Day: January 30, 2021

Missing Dino

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment

Do you remember?

allenrizzi

Dean Martin is a name that most Americans know. Whether you’re 18 or 98, you probably have some recollection of the man. He was one of the original spaghetti crooners and  he also filled the silver screen during the 1950’s and 1960’s. He and Jerry Lewis were partners in the immensely popular comedy team Martin and Lewis. He was a member of the “Rat Pack” and is also remembered for his celebrity roasts of the 1970’s. He was an entertainer for all seasons and even had his own TV show from 1965 to 1974.

Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917 in Steubenville, Ohio. Many people, including me, mistakenly concluded that he simply shortened his name from Martini to Martin. Martin’s first language was an Abruzzese dialect of Italian and he did not speak English until he started school at the age of five. He…

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In Search Of Ancestors I Never Knew

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment
One of my “desks” or “work stations”

My father came from a large family. He had 4 siblings and they lived in New York or Indiana or North Carolina or Florida. And we lived in Boston. A long way from this branch of the family, particularly during the 2nd World War.

My father’s father (my grandfather Charles Dana Mille) had 2 children from his first marriage in 1865. These children were grown up by the time my father was born and by the time I was born they were really a forgotten part of my family’s history. I have become curious about them and have spent some time recently trying to track them down.

My father’s half brother, Charles Dion Miller, lived a long life – born in 1867, his mother died shortly afterward and Charles Dion was brought up by my grandfather Charles Dana with the help of Charles Dana’s parents and one of Charles Dana’s aunts. The family members lived close by and they rallied round to help in the event of the early death of their mother.

Similarly, my father’s half sister also lived a long life. I will go into detail in my next blog.