Depression Era Kids From Astoria
To Reunite At Riccardo’s
By John Toscano

Tomorrow around noontime, some 50 senior citizens, many of whom haven’t seen or talked with one another in nearly half a century, will gather at Riccardo’s to share some good old times, renew acquaintances and enjoy each other’s company.

Some still live in Astoria and other parts of Queens and Long Island. Many will come from other states, some as close as New Jersey and as distant as Oregon, and from points in between—Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Arizona.

What brings them together is the birthplace of most of the group—a pocket of Astoria between the Hellgate Bridge and Ditmars Boulevard. George Galitsis, Nick Hartung, Dom Di Nunzio, Richie Herman, Sonja Loiacono, Elaine Loiaconco Varagnolo and Julie and Helen Pinto still reside in the neighborhood where they were born some 70 and 80 years ago.

About four hours after their "Astoria Gathering," they will part again perhaps to meet another day. But while they’re at Riccardo’s, 21-01 24th Ave., a place they know well from their youth, they’ll be swapping stories and pictures, sharing a meal and having a drink or two. The moving force behind the reunion was Frank Brady, originally from 22-19 26th St., now retired and living in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Kaye and family.

Brady, 76, who had a long career as salesman of women’s goods and as an executive, capped his working life with a stint in a family-owned business in Atlanta, also dealing in women’s wear.

Through the years, Brady maintained a friendship with George Galitsis, who lived a few doors away from him on 26th Street.

Brady would visit Galitsis on business trips to New York from San Francisco, California or Atlanta.

About six weeks ago, Brady suggested to Galitsis that it would be nice to have a get-together to see some of the old crowd.

"I told him why should we have to go to a wake to see our old friends?" Brady, said. "Why not see them while we’re still alive and have some fun, hug one another and enjoy each other for a day?"

Galitsis agreed. He provided some names, addresses and telephone numbers. "We started calling all over the country," Brady said, "and the list kept getting bigger and bigger."

Debbie Litas, one of the group, became an important cog in the effort, Brady said. "She’s a natural organizer. None of this could have happened without the tremendous efforts of Debbie, Jity Galitsis and Charlie Spittery, assisted and cheered on by Mary Litras, Gene Rollins, Dom Di Nunzio and many others."

Rollins, was a good friend of singer Tony Bennett, who also came from that area, and used to sing from time to time with Bennett. "We tried to get Bennett to come to tomorrow’s gathering, but he couldn’t make it," Brady said.

After getting as many names as they could the reunion organizers agreed to hold the gathering at Riccardo’s.

Only one special invitation went out—to former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, who belonged to the generation which followed Brady’s.

Brady explained, "We all knew Mr. Vallone’s father, Charles Vallone, who was a leader in the Astoria community, and of course Mr. Vallone had a long and successful career and did a lot for the community, so we invited him."

When Brady took a breather from talking about the gathering, he spoke fondly about the group. He said they were mostly the children of European immigrant parents, first generation Americans who were shaped by the diverse cultures and traditions that their parents brought with them from Greece, Italy, Malta, Ireland, Sweden and Germany, among other countries.

They were born into the Depression of 1929. Many went to Immaculate Conception School or public schools and Long Island City H.S. and then into the armed services during World War II.

Just before the war the New York World’s Fair of 1939 at not-too-distant Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was a great diversion. "We went there almost every day and had lots of fun for almost nothing," Brady recalled. Another development at the time was the construction of Astoria Pool, which he said "really put Astoria on the map. People started coming from everywhere."

Brady also remembered playing kick-the-can and stickball on 26th Street between Ditmars and Potter Avenue (now 23rd Street) and football in the empty lots that dotted the area and eventually became Astoria Park.

"Our growing up was magnificent," Brady said. "No one had any money, but we had so much fun."

The war interrupted their lives and when it was over, many of the veterans took advantage of the G.I. Bill, which provided a college education for returning vets. Many from the area chose CCNY, City College of New York which was the forerunner of CUNY, the City University of New York.

With the end of the war, there also came flight to the suburbs and subsequently movement out of New York to Florida and other states. "That’s why I and all the others are looking forward to the gathering at Riccardo’s. There’s so much to talk about, so much catching up to do, so many people to see. For the first hour or hour and a half we’re just going to talk and share stories. Then the food will be served. It’ll probably be a quick four hours, but we’re going to enjoy every minute of it," Brady said.