Thomas Anthony Tedeschi

Thomas A. Tedeschi was born on 5 December 1901, in Mongiana, Calabria, Italy. Thomas was the oldest son of Luigi 'Louis' V. Tedeschi (10 Jul 1878, Mongiana, Vibo Valentia, Calabria - 1 April 1953) and his wife Maria 'Mary' Estella 'Stella' Condino [or 'Contino' in some records] (27 Mar 1884, Calabria-28 Aug 1954, NY). Louis (who was a cabinet maker, worked variously as carpenter at a Paper mill, and a worker at the Niagara Wallpaper Company) and Mary had four sons and four daughters: Thomas' brothers included Ralph V. (1911-1997), Alfred Louis (1915-2003) (q.v.), and Edward Romolo (d. 1989), and his sisters Anna (1906–1973); Rosalie (1907–1988); Gemma (Jane) (1908–1949); and Helen Adeline (1913–1994). Louis had migrated to the USA in 1902, at first to work in the paper mills in Beaver Falls, PA. In 1910, they were living there at 313 7th Street, and then 1311 Fifth Avenue, New Brighton, in part paying off their house by taking in boarders. In later years, they moved to Niagara Falls. Both he and Stella would be interred in Niagara Falls Memorial Park.

Thomas was raised a faithful Catholic, and educated to high school standard, before spending one semester at Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA. He did a course in bookkeeping through international Correspondence School, and was tutored for two years in ltalian language by Methodist minister Rev. John Orru.

Prior to conversion, he worked as a bookkeeper, as a colour mixer for Wall Paper MiII, for a steel company, as an interpreter at Beaver County Court, PA.

At the age of 20 (1922) he converted at home in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, April 1923 during a visit by Frank D'Amato (1885-1966).

On 4 Dec 1926 Thomas married Rose Marie Mazzie (1 Mar 1910, Smithville, Butler, PA–17 Oct 2003, Richmond Heights, Cuyahoga, OH), daughter of Dominico Mazzie (1875–1957), farmer, and Catherine Desimone (1879–1952). At the time, he gave his occupation as 'painter'. They had four sons, Louis Stephen Tedeschi (1930–2004), Richard Onesimus (1927–2018), Phil, and Donald Arthur (lab technician, c. 1932, m. Wauneta Elizabeth Davis, 1957, Akron, OH).

In the same year, 1926, he established the Italian Christian Church, Canonsburg, PA, and with Frank Maruso of the Church in Washington, PA. He went on to pioneer, or assist in pioneering home missions churches in Washington, Pennsylvania; Fairmont, West Virginia; Clarksburg,, West Virginia; Midland, PA; Denver, Colorado; and pastored in Youngstown, Ohio; Bethel Christian Church, Detroit, Michigan. He assisted Massimiliano Tosetto In writing the foundational booklet: "Constltuzione Spirituale della Chiesa Cristiana del Nord America" ("Spiritual Constitution of the ·Christian Church of North America"). After his ordination, he was elected Chairman of the Northwestern District of the CCNA.

Immediate family:

Broader family: