Mary Cummins. Ancestry, heritage, DNA, genealogy blog: Rick Caruso Ancestry, Family, Heritage, Ethnicity, Italian by Mary Cummins, Genealogist, Los Angeles, California

Saturday, June 4, 2022

Rick Caruso Ancestry, Family, Heritage, Ethnicity, Italian by Mary Cummins, Genealogist, Los Angeles, California

Rick Caruso, Henry Joseph Caruso, Enrique Caruso, family tree, ancestry, heritage, ethnicity, DNA, family, parents, grandparents, wife, spouse, children, siblings, Italy, Austria, Chicago, Illinois, New York, Los Angeles, California, USC, The Grove, Catholic, Mary Cummins, Genealogist, Mayor, Italian

Rick Caruso candidate for Los Angeles Mayor was born Henry Joseph Caruso in Los Angeles, California in 1959. "Rick" is the nickname for "Rico" which is Italian for Henry. Rick's parents are from Italy and Austria. Photo of Rick Caruso at graduation from USC in 1980 with a degree in Finance and Business below.

Rick's parents were Henry "Hank" Joseph Caruso 24 FEB 1922, Uniontown, PA, USA 26 NOV 2017, Los Angeles, California; and Gloria "Glorya" Gene "West" Restagno, 9 NOVEMBER 1925, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, 27 AUG 2017, Los Angeles, California. "West" was Gloria's modeling name. *While Rick Caruso mentioned his children in a paid obituary for his parents his children will not be mentioned here. Their names are publicly available. Photos of Rick's parents below.

The Los Angeles Times ran a paid obituary notice December 3, 2017 pg B7 for both of Rick's parents. Here is just the introduction per fair use of Copyright Act,

"Gloria and Hank Caruso had a romance that began like a scene from a Hollywood movie. Hank caught his first glimpse of Gloria on a full-sized billboard hovering over Sunset Boulevard. He couldn't take his eyes off the image of the gorgeous lady gazing down on him. Fortunately and providentially, one of Hank's friends also knew Gloria. He arranged for them to meet and they had a blind date. Gloria and Hank were inseparable from that time on. They were joined in Holy Matrimony at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood on May 1, 1954. Their marriage of over 63 years ended this past summer when Gloria Restagno Caruso, 91, died at home on Sunday, August 27. Almost three months to the day, Henry (Hank) J. Caruso passed away on Sunday, November 26. He was 95.

"Their remarkable story is about two people, born to immigrant parents, who began with nothing, but always had everything," said Rick Caruso, their eldest son. "Through their belief in themselves, their faith in God, their character and hard work, they built an amazing legacy of family that lives on in their children and grandchildren."

Gloria Restagno was born on November 9, 1925 in Chicago, one of six children of Anna and Frank Restagno. Frank was born in Italy, while Anna emigrated from Austria. Frank was an elevator operator and delivery man for a bread company.

Hank Caruso also was a first generation American. His parents, Josephine and August Caruso, both came from Italy and settled near Uniontown, Pennsylvania, a mining town just south of Pittsburgh. August worked as a driller in the coal mines, setting dynamite to break through the rock.

Shortly after Hank was born on February 22, 1922, the family moved to Los Angeles, eventually settling in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, which was mostly Italians and Jewish immigrants. August went to work as a gardener."

Family tree wide view. Click to see larger so you can read it. This is only three generations and not all spouses are added or up to date.

PATERNAL

Rick's father Hank Caruso was a successful business man in Los Angeles, California. Instead of rewriting the same information here is another quote from the paid obituary notice,

"Hank enrolled at USC in 1939 to study pre-med and had to work multiple jobs to pay tuition. As a member of the greatest generation, he enlisted in the Navy and became one of the country's first Navy pilots stationed in Saipan. He was shot down during an air battle and for three days drifted, stranded at sea. Hank survived and remained in the Navy as a pilot, rose to the rank LTJG and was regarded as a hero. He was recognized by the Secretary of Navy for his heroic service to his country. After returning from service as a Navy Air Corp pilot in World War II, Hank saw an opportunity in the burgeoning Southern California automobile industry. He began to acquire car dealerships from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler throughout the area. By the mid 1950s he became the world's largest car dealer. Hank also was the first person to advertise cars on television. His "singing commercials" on both TV and radio were well-known by a majority of Angelenos at the time. In 1966, Hank initiated another innovation, this time in the rental car industry. While facing many challenges of the "big three" of the industry (Hertz, Avis, and National), he founded Dollar Rent-A-Car. His motto and method of business operation were simple: offer the best service available at the most competitive prices. In twenty years of his ownership and leadership, Dollar Rent-A-Car grew to be the fourth largest car rental agency in the world with more than 1,400 locations. In 1990, Hank sold Dollar Rent-A-Car to the Chrysler Corporation. He then went back to operating his dealerships with Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, and Mazda. He remained active in his dealership until earlier last year. With all of his success, Hank Caruso was always aware of the great responsibilities that went hand in hand with good fortune and donated generously. Gloria and Hank taught their children about giving back to the community and helping those who are less fortunate."

Hank's parents were Augustine "August" "Aug" Joseph Caruso, 18 Sep 1894, Castelgrande, Italy, 25 Jul 1978, Los Angeles, California and Josephine M LaCava, 1 Jan 1904, Italy, 21 Feb 1987, Los Angeles, California. August was a truck driver and landscape gardener. Below is August's obituary.

"CARUSO, August, beloved husband of Josephine Caruso: father of Rev. Lawrence Caruso, O.F.M., Henry and Albert Caruso; uncle of Joseph Ponlorero; also survived by 6 grandchildren and 1 greatgrandchild. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, 8 p.m. at Mother of Good Counsel Church. Graveside service Saturday, 10 a.m. in Holy Cross Cemetery."

Josephine LaCava's obituary,

"CARUSO, Josephine M. loving mother of Henry J. (Gloria), Albert (Vivian) and Rev, Lawrence Caruso, O.F.M. Cap., beloved sister of Anthony La Cava of Pennsylvania; proud grandmother of 8 and great- grandmother of 2, aunt of Joseph Pontorero. Wednesday at St. Francis of Assist Church. Private entombment Thursday, 10 am In Holy Cross Mausoleum."

Photo of Rick Caruso's father and paternal grandparents from Rick Caruso's website below.

Hank's great grandparents were Nickolas "Nicolo" Caruso, 1859, Castelgrande, Italy, 28 Jul 1921, Port Chester, New York; Annastasia "Anna" Ruvo, 1866 Italy; and,

Vincenzo "Vincent" LaCava, 15 Mar 1878 Italy, 2 Nov 1953, Adah, Fayette, Pennsylvania and "Mary" Maria Louise Piemonti, 1878 Italy, Sept 19 1938, Adah, Pennsylvania.

Nickolas Caruso lived in the Port Chester Italian Colony and was in the dairy business. He owned a three story house at 495 W William St, Port Chester, which he left to his wife and kids. He gave each of his three sons one floor in the house. The home built in 1910 today is a 9 beds, 4 baths apartment house 4,112 sf on a 6,500 lot and still stands. The family ran a few businesses from the house. Back in the day that was normal. Current photo.

Nicholas' obituary,

"N. CARUSO FUNERAL. Nicholas Caruso whose funeral takes place tomorrow at 9:30 a m from the Corpus Christi Chapel South Regent street was a victim of cancer. His ailment is believed to have been the result of an injury received when his horse ran away about a year and a half ago. He was a native of Castlegrande Italy but had been engaged in the milk business at 495 West William street for the last fifteen years. Deceased is survived by his widow Anna and three sons, James. Joseph and Angelo."

Vincenzo LaCava owned a retail grocery store. His death article,

"Elderly County Man Killed by Truck. A 75-year-old Adah man was killed when struck by a truck 10 o'clock Monday morning Route 21. near the Edenborn- Leckrone intersection. State Police said the victim was Vincenzo LaCava. They said he was walking in the direction of traffic and either stumbled or fell on the highway and was hit by a truck operated by Chester Gaten, 19, of Frederickstown. Deputy Coroner Mike Novasky of Masontown said LaCava died instantly of a fractured skull, lacerations of the scalp, fractured right leg and broken back. He is survived by four children. LaCava was a resident of Adah 30 years."

Mary "Maria" Louise obituary,

"LaCAVA REQUIEM Final rites For Mrs, Mary Louise LaCava, aged 56, who died Monday, September II, 1938, at her home in Adah, as the result of a fall, will be held at 1l o'clock Monday morning in All Saint church, Masontown. The Ht. Rev. Francis K. Kolb will be celebrant. Burial will be in St. Agnes cemetery."

MATERNAL

Rick's mother was Gloria Restagno. From the same paid obituary,

"Gloria Restagno was born on November 9, 1925 in Chicago, one of six children of Anna and Frank Restagno. Frank was born in Italy, while Anna emigrated from Austria. Frank was an elevator operator and delivery man for a bread company." He was actually a distributor for a bread company. Gloria was a clothing model.

Rick's maternal grandparents were Francesco "Frank" Restagno, 31 Dec 1892, Ardoria, Italy, 30 April 1976, Chicago, Illinois, and Anna Rose Tromick/Tromiczak/Tromki, 29 Mar 1894, Vienna, Austria, 8 Dec 1993, Chicago, Illinois.

Frank was a craneman, bread sales/distributor and a member and Officer of the Chicago Lawn Lodge 1693 of the Order of the Sons of Italy. The Chicago Lawn Lodge's "primary aim is to enroll all Americans of good character and of Italian ancestry and encourage the active participation of its members in the political, social and civic life of their communities to promote better relations with other nationalities and to uphold the prestige of Italian Americans." He changed the last name to "Ellis" when he arrived through Ellis Island then changed it back to Restagno. Frank and his wife Anna celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries with notices in the newspapers. Below is the announcement for their 60th wedding anniversary,

"MR. AND MRS. FRANK RESTAGNO. Celebrate 60th year. Mr and Mrs Frank Restagno, 5915 S. Mozart ave., recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at a dinner. The dinner was attended by their close friends, their six children, 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Mr. Restagno, a native of Italy, was in business for himself as a bread distributor from 1927 to 1950 and was an elevator operator in the McCormick building until his retirement in 1957. Mrs. Restagno is a native of Vienna, Austria. The couple has three sons and two daughters who live Chicago and a daughter in California.

Below is Frank's obituary,

"Frank Restagno, beloved husband of Anna, nee Tromki, dear father of Frank (Ethel), Mary (late Stephen) Bies, Guido (Mary Ann), Edith (Paul) Bies, Gloria (Henry) Caruso and Remo (Bonnie); grandfather of 11; great grandfather of four. Funeral Monday, May 3, 11 a.m. at Soltes Chapel, 2746 W. 5th St. Interment Skyline Memorial Park."

Anna Rose Tromick's obituary,

"RESTAGNO Anna Reatagno, nee Tromczyk, age 100, beloved wife of the late Frank; dear mother of Eda (the late Paul) Bes of Decatur, MI., Gloria (Hank) Caruso of Beverly Hills, CA, Guido (Ruth Ann) of Hot Springs, AR, Remo Restagno of Scottadale, AZ, and the late Frank; mother-in-law of Ethel Restagno of Chicago, IL; loving grandmother of 11, great-grandmother of 19; survived by many friends. Interment St. Mary."

Photo of Frank and Anna Restagno from Rick Caruso's website below. It looks like Gloria standing in the back holding Marc Anthony with Christine on the left and Rick on the right. Anna and Frank front row bottom. I think the photo is about 1973. Hank must be taking the photo.

Rick's great grandparents were Mr and Mrs Restagno, Italy and Jan "John" Tromick and Regina Bigley, Austria.

Rick has two siblings, Christine Jean and Marc Anthony Caruso. Rick married Tina Patricia Willson and has four children in Los Angeles, California. Tina's parents are from England, Canada and the US.

References

Obituary, Hank and Gloria Caruso, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, December 3, 2017 pg B7

Obituaries, Wedding Anniversary announcement, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, Times, Los Angeles, California.

US Census Records

California Birth Index

Newspapers.com

Saturday, June 4, 2022

Rick Caruso Ancestry, Family, Heritage, Ethnicity, Italian by Mary Cummins, Genealogist, Los Angeles, California

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