By: Anna Trusky

What started as family chats around the kitchen table at the home of Richard Wallace has taken the form of a new book, Maria! – a loving tribute to his Italian grandmother Maria Cocolicchio.  It all came about in an amazing way.

“I decided it was important to put the story down on paper for my son and grandson, so they would know about our roots,” Richard explains.  ”I started talking with my aunt in Florida and other family members, and I thought, ‘Let me put this in a book and see what happens.’”

What happened is that Richard sent his manuscript to be copyrighted at the Library of Congress.  Four years later, he was thrilled to receive a call from an editor at Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“The editor said they felt the book was educational and they wanted to publish it! They sent me a proof in June and asked me to read it to make sure everything was okay and all the pictures were in the right spots.  The artist did a beautiful job designing the cover.  I am very happy with the way it turned out.”  Richard decided to use the pseudonym “RoW” because he liked the way it sounded.  Presently semi-retired, he is an ordained minister.

The book traces the life of Maria Filaci Cocolicchio from her birth in Calabria, Italy in 1890 to her chance encounter with Saturnino Cocolicchio, a shoe-repairman who became her beloved husband.  Maria fulfilled her duties as a loving and caring wife and mother, experiencing ups and downs and heartbreaks – including the Nazi invasion, which drove the family to come to the United States and settle in New York City, and the loss of a child.  Although in many ways her life was typical for Italian immigrants to the United States during that time period, Maria had the unique quality of being a prayer healer.  In 1957, Saturnino died, and Maria cam to live in Norwich to finish out her rich life.

“My father had moved from New York to Norwich to take a job at EB,” Richard explains.  ”There have always been four generations living in our house – and still are today.”  He says its wonderful to sit down to dinner every night with his parents, his long-time partner, his son and daughter-in-law, and his grandson, to whom he dedicated Maria!

“I taught my son about our heritage and now he’s teaching his son.  Family should always be together.  We have our ups and downs, good times and bad times, but we sit down together and have dinner each night.  That is what my grandmother taught us.  She was the heart of our family,” Richard says.  Maria would be proud!

For more information go to www.dorrancebookstore.com.

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