Domenico
Cimino was born in the city of Cefalu, Province of Palermo
Sicily, Italy on December 24, 1874. He immigrated to the
United States at the age of 15 and arrived at Ellis Island
in 1889. From there he went to New Orleans, Louisiana
where he worked very long hours harvesting sugar cane
for unimaginable low pay.
As
soon as Domenico was able, he left New Orleans and headed
to Colorado where he met some of his "Paissanos."
He arrived in Las Animas County in 1890. Realizing the
importance of learning the English language, he attended
public school with first and second graders. During his
lifetime he was a merchant, a coal miner and a farmer.
Mary
Carpita Cimino was born in New Orleans on November 7,
1886 and in 1889, she and her parents arrived in Sopris,
Colorado where her father, Nick, was employed as a CF&I
night watchman. Her mother, Francesca Carpita died in
childbirth when Mary was 15 years of age. Raised as an
only child by a widowed father, her visits with Domenico
were closely chaperoned by her father.
In
1904, Domenico Cimino and Mary Carpita were united in
marriage at our local Holy Trinity Catholic Church. From
this union were born 12 children: six boys and six girls.
Eleven of those children grew up to adulthood. The oldest
child, Vincent was born in 1905 and the youngest in 1933.
The children were: Vincent Cimino in 1905, Faye Cimino
Antista in 1906, Frances Cimino Antista in 1908, Nick
Cimino in 1911, Rose Cimino in 1913 (she died in infancy),
Thomas Cimino in 1914, Frank Cimino in 1917, Rose Cimino
Galasso in 1919, Carmel (Carl) Cimino in 1921, Sarah Cimino
Ringo in 1923, Lena Cimino DeJoy in 1927 and Dominic Cimino
in 1933.
Of
the six boys, four served our country during World War
II, while one son, Vincent was too old and one son, Dominic
was too young for military service. Domenic later served
the in the military and was stationed for a time in Alaska.
Both Thomas and Carl saw extensive combat duty in the
European Theater.
All
11 children were successful in their chosen field. All
the daughters have enjoyed long and successful marriages
and all six sons were associated at some point in the
automobile industry. Since 1920 the Cimino Boys have been
considered pioneers in the automotive field. They have
been associated with Colorado dealerships in Denver, Colorado
Springs, Pueblo, and Trinidad and in New Mexico dealerships
in Raton, Taos, Epsilon, and Santa Fe. So far in the next
generation ten grandsons and one granddaughter have been
active in the automobile business.
Dominic
and Mary Carpet Cimino had many blessing! They enjoyed
a long and happy marriage for 64 years. They both died
at the age of 93, Dominic in 1968 and Mary in 1981. By
the end of the year 2000 Dominic and Mary's descendants
numbered 213 including: 12 children, 43 grandchildren,
104 great grandchildren and 54 great, great grandchildren.
(Note:
if you have Photos of this family or know of anyone
that does, please have them get in touch with us so
that we might share some photos of the family here)