My Father

Angelo Gallo was born about two in the morning on a Wednesday May 1, 1901 in Dugenta, Italy. Confirmation sponsor was Pasquale Gallo. Angelo was a twin, however his twin died about twenty days after birth. Angelo married Carmella Malgieri at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Schenectady, New York by Father James Matturro. This church is on the perimeter of Union College, one of the oldest colleges in America and the site of the first fraternity. Witnesses to the marriage were Raffaele (Ralph) Gallo, a brother, and Assunta (Sue) Malgieri, Carmella's sister. The marriage was a good marriage that lasted for 52 years. A 50th wedding aniversary party was held by his children at the Edgewood Restaurant in Schenectady. Their first home (rented) was 401Congress Street in Schenectady were their first son Simeo was born. The next home (rented) was on Crane Street next to the Mont Pleasant Bowling Alley which is still in existence today (1998). Here, their only daughter, Louise, was born. Then Angelo and Carmella purchased a two-story "flat" house at 1234 Main Street. During this residency, the second son, Anthony, was born. The next two-story home was purchased just down Main Street at 1260 Main Street. During this residency was born Michael, the last son. Across the street at 1258 Main Street resided Carmella's sister Anna (Sterlina). Years later, Angelo and Carmella purchased a ranch style all brick home in the suburbs of Schenectady known as Rotterdam. Carmella tired of the suburbs and longed to be near her sisters, so they moved back into the city at 1092 Forest Road. This home was a two story frame house located across from Mont Pleasant High School, a high school where all their children graduated from. The home was approximately one block from Carmella's sister Sue (Gallo...she married Angelo's cousin) and about four blocks from her sister Anna Sterlina. Angelo worked at the General Electric plant at Schenectady for 42 years and retired in 1984. He was a carpenter. Remarkable was the fact that Angelo walked to work and back for almost all of his emplyment at General Electric. The only exception was for the about seven years that he lived in Rotterdam. There he took the bus. The distance from Main Street to the General Electric plant is about three miles one way! People walked. The commercial area of the Mont Pleasant neighborhood was called "Crane Street." From the three Mont Pleasant houses that Angelo and Carmella owned to Crane Street, the distance is about 0.5 miles, one way. Before his emplyment at General Electric, Angelo worked in Amsterdam, New York at the Mohawk Carpet Mills. Angelo suffered from emphysema and had severe stomach problems. He had a portion of his stomach removed in late adulthood which gave him much relief. He died April 3, 1980 at 2:10 A.M. in Schenectady, New York.