Gerardo Nigro Memorial Foundation

About the Foundation

The Gerardo Nigro Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation based in East Boston, Massachusetts.

Our Mission

To support working class young Italian-American men and women and young men entering the priesthood.

We do this by giving scholarships, underwriting classes and programming to promote Italian American cultural understanding. We also provide Italian language instruction to young men entering the seminary and studying in Rome.

Who We Are

Executive Director
Maria Nigro Di Stefano
Director of
Programming
Salvatore Di Stefano
Webmaster
Bob Yantosca

Gerardo was born on June 5, 1935 in San Sossio Baronia, Avellino, Italy. He survived the devastation of post World War II Italy by collecting bundles of sticks for kindling after losing his father and sister to scarlet fever. Like many others in his generation, he had to work full time and could not attend school. At one point, Gerardo and his older brother, Angelo, manufactured a crude roulette wheel and dice game and carried it town to town by hand to town fairs just to survive. In 1950, at the age of 16, he joined the OFM as a monk "cappuccio" for six years. During that time, he was in charge of cooking, cleaning the monastery, and helping people of the community of Benevento.

He left the monastery to join the Italian Army in 1956, specializing in telecommunications (telefonista). His primary duty was setting up the telephone lines for communication throughout Italy. He had to climb telephone poles to install the phone wires in all types of terrain and weather. Mr. Nigro did well for himself in the military, but wanted to go after his dream of living in America. After working for 12 years as a supervisor for Italy's largest telephone company (Sielta), he left for America. He went to work in East Boston at the "Bubble Gum Factory". On November 8, 1968, he went back to Naples, met and married the love of his life, Liliana Pallante, after dating for only two months! Liliana was a legal secretary in Naples, but left her career behind in Italy to move to America with Gerardo.

After bringing a wife back to America with him, Gerardo rose through the ranks at the Gumball Factory in East Boston as a foreman in the production plant. Gerardo worked with the chemists at the plant and together they invented sugarless gum. They were the first company to manufacture it, but lost the ability to patent the product after the owner died suddenly and the company closed its doors for good. The closing of the factory did not stop Gerardo. His work ethic and persistence allowed him to move on to bigger and better things. At HP Hood dairy, he went from the production floor to lead computer operator. This was one of his proudest achievements as an immigrant from Italy with no formal education. One of his fondest work memories was mentoring two young men by encouraging them to get their computer certifications that allowed them to advance in the company and ultimately lead a better life. After 10 years at HP Hood, he worked for Sky Chef as a production manager for four years. During this time, he also invested in real estate and eventually opened his own children's clothing and toy store, The Lollipop Tree.

Through Gerardo's hard work, countless people have been helped. He hosted fundraisers for FIERI-Boston, Savio Prep High School, East Boston Main Streets, elected officials, and other charitable causes. He always preferred to stay out of the spotlight. Gerardo and his wife Liliana were recent recipients of the FIERI-Boston 2005 "Honorary Members of the Year" award and The Greater Boston Renaissance Lodge, OSIA First Inspiration Award. Gerardo and Liliana always worked hard with one goal in mind, to give their family a great life in America while helping those in need.