John N. LaCorte – Preserving Italian American History and Culture
by: Janice Therese Mancuso
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge – often called the Verrazzano Bridge – is among the acclaimed bridges in New York, and often noted as one of the most well-known bridges in America. Not as well known is John N. LaCorte, a pioneer in advocating Italian American history and culture, and the man responsible for naming the bridge after Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano.
LaCorte also worked towards increasing awareness of Antonio Meucci as the inventor of the telephone, recognizing Charles J. Bonaparte’s role in establishing the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and promoting the celebration of Columbus Day.
In May 1949, LaCorte founded the Italian Historical Society of America, with the mission of “perpetuating the names of those of Italian heritage who have contributed to the advancement of humankind and inspired others.” His inspiration came from a book on Italian American achievements, his business and personal experiences in the Italian American community, and his unique role of being a United States citizen, but growing up in Italy.
Born in New Jersey on July 4, 1910 to Italian immigrant parents, Giovanni Nazareno LaCorte was a toddler when his family returned to their home town of San Giovanni Gemini (province of Agrigento, Sicily). Giuseppe and Giuseppina LaCorte had immigrated to America in the early 1900s. Although they owned a farm and Giuseppe served as a local judge in the Sicilian village, Giuseppe sought a better life for his family – his wife and, at the time, a young daughter.
By the time Giovanni was born, Giuseppe had been considering moving back to Sicily. Life was difficult for immigrants in America in the early twentieth century and he was concerned about the negative treatment of Italian immigrants. He decided that his family would actually have a better life back in San Giovanni Gemini.
In Sicily, Giovanni was connected to his heritage and the culture of his ancestors; but as he approached his teen years – and in learning that he was a United States citizen – he longed to return to America. His parents did not support his move, but Giovanni was determined to make the trip. During his teen years in San Giovanni Gemini, Giovanni worked at various jobs as an electrician and carpenter, saving his lira for the journey back to America. In June 1929, Giovanni traveled by train to Palermo, and then boarded a ship for North America.
As an American citizen, he did not have to be processed at Ellis Island. He made his way to stay with a cousin in New Jersey, proud of his July Fourth birthday and Americanizing his name to John Napoleon; but he spoke limited English and finding a job was difficult. As he was making plans for his future, the Great Depression began with the stock market crash.
LaCorte’s greatest asset was his outgoing personality, and – as he learned to speak English – his charm and honesty were well received. He was a persuasive salesman, at first selling pencils and shoelaces on street corners, then selling vacuum cleaners, and later refrigerators, door-to-door. He knew his largely Italian immigrant clientele, and he knew that demonstrating the products would appeal to their needs.
Over time, LaCorte began to sell insurance policies, and when he married in 1937, he and his wife Marion, started an insurance agency. Now successful in business, LaCorte began to focus on Italian American history and culture. Having seen the negative news and representations of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans, he wanted to educate the immigrants and others in the community about the great accomplishments to society made by those of Italian heritage. After reading Four Centuries of Italian American History by Giovanni Schiavo, LaCorte was motivated to establish the Italian Historical Society of America in 1949, an organization that would counteract the harmful stereotypes.
Through his efforts, in 1952 the fully restored monument of Giovanni da Verrazzano was reinstalled in Battery Park, NYC; in 1961 the Charles J. Bonaparte memorial monument was presented to the U.S. Department of Justice; in 1971 the Columbus Statue was installed in Columbus Park in front of the State Supreme Court Building in Brooklyn, NY; and in 1989 the Antonio Meucci memorial was installed in Meucci Triangle in Brooklyn, NY.
His greatest accomplishment, though, was his advocacy in naming the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, officially opened in 1964 connecting Brooklyn and Staten Island over the Narrows. Verrazzano was the first European to explore the area, and LaCorte felt Verrazzano should be honored. It was through LaCorte’s diligence – opposing discrimination, presenting historical information, attending numerous meetings, and challenging political disputes – that the bridge today honors the Italian explorer.
After more than forty years of supporting Italian and Italian American history and heritage, John N. LaCorte passed in November 1991. He left behind the legacy of an historical foundation rooted in hundreds of years of Italian and Italian American history and committed to educating all. In October 2004, a memorial monument dedicated to LaCorte was unveiled in John Paul Jones Park. Located in Bay Ridge on the southwest tip of Brooklyn, overlooking the Narrows and with the Verrazzano Bridge in the background, the monument – crescent-shaped from pink marble – is inscribed Inspiratio per Exemplum, “Inspiration through Example.”
Today, under the direction of LaCorte’s son, John J., the Italian Historical Society of America maintains an online data base of Italian and Italian American history. In commemorating his father’s achievements, John notes “I came to appreciate his work later of course and have sought to perpetuate the memory of his efforts and contributions. Having the monument in his honor installed in Bay Ridge was a crowning achievement I am proud of.”