Santo & Mary

THE SANTO BENCRISCUTTO
&
MARY DOMANIK FAMILY

Santo and Mary were both born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin. Santo was born on March, 24, 1913 to Caterina and Gregorio Bencriscutto. Santo attended Lincoln school, Washington Jr. High and William Horlick High School. His was the first class to attend the new school building.

In 1929, at 16 years of age, Santo got a job at the Hartmann Trunk Company. When the economic crash hit in 1929, that job was no longer available but in January of 1930 he found a position at the Wheary Trunk Company which paid 35 cents per hour. In 1932 his wages were cut to 25 cents per hour due to the slow economy. Santo was one of 25 left to work on all six floors of the company. He bought a 1936 Chevrolet so he decided to take a two month leave of absence and travel the country with his best friend, Eddy Michalik. In 1939 he bought a 4-cylinder Willys which gave him years of good service.

In August of 1941 he went into the military service. He was a sergeant with the 2nd Armored Division, "Hell On Wheels." He went through five major campaigns, earned five Bronze Medals which entitled him to a Silver Star. He was in command of two armored half-tracks and 16 men. In 1945 he was discharged at Camp Grant, Illinois.

During his working years after the war he spent 10 years at Prima Vera, one year at Dodge's bar, 14 years at Kelly's Korner and 8 years at the Spinning Wheel Restaurant.

Mary was born January 17, 1916 to Raf and Joseph Domanik. There were six children: Michael, Mary Antoinette, Anthony, Teresa and Joseph Junior. She attended Lincoln School, Washington Jr. High and William Horlick High School. After graduation she worked as a bookkeeper at her father's business, Domanik Wholesale Company, specializing in groceries and beer, on Albert Street.

On February 15, 1947, with 15 inches of snow on the ground, a hint of snow in the air and a chilling winter wind, Santo and Mary were wed at 9:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Father Plale and Father Waleski presiding. The attendants were:

Virgina Casciaro - Maid of Honor

Fred Bencriscutto - Best Man

Rose Litrenta, Tony DeRose, Carm Totero,

Joseph Domanik, Jr., Toni Bencriscutto, Rocky DeMark

Mary's gown was a heavy ivory satin with a long train and a fingertip veil which fell from a tiara of heavy satin. She carried a shower bouquet of roses. The bridesmaids wore rose-colored long satin gowns. They carried roses and pompons in their bouquets.

Breakfast and dinner were served at the Danish Brotherhood Hall. A large reception was held in Memorial Hall with Frank’s big band, RHYTHM INCORPORATED, providing the dance music. Santo and Mary went on a three-week honeymoon in Florida. Irene and Herman were so kind to us, they loaned us their new Studebaker while they used our old Willys.

Our first home was located at 1237 Blake Avenue. On March 5, 1947 a startled 7 pound black-eyed, black-haired girl was born at St. Mary's Hospital. We named her Rita Helen. Later we moved to 1618 Hamilton Street. Bruce was born at St. Mary's on November 2, 1954. Bill was born January 25, 1957. Bill was six months old when we moved to our present home at 1344 Jefferson Street.

All of our children went to kindergarten at Lincoln and Sacred Heart schools. Rita graduated from St. Catherine's High School and went on to graduate with honors from St. Norbert College with a major in psychology. While there she worked in the nursery school run by the college. She worked at St. Rose School with retarded children. For two years she worked at the College of Racine as an admissions counselor. She is now working with RUSH (Racine Underground Safe House) which is a drop-in center, 24-hour hot line, 24-hour parent help line, counseling center, drug abuse counseling, group training and community involvement. Rita is the public relations coordinator for the program. She also took special education classes at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside.

Bruce went one year to St. Catherine's then graduated from Horlick High School. He was active in sports until he received a leg injury in football. Bruce went to Parkside for two years, then to Whitewater. He later graduated from the Palmer School of Chiropractic and now is a practicing chiropractor. Bill went to McKinley Jr. High for 9th grade then graduated from Horlick. He also attended Gateway Technical Institute for training in electronics.

Santo & Mary's Family

SANTO
Born: 3-24-1913
Deceased: 5-4-2007
Vocation: Owner and operator of Kelly's Korner & The Spinning Wheel Restaurant
Activities: Fishing, swimming, golf, health & fitness
Phone: 262-633-3556
Address: 1344 Jefferson Street Racine, WI 53404

MARY
Born: 1-17-1916
Deceased: 10-7-2006
Vocation: Bookkeeper for Domanik Wholesale, Restaurateur, Homemaker
Activities: Cooking, grandchildren, friends
Phone: 262-633-3556
Address: 1344 Jefferson Street Racine, WI 53404

THE RITA BENCRISCUTTO
&
STEPHEN KLINKHAMMER FAMILY

RITA
Born: 3-5-1949
Vocation: Development Coordinator for Child Care Resource and Referral of Racine & Kenosha
Activities: Camping, horticulture, cooking, walking
Phone: 262-554-8447  Fax: 262-554-6244
E-mail: rita@rootcom.net
Address: 3540 Warren Ct.  Racine, WI 53405

STEPHEN
Born: 10-10-1954 Died: 3-9-2023
Vocation: Graduate of the Mayo School of Anesthesiology - Madison VA Hospital Nurse Anesthetist - Intensive care unit, U.S. Army Reserve
Activities: Running, biking, guitar, piano, veterans affairs
Phone: 262-554-8447  Fax: 262-554-6244
E-mail: medic@rootcom.net
Address: 3540 Warren Ct.  Racine, WI 53405


RITA AND STEVE'S CHILDREN

JUSTIN
Born: 10-20-1978
Vocation: Attending School
Activities: Baseball, football, kickball, art, fishing, music - plays sax and drums
Phone: 262-554-8447
Address: 3540 Warren Ct.  Racine, WI 53405

ADAM
Born: 8-4-1981
Vocation: Attending School
Activities: Basketball, bowling, baseball, football, kickball, legos, plays sax and guitar
Phone: 262-554-8447
Address: 3540 Warren Ct.  Racine, WI 53405

JORDAN
Born: 8-9-1984
Vocation: Attending School
Activities: Reading, recreation, music, bowling, basketball, baseball
Phone: 262-554-8447
Address: 3540 Warren Ct.  Racine, WI 53405

ZACHARY
Born: 8-9-1984
Vocation: Attending School
Activities: Baseball, kickball, reading, music, bowling, basketball, baseball
Phone: 262-554-8447
Address: 3540 Warren Ct.  Racine, WI 53405

THE BRUCE BENCRISCUTTO
&
PATRICIA BURRIS FAMILY

BRUCE
Born: 11-2-1954
Vocation: Chiropractor - Petersen Chiropractic 612 N. Church Watertown, WI 53094
Activities: Music, sports, fishing, health, research
Phone: 262-548-9686
Address: 1617 Michigan Ave. Waukesha, WI 53188

PATRICIA
Born: 2-6-1951
Vocation: Homemaker, Clerical
Activities: Animals, sports, music, fashion, crafts
Phone: 262-548-9686
Address: 1617 Michigan Ave. Waukesha, WI 53188

BRUCE AND PATRICIA'S CHILD

MICHAEL WILLIAM
Born: 11-20-1983
Vocation: Attending School
Activities: Football, karate, basketball, baseball, swimming, science
Phone: 262-548-9686
Address: 1617 Michigan Ave. Waukesha, WI 53188

THE WILLIAM BENCRISCUTTO
&
THANH LAM FAMILY

WILLIAM
Born: 1-5-57
Vocation: Gettys Corporation
Activities: Fishing, biking, tennis, computers
Phone: 262-554-6142
E-mail: billthan@wi.net
Address: 5117 Kings Circle Racine, WI 53402

THANH
Born: 7-23-49
Vocation: Gettys Corporation, Johnson's Wax Child Care Center
Activities: Fishing, biking, tennis, computers
Phone: 414-554-6142
E-mail: billthan@wi.net
Address: 5117 Kings Circle Racine, WI 53402