Louis & Adeline

THE LOUIS BENCRISCUTTO
&
ADELINE CATAPANO FAMILY

Louis was the fourth child born to Caterina De Rose and Gregorio Bencriscutto. As a boy, Louis learned to respect his parents, his Italian heritage, and he absorbed the family work ethic. From early on, he and his brothers and sisters made significant contributions to the welfare of the family. Louis was a naturally gifted athlete and musician. At Horlick High School he played football and specialized in punting. He was also a fine swimmer, bodybuilder, and a good Golden Gloves boxer. Gregorio regularly entertained family and friends with his concertina and one day a cousin from out of town came to visit and the boy brought a full accordion. Louie was hooked and taught himself how to play the accordion. He later became a prominent entertainer, performing regularly at Primavera, Kelly's Corner, and the Spinning Wheel Supper Club, while also teaching the accordion in Racine, Wisconsin, where he lived out his life.

World War II found Louis in the Navy, on a ship manning the radar station. During the war he boxed for the Navy. After three years of service in combat conditions in the Pacific, Louis returned home safely and joined his brothers, Veach, Santo, and Mike, who were working at Kelly's Korner and another neighborhood tavern, Prima Vera. The soldiers were home from fighting the war. Now they had a much more pleasant challenge to confront. It was time to find a bride, settle down, and raise a family.

In 1946 Louis and his bride-to-be found themselves at the Fireman's Ball. Adeline was with a date, but that didn't stop Louis from persisting with a request that she dance with him when he saw her sitting alone. Adeline's date made the mistake of leaving her to talk, with another lady for just a little too long. Upset with her date, Adeline agreed to the dance with Louis, and the rest is history. I guess it's true, what they say, that all is fair in love and war! Adeline was the third of six children born to Michael Catapano and Carmella Saninno.

Michael and Carmella lived in the same small town in Italy. They were married shortly after Michael returned from serving in the Army for America during World War I. He was an accomplished musician and in exchange for his citizenship he agreed to serve in the US Army Band, where he played the French horn. Discharged in 1918, he returned to his hometown of Naples, Italy, and brought back a bride, Carmella Saninno. As a child and young adult Carmella was gifted with clairvoyance. People would come to her hoping to find out if a loved one would survive the fighting during war time or would recover during illness. Michael's sister had already emigrated to Racine, Wisconsin. Why Racine? During processing at Ellis Island she was told that the weather was good in Wisconsin. As was so common during immigration periods, Carmella and Michael came to Racine because it was possible for them to stay with relatives during the settling in period. Unfortunately, Michael’s sister, Philaminna and Carmella did not get along very well.

Because of her spiritual gifts, Carmella lived a life that was very close to God and the Catholic church. Philaminna, on the other hand, only had a utilitarian use for God. Carmella was not comfortable living with Philaminna. Michael and Carmella found their own apartment and moved away from Michael's sister. Michael soon became a member of the Racine Park Board Band. He was well qualified having played in a musical group in Italy that toured the country performing for weddings, baptisms, parties and parades. He continued with the Park Board Band until the age of 75. He was also a skilled auto body repairman during the era when wrecks were literally "bumped" out one hammer hit at a time.

He had a reputation for being able to restore a damaged car to showroom condition. This was possible because of the thick gauge of metal used in yesteryear's cars. It was demanding, painstaking work. As times changed and auto bodies were made of thinner metal, damaged parts were replaced not restored and some of the craftsmanship of my father's era was lost. His sons, Mike Jr. and Ralph did learn their father's trade and continued the family business when Michael died. He worked at his shop, with his sons, every day of his life until he died at the age of 78, suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.

Carmella was a homemaker excelling in every phase of cooking and sewing. She was especially proud of her homemade breads. She made her own patterns for the clothing she sewed. Her lacework was of the highest quality. Her monogramming was so well done that it seemed machine sewn. She taught herself to read and write English by reading the newspaper. People in the Italian neighborhood came to her for help in translating or writing letters. Carmella was also an accomplished mandolin player.

She raised six children, Lucy, Morris, Adeline, Joe, Ralph and Mike. Adeline acquired her lifelong love of cooking from her mother. Adeline excelled in school earning honors grades all throughout high school which also left her with a lifelong love of reading. Louis and Adeline brought three children into the world, Richard, born in 1947, Denisa, born in 1950 and Ralph, born in 1956.

In 1968 Louis and his brothers sold Kelly's Korner and purchased the Spinning Wheel Restaurant. Adeline became involved with running the restaurant, taking responsibility for food preparation. For 18 years she worked side by side with Louis cooking and hostessing. Louis was a general manager, along with his brothers. During serving hours he tended bar and performed on his accordion, solo, and with a three-piece band, entertaining customers for many years. He also taught the accordion, operating an accordion studio for many years. During the post-war period Louis also became an avid golfer, spending many an enjoyable day on the links with his good friends at the Johnson's Park golf course.

Wedding Reception at Roma Lodge, 1946.

LOUIS & ADELINE'S FAMILY

LOUIS
Born: 5-18-1919
Died: 4-26-1985
Vocation: Ran Kelly's Korner and the Spinning Wheel Restaurant
Activities: Golf, swimming, boxing, accordion and piano, physical fitness, cards

Note: For those who enjoyed listening to Louie playing his accordion at the Spinning Wheel or at family gatherings, here are two links, Soundcloud, where you can listen online or download the audio file for your song library, or Bandcamp for more information:

https://soundcloud.com/lafamiglia2014/louis-bencriscutto-accordion-medley (to listen)
http://louisbencriscutto.bandcamp.com/releases (to see more information)

ADELINE
Born: 2-8-1925                                                                                                                                      Died: 10-12-2022
Vocation: Homemaker, Spinning Wheel Restaurant - Food Coordinator and Hostess
Activities: Reading, bridge, cooking, sewing, movies
Address: 4926 Twin Elms Drive Racine, WI 53406


Note: For those who have enjoyed a meal at the Spinning Wheel when Adeline & Louie were there, a cookbook, The Love of Cooking, containing many of her most beloved Spinning Wheel and personal recipes, along with many personal stories, is available in print from:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-bencriscutto/the-love-of-cooking/paperback/product-21683808.html

If you don't mind a PDF, just sent me an email (heritagepress22@aol.com) and I'll make sure you get it.

LOUIS AND ADELINE'S CHILDREN

RICHARD

I should have been a July 4th holiday child, but the fates had other ideas. Breach, some heavy praying and a walk on Washington Park Golf Course sway bridge, got me turned and delivered on July 7th! While growing up I learned to play the accordion and how to hit a golf ball from my father, even gave accordion lessons in high school, performed in public a few times with my accordion, once in front of the entire student body at Park High School, and once on stage at the Rialto Theater, or was it the Venetion in downtown Racine. Undoubtedly inspired by the success of my Uncle Mike, who distinguished himself as a renown golf instructor, professional golfer who managed several Racine golf courses, and who won a number of prestigious amateur golf tournaments, rather than follow his lead in the field of gold, I took up tennis. In the '90s I taught tennis for the City of Racine Park & Recreation Department, ran the annual Belle City Classic Tennis Tournament, and enjoyed playing tennis in the local tennis league.

After a stint at St. Mary's Catholic School, I went to McKinley Jr. High where I got a taste of the real word, then on to Park High School where I played some basketball and golf. From there it was on to Parkside where I got a degree in science education and later a masters degree in education. After 37 years in the classroom, 24 in the public schools, and 12 in the Catholic schools teaching computer science and taking care of the school computers, I'm no longer in the classroom and currently focusing on a number of publishing projects.

While at Park High School, I met and later married my high-school sweetheart, and during that marriage my daughter, Emily was born. I am currently single.

These stories found in our La Familglia 2014 blog are important because they remind us of our heritage of accomplishment. Everyone is born with gifts they can apply for the greater good and our family stories provide the encouragement that success is possible! Let me conclude by defining "success" not in terms of fame & fortune, but simply as an inner feeling of satisfaction from knowing that you have recognized your gifts and applied them to the best of your ability to make the world a better place.


Born: 7-6-1947
Vocation: Educator, Publisher
Activities: Tennis, physical fitness, computers, chess, films
Phone: 262-939-5449
E-mail: ricauthor@aol.com, heritagepress22@aol.com
Address: 4926 Twin Elms Drive Racine, WI 53406

RICHARD'S CHILD

EMILY
Born 2-23-1973
Vocation: Student, Lab Technician 
Activities: Aerobics, running, nature
Phone: 608-283-4298
E-mail: 
Address: 2960 Milwaukee St.  Madison, WI 53704

DENISE BENCRISCUTTO 

DENISE
Born: 3-29-1950
Work History:  Secretary (retired)
Activities:  walking, skiing
Phone:
E-mail: TBD
Address:

I've lived a good life in Racine, Wisconsin.  Even though I now have two ex-husbands, being married the second time allowed me to retire early and explore the life of a stay-at-home type.  I found I was definitely not suited to being a "socialite" and am now happy to be working again.  Currently, my life is in transition as I explore all kinds of new possibilities for how and where I want to live.

THE RALPH BENCRISCUTTO&
RHODA MARTIN FAMILY

RALPH

Born 1-14-1956
Vocation: Intercon, Inc. ,Aduron Systems, Inc., Tower Energy
Activities: Third Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, chess, pianist
Phone: 262-681-9696

E-mail: ralphb@towerenergypartners.com
Address: 701 Tower Circle  Racine, WI 53402

RHODA

Born: 10-26-62 

Vocation: Upholstery & Window Dressings

Activities: Work-out, chase Ralph's boys, clean Ralph's house, groom Ralph's yard, prepare meals on the Forman All-purpose Grill
E-mail: windowwraps@yahoo.com

Phone: 262-681-9696

Address: 701 Tower Circle  Racine, WI 53402

RALPH’S CHILDREN

LOUIE

Born: 1-27-1984
Vocation: Attending school (11th grade)
Activities: First Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do, boxing, skate boarding, drums, art, chess
Phone: 262-633-6299    262-681-9696
Address: 627 Newman Road Racine, WI 53406
Address: 701 Tower Circle  Racine, WI 53402

SIDNEY

Born: 6-29-1989
Vocation: Attending school (5th grade)
Activities: Computer games, Tae Kwon Do, baseball
Phone: 262-633-6299     262-681-8523
Address: 627 Newman Road Racine, WI 53406
Address: 701 Tower Circle  Racine, WI 53402

RAPHAEL

Born: 2-6-1991
Vocation: Attending 3rd Grade
Activities: Computer activities, soccer, ping-pong, basketball, toy guns
Phone: 262-633-6299    262-681-9696
Address: 627 Newman Road Racine, WI 53406
Address: 701 Tower Circle  Racine, WI 53402

RHODA’S CHILDREN

DALTON

Born: 4-6-91
Vocation: Attending school (4th grade)
Activities: Basketball, football, skateboarding, computer games
Phone: 262-681-9696
E-mail: DaltonMartinoo7@aol.com
Address: 701 Tower Circle  Racine, WI 53402

LAUREN

Born: 7-18-89
Vocation: Audiologist
Activities: Basketball, singing, crafts, Girl Scouts
Phone: 262-681-9696
E-mail: LaurenAshleyM@aol.com
Address: 701 Tower Circle  Racine, WI 53402