Dear Readers:
Congratulastions and warmest wishes to Rosa and Alessandro Pierucci on their recent golden anniversary. Rosa and Alessandro are the proud parents of GIANRICO PIERUCCI, current president of the S.F.I.A.C. (San Francisco Italian Athletic Club) who, in honor of the love and 50 years of marriage that brought his parents to this special day pulled out all the stops and, together with his family, organized a joyful celebration that both his parents and guests in attendance will cherish in their memory for many years to come...
Rosa and Alessandro’s fifty years love story began in the Marche (in the small seventeen-family village of Caprile, near Frontone, province of Pesaro-Urbino in the central region of Italy) and continues to unfold in the Marina District of San Francisco, California.
On September 12, 2009, Rosa and her prince Alessandro, like all handsome storybook couples of yore, stepped up into their carriage and were driven to Sts. Peter and Paul Church, where they renewed the wedding vows they had first taken on September 12, 1959, when Alessandro Pierucci “del Caprile” married Rosa Ricci “della Foce” in the beautiful church of Santa Maria on Via Roma in downtown Frontone. Alessandro recalls how beautiful the wedding was.
He, his family and their invited guests ate breakfast together in his village, Caprile. When they were done, the entire party walked 2.5 kilometers to the village of Foce, and joined the Ricci family. From Foce, Alessandro (arm in arm with his mother Pasquina) followed Rosa (who was arm in arm with her father Nello) and, followed by guests and the wedding party, walked 2.5 kilometers to the church of Santa Maria.
After their wedding vows, Miro Pierucci of Foca, a paesano of Rosa, began to play the accordion as soon as they exited from the church. Miro walked in front of the newlyweds, followed by the wedding party. He played his accordion all the way to Foce, where Rosa’s mother, Luisa, had prepared a “rinfresco” for all the family and guests. The little piazza in front of the village church was crowded with onlookers. From Foce, the party walked to Caprile and Miro played the entire way.
The wedding reception was held in the home where Alessandro’s mother was born, in the small village of Caprile. The home is still family-owned by Alessandro’s cousin, Maria, daughter of his uncle Olindo Pierucci, his mother’s youngest brother. Alessandro recalls placing wooden buckets upside down and placing boards across the buckets to make seating for 150 people.
There was much “allegria” and many were drunk by the end of the night. Alessandro laughs as he tells the story of his uncle Paolino who was so drunk he lost his footing and fell into the barrel of water used to wash the wedding dishes. He immediately got up, pulled off his shoes and socks, rolled up his pants and began to dance by himself all over the room. As he danced, he would yell out to Miro, “Sona, Miro, sona!” (Play, Miro, play!)
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Fast forwarding from 1959 in Italy to San Francisco... On Saturday, September 12, 2009 Rosa and Alessandro Pierucci celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. It was a spectacular joyous event with an “abbodanza” in the “mangiare, ballare e cantare” categories. The weather had been extremely dreary all morning with thunder storms and lightening. But at 1pm the sun began to break through the clouds, the winds began to die down and the family’s prayers for a beautiful weather were answered.
When the photographer and videographer arrived at the home of Rosa and Alessandro Pierucci ready to capture this classic event and immortalize it forever, Alessandro gave the techs a tour of “Cantina Pierucci,” showing his praised Italian vino, made with old fashioned tools and old fashioned know-how, handed down to Alessandro by his father, grandfather and uncles from their small village of Caprile, in the region of Marche.
The festivities began at 2pm when Gary Sello arrived with his beautiful horse-drawn carriage at the Pietrucci’s address in San Francisco’s Marina district. Rosa, in a gorgeous golden lace gown and Alessandro, in a handsome brown pinstripe suit, alighted unto the “golden carriage” and were taken on a beautiful tour of Fisherman’s Wharf, Columbus Avenue, their old neighborhood (Powell and Chestnut Streets) where they had lived on arrival from Italy on November 17, 1967.
Stopping at 2:55pm in front of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, they were greeted by cherished family and friends, who were waiting for the special 3pm mass to begin. The church has always been the Pierucci parish since their migration to San Francisco. Their son Gianrico went to grammar school there, he married his darling wife Cindy there, and Rosa and Alessandro grandchildren were baptized there as well. Father Armand Oliveri welcomed Rosa and Alessandro as they walked, arm in arm, down the aisle to the well-known organ music of Lola Simi.
The altar was decorated with beautiful multicolored orchids. Rosa and Alessandro were led to the top of the stairs to two wooden chairs directly in fron of the altar. The mass was said in English and Italian, and the entire family participated, The vows were renewed after fifty years, and Rosa and Alessandro looked so happy. Cindy, their daughter-in-law and Lorenzo Federico, their grandson, did the readings along with Marisa Balistreri, Rosa’s younger sister. Marisa’s two sons, Emiliano and Roberto, presented the gifts at the offertory. During communion, Stefania Alessandra sang an angelic Ave Maria.
It was truly a magnificent mass and all the family and friends enjoyed the laughter when Father Oliveri told the “newlyweds” they could now kiss. Marisa’s husband Antonio, the famed North Beach barber from Sant’Elia, Sicily, commented on how great Alessandro’s hair looked as Alessandro stood next to Rosa whose beautiful hair style defined her soft facial features. After the blessing, Rosa and Alessandro walked arm in arm out of the church where they were met by accordionist George Campi, who began to play as soon as they walked outside, just as Miro had done 50 years before.
The music continued as the family and friends followed and walked down the steps of Sts. Peter and Paul Church. They “newlyweds” were surprised when they saw that the San Francisco Police Department had blocked traffic on Filbert, Powell and Stockton Streets to allow Rosa and Alessandro and their family and friends to walk in the street from the church to the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, where the reception was held for 150 guests. This too was a return to yesteryear.
The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club had been decorated by Cindy, Stefania and Gianrico Pierucci the night before the event. The hall looked wonderful. The table decorations matched Rosa and Alessandro’s wardrobe and were breathtaking with beautiful orchids in gold and brown vases. On a large screen hanging from the ceiling, a video depicting 50 years of life and love captivated the audience.
The video, put together by family friend Rich Baldoni Dennery, had still photos and video footage of old friends and many past family members who were present in spirit at this wondeful family event. The celebration would not be complete without mentioning the excellent food. The appetizers were plentiful and tasty, with jumbo prawns, assorted Italian cheeses, figs and much more.
George Campi continued to play and the festivity was non-stop. Dinner was served at 6pm, wonderfully prepared by Roger Soudah. Roger is Cindy Pierucci’s brother and an excellent chef. Roger had met Rosa and Alessandro at their request, and was delighted when they told him that they would love to have him cook for their 50th wedding anniversary celebration. (I can assure you that all the guests in attendance were delighted too!) Roger and his assistants prepared an Italian meal for royalty.
He first served salad with white beans and baccalà with a fantastic tasting Marche dish, porchetta. All the Marchigiani positively commented on this regional specialty. Next and well spaced, I might add the tagliatelle con sugo rosso and risotto con porcini. The main course, as requested by Alessandro, was a New York strip steak with green beans and garnishing.
It is clear that Alessandro did not want anybody going home saying, “ero ancora morto di fame!” Just as the guests thought the party was winding down, Italian singing sensation Pasquale Esposito and his band arrived to entertain. Later, Rosa and Alessandro were thrilled when Pasquale Esposito called Stefania Alessandra, their granddaughter, to sing with him. Together they sang to nonno and nonna for a second time.
And it was a joy when Pasquale announced that Stefania was ready to launch a career. Coming from a talented professional as Pasquale it meant a lot to them and their family. In addition to little boxes of golden almonds, Rosa and Alessandro distributed gorgeous Capo di Monte favors to each family. The songs continued and the dancing rarely stopped. Rosa and Alessandro always danced with grace. They danced as if they were one. Alessandro, who had not danced for a very long time, had to slow down a bit as his knees are no longer “come erano prima.”
The 50th anniversary of Rosa and Alessandro was a wonderful trip to the days of yesteryear, when strong family bonds and true friensdships were the biggest and best thing one could have. Two remarkable people with love never ending. God bless and “cent’anni!”
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