Toni & Ernie

THE ANTOINETTE BENCRISCUTTO
&
ERNEST NILO FAMILY

For these family histories my brother Fred asked for some personal memories of growing up in the "La Famiglia di Bencriscutto." I was the eighth in a family of ten children. With the hustle of six brothers and four sisters growing up under one roof, memories should abound. Remembering alone, however, is not nearly as enjoyable as remembering together with family. What a warm outpouring there would be from the give-and-take of family members! Still, I can come up with a few memories, mostly lighthearted ones.

One fond memory is of my brother Santo being an avid reader. We all thought that he should be a "doctor" because he read and knew so much. He was so much fun, always joking and playing tricks on us. I loved the times when Santo played his guitar and sang. My love for dancing is probably rooted in the good times my sister Airy and I would have dancing around the table in our dining room. I wanted to tap dance so much. I begged Mom until she finally bought a pair of tap shoes for me, but then we couldn't afford the lessons. My brother Veach was the "card shark" of the family in those early years. He and his buddies would get together and play cards for hours. Veach was also a good fisherman, either catching the biggest or the most fish.

I remember how proud and happy we all were when my brother Louie graduated from Horlick High School for he was the first of the family to receive a high school diploma. I also recall Louie's involvement in body-building along with Santo. Their gym which they equipped with weights, punching bags, and an exercise mat was in the back yard garage. Our brother Mike gave the family a memorable moment once for something other than winning a golf tournament. He won the grand prize at an annual Sacred Heart Church festival... a brand new car no less.

When I turned sixteen, my sister Esther took me to my first big out-of-town dance at the Eagles Club in Kenosha. I also recall with pride Esther's determined efforts to become a nurse in spite of some resistance from the family. For some strange reason the memory of my brother Fred's Glee Club days at Horlick High School is not overshadowed, as one would think, by his many outstanding accomplishments in high school sports. Maybe it was because he practiced all the songs at home so much.

Enjoyment of music and dancing, and possibly the closeness in age, explain in part why I felt close to my brother Frank in our teenage years. I always enjoyed listening and dancing to his music and seldom missed a dance he played for. It was through Frank that I became better acquainted with my husband Ernie. Ernie was a musician too then, and he and Frank played in the same dance bands for a while. I remember my sister Rosie, the youngest of our clan, having somewhat of a trying time when the Sisters at Sacred Heart Church seriously thought that she should become a nun.

Reflecting back over the hustle and bustle of those early years, I marvel at the character and fortitude of my wonderful parents. Coming to this country with little, if any, formal education, they were responsible for the successful upbringing of a large, robust family. Responsibility, dedication, and hard work are traits that come to mind. Ma's stamina and endurance for the endless daily chores, mandated by a large thriving family year in year out, were truly amazing. The beauty of it all was that her efforts were manifestly rooted in love. I remember Pa as being a strong and steady person, hard working and very competitive. He was stern in family matters but good-natured and fun. We all loved it when he played the concertina for he would play and play until his fingers couldn't move. Ma and Pa were wonderful parents who created and nurtured a loving family experience for their children.

Ernie and I were married June 18, 1949. We lived in Racine for about a year after which a series of "capitol city" moves took place--first to Madison, Wisconsin, then to Washington, D. C. and finally to the capitol of Ohio, Columbus. The move to Madison and the main campus of the University of Wisconsin was necessary for Ernie to complete the undergraduate work started earlier at the Racine Extension of the University. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Speech and Hearing Pathology in 1953. A position at the Audiology and Speech Pathology Center of Walter Reed Army Hospital was offered and we were on our way to Washington, D. C. Our first son Paul was born October 27, 1953, during our first year there.

We lived in Washington, D.C. for five years. It was a beautiful, exciting area, and we enjoyed it very much. While at Walter Reed Army Hospital, Ernie, given the opportunity to do graduate study at the University of Maryland, received his Masters Degree in Audiology in 1958. Soon after, a decision was made to continue graduate work for a doctorate; however, there were no doctoral programs in his field in the D.C. area at the time. We had to look elsewhere, and that elsewhere turned out to be Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Ernie accepted a position at a community-sponsored speech and hearing clinic in Columbus on the condition that time would be allowed for doctoral studies at the University.

We moved to Columbus in the Spring of 1958. David was born later that year on November 29. After about a year at the speech and hearing clinic, Ernie accepted an instructorship at the University for it allowed more time for the concentrated study required to complete his doctoral program. In 1960 he was offered a faculty position as Director of Hearing Services in the Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, a position Ernie held until his retirement in 1992.

Our sons Paul and David are married. They both live in the Columbus area with their families. Paul married Angela Sloan and they have a daughter Rebecca. Paul owns a roofing business "Roofwise Roofing Inc." Angela works at The Limited, Inc. Dave married Tina Garver. He received a degree in music, Jazz Studies, from The Ohio State University and is a professional musician. Dave plays piano and keyboards in his own band. He is also the Columbus representative for a talent agency based in Cleveland. Tina has a degree in business administration from The Ohio State University and is currently completing studies for a Masters Degree. She is a compensation specialist in the Human Resources Department of the University.

TONI & ERNIE'S FAMILY

TONI
Born: 12-12-1926
Vocation: Homemaker
Activities: Music, dance, sports, volunteerism
Phone: 614-818-3093
Address: 6333 Pinehurst Pointe Westerville, OH 43082

ERNIE
Born: 8-12-1927
Vocation: Audiologist, Professor Emeritus, Former Director of Hearing Services,
Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, The Ohio
State University, 1959-1991
Activities: Music and the arts, sports, volunteerism
Phone: 614-818-3090
E-mail nilo.1@osu.edu
Address: 6333 Pinehurst Pointe Westerville, OH 43082

TONI & ERNIE'S CHILDREN

THE PAUL NILO
&
ANGELA SLOAN FAMILY

PAUL
Born: 10-27-1953
Vocation Owns "Roofwise Roofing Inc."
Activities: Physical fitness, weight training, cooking, Addiction Counselor
Phone: Work(614) 548-7336; Fax (614) 548-9978; Home: 614-548-9979
Address: 105 Conner Lane Lewis Center, OH 43035

ANGELA
Born: 7-10-1964
Vocation: Homemaker; The Limited, Inc.
Activities: Arts and crafts, cards, swimming, Addiction Counselor
Phone: 614-548-9979
Address: 105 Conner Lane Lewis Center, OH 43035

PAUL AND ANGELA'S CHILD

REBECCA
Born: 2-16-1983
Vocation: Student
Activities: Volleyball, swimming, sports
Phone: 614-548-9979
Address: 105 Conner Lane Lewis Center, OH 43035

THE DAVID NILO
&
TINA GARVER FAMILY

DAVID
Born: 11-29-1958
Vocation: B.A., Jazz Studies, Ohio State University; professional musician;
Plays piano and keyboards in his own band; Columbus rep for
Soundsation Talent Agency of Cleveland
Activities: Music, physical fitness, racquet ball, jogging, politics, cooking
Email: davenilo9@gmail.com
Phone: 614.214.6222
Address: 6695 Skyline Drive West Columbus, OH 43235

TINA
Born: 1-1-1955
Vocation: B.A., Business Administration, Ohio State University; Compensation
Specialist, Department of Human Resources, Ohio State University
Activities: Volleyball, softball, fishing, arts and crafts
Phone: 614-792-6600
E-mail: nilo.2@osu.edu
Address: 6695 Skyline Drive West, Columbus, OH 43235