They were of “the greatest generation,” born mainly to immigrant parents, coming of age in a rapidly changing America which they kept pace with and helped shape in their own way, preserving many old traditions, re-inventing others, and creating their own.

Palma Latini Leicht, aka “Mom.”  Born January 20, 1923 in The Bronx, NY; third child (second daughter) of Giuseppe Latini and Maria Gatti Latini.  She was a talented seamstress and wonderful home cook.  During World War II she worked at Sperry, a national defense contractor, therefore making her own contribution to the national effort.  In 1946 she married John P. Leicht, who was introduced to her by his cousin Gloria Bello Latini – her future sister-in-law, who was dating John Latini (they married in 1945). Palma passed away in 1989 after a three year battle with colon cancer, at the age of 66.

John Peter Leicht, aka “Dad,” “JPL,” or the self-imposed “Johnny Nobody.” Born February 6, 1923 in The Bronx, NY; the oldest of Peter Leicht and Bertha Naujoks Leicht’s two sons.  He worked for his father at the family tavern before enlisting in World War II immediately following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.  He served in the US Navy aboard the USS Hambleton, a destroyer that was also converted to a light mine sweeper, and participated in both theaters of war, most notably the invasions of Normandy and Okinawa.  Upon his honorable discharge, he married Palma Latini and began working at what was then known as National City Bank before joining the New York City Police Department for a distinguished 25 year career; he moved on to the New York State Attorney General’s office as a Special Investigator for patient abuse and fraud before retiring in 1988.  In 1996 he moved to Florida, where he passed away on March 5 2001.

Fiore Latini, aka “Uncle Fiore,” “Zio Fiore,” or the self-imposed “The Uncle.”  Born January 13, 1926 in The Bronx, NY; fourth and youngest child (second son) of Giuseppe Latini and Maria Gatti Latini.  He was a brilliant student and eager son who enlisted in the Navy for World War II as soon as he was old enough to sign for himself — his parents refused to do so, already having one son (John) enlisted in the army.  He served in the Pacific, arriving in time for some of the final battles; following the Japanese surrender, he served in port control in Sasebo, Japan, as part of the team that managed entry to Tokyo Harbor.  Upon his honorable discharge, he married Mary “Doris” Callahan in 1948.  He too joined the New York City Police Department, and was promoted to Sargeant; in 1966 he was gravely hurt in a 5-story fall down an airshaft while chasing a perpetrator.  After recovery, he joined Harry M. Stevens catering, managing the concessions at their New York Racing Association franchises (Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga race tracks); he later worked for Nathan’s Restaurants and finally managed the security of Gelmart, a clothing manufacturer in Whitestone, Queens NY.  He passed away on April 26 2015 after a short battle with Multiple Myeloma and a longer battle with mild dementia/Alzheimers.

Mary “Doris” Latini, aka “Aunt Doris” or “Tanta Doris.”  Born May 8, 1928, she was raised by what we would today call a single mother, Helen “Nellie” Callahan, whose husband Edward Callahan abandoned his family. She dated Fiore Latini and married him in 1948.  She became best friends with her sister-in-law Palma Latini, and they essentially raised their children together — they had five each, all the cousins born within a year or two of each other.  She passed away on July 27 2014 during hip replacement surgery that exacerbated her heart condition.

John Latini, aka “Uncle John.”  Born February 14, 1921, he was the second child and first born male of Giuseppe Latini and Maria Gatti Latini, also their first child to be born in the US.  As a young boy he quit school to work as a grocery delivery boy to help the family after his father was laid off from his job in a paint factory.  Like all his siblings he grew up speaking Italian but embraced the American culture. He served in the US Army during World War II, participating in the invasion of Sicily in the 41st Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division. His Sherman Tank, Flat-Foot-Floogie was the first tank from Patton’s Third Army to reach the Rhine in Germany during the 21 March Break through.  While still stationed in California at war’s end, he married his long term sweetheart, Gloria Bello.  He too joined the NYPD and rose through the ranks to Lieutenant with several prestigious postings.  He passed away on January 10, 2003, also having suffered from dementia/Alzheimers.

Gloria Bello Latini, aka “Aunt Gloria” or “Tanta GooGoo.”  Born September 2 1924, the second of three children of Edward “Feathers” Bello and Henrietta “Hattie” Elise Naujoks.  That makes her first cousin to my father, John Leicht.  Not sure which relationship came first, but she dated John Latini and became best friends with his younger sister Palma, my mother (see above).  She introduced Palma to her favorite cousin John, and they later married — making their children not only my first cousins through my mother but my second cousins through my father!  Gloria gained renown on the speaker’s circuit for Alcoholic’s Anonymous, and unexpectedly passed away while traveling that circuit in Las Vegas on May 9, 2000.