John,
Thanks so much for your information! We may have actually met when I was young. I am Dave Easton and grew up in Elmira. My mother was Tressa. Just after posting to this board I finally called my Aunt Carmen in Detroit who will soon be 94 and is the last surviving member of Pasquale and Philomena's nine children. Her memory is hazy but she did help me out with a few things. Your information clears up a lot.

Pasquale was born in 1879 and Philomena was two or three years older. He was 26 when he came to the US in 1905. The only documents I have are the passenger list and his WWI and WWII draft registration. It is hard to believe that he registered for the draft at age 63! It was required until 64.

Do you know any of his story? Did your grandparents raise him in Italy? The passenger list I have shows six persons from Castelvetere, but the others went to Boston or elsewhere. You are the only person I know of who has been there. My youngest daughter has been to Italy several times but she never had the time for a side trip to Castelvetere. One of Carmen's sons is a professor of music at Wayne State University, has spent a lot of time in Italy, but also never went there. I would certainly be interested in hearing anything you know about the Giacondino and Civetta families. I believe Carmen and her siblings referred to your grandparents as Aunt and Uncle. I have an old photograph from Elkland showing Pasquale and an Uncle John. I will send it if you like.

If you would like to contact me directly you can reach me at deaston@stny.rr.com

Hope to hear from you,

Dave Easton