Dedication to Vincenzo Antonio Filomeno Maina 1869 – 1919 Figlio di Padula, emigrato negli Stati Uniti nel 1891 Vincenzo Antonio Filomeno Maina was born on July 11, 1869, in the historic town of Padula in the province of Salerno, Italy, a community known for its deep traditions and the remarkable Certosa di San Lorenzo that has long stood at the heart of the town. He was the son of Francesco Saverio Giovanni Maina and Clorinda Giuseppina “Peppina” Perretti, a family whose roots were deeply connected to the life and community of Padula. Genealogical records show that branches of Vincenzo’s family had been rooted in Padula for more than three centuries, reflecting generations of history tied to the town.

In September of 1891, at just 22 years of age, Vincenzo made the courageous decision to leave his hometown in search of opportunity in the United States. He departed Padula by train and traveled to the Port of Naples, where he boarded the steamship Cheribon, one of the vessels carrying thousands of Italian emigrants across the Atlantic to New York and Ellis Island. Like many young Italians of his generation, he crossed the ocean with determination and hope for a better future.

On October 22, 1900, in Manhattan, New York, Vincenzo married Caterina (Catherine) Rivellese. Although Caterina was born in Manhattan, her parents—Vincenzo Rivellese and Maria Rosa Brigante—were both natives of Padula. In this way, two families from the same town were joined again, continuing their shared heritage far from home.

Together, Vincenzo and Caterina built a large and devoted family. Over seventeen years they welcomed ten children—nine sons and one daughter—whose descendants would grow into a large extended family that continues to thrive in the United States today.

Vincenzo passed away in Brooklyn, New York, on December 24, 1919, at the age of 50. Though his life was brief, the legacy he began continues through generations who remember the courage it took for a young man to leave Padula and cross an ocean in search of a better future. Today, his memory returns to la nostra Padula through this tree, a symbol of the enduring bond between the town he left and the family that continues his story.

Questo albero, piantato nella sua terra natale di Padula, ricorda il coraggio di Vincenzo Antonio Filomeno Maina e le generazioni nate dal suo viaggio.

Padula non dimentica i suoi figli.

~ Dedicato con gratitudine dai suoi nipoti Michael, David e Paul Maina