L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 30 L'Italo-Americano It's interesting because when we were writing, food was just a natural part of the story. We didn't realize how much until it was complete. We went back to look at how often food is mentioned and realized that it's mentioned immediately in the second sentence of the book… "The gathering was complete with thick, hard-crusted bread, salad made from tomato and onion fresh from the earth, a n d m y f a m i l y ' s d r i n k o f choice, red wine." For me, this is one of my favorite dishes, especially when all of the ingredients come straight from the gar- den –tomato, potato, and onion salad. The dressing is made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and oregano, and every time I eat it, I can taste the memories. For my dad, the dish that brings him back instantly is pasta fagiole. This dish was a staple for him growing up, and even now, when we visit Italy during the hot summer months, our family serves pasta fagiole, and theirs is the best! about it where the family could have stayed together. But they chose to send him alone, and that was that. He learned quickly how to be resilient and adjust to a n e w e n v i r o n m e n t . E v e n though he was overwhelmed, frightened, and was being bounced around in his new living situation in the States, he was grateful to have a roof over his head and thankful for how his extended family was trying to provide for him. During his first year in the US, he lived with four differ- ent extended family members in and around Brooklyn, New York. He was finally sent for by an uncle who had made his way out to Portland, Ore- gon. This is where he was able to find a stable home, but he wouldn't see his par- e n t s o r s i b l i n g s a g a i n f o r another four years. Food appears through- out the book not just as nourishment but as cul- tural memory. What role does it play in your story- telling, and do you have a f a v o u r i t e d i s h t h a t instantly takes you back? In the back of the book, we've shared a few family favorite recipes to give read- ers a taste of my dad's region- al cuisine. H o w h a v e r e a d e r s responded so far? Have any reactions, especially from fellow children or grandchildren of immi- grants, stood out to you? The reactions that have stood out the most are those from my father's coaching peers, his former athletes, and their families (Tony's life as a wrestling athlete and coach is explored in Tonya's first book, Wrestling with the Devil). They knew he was f r o m I t a l y , b u t t h e y w e r e thrilled to learn more about the story behind their coach and the journey that made h i m i n t o t h e p e r s o n h e i s today. Many had not experienced a coach with such intensity levels. He had a way of ignit- ing a passion in others to do their best, never give up, and rise above obstacles. This, I believe, is the reason for his s u c c e s s i n t h e s p o r t o f wrestling both as an athlete and a coach. In fact, it is the main mission of the story to inspire others to overcome and remain strong in the face of adversity. My dad's dedication at the beginning of the book is: "To all who have faced adversity both on the mat and in life. May your determination be a d r i v i n g f o r c e w i t h e v e r y challenge you encounter." What's next for you, either in writing or with Figs & Famiglia? We have a few ideas for collaborating in the future, but for now, we're just excited to be sharing this story. On my website, Figs & Famiglia, I continue to work on the blog b y s h a r i n g a b e h i n d - t h e - scenes look with more insight on some of the stories, extra p h o t o s , a n d e v e n s o m e videos. You can find Tonya's pub- l i c a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g t h e recently published Don't Cry in America on Ama- zon, and learn more about her, her father, and their Italian-American heritage a t : h t t p s : / / f i g s a n d - famiglia.com/ incredible to hear them all. My dad enjoyed it as well and said that for him, it was a r e f r e s h i n g e x p e r i e n c e t o share his stories. It was truly a fun and enjoyable experi- ence for both of us. The way we went about it was in an interview format: my dad would tell me a story, and I w o u l d d e l v e d e e p e r w i t h questions. In the end, each story and interview session b e c a m e a c h a p t e r i n t h e book. Was there one particu- lar story or moment that first inspired you to start writing the Don't Cry in America? Yes. The moment I heard that he was put on a ship in the Bay of Naples as a ten- y e a r - o l d c h i l d a l o n e , i t sparked something in me that we just had to write this d o w n . I d i d n ' t k n o w i f i t would be a book, but that's how it started. And we had d i s c u s s e d i t e x t e n s i v e l y before I began writing. My dad still says he doesn't know why they put him on the ship alone; there seem to be other ways they could have gone T o n y a R u s s o H a m i l t o n ' s D o n ' t C r y i n A m e r i c a i s a heartfelt memoir co-written with her father, Tony Russo, inspired by his journey as a young immigrant from southern Italy and the life he built in the United S t a t e s . T h e b o o k b r i n g s together memory, identity, and resilience, with food and family at its core. Moving between Brooklyn, Portland, and southern Italy, it tells a deeply personal story that reflects the broader experi- ence of many Italian-Ameri- can families. On her website, F i g s & F a m i g l i a , Tonya continues to share behind- the-scenes stories, family p h o t o s , a n d t r a d i t i o n a l recipes that bring her family's heritage to life. B e y o n d t h i s m e m o i r , Tonya's earlier works include Wrestling with the Devil: A Story of Sacrifice, Sur- vival, and Triumph, which r e c o u n t s h e r f a t h e r ' s r i s e from Southern Italy to coach- ing in Portland, as well as a beautifully illustrated chil- dren's book, Tino and the Pomodori. W e a t L ' I t a l o A m e r i - c a n o had the pleasure of speaking with Tonya about t h e w r i t i n g p r o c e s s , h e r father's storytelling, and the responses they've received from readers so far, many of whom recognize parts of their own family stories in these pages. Y o u ' v e w r i t t e n t h i s book with your father, whose voice and memo- ries shape much of its narrative. What was it like working together, a n d h o w d i d y o u approach turning lived experience into a shared story? Working with my father was so much fun. He has a charismatic and animated personality, and listening to his stories was such an amaz- ing experience. There are so many details about his jour- ney from Italy to the States that I didn't know: it was Tonya and Tony during a family gathering and, right, Tony as a young wrestler at Arizona State University (Photos courtesy of Tonya Russo Hamilton) A father's journey, a daughter's voice: telling the story of Don't Cry in America STAFF Young Tony (first from right) in the kitchen of the family restaurant in Brooklyn, New York (Photo courtesy of Tonya Russo Hamilton) LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE

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