Wednesday, February 21,

Italian Ethnic Pride Turns "Garry" Back to "Giarraputo"

The ANNOTICO Report

 

The national "political flip flop" from "Assimilation" to "Diversity" in the early 70s, that launched Ethnic Studies for "minorities" to instill Pride, left Americans of Euro Ethnicity in a void.

 

A "mere" American with NO Ethnic "connection" began feeling like an "orphan". And as long as other Ethnicities continue to foster that  Ethnic Pride, the Italian Communities failure to provide Italian Studies programs will "short change" it's younger generation.

 

The "mere" study of the Italian Language is Not enough. And as touching the story below is, the "mere" changing of the family surname is neither not enough.Foster Italian and Italian American Studies in your Schools and your Community!!!! 

 

Below: Giarraputo became Garry after the father was told he wouldn't advance in the insurance business with an Italian name, when Italian-Americans were the most numerical victims of ethnic intolerance.

 

When the kids discovered their "roots", they were enthralled with the idea of reclaiming their  original surname.

But Dr. Garry -- was on the fence, even in these supposedly advanced years, with the  concern about the effect his "Italian" surname would have on his medical practice.

 

 

Ethnic pride leads family to reassume real surname

Courier Post

Cherry Hill,NJ,USA

Christina Mitchell    Ties That Bind

 February 20. 2007

When fourth-grader Ryan Garry embarked on a school project about his ethnic heritage, he was at a loss: There wasn't a lot of information on the surname Garry.

But when he looked up his dad's original surname, Giarraputo, Ryan hit the jackpot.

That school project one year ago renewed a discussion between Ryan's parents, Gibbsboro psychiatrist Dr. Leonard Garry, and his wife, Linda, about reclaiming the original surname.

Garry's father, also Leonard, had changed his name to Garry decades ago, after being told he wouldn't advance in the insurance business with a name like Giarraputo.

"The kids knew the history already," says Giarraputo, a father of four who lives in Medford. "They were enthralled with the idea of regaining it."

But the doctor -- whose aunts, uncles and cousins had kept the name Giarraputo -- was on the fence, concerned about the effect on his medical practice.

"There was a lot of thought that went into this," says Linda Giarraputo, who first discussed the name change with her husband when they married in 1991.

"For me, personally, and for my children, it was a no-brainer. But for Len, it wasn't that easy."

"I had a couple of sleepless nights," her husband adds. "But I thought about it for a while and it really seemed like the right thing to do."

Three months of paperwork and a couple of trips to Motor Vehicles later, the Garrys officially became the Giarraputos in October. The doctor's patients were fine with the change, but, just in case, he still answers to Dr. Garry or just "Dr. G."

Giarraputo's daughter Brianna Rose, 9, was thrilled the name translated to "wild rose," while the youngest, 6-year-old Megan, still is grappling with the spelling. The Giarraputos also have a 13-year-old daughter, Amanda.

In the end, the change has been a lesson in how things used to be -- when Italian-Americans were among victims of ethnic intolerance -- and, in a sense, how they still are, given the current anti-immigrant mood of the country.

"I'm sensitized to the effect of change as a mental health issue," says Giarraputo, 42. "And I liked that it sensitized our kids.

"This isn't about wanting to become Italian again. We love being Americans. And it's because of where we live that we were able to do this."

Linda Giarraputo believes her children learned a priceless lesson. "It's OK to be who you are in this day and age," she adds. "You can be proud of it."

For Giarraputo's father, the original name change "wasn't an easy decision," says his son.

"But it was the right decision for the time," Giarraputo adds. "And now there's a sense of pride in my being able to take the name back."

Giarraputo's relatives recently researched the family ancestry and discovered most of the clan settled in either New York or Texas. Giarraputo was born in Queens, N.Y., but moved to Cherry Hill as a toddler.

"It's a neat feeling of reconnection with the family," says Giarraputo, who recently received a note from his Uncle Frank that read, "Welcome back to the fold."

Ties That Bind is a weekly column about families.

If you have a story to tell, contact Christina Mitchell at (856) 317-7905 or cmitchellat courierpostonline.com.

 

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