Salvatore (Sam) and Vinicio (Vince)
Pupatello, the sons of the late Antonio Pupatello and Elisabetta
Conti, have lived in Canada close to a half a century. Both chose
Windsor, Ontario as their place to live and raise their children.
Sam and Vince were born in Sezze Romano, in the province of Latina, a small town close to
the Tyrrhenian Sea, 60 km south of Rome.
Prior to immigrating to Canada, Vince and Sam played important
roles in the daily management of their father’s business.
He was a well respected produce broker with major business activities
in Italy and Germany. The Pupatello brothers enjoy the love and
respect of their sisters Pina (DeAngelis), Sister Maria Lorenza
Pupatello (Mother Superior of a congregation in Rome), the late
Eugenia and the late Caterina (Fontana).
Sam moved to Canada in 1950, first to Winnipeg, Manitoba and
a short time later to Windsor. In 1953, Sam’s girlfriend,
Giuseppina (DiLenola), came to Windsor, where they married at
St. Angela Merici Church. After working various low paying
jobs throughout Essex County in the farming industry, Sam was
hired by the Canadian Auto Trim Company. He also worked for
Matthews Lumber and Scofan Construction. In 1954, his first child,
Anthony, was born, followed by daughters Mary (Solan) and
Anna (Pelle).
In 1953, Sam’s brother Vince decided to move to Canada.
Vince worked for Scofan Contractors as a labourer, bricklayer
and then as a foreman.
In 1959, Vince and Sam decided to open a new page in the book
of their lives, starting the Pupatello Brothers Construction
Company. In June of the same year, Vince married Concetta
Colucci,
from the province of Benevento. Their first son Fabio was born
in 1960, followed by daughters Elisabeth (Betschel), Donna (Lorkovich),
Laurie (Siddall) and another son, Vince Jr.
Vince and Sam decided to start their business activities in
Windsor with some work in Toronto, Ontario. They travelled back
and forth
with a Ford pickup truck, that many times left them stranded on
Highway #2, and came home only on the weekends. From a two-man
operation, their company enjoyed a steady growth and new
work forces were being added to their team.
During all this time, Sam and Vince maintained and kept alive
their cultural heritage, family traditions, integrity, and uniqueness.
Sam died in 2001, and Vince retired soon after. The company
is still active and the legacy continues with their sons Tonio
and
Fabio. The flaming torch is now in the hands of a new generation.
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