Pasquale Simonelli
Encyclopedia
Pasquale Isidoro Simonelli (May 4, 1878 - September 14, 1960), Commander (Commendatore) of the Order of the Crown of Italy
, was an Italian
-American
banker.
, Simonelli was educated at the Normal School of Naples
and, at first, he worked as a bank clerk in that city.
In 1897, on the ship Oregon, he sailed from Naples
Italy
and, on February 10, arrived in New York city
, United States of America. Here he began to teach Italian Language
. In 1898-1899, he worked as a librarian at St. Xavier College, New York City. In 1899, under Comm. Joseph N. Francolini, Mr. Simonelli started his banking career as a clerk with the Italian Savings Bank of New York City. The following year he was appointed secretary of the bank and in 1901, trustee. In 1902, he became a U.S. citizen and joined the Republican Party
.
In 1903, Simonelli was instrumental in securing the services of Enrico Caruso for the New York Metropolitan Opera. Throughout his life, he continued to engage other famous opera singers, such as Maria Barrientos, Beniamino Gigli
, Titta Ruffo
, Riccardo Stracciari, and others for the New York Metropolitan Opera.
Simonelli married Rosa in 1903 and had two children: Julius (born in 1904 in their summer home on Brighton Ave, Long Branch, New Jersey
) and Maria.
From 1920 to 1932, Mr. Simonelli was President of the Italian Savings Bank. The King of Italy
, Victor Emmanuel III, conferred upon him the honour of Commander (Commendatore) of the Order of the Crown of Italy. From 1922 to 1930, Simonelli was Treasurer and Director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Treasurer of the Italian Hospital of New York City
. During those years he was also vice president of the Comitato pro Sacco and Vanzetti
. In 1926, he was Director and organizer of the Seward National Bank. From 1927 to 1934, he was also Director of the Italian Super-Power Co. When, in 1932, the Italian Savings Bank and the East River Bank merged, giving birth to a new Institution named East River Savings Bank in New York City, Simonelli was appointed Vice-President and Trustee of this Bank with his Office at 225 Lafayette Street. He resided in New York City at 326 W. 89th St. until 1936.
In 1937 Simonelli retired to Italy, at his castle “Villa Simonelli” in San Paolo Belsito, Naples. There, he spent the rest of his life as a country gentleman. He died in 1960. His remains rest in the Simonelli family mausoleum in the cemetery of Sant'Erasmo in Saviano, Naples.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, was an Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
banker.
Biography
Born in Saviano, province of NaplesProvince of Naples
The Province of Naples is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital city is Naples, within the province there are 92 Comuni of the Province of Naples.-Demographics:...
, Simonelli was educated at the Normal School of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and, at first, he worked as a bank clerk in that city.
In 1897, on the ship Oregon, he sailed from Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and, on February 10, arrived in New York city
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States of America. Here he began to teach Italian Language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
. In 1898-1899, he worked as a librarian at St. Xavier College, New York City. In 1899, under Comm. Joseph N. Francolini, Mr. Simonelli started his banking career as a clerk with the Italian Savings Bank of New York City. The following year he was appointed secretary of the bank and in 1901, trustee. In 1902, he became a U.S. citizen and joined the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
In 1903, Simonelli was instrumental in securing the services of Enrico Caruso for the New York Metropolitan Opera. Throughout his life, he continued to engage other famous opera singers, such as Maria Barrientos, Beniamino Gigli
Beniamino Gigli
Beniamino Gigli was an Italian opera singer. The most famous tenor of his generation, he was renowned internationally for the great beauty of his voice and the soundness of his vocal technique. Music critics sometimes took him to task, however, for what was perceived to be the over-emotionalism...
, Titta Ruffo
Titta Ruffo
Titta Ruffo , born as Ruffo Titta Cafiero, was an Italian opera star who had a major international singing career. Known as the "Voce del leone" , he was greatly admired, even by rival baritones, such as Giuseppe De Luca, who said of Ruffo: "His was not a voice, it was a miracle" Titta Ruffo (9...
, Riccardo Stracciari, and others for the New York Metropolitan Opera.
Simonelli married Rosa in 1903 and had two children: Julius (born in 1904 in their summer home on Brighton Ave, Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,719.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
) and Maria.
From 1920 to 1932, Mr. Simonelli was President of the Italian Savings Bank. The King of Italy
King of Italy
King of Italy is a title adopted by many rulers of the Italian peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire...
, Victor Emmanuel III, conferred upon him the honour of Commander (Commendatore) of the Order of the Crown of Italy. From 1922 to 1930, Simonelli was Treasurer and Director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Treasurer of the Italian Hospital of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. During those years he was also vice president of the Comitato pro Sacco and Vanzetti
Sacco and Vanzetti
Ferdinando Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were anarchists who were convicted of murdering two men during a 1920 armed robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts, United States...
. In 1926, he was Director and organizer of the Seward National Bank. From 1927 to 1934, he was also Director of the Italian Super-Power Co. When, in 1932, the Italian Savings Bank and the East River Bank merged, giving birth to a new Institution named East River Savings Bank in New York City, Simonelli was appointed Vice-President and Trustee of this Bank with his Office at 225 Lafayette Street. He resided in New York City at 326 W. 89th St. until 1936.
In 1937 Simonelli retired to Italy, at his castle “Villa Simonelli” in San Paolo Belsito, Naples. There, he spent the rest of his life as a country gentleman. He died in 1960. His remains rest in the Simonelli family mausoleum in the cemetery of Sant'Erasmo in Saviano, Naples.
Bibliography
- Campbell Dorcas Elisabeth,The First Hundred Years. The Chronicle of a Mutual Savings Bank, East River Savings Bank New York, 1949, pp. 67-69, 94.
- Cannistraro, Philip V., Mussolini, Sacco-Vanzetti, and the Anarchists: The Transatlantic Context, The Journal of Modern History, Vol. 68, No. 1 (Mar., 1996), p. 51 n. 78.
- Il Mattino, Italiani che onorano la Patria all'Estero. Superbo avvenire delle aziende idro-elettriche. L'attività prodigiosa del comm. Pasquale Simonelli, La Cronaca del Mezzogiorno, 15-16 Febbraio 1928.
- Il Progresso italo americano, Il banchiere che portò Caruso negli USA, sezione B - supplemento illustrato della domenica, New York, 27 luglio 1986.
- Italian-American Who’s-Who. A Biographical Dictionary of outstanding Italo-Americans and Italian Residents of the United States, Volume One, Published by The Vigo Press, 2 Rector Street, New York City, 1935, pp. 266-267.
- Italian Savings Bank, Italian Savings Bank. Cartered 1896, New York City, 1920?
- Jackson Stanley, Caruso, First edition, New York, Stein and Day, 1972, pp. 99, 106, 110, 124.
- Key Pierre V. R., Zirato B., Enrico Caruso. A Biography, Boston, Little, Brown, and Company, 1922, pp. 170-172, 175, 179, 181, 206,207.
External Links
- Saviano
- Pasquale Simonelli's immigration records
- Barrientos Maria
- East River Bank
- East River Savings Bank
- Il Progresso italo americano 1986
- Italian-American Who’s-Who 1935
- Italian Savings Bank
- San Paolo Belsito
- Seward National Bank
- Simonelli Julius
- Stracciari RiccardoRiccardo StracciariRiccardo Stracciari was a leading Italian baritone. His repertoire consisted mainly of Italian operatic works, with Rossini's Figaro and Verdi's Rigoletto becoming his signature roles during a long and distinguished career which stretched from 1899 to 1944.- Life and career :Born near Bologna,...
- Villa Simonelli
