L'Italo-Americano

u n d e r w a t e r . L a t e r w e learned that the watertight doors had saved many lives. My father said that if those doors had not been closed, we would have all died. H o w d i d y o u g e t o f f the ship? We stayed together on the d e c k , h o l d i n g h a n d s . B u t when it was time to leave, crew members separated my mother and my sister from us. My mother started cry- ing and calling my father: "Cicci!" We saw them being lowered into a lifeboat, and we were supposed to follow in the next one. We were rescued by the Stockholm. Later we found out that my mother and my sister had b e e n t a k e n b y t h e I l e d e F r a n c e a n d w e r e a l r e a d y safe in New York. Looking back, what do y o u t h i n k s a v e d y o u r life? We were alive by a mira- cle. The Stockholm hit the Andrea Doria only 18 or 20 cabins away from us. The and saw lights in the fog. It was another ship. We had been hit. What do you remem- b e r f r o m t h o s e f i r s t m o m e n t s ? W a s t h e r e panic? I went to get my mother a n d m y s i s t e r . W h e n I r e a c h e d t h e i r c a b i n , m y mother asked, "What hap- p e n e d ? " I s a i d , " I d o n ' t know, Mom, but let's get out of here and stay together." When we returned to our cabin, there was water in the c o r r i d o r . P e o p l e w e r e screaming, "We are sinking, we are sinking." We reached the stairs and went up. The lights went out twice. People were praying and calling out to God. Was there a moment when you realized the ship might sink? When the Andrea Doria started listing heavily, we understood how serious it w a s . W e w e r e t o l d t h a t a Swedish ship had hit us and that the engine rooms were watertight doors stopped the water from reaching us. The ship could have hit our cab- ins instead. We were very lucky. A f t e r t h e d i s a s t e r , w e r e y o u a b l e t o t a l k about what happened? I t w a s s o m e t h i n g w e never forgot. You remember t h e p e o p l e w h o w e r e l o s t and the families who were separated. But we were also thankful because we sur - vived and we had to start a new life. After New York, how did you eventually come to San Pedro? I h a d a r e s t a u r a n t i n Brooklyn, New York. After my fourth child, John, was born, they robbed my apart- m e n t . T h e y t o o k a l l t h e money from the store and m y w i f e ' s g o l d . M y w i f e almost had a nervous break- down and said, "We have to get out of here." We called my aunt in California, and that is how we came to San Pedro. I worked two years in a shipyard with people from Ischia, but I told them, "I'm in the restaurant business." L a t e r I f o u n d B o n G u s t o Deli and bought it. I spent many years in the restaurant business and raised my chil- dren here. What does San Pedro mean to you today? San Pedro gave me a sec- ond home. The Italian fish- ermen community got me involved because I wanted to organize a parade for the fishermen almost 50 years ago. I tried with many peo- ple, but we couldn't get the Italian community together because Sicilians, Ischitans, and Calabrians all had dif- ferent ideas. My dream was to see the Italian community united. Why do you think peo- ple should still remem- b e r t h e s t o r y o f t h e Andrea Doria? Because many people left Italy looking for a better life. The Andrea Doria was part of that journey. For me, it was the beginning of my life in America. We lost people that night, but those of us who survived had to contin- u e a n d b u i l d s o m e t h i n g new. What were your first i m p r e s s i o n s o f t h e Andrea Doria? It was beautiful. When we walked onboard, we were welcomed by the crew. We received pamphlets, book- lets, and the daily itinerary. We had never seen anything like it. The first lunch was i n c r e d i b l e . I n I s c h i a , w e were used to a sandwich at n o o n a n d d i n n e r i n t h e e v e n i n g . O n t h e A n d r e a Doria, there was food every- where: pasta, chicken, fish, vegetables, pastries. For us, it was like a party. Where were you when the ship was struck? I w a s i n c a b i n n u m b e r 450 with my father and my brothers. My father and I were still awake when sud- d e n l y t h e A n d r e a D o r i a s h o o k v i o l e n t l y , l i k e a n earthquake. My father said, " H o l y V i r g i n , w e h i t t h e r o c k s . " I t o l d h i m , " D a d , what rocks? We are in the middle of the ocean." Then I looked outside the porthole O n J u l y 1 7 , 1956, Antonio " T o n i o " D e Girolamo left I s c h i a w i t h his family to begin a new life i n A m e r i c a . T h e y w e r e a m o n g t h e I t a l i a n i m m i - g r a n t s w h o b o a r d e d t h e Andrea Doria, the elegant Italian ocean liner traveling from Genoa to New York. Nine days later, on July 25, the ship collided with the Swedish vessel Stockholm off the coast of Nantucket. More than 1,600 people sur- vived the disaster, but 51 l o s t t h e i r l i v e s . S e v e n t y y e a r s l a t e r , D e G i r o l a m o r e m e m b e r s t h e f e a r , t h e prayers, and the moments that separated his family, but also the journey that fol- lowed: rebuilding his life in America and becoming part of the Italian community of San Pedro, California. Can you tell us about yourself? How old were y o u i n 1 9 5 6 , a n d w h y were you leaving Italy? I was 17 years old when w e l e f t I s c h i a . M y f a t h e r took advantage of my moth- er being born in America a n d d e c i d e d t o b r i n g t h e f a m i l y t o N e w Y o r k f o r a better life. We were a family of seven. My sister Maria Rosaria and I came to Amer- i c a a s A m e r i c a n c i t i z e n s because we were born to an American mother. What do you remem- ber about the day you left Ischia? We left Ischia early in the morning. It was still dark, around five o'clock, when we heard our friend Giuseppe downstairs with his truck. H e c a m e t o p i c k u p o u r trunks and suitcases to take them to the ferry. I remem- ber Giuseppe looking at me and saying, "Tonio, you guys are really leaving Ischia?" I said, "I think so. We have to get to the ferry that leaves at eight o'clock." When we left, many friends were on their b a l c o n i e s w a v i n g w h i t e handkerchiefs. My mother and my sister were crying because they were leaving family and friends behind. THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2026 www.italoamericano.org 26 L'Italo-Americano The Andrea Doria disaster through a survivor's eyes: "We survived by a miracle" SILVIA NITTOLI LIFE PEOPLE MOVIES MUSIC BOOKS Antonio De Girolamo was only 17 when he boarded the Andrea Doria with his family to reach the United States. Bottom right: the vintage 1000 lira he had with him during the voyage.

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