4 minute read
The Grosso Family: Building a Heritage
Written by Craig Whitney
Photography by Dan Hall, Prestige Photography
Anthony and Rita have connections that weave through each other’s history before they had even met. The two were connected through mutual friendships, mutual schools, the marriage of an uncle and aunt from each side, and a culmination at an Eagles playoff game. Both of their ancestries begin in nearby coastal towns in southern Italy, so from a long-term perspective the Grosso heritage has been built over hundreds of years and continues to build here in Marple.
The two had initially met at their uncle’s surprise party. Anthony’s uncle had married Rita’s aunt years before, one of many unexpected connections between the two. Rita had heard of Anthony at that point but never met him.
“I had never met him, but my aunt had been trying to convince me to go out with him for years,” Rita explained.
The two finally met at the party, hitting it off and building onto a relationship that had unknowingly been connected for years. They had just missed each other at Villanova University, where Anthony had graduated the year before Rita came in as a freshman. Despite the missed connection there, Anthony was friendly with Rita’s sister, who went to Villanova at the same time as Anthony.
The party was not the place where the two were meant to start dating, though. Rita was days away from an extended stay in Italy, and Anthony was working for the Philadelphia Eagles as they were on their way to their third straight NFC championship game. Rita went on a pilgrimage through Italy, visiting old towns and learning about her roots over the course of a month. By the time she got back, Anthony was ready to forget about football for a little while and the two hit it off from the beginning.
In 2006, Anthony and Rita got married, and started their life together in Marple several years later. Rita worked for Sunoco as a chemical engineer straight out of college. She currently works for a number of different engineering companies, managing her schedule so she can spend time with her family during the week.
“I prayed, and then God took care,” Rita explained. “It’s been really great to keep in the industry and have time for my family.”
Anthony works as a senior accountant and enjoys his work. Similarly to Rita, Anthony was in an uncertain situation professionally and had to trust in whatever life gave him.
“The past fourteen months have been challenging, but right now I’m happy where I am.”
The Grossos have three children, Chiara, Monica and Joseph. Chiara, 11 years old, is thoughtful and artistic. She is in choir, plays softball and golf, and is currently in a production of Peter Pan jr. at her school.
“She loves so many artistic things,” Rita acclaimed. “She loves to play piano, to sing, to draw, to learn. Everything she does is beautiful.”
Monica, 9 years old, is considered the kind and compassionate child of the three. She is always eager to help and support her family in any way she can. She just finished cheerleading for St. Anastasia. Joseph, the youngest of the family, walked over while his parents talked about Monica and gave his own opinion of his older sister.
“She is generous and has a very gentle heart,” Joseph said of Monica.
Joseph is 6 years old, the youngest in the family. At the mention of Joseph, his father laughed.
“Joseph is crazy,” Anthony laughed. “A total social butterfly, full of energy, and has the ability to make anyone laugh.”
He is also considered a renaissance boy by his parents. At six, he has already studied planets, nature, the weather and a long list of other interests that he has picked up. He loves to play baseball, and is currently playing basketball and enjoys that as well.
After Monica was born, the Grossos decided it was time to pick the home and the town they wanted to raise their children in.
“We decided after we had Monica that we wanted to pick the right town but still stay in the area close to our family,” Rita explained.
Rita’s sister lives in Media, and her brother lives nearby as well. Both Rita and Anthony grew up in Delaware County, and they are blessed to still be surrounded by family.
“School district was a huge draw,” Rita said. “We really like it. It’s a great neighborhood, with great neighbors all around the block.”
Rita continued to extol her neighbors and the neighborhood as a whole. On any given weekend, the neighborhood kids could come over their house to play or Joseph, Monica and Chiara could be found playing with the neighbors. The open, inviting nature of the community is something the Grossos cherish.
~Rita glowed.
Roots are very important to the Grossos, not just for the family around them in Delaware County but the ancestry in Italy that has spanned hundreds of years. Chiara is named after the Church of Santa Chiara in Assisi, Italy, and both Rita and Anthony have spent time in Italy retracing the steps of their heritage.
Rita, in particular, has dedicated a large amount of time and effort into connecting to her Italian roots. She has visited Italy and taken extended stays, sometimes longer than a month. Her parents bought an apartment on the east coast of Italy, in a town called Acquaviva delle Fonti. It is a ten minute drive to the Adriatic beaches, and a half hour south of her grandparents and generations of ancestors before them.
Earlier this year, the whole family took a trip to see her parents’ Italian home along with the many towns that make up their heritage. Packing a rental car full of family and exploring the many different towns along the Italian coast, Anthony and
Rita were able to trace their stories across the country and show it all to their children. They stayed with their parents, visited extended family in the towns further south, and ended their journey in Rome.
From Left to Right Chiara, Anthony, and Monica Grosso
“We put 700 miles on the car, it was such a great experience to see family and go on this journey together after so many years.”
Family and food are staples of the holidays, and Rita loves the baking and cooking that comes with this time of year. The holiday season is a warm, wonderful time for the Grosso family. Football is heading toward the playoffs, the whole family gets together and Rita gets to make Christmas cookies for everyone.
Surrounded by family and friends this time of year, it is easy to see glimpses of the heritage that has brought a family to where it is today. Having travelled to their roots and seen the effects of a family that commits to staying together, the Grossos have a special appreciation for the value of family, the Christmas season, and the building of a heritage.
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