Photo Gallery

Circa. 1950's Behind the Assembly Cigar Store barbeque most like sardines or mackrel. Location Alvarado at Osio Plaza.

1927 Monterey Merchants First row left to right Frank Cefalu, Phil Calbrese, Phil Balesteri, Ted Rebello and Pop Warner. Second row left to right Louis Goldstein, Barry Salmeri, Frank “Ike” Ventimiglia, Tommy Lucido, Derby Minafo, Cookie Vargas, Mike Ventimiglia (Courtesy of Author.)

Pietro Cutino he married Rosa "Siino" Cutino (courtesy of Bert Cutino Family.)

Speranza “Bruno” Ventimiglia born in Isola delle Femmine 1859 married to Salvatore “Costanzo” Ventimiglia February 12, 1878 (Courtesy of Maria “Ferrante” Favalora.)

Giuseppe Iannotta born in Curti, Naples, Italy was the father of Florence Ventimiglia the wife of Mike Ventimiglia (Courtesy of Author.)

Giuseppe Belleci dressed in an Italian navy uniform severing in the 1899 (Courtesy of Cathy “Ventimiglia” Gomez.)

Mary “Marotta” DiMaria poses with her son Angelo(Courtesy of Laurie Hambaro, Shades of Monterey, Monterey Public Library’s California History Room.)

Mary “Marotta” DiMaria widowed 1918 in mourning (Courtesy of Laurie Hambaro, Shades of Monterey, Monterey Public Library’s California History Room.)

Tony Calabro, the middle is Ann Calabro, and the far right little girl is my great grandmother Mary “Calabro” Roncarati she married a Chinto “Charles” Roncarati (Courtesy of Dr. Pamela Brown, DC.)

Girolama "Ventimiglia" Torrente in confirmation gown age around 12 years (Courtesy of Peter Torrente)

1926 a group of Italian men gather together for a pickup game of baseball that would often be played at Jack’s Baseball Park downtown Monterey 15 year old Mike Ventimiglia holding the bat (Courtesy of the Author.)

Joe DiMaggio with his mother Rosalie "Mercurio" DiMaggio, Joe was born in Martinez, CA November 25, 1914. San Joe’s mother’s sister Mary Grace “Mercurio” Ventimiglia was married to Orazio Ventimiglia (Courtesy of the Author.)

Maria “Ventimiglia” Ferrante and her son Vito, Maria and her sister Lucia remained in Sicily. Salvatore took his sons, Francesco, Orazio, Gaetano, Giuseppe, Antonino and Salvatore to Black Diamond (Courtesy of Maria “Ferrante” Favalora.)

Speranza "Bruno" Ventimiglia and her daughter Lucia when Speranza died Salvatore "Costanzo" Ventimiglia took his 6 sons to Black Diamond, CA to fish. (Courtesy of Author)

Mary Grace “Mercurio” holding two of her children she would die in 1939 she was the sister to Joe DiMaggio mother Rosalie“ Mercurio” DiMaggio (Courtesy of Author.)

Mary "Ventroni" Iannotta born in Curti, Italy was the mother of Florence "Iannotta" Ventimiglia. (Courtesy of Author)

August 31, 1928 left to right Rose Enea, Louis Warren Hill, Rose was one of the winners for best costume (courtesy of World Wide Photographs Monterey Public Library’s California History Room.)

Young Salvatore Ventimiglia whose father was Salvatore and owner a cannery on Cannery Row California Frozen Fish Company and several fishing boats over the years including the New Hope (Courtesy of Cathy “Ventimiglia” Gomez.)

Salvatore Ventimiglia classmate who attended high 3rd grade in elementary school levels of education were broken out in the early years of education (Courtesy of Cathy “Ventimiglia” Gomez.)

John Russo 4th from left back row 3rd grade class primary school 1922 John was between 8 and 9 years old and live in Pittsburg, CA before the family moved to Monterey to fish. His father Antone was also a fisherman (Courtesy of Mary “D’Agui” Wells.)

1930 New Admiral crew members first row L to R Capt. Horace Ferrante, Vito Pomilia, Tony Ferrante, Joe Ferrante (Courtesy Pittsburg Historical Society, Vince Ferrante.)

Anastasia's fish market 1950 from left to right Joseph Anastasia Senior, Jennie his wife and sons Phillip and Joseph, Wharf I (courtesy of Angela Anastasia McCurry, Shades of Monterey, Monterey Public Library’s California Historic Room.)

Left to right Jack Aiello and Paul Cutino in 1930 pose for a picture off Oceanview Avenue in Pacific Grove. off Hopkin's Marine Station looking for sea urchins (Courtesy of Bert Cutino Family.)

During the off season Italian fishermen would pack the trunks and fish the waters of Alaska for salmon in 1932 for about six weeks. Local fisherman still fish the Alaskan waters, but it is not the same as their fore fathers did (Courtesy of Peter Torrente.)

On the beach at Pacific Grove, left to right Mariano Torrente, John Grammatico, Mario San Paolo, and Yago (photographer unknown courtesy of Peter Torrente.)

Mariano Torrente and Mario San Paolo take a break on the rocks at Pacific Grove Mariano with an apple in one hand and a bottle of red wine in the other. They would also search the rocks for the Sicilian delicacy the eggs or roe from sea urchins (Courtesy of Peter Torrente.)

At left Cottardo J. "Monk" Loero, Frank Balesteri with the hat working the fish market at Wharf I ( Courtesy of Bert Cutino Family.)

Left to right Speranza ‘Ventimiglia” Ernandes daughter Catherine Marie and father Frank Ernandes, Speranza worked in the Booth Cannery as a floor supervisor (Courtesy of Author.)

Wedding of Salvatore Colletto and Katherine “Katie” Aiello the 1940 census shows the family living at 472 Monroe Street in Monterey he was a commercial fisherman (Courtesy of the Bert Cutino Family.)

Mario Lucido and Katherine “Kay” Russo on their wedding day. (Courtesy of Katherine Lucido, Shades of Monterey, Monterey Public Library’s California History Room.)

1939 Boat Owners Association dinner hosted by the Monterey Sardine Industry Incorporate this was a special dinner to thank the owners for their contribution to the sardine industry (Monterey Public Library’s California Historic Room.)

1939 Boat Owners Association dinner hosted by the Monterey Sardine Industry Incorporate this was a special dinner to thank the owners for their contribution to the sardine industry (Monterey Public Library’s California Historic Room.)

Vagabond crew left to right (first row) Mike “Sloan” Ventimiglia, Frank “Ike” Ventimiglia, Mario San Paolo, left to right (second row) Peter Rocha, John Grammatico, Joseph Cardinale, Salvatore Rombie, captain Mariano Torrente, unknown (courtesy of the AMICI Club Monterey.)

Salvatore Castaldo father of Anthony Castaldo born in Pazzallo, Sicily May 12, 1880. Salvatore was a fisherman who often fished in Alaska in the off season he died in Alaska lost at sea (Courtesy of Anne “Castaldo” Jay.)

Fishing at Coo's Bay Oregon (Courtesy of the AMICI Club Monterey.)

Crew from the New Rex fishing the waters of Coo’s Bay in 1935 boat owner Mariano Torrente (Courtesy of Peter Torrente.)

John Cardinalli in 1935 was born into a fishing family; his father in law Salvatore Ventimiglia fished in Monterey and Alaska and John worked alongside him (Courtesy “Ventimiglia” Gomez.)

Frank “Sarley” Cefalu is practicing his batting swing in 1936 baseball was a great past time for Italian’s when not fishing (Courtesy of Cathy “Ventimiglia” Gomez.)

1937 from left to right is Chinto “Charles” his wife Mary “Calabro” Roncarati, and their son Eugene (Courtesy of Dr. Pamela Brown, DC.)

The Jefferson Street kids from (first row) left to right Tony Rappa, John Coniglio, (second row) Francesca Giaconda, (third row) Paul Giamona, Peter Cutino, unknown (Courtesy Bert Cutino Family.)

Left to right Godparents Joe Russo, Mary “Lucido” Stagi and baby John Russo the son of John Russo after being baptized (Courtesy of Mary “D’Agui” Wells.)

Left to right is young Peter Torrente in 1943 at the age of 13 with his father Mariano Torrente a successful fisherman who own several fishing boats like the Vagabond, Vagabond II and the New Rex (Courtesy of Peter Torrente.)

Salvatore “Dan” Ventimiglia one of many Sicilian, Italians who served his county during World War II and paid the ultimate price he was killed in action at Nettuno, Italy June 3, 1944 (Courtesy of the Author.)

Marriage of Anthony Castaldo and Rose Favalora on February 27, 1943 left to right Joseph Battalia, Rose Castaldo, Rose Favalora Anthony Castaldo Josephine Bruno and John Favalora (Courtesy of Anne “Castaldo” Jay.)

Tommy Bruno son of Dooley and Dorothy Bruno who lived at 150 John Street in Monterey in 1951, behind him is the purse seiner New Hope owner Salvatore Ventimiglia (Courtesy of Marie “Ventimiglia” Person.)

The Cutino family left to right young Bert at age 9 with his father Paul and his mother Rose “Aiello” Cutino in 1948 at christening of Paul’s new boat Santa Rosalie in Sausalito, California (Courtesy of the Bert Cutino Family.)

Left to right Vincent Lucido son father Vincent Lucido and daughter Sarah Lucido father Vincent was born about 1894 and migrated to the United States in 1905. (Courtesy of Mary “D’Agui” Wells.)

Salvatore Ventimiglia was a successful fisherman and cannery owner he came to America in 1907 at the age of 14 with two of his brothers and fished in Martinez, CA with his father and other brothers (Courtesy of Cathy “Ventimiglia” Gomez.)

Orazio Ventimiglia was listed as a business agent for the C.I.O. Fishing Union in the 1940 census report he fished for most of his adult life and resided at 508 Abrego Street in Monterey (Courtesy of Author.)

1950 left to right Anne “Castaldo” Jay, Capt. Anthony Castaldo owner of the boat Luck Star and Constance “Castaldo” Salmeri posing for a milk commercial at the end of Wharf II with his daughters (Courtesy of Anne “Castaldo” Jay.)

John Crivello fished on the Twin Brothers the boat was owned by Salvatore Maiorana who fished for California packing Corporation in the 1930 -1940 fishing season (Courtesy of the AMICI Club Monterey.)

Pennisi Family (Courtesy of the AMICI Club Monterey.)

First row left to right Mike Belleci, Steve Matches Bruno second row left to right Salvatore Genovese, Salvatore Buffo (Courtesy of Sal Belleci.)

Frank and Bessie Sardina Frank continue to fish after the sardines and provide fish to the commercial markets in his boat (Courtesy of Sardina family.)

Mariano Torrente and his wife Girolama dance at their son Peter's wedding. Author Mike Ventimiglia ring bearer and the young lady in the white dress is JoAnn Rucello flower maiden (Courtesy of Peter Torrente.)

Partners in the fishing boat Star of Monterey left to right is Roual Bruno, John Russo, Tom DiMaggio, Antoinette DiMaggio, Sarah Russo and Mary Bruno no doubt celebrating another successful year of fishing (Courtesy of Mary “D’Agui” Wells.)

Josephine “Russo” Aiello and Bartolo Aiello attend a wedding at Pittsburg, California. Monterey Italian’s and Sicilian's have close family ties in both Pittsburg and Martinez (Courtesy of Bert Cutino Family.)

Left to right Salvatore Aiello and Peter “Pete” Cutino in 1942. Pete would make his mark as head coach for the University of California at Berkeley for 26 years (Courtesy of the Bert Cutino Family.)

John Russo wedding front row from left to right Rose Lucido Borrelli, Joan Giamona, Ada Giamona, Sarah Russo, Mary Lucido Stagi, Rose Davi, Frances Lucido back row from left to right Neno Bruno, Joe Russo, John Russo, Sal Costanza, Tony Bruno, Neno DiMaggio (Courtesy of Mary “D’Agui” Wells.)