I remember him, 1950s, standing by the front of his store, DA SPARASPILLI, so many years ago. The store was located by u piscinale the towns public fountain on the right of the street as you walked toward the castle. I had not seen him for a few years until I came to San Pedro and we became friends. Many times we would go to Hollywood to see Italian movies, and to dances sponsored by Italian clubs in the Los Ageles area. I recall the times when we had the Italian club on 10th and Gaffey, when he and MastAntonio would have a game of briscola and scopa with Gir u sicc (Ciro Pirozzi) and Unberto u scapare. Sparaspilli always kept us laughing with his stories of Ischia. Early in the 1950s Giovanni with MastAntonio Cigliano and others replicated a cantate de pasture it is a Christmas play that is performed in Ischia to this day. The play took place at Mary Star auditorium and Giovanni played Sarchiapone as this was the part he used to play when in Ischia with the Teatro Don Bosco. Around 1960, he along with his brother Rocchino and his best friend, Vincenzo Barile opened the grocery store Europa on 9th Street across from the bowling alley, becoming a meeting place for many of us. Later he opened Portofino on 6th Street. Giovanni was the type of person that took life in stride, always looking to share his happiness with others. He will be greatly missed by all that came in contact with him. My deepest condolences to his wife Carla and sons Gian Carlo and Livio and all the Lauro (Rosicascarmule) family. Addi Giua, cardillo canoro della nostra bella Ischia. The last time I saw him was in August of this year!!!! Pict. 1. Sparaspilli as a young man in the Italian Navy. Pict. 2. Standing outside his store. Pict. 3. The arrival of the mayor of Ischia Ono. Vincenzo Telese at LAX.. ....Luigi and Mercede Sogliuzzo Pict. 4. Giovanni with his best friends Vincenzo and Massarella (Maria Grazia) Barile.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 21:21:04 +0000
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