Date
December 09, 2010
Maker
Columbus Centre
Accession#
ICEA2010.0006.0001
Interview 1 With Galileo Ricci
Galileo Ricci was born on February 4, 1922 in Melfi in the province of Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. He was the youngest of five children; he had three brothers and one sister. Because Galileo’s father travelled frequently to North and South America for work, Galileo did not know him very well. After the big earthquake in 1929, the family moved to Florence where Galileo and his brother attended school at an orphanage. Galileo’s father followed them in 1929. In 1934, the family migrated to Canada. After landing in Halifax, the Ricci family travelled to Montreal where they settled. In 1939, just before the start of World War II, Galileo’s father passed away. In 1940, Galileo was 18 years old. He was not interned but was instead designated an enemy alien, fingerprinted, and ordered to report monthly to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Galileo always found work, despite being a victim of racial discrimination and being accused of having fascist involvement. He married Antonia Maria (Ninetta) Frenza, the daughter of internee Leonardo Frenza, and in 1967 they moved to Toronto where he worked until the age of 70.
Galileo Ricci passed away on September 15, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario. He is survived by his darling wife Ninetta and loving son.
In this opening clip Galileo Ricci introduces himself and speaks about his parents and siblings and their life in Italy.
Galileo Ricci briefly speaks his family’s move to Florence where he attended school.
Galileo Ricci discusses his family’s Protestant faith and his family’s migration from Italy.
Galileo Ricci speaks about his family’s migration to Canada and shares his first impressions of Montreal.
Galileo Ricci talks about learning to speak English and the discrimination he faced at school.
Galileo Ricci speaks about the death of his father in 1939.
Galileo Ricci speaks about his life and work at the outbreak of war in 1939. He speaks about how he believes certain events that occurred at his workplace lead to him being designated an enemy alien.
Galileo Ricci describes his difficulty finding and keeping work during WWII due to his enemy alien designation.
Galileo Ricci describes how his enemy alien designation continued to affect his working life after the war.
Date
June 20, 2011
Maker
Columbus Centre
Accession#
ICEA2010.0006.0002
Interview 2 With Galileo Ricci
This is the second video interview with Galileo Ricci conducted in Italian.
Galileo was born on February 4, 1922 in Melfi, Potenza situated in the region of Basilicata, Italy. His parents were Giuseppina and Guido Ricci. Galileo spent seven years in Melfi, and then moved to Florence with his brother, Arnaldo, to go to school after an earthquake in 1929. Galileo’s father, Guido, travelled away from Italy 18 times before deciding to move the family to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1934. Galileo’s other brother, Orazzio, stayed in Florence since he was of age to serve in the military; he was sent to fight in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935 under Mussolini’s rule. Galileo was 12 years old when he immigrated to Canada. He went to school and received a diploma in radio technology; however during World War II he could not find work because he was Italian. He finally found work at a German-owned ammunitions factory. Galileo was not affiliated with the Order Sons of Italy nor was he interned during the war; however, he was designated an enemy alien, was finger-printed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and forced to report monthly. Galileo is married to Antonia Maria (Ninetta) Ricci (née Frenza), who was also interviewed for this project as her father Leonardo Frenza was interned during the war. They have one son and two grandchildren.
Galileo Ricci passed away on September 15, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario. He is survived by his darling wife Ninetta and loving son.
In this opening clip Galileo Ricci introduces himself.
Galileo Ricci speaks about his schooling in Florence, his father’s travels and his family’s migration to Montreal.
Galileo Ricci discusses attending school in Montreal and the difficulty he had finding work due to his Italian heritage. He also explains how he was fired from his place of employment in 1940 and how he believes this is what lead to him being designated an enemy alien.
Galileo Ricci speaks about being designated an enemy alien.
Galileo Ricci discusses how his enemy alien designation affected his career in the years after the war.
Galileo Ricci states that he only participated in church groups while living in Montreal and had no affiliation with the Order Sons of Italy. He also speaks about his brother who was serving in the Italian army during the war.
Galileo Ricci shares the story of how he met his wife Antonia Maria (Ninetta) Frenza, who’s father Leonard was interned during WWII.
Galileo Ricci speaks about his brother who stayed behind in Italy when the family migrated to Montreal and went on to serve in the Italian army.
Galileo Ricci shares the story of how he came to be names Galileo. He also speaks about his Protestant faith.
