[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 29, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO MARY TUBITO VALASTRO PINTO L'ITALICO'S ITALIAN COMMUNITY 
                         1997 WOMAN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 1997

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention 
L'Italico's Italian Community 1997 Woman of the Year, Mary Tubito 
Valastro Pinto of Little Ferry, NJ.
  Born on April 17, 1948, in the ancient and historic city of Altamura, 
Bari, Italy, Mary was the third of eight children born to Nicholas and 
Maddalena Tubito.
  At the age of 6, when Mary heard of the news of her family's decision 
to emigrate to the United States, she was very excited and since then 
she has constantly shown her devotion, admiration, and loyalty to her 
new homeland.
  The Tubito family settled in the city of Hoboken, NJ, where Mary 
attended Public School No. 3 and Demarest Junior High School.
  At an early age, Mary learned the benefits of hard work and 
commitment to family, from her father, who worked as a longshoreman, 
and from her mother, who, she helped with household chores, before and 
after school. With little time for play, Mary read religious books, and 
derived example and inspiration from the lives of the saints, enriching 
both her faith and character for life.
  When she was only 12 years old, Mary met her future husband, Bartolo 
``Buddy'' Valastro, who, impressed with her beauty and energy, asked 
Mary to be his partner for life.
  Upon accepting this proposal, the couple first purchased Carlo's 
Bakery in Hoboken, in 1964, and then married in Our Lady of Grade 
Church on July 24, 1965.
  Mary and Buddy, with the caring help of Buddy's mother, Grace, 
steadily built a successful business with dedication and vision. In 
addition to starting a successful business, Mary and Buddy also found 
time to start a family, eventually being blessed with five children: 
Grace Faugno, June 30, 1966; Maddalena Castano, August 15, 1967; Mary, 
September 30, 1969; Lisa, December 31, 1974; and Buddy, Jr., March 3, 
1977. All are associated with the family's baking business.
  In June 1989, Mary and Buddy acquired the former Shoening's Bakery, 
which turned out to be a successful business decision. The original 
Carlo's Bakery found a new home on Washington and First Street and has 
since become the mecca of quality for miles around, adding to the 
exciting renaissance of the historic ``Mile Square City.''
  The period immediately following the relocation of Carlo's Bakery 
marked the golden age in the life of the Valastro family. Business was 
flourishing, the children had matured into fine, young adults, and the 
three daughters married; grandchildren were born.
  On March 21, 1994, tragedy struck the family when cancer claimed the 
life of Buddy, who passed away at the young age of 54. Mary however, 
managed to overcome this tragedy, and as a testament to her faith, she 
rallied her family and employees in uncommon leadership and continued 
the successful operation of the business. She later met and married 
Giovanni Pinto, an educator, a professor of modern languages, publisher 
of L'Italico, and father of one daughter, Julianne (age 11). Mary is 
the proud grandmother of three: Robert Faugno, age 4; Mary Castano, age 
3; and Bartolina Faugno, age 1.
  Mary and Giovanni Pinto reside in Little Ferry, NJ, and are wonderful 
examples of the real possibility of the American Dream.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, Mary's family 
and friends, and the city of Hoboken, in recognizing Mary Tubito 
Valastro Pinto's outstanding and invaluable contributions to the 
community.

                          ____________________