Note: This
is one in a series of historical stories about local families
in the Trinidad region.
Click here to find out more
about how these stories were collected.
Beatrice G. is the youngest of Frank
and Teresa's ten children. She was born in October of
1930.
Bea attended the local grammar schools and graduated from Holy Trinity High School
in 1949. She continued her education at Trinidad Junior College, getting her
associates degree in education. Beatrice taught grade one through four at El
Moro from 1951 to 1955; and spent her summers attending classes at Adams State.
In 1955, Bea met and married James Tobin,
who was attending T.J.C. The couple moved to the Denver
area in 1956.
In August for 1956, Bea and Jim had
their first child, Loretta. Loretta lives in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin and is employed by AT&T. She has a seven year old
daughter, Brianne.
James Anthony was born July of 1957.
Jim is a C.P.A residing in the Denver area. He and his
wife Robin have three children: James Clark (8), Christine
(5), and
Jaqueline (4).
The Tobins third child arrived in August
of 1958. Melanie lives in Milwaukee area with her husband
Jeff Sinner. When not at their regular jobs, the
couple tend to their small hobby farm.
Tamara was born in April of 1964. She lives in Denver. Tammy is a hair-stylist.
Since leaving Trinidad in 1956 Bea has
lived in a number of places which include: the Bahamas,
San Diego, Milwaukee, and Cody, Wyoming. Bea, who
is widowed,
is now living in the Denver area and works sales at May D&F.
I remember when I was thirteen when
my Grandmother Salerno passed away, so my recollections
of her farm in Trinidad are from a child's point
of view.
My family and I spent many a holiday down at the farm. It seems like
just about every Easter and Christmas the entire Salerno clan would
gather for
a lot of
eating, talking, and laughing. And no Easter celebration was complete
without an Easter egg hunt for the kids.
Even though I
lived in Denver, I got to see my Grandma and Grandpa
quite a bit. My mom and us kids usually
spent at least a week down
at the farm
in the
summer.
My Uncle Tony usually kept us kids busy during our stay. We couldn't
wait to go to town with him. There was always some produce to drop
off somewhere.
Tony
always had a smile and warm words to whoever he would meet--he
was the kindest person I've ever known.
My Grandpa, or Papa as everyone called
him, was a quiet man. I rarely remember him saying much.
He could usually be found somewhere outside puttering
or smoking
his pipe on his cot in the garage.
Then there was my Grandmother or Nana. It seems like she was always cooking
or baking something. She was an active woman, but always
had time to sit and chat
with her grandchildren. Grandma was forever talking it seems--she really loved
life and making people laugh. She mostly talked Italian, but every time someone
would be heading home, Nana would remind them of the railroad tracks up the
lane and tell them to "Watcha the trains".
Luckily the farm is still in the family.
So whenever I visit Ron and Wendy down on the farm, I
can relive parts of my childhood. I can see Uncle Tony
tending
to his rose garden, Papa peeling an apple with his pocket knife, and Nana piecing
together one of her beautiful quilts. Those were the days!
(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)