Diocesan news Pittsburgh Catholic. Friday. December 16. 1983 — Page 7 Bevilacqua family versio n o f e'American Dream 9 By STEPHEN KARLINCHAK t To the Church of Pittsburgh, in particular, and to western Pennsylvania, in general, Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua is the shepherd and spiritual leader of nearly one million Roman Catholics residing in six counties in the southeastern part of the state. However to his brothers and sisters, he is “ Tony,” the baby brother. To his nieces and nephews, he is “ Uncle Tony,” who officiates at marriages and baptisms. In a sense, the story of the Bevilacqua family represents a version of “ The American Dream." In addition to Anthony, who was recently installed as bishop of Pittsburgh, the children and grandchildren of Luigi and Maria Bevilacqua, Italian immigrants to the United States, made careers for themselves in medicine and health care, accounting, business, education, etc. What motivated the 10 surviving children of an immigrant to achieve "The American Dream"? “ Fear," wisecracked the second son, Angelo Bevilacqua of York, Pa. “ If you didn't go to school, you didn’t succeed.” “ Mother had an intuition about marks,” said Dr. Michael Bevilacqua, the oldest child. “ She learned enough about grades to know that only "A s ” and “ 90s” were good enough. She wanted to see them. We were a poor family. We had a feeling that to get out of the status we were in, we would need drive and an education.” "The basic intelligence was in our mother and father," added Dr. Rocco Bevilacqua, a Great Neck, N.Y., radiologist and the third son. “ The times were different," recalled Frank Bevilacqua, an engineer who resides in Simsbury, Conn. "In those days, there was a difference between right and wrong. You lived right or you didn’t go anywhere." The bishop's oldest sister, Isabella Cameron of Richmond Hill, N.Y., said that the doctors and the lawyers who patronized their father's shoe shine stand instilled upon him the need to educate his children. "M y father was sorry that he didn't have an education and he impressed upon us the need and the desire for an education," she said. The sons said that their mother had their careers pegged out. Michael and Rocco would be the doctors, Frank an engineer, Anthony a priest, All four of Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua’s brothers and all live of his Isabella! Cameron of Richmond Hill, N.Y.; Angelo Bevilacqua ol and Angelo a dentist. She was right except for Angelo, an accountant sisters attended installation ceremonies at St. Paul Cathedral. From York, Pa.; Bishop Bevilacqua, Frank Bevilacqua of W. Simsbury, who, ironically, is the treasurer for a large dental supply firm. left are Gloria Bittner of Baldwin, N.Y.; Mary Jo Alesandro of Conn.; Dr. Michael Bevilacqua of M ia m i, Fla.; Virginia Larsen of As for her son the priest, Maria Bevilacqua knew he would be a Garden City,. N.Y.; Dr. Roeco Bevilacqua of Great Neck, N.Y.; Woodhaven, N.Y.; and Madelyn Langan of Bayside, N.Y. bishop. "She thought he would be pope,” said Michael. “ Tony was number one in all of his classes..." Frank said. Madeline Langan, the youngest child, recalled tagging along with her holidays together. • “ Tony accepted the ways of the Church...” Rocco broke in. Bishop Bevilacqua's career and the monsignor’s share many t "Tony never got into arguments with God, he accepted God brother the seminarian. “ He and Fr. (Andrew) Klarmann used to lake me along when they would go up to camp at which Fr. Klarmann was similarities. Both studied in Rome, both are canon lawyers and both Completely," Frank said. have been or are chancellors ol dioceses in the New York City area Another sister, Mary Jo Alesandro of Garden City, N.Y., the chaplain so I could cook lor them," she said. "F r. Klarmann loved remembered her brother’s seminary graduation. “ (Brooklyn) Bishop spaghetti and I ended up cooking this much sauce," indictating a few "I think ol him as my Uncle Tony," Msgr. Alesandro said “ He had (Thomas) Malloy was there and he was awarding the prizes," she inches with her fingers, "in these big pots, " indictating about 24 inches some, but not a direct, influence on my vocation The fact that he is recalled. "Tony won three prizes. After he received the first prize, the with her hands. priest meant that I could be a priest." The monsignor explained that in bishop said that was good. After he won the second prize, the bishop The sisters admitted that their brother’s appointment as bishop ol the bishop's seminary days, there were few Itulian-American said that was stupendous. After he won the third prize, the bishop was Pittsburgh was bittersweet for them. He broke the news ol his seminarians, most of the seminary students in the Brooklyn Diocese appointment individually in chronological order. overwhelmed." were of Irish, German and Polish ancestry. “ I was in the hospital recovering from surgery when he told me," Michael also remembers his youngest brother’s studious nature. Msgr. Alesandro said that while he was studying in Rome his uncle Isabella said. “ My first reaction was ‘Oh, Tony, you’ll be going so far “ My wife and I were married and we had our own home. Tony, who just did send some long distance advice by mail. As chancellors, the away...It’s a sad event for us, but a fine event for Pittsburgh." started the minor seminary, came to me and asked to live us. monsignor said that he and his uncle did share some things “ I was worried about him being alone,” Madeline said. “ When he ; “ He said ’If I get the highest marks, I'll get a scholarship that will pay professionally, but that the two dioceses were different. He wouldn't called, I started crying. for the tuition and books. If I lived with you. I ’ll be able to study and get describe their professional relationship as that ol "younger man/elder “ He said 'Don’t worry, it’s a wonderful place.” ’ the scholarship.'” statesman." Mary Jo, the third sister, also remembers the tough times. "M y The bishop’s sisters said that since he was named a bishop, they don't husband and I lived across the street from my parents and we, as a see him as often as they once did. “ We know we can call him if we have a As canon lawyers, Msgr. Alesandro said that he and Bishop problem," Isabella said. “ He calls us every holiday.” Bevilacqua constantly are in touch. He said that there are strong ties family, didn't have much money. ' “ Mama used to send Tony to the store. One day, I hear a knock at my “ Once you're a bishop, you’re on your own,'” said his nephew, Msgr. between the Brooklyn and Rockville Centre dioceses and that; with the New York City Archdiocese, tri-diocesan events are usually sponsored door. It’s Tony and he looks sad. “ Iaskhim: ’Tony, what’s the matter?’ John Alesandro, chancellor of the Rockville Center, N.Y., Diocese. Disciplined is the word that the nephew used to describe his uncle. H e said: ‘Mama sent me to store and I lost the change, ten cents, and “ We’re going to miss him for Sunday dinners.” Msgr. Alesandro said in his family, the word “ fam ily” means more "H e off-and-on plays golf,'' Msgr. Alesandro said. "H e likes it a lot. He She is going to kill me.' implied his methodical ways and took lessons. He’s really quite good. I • “ So I gave him the dime. When the snow melted, he tound the dimt than immediate members. “ Fam ily," he said; means a larger unit that includes aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandchildren celebrating the hope someone in Pittsburgh gets him out to relax on a golf course." that he lost." The participants Those taking part in the installation ceremonies bishop ol Youngstown, Ohio, and president ol the for Bishop Anthony J. Bevilacqua M onday were: National Conference ol Catholic Bishops.; John Marshall, bishop of Burlington, Vt.: and Michael Cardinal John Krol, Archbishop of McAulil'fe, bishop of Jefferson City, Mo. Philadelphia and Metropolitan for the Bishops Theodore MeCarrick, Metuchen, N.J.; Ecclesiastical Province of Pennsylvania, j . Carroll McCormick, retired bishop ol officiated. Archbishop Pio Laghi, apostolic Scranton; Anthony Meslice, auxiliary bishop ol delegate to the United States, was present. New York City; and Emerson Moore, auxiliary Concelebranls: Archbishop Laghi, Bishop bishop of New York City. Leonard, Pittsburgh Aux. Bishops John B. Bishops Charles Mulrooney, retired auxiliary McDowell and Anthony G. Bosco, Brooklyn bishop of Brooklyn; Michael Murphy, bishop ol Bishop Francis Mugavero and Brooklyn Aux. Erie; Albert Oltenweller. bishop ol Steubenville, Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan. Ohio; and Andrew Pataki, auxiliary bishop of the Also attending: Cardinal John Car berry, Byzantine Rite Diocese ol Passaic, N.J. retired archbishop of St. Louis; Cardinal John Dearden, retired archbishop of Detroit and Bishops John Reiss, bishop of Trenton, N.J.; former bishop of Pittsburgh (1950-58); Joseph Ryan, coadjuator archbishop ol the Archbishop Stephen Kocisko, metropolitan Military Ordinariate; James Schad, auxiliary archbishop of the Byzantine Rite Archdiocese ol bishop of Camden, N.J.; and Francis Schulte, Pittsburgh: and Archbishop Francis Zayek, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia. bishop of the Maronite Diocese of St. Maron of Bishops Gilbert Sheldon, auxiliary bishop ol C o n s u l t o r s Brooklyn. Cleveland; John Synder, bishop of St. Augustine, Fla.; James Timlin, auxiliary bishop of Diocesan consultors form a semi-circle around Nicholas Dattilo, Msgr.