[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4499-S4500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE LATE IGNAZIO M. ``CARLO'' CARLUCCIO

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
tribute to the late Ignazio M. ``Carlo'' Carluccio who passed away on 
April 22, 1997, 3 months to the day after celebrating his 100th 
birthday in Hampton, NH, with his entire family and his close friends.
  I had the great honor and privilege to meet Mr. Carluccio on October 
29, 1996, at his home in North Salisbury Beach, MA, just across the 
border from Seabrook, NH. I was attending a function at a lobster pound 
owned by Bruce Brown, a long-time mutual friend of both Mr. Carluccio 
and myself. While in the area, I wanted to pay my respects to Mr. 
Carluccio, especially since his grandson Dino has worked in my office 
for the last decade.
  When I met Mr. Carluccio in his home, he was in excellent health, 
witty, and sharp as a tack. Indeed, it was hard to believe at the time 
that he would shortly be celebrating his 100th birthday. During my 
visit with him, I was fascinated to learn many details of his truly 
remarkable life, some of which I would like to share with my colleagues 
and the American people today.
  Ignazio Carluccio was born in the small town of Benevento, Italy, in 
1897. He was the son of Antonio Carluccio, and the grandson of Ignazio 
Carluccio. He had one brother and four sisters, three of whom still 
reside in southern Italy. His grandfather was the proprietor of the 
Gran Caffe dell'Unione, the most popular gathering place in the center 
of Benevento with regular outdoor musical entertainment. It was this 
experience as a young boy, growing up around his grandfather's cafe, 
that would eventually shape and inspire Mr. Carluccio's future in 
America as a talented musician and a proprietor of his own small 
business in a similar small community far away from his homeland.
  Before leaving Italy in 1921 for America, young Ignazio Carluccio 
learned to play the violin at a conservatory in Milan, and would often 
perform his own solo concerts in the beautiful parks along the bay of 
Naples. At that point, Ignazio's family had moved from Benevento to 
Naples, where his father now operated his own local cafe. I am told 
that there are still a few people in Naples who remember his violin 
performances.
  Ignazio Carluccio loved the challenges that life presented, and he 
knew a lot about taking risks. Whether it was simply entering the local 
bicycle races along the treacherous, yet scenic Amalfi Coast between 
Naples and Sorrento, or his service during World War I in an Italian 
aviation division, Mr. Carluccio was not deterred by the physical harm 
he encountered. He recovered only to take an even greater risk--the 
monumental adventure of leaving everything behind except for his violin 
and a few family mementos and heading for America, never turning back 
in the eight decades that followed.
  Earlier this year, Mr. Carluccio reflected on those first few years 
following his arrival in Boston on a passenger ship from Naples. He 
said, ``Early on, I could not speak English, but I made it. It was a 
heckuva time.''
  Mr. Carluccio was persistent and determined following his arrival in 
America--he worked as a haberdasher and became the first concert 
violinist for the People's Symphony in Boston. He selected a middle 
name for himself, something uncommon in his native Italy, but not in 
his new country. He chose ``Mario'' because he wanted to be known as 
``I.M. Carluccio'' which sounded like ``I am Carluccio.'' How clever 
for someone trying to master the English language, Mr. President.
  He met his wife, Alphonsine Giguere, backstage during one of his 
performances, and married her in 1928. In 1934, following the passing 
of his father-in-law, he took over the drugstore his father-in-law had 
operated in Leominster, MA, since 1903, earned a degree in pharmacy, 
and practiced pharmacy for the next six decades until his retirement in 
1985. At its peak, Giguere Drug Stores encompassed three shops and 
represented the largest prescription business in Worcester County, MA. 
When you were sick and needed medicine, everyone knew that you needed 
to go see Mr. Carluccio at Giguere's.
  The original corner store was also complete with soda fountains, 
booths, and peanut machines, and even had musical entertainment 
performed on the store's roof at one point. It was the local hangout 
for everyone from school children to local politicians to State police 
officials. Mr. Carluccio surely must have been proud of the tradition 
he had carried on from his own grandfather's popular cafe in Benevento, 
Italy.
  Mr. President, I.M. Carluccio lived the American dream to the 
fullest. He worked hard, starting at 5 a.m. in his store each morning, 
finishing late at night, teaching violin on the side to students in the 
community, putting his five children through college, and 
simultaneously sending money on a regular basis back to his siblings in 
Italy. And if that was not enough, Mr. President, he even reminded me 
last fall that, although he was approaching age 50 during World War II, 
he wrote a letter at the time to the Secretary of what was then known 
as our War Department offering his services. What devotion, Mr. 
President.
  I.M. Carluccio cherished his family and his close friends, and he 
enjoyed his classic cars, his homemade spaghetti sauce, his violin 
music, and his favorite cigars--the simple things for a man who lived 
such a rich, enduring, and multifaceted life. He was a true gentleman 
to all who knew him. He accomplished so much that we can only hope 
that, perhaps, he was able to reflect back with pride, in his own 
quiet, dignified way, as he puffed his final cigars earlier this year. 
He has left a wonderful legacy which continues to inspire all those who 
have known him.
  When I met him last fall I, too, was inspired, not only by his 
longevity, but by his selfless devotion through the years to his 
Nation, the communities in which he made his home, and to his entire 
family--three sons, two daughters, nine grandchildren, seven great-
grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. Let me say also say here that I am 
proud that Mr. Carluccio's three grandchildren who carry the Carluccio 
name--Carlo, Dino, and Mario--are all constituents of mine from New 
Hampshire. I am honored to represent them in the U.S. Senate.
  Mr. President, I hope Mr. Carluccio's legacy will inspire all those 
who hear of it today. I am proud to do my part through this statement 
to ensure that the life of Mr. Carluccio is properly recognized as part 
of our American history. The story of this great Italian-American 
centenarian has already been recognized on many occasions at the State 
and local level, and through the countless birthday greetings Mr. 
Carluccio received through the years from Presidents, Senators, 
Congressmen, and State and local politicians. But it is appropriate and 
deserving that today, we make Mr. Carluccio's life story part of the 
official, permanent Record of the U.S. Congress. God bless Mr. 
Carluccio and his entire family.
  Mr. President, I ask that a proclamation by Massachusetts Gov. 
William F. Weld issued earlier this year in honor of Mr. Carluccio's 
100th birthday and a statement submitted to Fitchburg State College 
honoring Mr. Carluccio as one of ``100 Who Made a Difference'' be 
printed in the Record.
  The proclamation and statement follows:

    A Proclamation By His Excellency Governor William F. Weld--1997

       Whereas, Ignazio M. Carluccio was born on January 22, 1897, 
     in Benevento, Italy; and
       Whereas, after moving to the United States in 1921, Mr. 
     Carluccio found a new home in the Commonwealth and married 
     Alphonsine Giguere in 1928; and
       Whereas, a talented violinist, Ignazio Carluccio has shared 
     his musical inspiration with many through performance and 
     instruction; and

[[Page S4500]]

       Whereas, in 1934, Ignazio Carluccio succeeded his father-
     in-law as owner and operator of the family business, 
     Giguere's Drug Store, in Leominster, Massachusetts; and
       Whereas, having earned the tremendous respect of his 
     community, Ignazio Carluccio received an award from the Eli 
     Lilly Pharmaceutical Company in 1976, in recognition of the 
     outstanding community health service provided by Gigurere's 
     Drug Store; and
       Whereas, as Ignazio Carluccio celebrates his One Hundredth 
     Birthday, it is fitting to pay tribute to this fine 
     individual who has touched the lives of many throughout the 
     Commonwealth; now, therefore, I, William F. Weld, Governor of 
     the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim January 
     22nd, 1997, to be Ignazio Carluccio Day and urge all the 
     citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event 
     and participate fittingly in its observance.

                       100 Who Made A Difference


                          ignazio m. carluccio

       Mr. Carluccio has been an integral part of this community 
     since 1928 when he married Alphonsine A. Giguere. He was a 
     concert violinist and teacher of the violin in this and the 
     surrounding area, but he later became a pharmacist and took 
     over the operation and ownership of Giguere Drug to continue 
     the family business that his father-in-law started in 1903. 
     He dedicated his life to his family and business and to 
     serving the public.
       In the 1950's and 60's his corner drugstore was known as 
     the most complete prescription department in Worcester 
     County. In 1976, the Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company 
     presented Mr. Carluccio and his company an award in 
     recognition of outstanding Community Health Service.
       In 1983, Giguere Drug Stores was recognized for 80 years of 
     service, and I.M. Carluccio was still managing and serving 
     the public from his corner drugstore. At this point, his 
     original business had expanded into a small 3-store chain.
       Mr. Carluccio had a special recipe of old-fashioned 
     customer service and modern health care products. Customers 
     idolized him. Today, he is still a celebrity for anyone who 
     knows him, sees him, and remembers the days of yesteryear. 
     This man is a tribute to his community!

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