Life in Italy

According to Adriano's grandfather, his family came to the US from Calabria (southern Italy) in the late 1800s. Calabria in the late 1800s was in political chaos. Sicilians combated the newly established Italian government, the economy was recovering after the war, and the Mafia held a strong presence throughout southern Italy. Adriano’s family ended up settling in Akron, Ohio working in big industrial factories. As time passed in the US, the Varano family had to face the Great Depression in the 1930s, losing jobs at the factories. Suffering from extreme poverty, Adriano’s family was faced with a tough decision. Eventually, the family moved to the Boston area in the mid-1900s, which was when his father was born. Life in the late 1940s wasn’t easy as the US economy was still recovering from the Great Depression and World War II. There was a strong sense of national pride at this point in history, leaving Adriano’s immigrant family in a difficult position. Italy had sided with the Axis Powers during WWII, who fought against the Allies. Racial prejudice made daily life harsh, especially in factories where competition for jobs was high. To escape racism in the 1960s, Adriano's grandfather decided to move back to Italy, leaving all of his family behind. After being left to fend for themselves, Adriano's father, Vito, and his siblings worked together to stay afloat. They began to establish themselves in the lower-middle class, working jobs in the automotive industry. During his time in Massachusetts, Vito met his wife of over 50 years, Tomasina. A decade later, Adriano was born in Newton, where he would only live for a few short years. At the age of 2, Adriano and his family watched all of his extended family leave, just like Adriano’s grandfather did in the 1960s. Feeling alone and stranded in America, Adriano and his family returned to Calabria. 

Considering how young he was, Adriano doesn't recall many memories from his life in America as a toddler. However, most of his childhood, 15 years, was spent in Italy. As a boy, Adriano lived in Montepaone Lido, Calabria: a small beach town appreciated only by the locals. This area of Italy wasn’t as attractive to tourists when compared to the northern cities. As a result, Calabria was, and still is, one of the poorest areas of the entire country. To further distance Calabria from the rest of the nation, the Mafia held a tight grip on politics and influenced everyone, whether they were affiliated or not. While the Italian Mafia has been a gang, it hasn’t followed the movie-like qualities of one. The Mafia was spread through Calabria by supplying protection to families and businesses throughout the region. However, accepting this protection wasn’t due to choice. The Mafia would force people to accept and pay for their protection or else they would make life impossible. While it is unknown how much involvement Adriano’s family had in the Mafia, there is a guarantee that the family had some affiliation. Besides this, life for Adriano wasn’t far from the life of an American child. He went to a small school with classrooms shared by several grades, went home to an apartment building, and spent time with those close to him. However, the major differences created an entirely different environment than that of Boston.

As a teenager, it was safe to say that Adriano spent his years well. From time near home to traveling to Rome, Adriano was always on the move and enjoying the company around him. In school, he wasn't exactly the most studious of them all and his work ethic was non-existent. From adolescence, Adriano never tried to push himself to produce with high quality or was dedicated to the task at hand. This wasn’t only in the classroom, but his work ethic carried over to other areas of his life, earning him a poor reputation in Montepaone Lido. However, this situation in Italy became overwhelmed by a new opportunity. As Adriano approached adulthood, his older brother, Fabio, had been in contact with their uncle back in Massachusetts. Not all of their family had gone back to Italy when they did. Some people, like Adriano’s uncle, had settled into the community and established steady jobs. In 1994, Adriano’s uncle offered Fabio and Adriano to come to visit for the summer and work for him as autobody workers. Faced with a chance to escape, Adriano was quick to say yes. Yet, little did he know this “trip” would turn out to be the start of his life in Boston.