Our very first success story was reported in the Winter, 1988, issue of POINTers (V2, N4, P3) when Vincent MILITELLO (#273) told us he had found his third-cousin, Frances RIPPLINGER, who later became POINTer #527. Vincent and Alice Webb INGA (#5) had both submitted the surname MILITELLO, from the town of Bivona, Agrigento, Sicily, into the POINT Italian Surname Data Base. They contacted one another and found they were not related, but Alice put Vincent in contact with Frances, and they were. This was the prototype example of how POINT was intended to work.

In the Spring, 1989, issue of POINTers (V3, N1, P19), Christine CARLSON (#506) told us that in looking over the POINT Italian Surname Data Base, she had noticed that Larry ROMAGNINO (#210) was interested in the surname RICHICHI in Dellanova, which was very close to RECHICHI, which Chris was researching in the same town. She contacted Larry and they connected through the family of Christine's grandfather's uncle, a branch she had lost all hope of ever finding.

In the Autumn, 1989, issue of POINTers (V3, N3, P26), John COLAMOSCA (#346) told us that he was part of the first connection between three cousins through POINT. John told us that he, Kevin BELL (#565) and Dolores STONE (#743) had found that they were all related, the relationship tracing back to 1779.

Marguerite BERTOGLIO (#878) told us in the Winter, 1990, issue of POINTers (V4, N4, P52) that she had learned of POINT from a friend who had told her that W. Jackson WILLOUGHBY (#750) had submitted the surnames AUDO and FASSERO to the POINT Italian Surname Data Base. Marguerite contacted Jack and they found they were related through both of these lines. Later, another cousin, Helen WHITE (#894), became a POINTer.

In the Spring, 1991, issue of POINTers (V5, N1, P53), Doris HOWARD (#126) said that she and Larry MASTROMATTEO (#622) had corresponded on the surname DEL GIUDICE and had found they were fifth cousins. Larry sent her enough information to add eight generations to her history.

Another success was reported in the Autumn, 1991, issue of POINTers (VS, N3, P26). Laura Ulrich BRICKEY (#1071) told us that through POINT she had found Nancy Kristen HAYES (#168). They share the same great-great- grandmother.

In the Winter, 1991, issue of POINTers (VS, N4, P46), Maria BROWER (#1171) and Rose Ann LOMBARDI/WRIGHT (#699) reported they found each other through POINT and Rose Ann provided Maria with information she had been seeking since 1978.

In the Spring, 1992, issue of POINTers (V6, N1, P5), Mary Rose COSTA (#1195) and Rose Marie TAYLOR (#709) told us they share the surname GIGLIO and have found they have a common great-great-grandfather.

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Since this article appeared in the Spring, 1992, issue of POINTers, the following additional POINTers have found cousins through POINT and the POINT Italian Surname Data Base.

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In the Spring, 1993, issue of POINTers (V7, N1, P25), Mary Ann LOCKE (#1537) said that she had learned that she and Dennis Ramsey are cousins. Dennis is the husband of Vanessa RAMSEY (#1007), who was researching Dennis' family.

In the Autumn, 1993, issue of POINTers (V7, N3, P9), Albert RHONE (#1439) related that he had found his fourth-cousin, Everett FAZIOLI (#363) through POINT. They share the same great-great-great-grandfather.

In the Winter, 1993, issue of POINTers (V7, N4, P12), your editor (Tom MILITELLO, #1) was, at last, able to report his own success. While I was manning the POINT table at Festa Bella in San Diego over the Columbus Day week-end, Joan (Militello) ROESCH (#1795) introduced herself. We quickly determined that we are related and we later found that her great-grandfather and my great-great-grandfather are the same person.

In the Winter, 1995, issue of POINTers (V9, N4, P34), Carol KWOLEK (#2040) told us how she connected with Antonio ROSSMAN (#1510) after their common surname, Spera, from Capestrano {AQ} Abruzzi, was listed in the POINT Italian Surname Data Base as one of our four-star surnames.

Also in the Winter, 1995, issue of POINTers (V9, N4, P50), Marie ROTH (#766) and Jeanette WENNER (#2475) told us how they found each other after their common surname, Perrella, was also listed in the POINT Italian Surname Data Base as one of our four-star surnames.

In the Spring, 1996, issue of POINTers (V10, N1, P37), Gayle LICARI (#1231) said that her husband, Larry, and Fran BOSELLI (#1821) had found each other. Larry's father, Joseph Licari, and Fran's grandfather, Salvatore Licari, were brothers.

In the Summer, 1996, issue of POINTers (V10, N2, P19), Roberta TAYLOR (#2895) reported that she had found a fourth-cousin, Anthony OZZELLO (#1907). They share a great-aunt in common.

Also in the Summer, 1996, issue of POINTers (V10, N2, P35), Maria SIMONE (#2838) reported that she had found a long-missing piece of her family within two weeks of becoming a POINTer. Maria found that her great-great-grandfather and the great-grandfather of Sam GIANSANTE (#816) were brothers.

In the Winter, 1996, issue of POINTers (V10, N4, P46), Salvatore SARDELLA (#942) told us this story: Marge Di SCIULLO (#3209) was not a POINTer when she attended a meeting of the New England chapter of POINTers In Person and learned about Salvatore. She called him and they determined that Marge's grandmother and Salvatore's third-cousin {twice- removed} were sister and brother, making Salvatore and Marge fifth-cousins.

Also in the Winter, 1996, issue of POINTers (V10, N4, P47), Richard ONOFRIO (#591) said that a conversation with Darlene De LUCO (#2416) at a meeting of the Los Angeles chapter of POINTers In Person referred him to Susan ARCARIS. Some discussion with Susan revealed that her grandfather was the brother of Richard's grandmother.

In the Spring, 1997, issue of POINTers (V11, N1, P37), Paul LENZI (#2235) was discovered by a fourth-cousin, Michael ANTOLINO, while Micheal was reading a borrowed copy of the Annual Directory.

Also in the Spring, 1997, issue of POINTers (V11, N1, P37), John DEL ROSSO (#2680) told of a year-long exchange of letters between himself and Marcella ROZWADOWSKI (#1986) which finally led to the discovery than John and Marcella are sixth-cousins {once-removed}.

In the Autumn, 2000, issue of POINTers (V14, N3, P32), Carolyne L. Reeves (#4341) wrote:

"I recently became a POINTer and submitted the four surnames of my grandparents (from Pratola Peligna) to the POINT Italian Surname Data Base. When I received the Annual Directory #12 - 2000, I wrote to Thomas Tedeschi (#2625), who had also entered some of the same family surnames. After several letter exchanges, we identified several links between us, one of these being my great-grandfather, Vincenzo Presutti, who is also Tom's third (and fourth) cousin. Tom, who has been researching family lines for over 10 years, has graciously added four or five generations to my lines. Since I am currently reviewing Family History Center films from Pratola Peligna, I expect to continue to share information and stories with this newly identified cousin. Thank you for the forum which provided such an opportunity. You've made me a member for life."

In the Winter, 2000, issue of POINTers (V14, N4, P29), Joyce D. Weber (#4438) wrote:

"My daughter needed information about our ancestors for a class assignment and she needed it fast! I frantically tried to think of every family member who might be able to give her names, dates, what so-and-so did for a living, and so on. Of the few remaining elderly relatives that I have, none could provide much information and none were very enthusiastic about helping her. My upbringing was mostly Croatian, since my father was Croatian and the influence in our family was mostly of that nationality. However, I knew my maternal grandmother's maiden name was Bellanti. I found POINT on the Internet by using the computer at our local library and I became a member. In the Annual Directory, I found Peter Bellanti (#4028). I wrote to Peter and we connected our common ancestors back to about 1825 - we are third cousins."

In the Winter, 2001, issue of POINTers (V15, N4, P27), Karen Bucaro (#3774) wrote:

"I want you to know how much I look forward to each issue of POINTers. The information and heart-warming articles are a joy to read, sometimes bringing tears to my eyes. I always had an appreciation for what my maternal grandparents went through to make a new life for themselves and their family, but there are so many more questions that I wished I had known to ask them. I would also like to publicly thank Roger Bucaro (#2062) for the time and work he put into producing a family history. We share the same great-grandfather, which we may never have learned without POINT."

In the Winter, 2002, issue of POINTers (V16, N4, P35), Anthony P. De Lio (#4477) wrote:

"Through POINT, I was able to locate a third cousin, Patricia Asta (#4441). My cousin, Catarina Premont (#2074), was the one who got me involved with POINT, and she, on her own, located other third cousins. All I can say is that my association with POINT has been informative, beneficial and rewarding. I would like to pass that on to you and the staff that makes this all take place.

 

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With over 200 four-star surnames in the POINT Italian Surname Data Base, we are sure there must be other cousins just waiting to find each other. Or perhaps they have already found each other and have just forgotten to let POINT know about their success . . .