Gaetano Ruffino

Gaetano was the first Ruffino ancestor to arrive in the USA. He was passenger #75 on the ship India out of Naples, arriving at Ellis Island in NYC May i5, 1893. There had been a large, bloody uprising of the peasants in Caltavuturo that same year.

Wife Angelina, and his children "Antonino" and "Josie" were sent for later; presumably he worked in NY to save up money to secure an apartment and then send their passage money.

Per Aunt Eleanor's recollections, in NY, he was a shoemaker with a shop on Henry Street. "Broadway celebrities of the day went in there...Joey Brown, Jan Pierce..It was a Jewish neighborhood."

Angelina and Gaetano had six more children born in the USA. "Morris" became a NYC policeman; Lena, Rose, Kate, Jean. This "Baby Sister" of Antonio Ruffino was the same age as his daughter/our "Aunt Jean" Ruffino Fiorentino. "My sister Jean used to joke that, 'My grandmother nursed me," per Aunt El.

Gaetano sold his shop at age 60, and enjoyed his retirement years with his growing family.