Santopinto, Ricardo and Gisa (Cioni)

Riccardo Santopinto arrived at Ellis Island on the San Giovanni that sailed from Naples, on April 14, 1910. He was 28 years old. He came from Antrodoco, Aquila, where he was born on February 20, 1882. Gisa Cioni, also from Antrodoco, arrived at Ellis Island on July 1, 1912, on the ship Moltke from Naples, at 19 years of age. She was born on June 14, 1893. They lived on the same street in Antrodoco but did not know each other. They were married in Calgary on July 22, 1912.

Riccardo and Gisa had five children: Giannina-Jean (1914); Frank (1916); Mageste-Magi/John (1918); Concetta-Connie (1920); and Anthony-Tony/Nino (1922). They initially lived at 434 1 Ave NE close to the site today of the Calgary Italian Cultural Centre (aka the Club). They subsequently moved to 409 4 Ave NE and then in the mid-1930’s to 305 4 St NE.

Riccardo worked at Riverside Iron Works and the City of Calgary as a labourer. Gisa was a homemaker, an excellent cook and dedicated community volunteer. Unfortunately, Riccardo died at the relatively young age of 62 in 1944.

Back Row: Gisa and Riccardo Front Row: Nino, Connie, Magi, Frank, Jean

The children attended St. Angela’s and St. Mary’s schools. As well, they were closely associated with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church from the beginning of its existence. Riccardo was an early member of Loggia Giovanni Caboto. Gisa was active with the groups associated with the Club.Jean worked in various retail establishments including Rochons Confectionary, the Palace of Eats and she was the head cashier at the downtown Hudson’s Bay Company store for many years. Frank attended SAIT and moved in the 1930s to Montreal where he spent his career working for Pratt and Whitney. Mageste attended the University of Alberta and Gonzaga University.

He played hockey at both of these institutions and graduated in Chemistry. At age 29, he became a Redemptorist priest and was ordained in 1952. He was assigned to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church early in his career as well as other parishes in Calgary, Edmonton and British Columbia. Connie worked at Canadian Pacific Telegraph for many years and later was school secretary at St. Alphonsus school. Nino was a lifelong photographer who started that career while enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War 11. In their early years the family attended many Italian picnics and in their youth the boys played in the various bands associated with the Club. The family was always very active in the Church.

The clan expanded when these siblings married and started their own families. Jean married Jack Amantea, Frank to Clara Hallam, Connie to Frank Kuri and Nino to Rosemary Fletcher.

Gisa passed away in 1972.

Riccardo, Frank, Jean, Connie, Nino, Gisa, Magi

Written by: Jackie Amantea Kleiner

Source: Family recollections and photographs

Editorial Review: Reviewed and formatted by the Calgary Italian History Project for web publication