Figs & Famiglia

Young Tony had said goodbye to his family in the Bay of Naples as a ten year old boy in 1951. It was now 1955 and Tony was becoming a young man. He had just graduated from the 8th grade and had started to become acclimated to school and to life in Portland. Especially with the love and support of his aunt and uncle and baby cousin who had essentially become his new family.

His biological family had finally arrived from Naples and had decided to establish a home in Brooklyn. Tony knew he had to go to NY to be with them but It was painful to leave his Portland family behind. He made a pact with himself that he would somehow bring his two families together.

As nervous as he was to see them again, upon arriving back in New York and seeing his parents and brother and sister Tony was overcome with emotion. There they were, standing in a row, waving hello, just as they had waved goodbye from the Bay of Naples 4 years earlier.

Our third episode of Figs & Famiglia is an emotional one. Today we continue our conversation with Antonio Russo, author of 'Wresting with the Devil; A Story of Sacrifice, Survival and Triumph from the Hills of Naples to the Hall of Fame.' He’s going to share with us excerpts from chapter 3 which is when he is put on a ship in the Bay of Naples as a ten year old boy and sent off to America. This was devastating for his Italian family but they were driven for a better life. This quote from author Dianne Hales in the book; La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language, sheds some light as to the emotional toll this took on young Tony and his family. She states; “What Italian doesn’t say also is revealing. Italian has no words that precisely translate “lonely” (unthinkable for its gregarious speakers), “privacy” (equally unthinkable in an Italian family), The Italian phrase “da solo” translates as “by oneself, alone,” which doesn’t convey a yearning for connection in the way that “lonely” does. Italians weave such close and complex connections that perhaps they don’t experience loneliness. Perhaps the culture itself provides a sense of belonging." Young Tony definitely experiences loneliness, and loses his sense of belonging as well, but as you’ll find out in future chapters he’s driven to get that connection back. Enjoy this very special episode!

In our second episode of Figs & Famiglia we welcome back a very special guest; coach, teacher, & author, Antonio Russo. He will read the second chapter of his book; 'Wrestling with the Devil; A Story of Sacrifice, Survival, & Triumph, from the Hills of Naples to the Hall of Fame.' This chapter starts out light-hearted and humorous and takes a turn for the worst when Tony is thrown from a horse drawn carriage and critically injured. As a child, Tony had an insatiable thirst to live life to the fullest. He tried to please the adults around him but he always seemed to find himself getting into trouble. This quote from Eleanor Roosevelt sums up young Tony’s life. “The purpose of life, after all, is to live it. To taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience.” 

Our first episode of Figs & Famiglia is the first in a series. We welcome a very special guest; coach, teacher, & author, Antonio Russo. He will read the first chapter of his book; 'Wrestling with the Devil; A Story of Sacrifice, Survival, & Triumph, from the Hills of Naples to the Hall of Fame.' We will then dig deeper into the chapter and he will elaborate on some key points for us.