Salvatore Greco and wife Adele

Salvatore is a 1st-cousin of the other Salvatore Greco who was married to Maria Messina Greco.  Maria was a midwife in Ybor City from 1908 to 1939.  (There was about a 24 year age difference between the two Salvatore Greco cousins.)  This Salvatore Greco is now 94 years young an has fond memories of Maria.

In my short visit with the Greco family, they changed my life.  Salvatore with his cheerful smile and keen but quiet interest, and Adele with her kindness, generosity and love of not only sharing their colorful family histories, but of history in general.

Mrs. Greco  found the midwife books in their closet one day, in this green box.  Her husband told her about his cousin's wife, who was Maria Messina Greco, a truly remarkable woman.   When Maria Messina Greco's husband (the older Salvatore) took ill and was unable to shave himself, it was his cousin, this Salvatore who would come to his home every day to shave him.  When Maria's husband Salvatore passed away, in her later years, she was cared for by this Salvatore.  He still has a wool cap which Maria made for him.

There are about 62 books which cover from 1908 to 1939.  At the top here you can see the translation which someone started to type. The translation covers from 1908 through 1912.  This will make it much easier to index these years.

In 1992 Adele donated them to the LDS church and they microfilmed the books on two rolls.  They did not microfilm the typed translation, unless it is on the 2nd roll which I did not order.

See and learn more about the records            See my work in progress to transcribe the records

This is Vincenzo Greco, the father of the Salvatore which I visited.  Vincenzo's older brother was the father of the Salvatore who married Maria Messina.

The former mayor of Tampa, Dick Greco, is also a cousin in this family.

Vincenzo was a chemist and pharmacist in Italy.  His research notes were donated to a medical university and contributed much knowledge to his profession.

Vincenzo was also a great fan of the Opera and was the leader in bringing Opera to Ybor City in the old days.

Some of the items Vincenzo used in his chemistry and pharmacy research.

The Vincenzo Greco family, before the birth of their youngest child Lydia. 

Salvatore Greco

Alfredo Greco

Guiseppe "Joe" Greco

Lucrecia "Mamina" Reina Greco

Vincenzo Greco

Taken around 1909

A later picture of Salvatore with his parents.

Mamina lived to be over 100 years old!

During the war time years, Salvatore was a mechanic and worked on planes such as the one you see here, a large model which hangs from the ceiling in the large room you see below.

Salvatore himself was an amazing man of many talents.  One photo I saw of him in his younger days, taken off the shores of Mexico.  Standing on a surfboard which he invented, wearing swimming trunks which he designed.  Equally amazing is his wife, Adele, a kind and caring lady with an interesting past. 

Another photo in their collection was a lovely young lady, and it was autographed.   It was the lady who was the voice of Snow White in the animated Disney Classic 'Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs."  Salvatore was a friend of hers in his youth.  Her father was a voice coach in Hollywood and the young lady told Salvatore she was confident she would get the role of doing Snow White's voice.

Despite being 94, Salvatore is in amazing shape and frequently goes up and down these stairs.

At the bottom center of this photo you can see the icebox that belonged to Vincenzo Greco.

Salvatore and wife Adele, with their sons and Salvatore's mother.  Adele's  mother also lived to be over 100 years young!  Even when she was in her 90's, she used a rowing machine in her home.  While Adele could only do it a few times, her mother in her 90's would do it 90 times.  

Adele keeps the memory of her mother alive by staying in shape one of the ways her mother did.  By walking around her neighborhood many times, and picking up the neighbor's newspapers and taking it to their doors. 

Thank you , Mr. & Mrs. Greco, for your generosity, kindness and hospitality!  Email me