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Mary Martinelli, Nona, as a young woman, circa 1920s. Her maiden name was Marie Martinelli, born and raised in Scogna Superiore, Province of La Spezia, Italy. She came to the USA by ship as a teenager around 1917.
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Vassero, Nono, circa 1920s. He immigrated to the USA from the region of Abruzzo in Central Italy. He was an accomplished violinist and music teacher. He later went to work for Can't Bust 'Em who manufactured work clothes in San Francisco.
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Vassero playing the violin, which was eventually taken up also by his daughter Eva
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Eva and Robert with toys, circa 1920s
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Eva as a young girl. It is evident that she started the violin early.
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Robert and Eva in the late 1920s. They both played musical instruments, Eva becoming quite accomplished on the violin.
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Maria Martinelli, circa 1930s
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Eva in May 1942. She is carrying Ronnie and Johnnie. Her Dad, Vassero, is at the top of the stairs. Location: the back yard of the 238 Prague St S.F. house where Vassero and Maria lived for several decades.
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Twins Johnnie and Ronnie as babies. Ronnie is 15 minutes older than Johnnie. He never let Johnnie forget that he had seniority.
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Ervin with Johnnie and Eva with Ronnie, in 1942. Ervin served in the Navy from about 1941 until the end of WW II.
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Johnnie, Ervin, and Ronnie in August 1943. This was probably the backyard of the Military Projects where they lived while Ervin was away in the service.
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Johnnie, Eva and Ronnie in June 1943 standing on the front porch of the two story Military Projects residence located between Geneva Ave and McClarin Park.
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Eva in June 1943
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Eva, Ervin, and Friend, Aug 1943
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Ervin with Ronnie and Johnnie in 1945; they are standing in front of the garage of the 238 Prague St home of Nona and Nono.
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Nona, Johnnie, Nono, Ronnie in Prague Street backyard in May 1945
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Johnnie, Nono, Ronnie, and Nona at the SF Zoo
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Eva (Nona2) and Maria (Nona1) in 1945
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Eva and Ervin
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Ervin and Eva
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Ronnie as a young boy wearing a sailor hat like his Dad's. Ron was born cross-eyed, but had his eyes straightened in the late 1940s.
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Ervin, John, Barb, and Ron in late 1940s
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Ron and John in the 2nd grade, in 1949. This was the last year that twins Ron and John were in the same classroom. Ron was subsequently assigned to Sunshine School. Ron is 4th from the left; John highest in the rear.
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Ron, John, and Barb on July 25,1950
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Ron's Class at Sunshine School in S.F., 1950. Ron is on the left end in the front row. Sunshine School was an Elementary School for students with various learning challenges. Ron stayed there until going to Luther Burbank Jr. High School.
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Ron's 4th grade Class at Sunshine in 1951. Ron is in the lower right corner in the front row.
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John's 4th Grade Class at Thomas Edison Elementary School in Visitation Valley, 1951. John is 2nd from the left end in the front row. John was just discovering that he could run fast, leading to participation in many sports.
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Sluggers Ron and John standing in front of the 26 foot fishing boat that Ervin built in the garage, then brought out to the front of the house to finish up. It outgrew the garage. John played little league baseball on weekends.
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Ron, Barbara and John during the early 1950s; Barbara liked to tease her brothers. A lot of time was spent playing basketball at the hoop set up on a telephone pole near the 675 Campbell Ave house.
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Barbara and Ervin comparing their respective catches. Or wait..... Maybe Barb is holding the bait ;^) Ervin had two huge outboard motors which pushed his boat really fast!
