Consolidated Gas Company: Its Relation to the Public, Its
Employees and Investors” (American Academy of Political and Social Science, 1908)
8. The Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09719a.htm)
9. Jamaica Plains Historical Society (http://www.jphs.org)
10. Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-
bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=15941648&PIpi=5327897)
11. John F. Mariani, “Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink” (Lebhar-Friedman,
New York, 1999)
12. Steve Almond, “The Kings of Candy” (Boston Phoenix, March 16 - 23, 2000;
http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/features/00/03/16/candy.html)
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Pudge receiving Purple Heart on Tinian,
1944
Addendum
Because the Langone family is so large and interesting, I have provided additional
information about some of Michael and Sarah‟s children and grandchildren below:
1. Francesco "Frank" Langone was born on 16 August 1889 in Potenza, Italy and died on 27
April 1966 at 184 Bow Street in Everett, Massachusetts at the age of 75. From his obituary
(Everett Times): "Frank Langone, 76, of 185 Bow st., died last week at his home.” Francesco
(the original Italian spelling) was his birth name according to state records but he shortened and
Americanized his name to "Frank". On one of his hands, Frank had lost three fingers, leaving
only his forefinger and thumb.
Frank became separated from his family probably over several major issues. The first was
that he became romantically involved with a girl of British descent from Canada, Violet Hing,
instead of an Italian girl. He and Violet then had two children, Marion and Elizabeth "Chappy",
out of wedlock before they were officially married on 25 June 1916. Frank then moved to
Everett with Violet's family, leaving his own behind in Somerville.
Frank was further separated from his family after Violet died in 1944 and he didn't use the
Langone funeral home. The Langones then offered the use of their funeral home limos and
family cars which Frank also refused, splitting the family even further. These details were
relayed by his daughter, Mildred, or Micky as she was known, before she passed away in Jan
2004 at the age of 84.
He and Violet had the following children:
Marion Arlene (1914-1998), Elizabeth
"Chappy" [In an e-mail from Len Herrmann:
"she got her name because when she was
young she walked like Charlie Chaplin”]
(1916-), Dorothy "Juppy" [Herrmann:
"Dorothy was nicknamed after a duck they
had when she was a child”] (1918-), Mildred
Francis "Mickey" "Tittle" (1920-2004),
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19
Virginia (1922-), Thomas Henry "Pudgy" [Herrmann: "when he was young he had pudgy
cheeks." Thomas was a Marine Corporal in the Fourth Division who was killed on 21 February
1945 during the taking of Iwo Jima. He was initially buried on the island but was reinterred in
Everett when an air strip was built on Iwo. At the time of his death, the family was living at 3
Hadley Court in Everett.] (1924-1945), William F. (1927-1986), Francis J. "Frannie" (1929-),
Philip (1933-), Evelyn (1934-), Elsa (Elsie) Diane (1937-)
2. Maria “Mary” A. (Langone) Fiore was born in 1891 or ‟92 (probably in Italy) and died on
30 March 1971 at the age of 80. On 27 April 1913 she married Raffael "Ralph" Michael Fiore
(1890/1- 1949) and they had the following children: Michael "Mike" R. (1914-1979), Albert A.
(1915-), Romilda Nunziata (1917-2003), Dorothy "Dot" (1919-), twins Ralph (1921-1994) and
Attillio "Tillio" (1921-2002), Anthony A. (1924-), Joseph M., and Richard J.
Her husband, Ralph, died in 1949 at the age of 58. From his obituary: "Ralph Fiore, 58, of 20
Arlington Street, original owner of the Somerville High Grade Laundry company of Mystic
street, Arlington, and a salesman for the Fleming Construction Company of Charlestown, died in
a hospital last Monday following a long illness. A native of Italy, he had lived in Somerville for
the past 36 years. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Mary (Langone) Fiore; two daughters, Mrs. Romilda
Lepore of Los Angeles, California, and Mrs. Dorothy Maltacea of Somerville; and seven sons,
Ralph Jr. and Attillio, twins, both World War II overseas veterans; Joseph M., Anthony A.,
Michael R., and Richard J., all of Somerville, and Albert A. of Dorchester. A solemn requiem
high mass will be sung in St. Benedict's church at 9 tomorrow morning, with the funeral from the
residence at 8. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden."
Mary lived for another 22 years before dying in 1971. From her obituary: "Mary A. Fiore,
79, of 20 Arlington St., died March 30 after a long illness. She was a resident of Somerville for
about 50 years. She was the widow of Ralph Fiore; mother of Michael of Arlington, Albert of
Dedham, Romil da Lepore of Calif., Dorothy Maltacea of Woburn, Attillio and Ralph of
Somerville, Anthony of Lexington, Joseph of Nahant, and Richard of Billerica; sister of Rose
Cantalupa, Catherine Cremone, Domenic and Ralph Langone all of Somerville. She is also
survived by 35 grandchildren. A High mass of requiem at St. Benedict's Church followed a
funeral from the E.L. Kelleher Funeral Home, Friday. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery,
Malden."
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20
3. Carmen Langone was born on 1 August 1891 (probably in Italy) and died at the young age
of 30 on 19 February 1922. In 1908 she married Attilio Mortelli and they had the following
children: Michael (1909-1986), Ralph (1911-1975), Lillian (1912-1999), and Alfred (1915-
1997). Attilio was born on 24 January 1887 and died on 13 November 1975. In 1942, 55 year-
old Artillio registered for service in World War II as part of the “Old Man‟s Draft”, the fourth
draft of the war which registered all men between the ages of 42 and 64. By this time, he had
remarried to a woman whose first name started with an “F”. He listed his address as 45
Michigan Avenue in Somerville and his employer as “Wm. Lakon & Sons, Inc, 54 Chardon St.,
Boston.” Interestingly, he listed the same place of birth as his first wife‟s brother, “Italy,
Marsico Nuova [sic]”. This is a misspelling of the small town of Marsico Nuovo in the
province of Potenza, of the region of Basilicata in southern Italy.
4. Domenic “Nick” J. Langone, Sr. was born on 27 February 1898 in Marsico Nuovo
Potenza, Basilicata, Italy and died on 19 November 1971 at the age of 73. Like many other
Langones, he was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. On 30 September 1917 he
married Amelia M. Booth and they had the following children: Michele Domenic (who died as
infant) (1918-1918), Michael Domenic (1919-1970), Robert F. (1922-2003), Carmella (Died as
Child) (1923-1925), Domenic J. (1925-1945), and Lillian F. (1928-).
Nick's death certificate states that he died of "Myocardial failure, artero heart disease" in his
home at 12 Rush Street Somerville, MA. His occupation is listed as "Retired". He was buried in
Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden, MA.
His son, Domenic “Nick Junior” J., Jr., was killed in WWII somewhere in Germany. His
remains were never recovered and he is buried somewhere in Germany. From a newspaper
article: "The War Department announced this week that Pfc. Dominic J. Langone, son of
Dominic J. Langone of 12 Rush street, had been killed in action in the European Theatre.
"Also that Pfc. Joseph J. Thaxter.is missing in action.
"In both cases next of kin have been previously notified."
His funeral notice states that he was "Born February 10, 1925" and "Died March 26, 1945 in
Germany".
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5. Catherine “Kate” (Langone) Cremone was born on 21 December 1899 in Boston and died
on 25 November 1992 at the age of 92. At the time of her death, she was living at 21 Arlington
Street in Reading, Massachusetts. She was the godmother of her nephew, Michael Angelo
Langone (born 1929).
On 29 June 1919 she married Joseph Cremone and they had the following children: Frank
(1920-1987), Joseph (1921-1991), Marie (1924-1998), Robert J., M, Vera (1927-2001), and
Kathryn.
Joseph Cremone Sr. was born in 1897 in Boston and died on 21 May 1955 at the age of 58.
From his obituary: "Funeral services were held Tuesday for Joseph C. Cremone, 12 Autumn st.,
from the Joseph A. Langone Funeral Home, Boston, with solemn high mass of requiem in St.
Anthony's church. Mr. Cremone died last Saturday at 58, following a short illness. A
Somerville resident for most of his life, Mr Cremone was born in Boston, the son of Francesco
and Maria Cremone. He was a maintenance man. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Catherine A.
Langone Cremone; three sons, Frank of Charlestown, Joseph of Malden, and Robert of
Somerville; three sisters, Catherine Cremone, Mrs. Marie Jackson, and Mrs. Vera Cicerano, all
of Somerville; eight grandchildren and a.[?].Mrs. Florence DiN[?].of Somerville [?]. Burial was
in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden."
From her obituary: "Catherine "Katie" (Langone) Cremone died Nov. 25 following a lengthy
illness. She was 92. Born in Boston, she lived in Somerville before moving to Reading. She
was a homemaker. She was the wife of the late Joseph, and the mother of Marie Jackson of
Reading, Robert Cremone and Vera Cicerano both of Somerville, Kathryn O'Connor of
California and the late Joseph and Frank Cremone. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren and
25 great-grandchildren."
6. Luigia “Louise” “Louisa” (Langone) Martino was born on 11 Jul 1901 and died on 10
February 1947 at the age of 45. On 25 October 1923 she married Vincenzo Martino (1892-
1935).
7. Rosina “Rose” (Langone) Cantalupa was born on 18 May 1903 and died on 10 October
1985 in Lowell at the age of 82. On 27 November 1924 she married Frank A. Cantalupa and
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22
they had no children. Her younger sister, Angie, married Frank‟s brother, Anthony, seven years
later. Frank was born on 10 March 1898 and died in May 1970 at the age of 72.
From her obituary: "In Lowell, Oct. 10, Rose H. (Langone) Cantalupa of 30 Tanglewood
Ave, Tewksbury and formerly of Somerville, beloved wife of the late Frank Cantalupa, sister of
Catherine Cremone of Reading. Beloved aunt of Eleanor Deveau and Rita Ducharme of
Tewksbury, Joseph Cantalupa and Theresa O'Keefe of Medford, Anthony Cantalupa of
Somerville, Barbara Lonergan and Ann Cantalupa of Arlington and Mary Nutting of Scottsdale,
Arizona. She is survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral Tuesday at 9 from the Farmer &
Dye Fuenral Home, 16 Lee St., TEWKSBURY. Funeral mass at 10 in St. William's Church.
Relatives and friends invited. Calling hours at the Funeral Home, Sunday evening 7-9 and
Monday 2-4 and 7-9. Interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett."
Rose's death certificate states that she died of "Acute Mesenteric Thrombosis" and that her
occupation was "meat packer."
8. Guiseppe Langone was born in 1906-‟07 and died as an infant on 29 August 1908.
9. Angelina “Angie” (Langone) Cantalupa was born in 1909 in Boston and died on 20
February 1964 at the age of 55. On 1 January 1931 she married her sister‟s brother-in-law,
Anthony Cantalupa and they had the following children: Eleanor, Rita, Joseph "Joe", Theresa,
Mary Ann, Anthony, Ann, and Barbara.
From her obituary: "Mrs. Angelina M. (Langone) Cantalupa, 55, died Feb. 20 after a long
illness. Born in Boston, she had lived in Somerville 52 years. She leaves her husband, Anthony
Cantalupa, 39 Vermont Ave; six daughters, Mrs. Eleanor Deveau, Mrs. Rita F. Ducharme, Mrs.
Mary L. Nutting, Ann M. Cantalupa, Theresa M. Cantalupa, and Barbara J. Cantalupa; and a son,
Anthony J. Cantalupa. Solemn High Requiem Mass was sung for her Saturday morning in St.
Benedict's church. Funeral was from the E.L. Kelleher Funeral Home, and burial was at
Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett."
From his obituary: "Anthony Cantalupa, 80, died on July 20 in Symmes Hospital after a short
illness. The former shipper for the Sunshine Biscuit Company was born in Boston and had been
a longtime resident of Somerville but was living at 37 Robbins Rd. in Arlington at the time of his
death. He was the husband of the late Angelina (Langone) and the father of Eleanor Deveau and
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Rita DuCharme, both of Tewksbury, Joseph Cantalupa and Theresa O'Keefe, both of Medford,
Mary Nutting of Arizona, Anthony Cantalupa of Somerville, Ann Cantalupa and Barbara
Lonergan of Arlington. He is also survived by 22 grandchildren. A Mass in Saint Benedict's
Church followed a funeral from the Kelleher Funeral Home. He was buried in Woodlawn
Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be made to the Heart Fund."