Michael Ricci has devoted his life to caring for his family and trying to help his community. In order to preserve the memories and history of his family, he compiled research from letters, newspapers, family documents and family stories told by relatives into a published family history in 2001.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Michael Ricci holds a copy of his book “From Vicari, Sicily to Westfield, New York: The Story of the Dina, Ricci and Grizanti Families.” Ricci dedicated the book to his mother, Santa Ricci, who died in 2006 and is pictured in an opening page.
Michael Ricci holds a copy of his book “From Vicari, Sicily to Westfield, New York: The Story of the Dina, Ricci and Grizanti Families.” Ricci dedicated the book to his mother, Santa Ricci, who died in 2006 and is pictured in an opening page.
But the recording of his family's history did not end there.
“When I was growing up,” Ricci said, “my mother frequently related curious events that occurred in her family. My mother passed away last July, at the age of 96, and among her belongings were some old pictures. One was of a woman I didn't know, but she looked just like my grandmother. Turned out she was my great-grandmother.”
Finding that photograph combined with the loss of his mother inspired Ricci to produce a revised and updated family history.
“I embarked on writing the second edition, which included many additions and amendments,” he said. “I estimated that it had taken me more than 250 hours to complete this recent edition. This book is dedicated to my mother.”
The finished book includes the photograph of Ricci's great-grandmother and lists the names and addresses of as many family members as Ricci was able to learn, and also includes family trees traced back to Vicari, Sicily in 1851 the year his great-grandmother was born.
But Ricci's own story is one of a dedication to finding recreational outlets for his children, of which he has 12, which benefited many other children in Auburn and Cayuga County over the years.
“When my son, Michael, turned 8, he really wanted to play Pony League baseball,” Ricci recalled. “I knew my son would probably have a hard time getting into the league because there was so much competition. ”
That was in 1975. Ricci's son didn't make the team, so he decided to create a new league for children who had no place to play baseball. He took an ad out in the newspaper and held registrations.
“Sixty kids signed up,” Ricci said, “and 15 of them were girls. We were the first league in Auburn to integrate boys and girls. We made four teams, and the kids had a lot of fun. I ran the Sand Lot League for three years, then I turned it over to some other parents.”
In 1979, Ricci started another league, called the Boys and Girls Baseball League.
“We played our games at St. Mary's School field. I ran that, too, for a year or two, then someone else took over from me.”
For his son, Peter, Ricci turned from sports to academic competitions.
“Peter was supposed to be in a school spelling bee, but only one student from each class could compete, and he wasn't the one.”
So Ricci decided to organize a spelling bee of his own, where anyone in sixth, seventh and eighth grades who wanted to compete could. He tried to solicit financial support, but ended up paying most of the expenses himself the first year.
The next year, entrants paid a nominal fee to help cover expenses. Ricci went statewide after a few years, and students came to Auburn from all over New York.
Ricci's latest endeavor is to try to start a Toastmaster's Club in Auburn.
“The crux of the Toastmaster program shows how you can speak effectively in front of a group of people,” he explained. “It develops all facets of giving a speech or speaking in public. There is not pressure to join or to actually speak in public.”
Learn more
For additional information on the Toastmaster program, contact Michael Ricci at 252-4561
“When I was growing up,” Ricci said, “my mother frequently related curious events that occurred in her family. My mother passed away last July, at the age of 96, and among her belongings were some old pictures. One was of a woman I didn't know, but she looked just like my grandmother. Turned out she was my great-grandmother.”
Finding that photograph combined with the loss of his mother inspired Ricci to produce a revised and updated family history.
“I embarked on writing the second edition, which included many additions and amendments,” he said. “I estimated that it had taken me more than 250 hours to complete this recent edition. This book is dedicated to my mother.”
The finished book includes the photograph of Ricci's great-grandmother and lists the names and addresses of as many family members as Ricci was able to learn, and also includes family trees traced back to Vicari, Sicily in 1851 the year his great-grandmother was born.
But Ricci's own story is one of a dedication to finding recreational outlets for his children, of which he has 12, which benefited many other children in Auburn and Cayuga County over the years.
“When my son, Michael, turned 8, he really wanted to play Pony League baseball,” Ricci recalled. “I knew my son would probably have a hard time getting into the league because there was so much competition. ”
That was in 1975. Ricci's son didn't make the team, so he decided to create a new league for children who had no place to play baseball. He took an ad out in the newspaper and held registrations.
“Sixty kids signed up,” Ricci said, “and 15 of them were girls. We were the first league in Auburn to integrate boys and girls. We made four teams, and the kids had a lot of fun. I ran the Sand Lot League for three years, then I turned it over to some other parents.”
In 1979, Ricci started another league, called the Boys and Girls Baseball League.
“We played our games at St. Mary's School field. I ran that, too, for a year or two, then someone else took over from me.”
For his son, Peter, Ricci turned from sports to academic competitions.
“Peter was supposed to be in a school spelling bee, but only one student from each class could compete, and he wasn't the one.”
So Ricci decided to organize a spelling bee of his own, where anyone in sixth, seventh and eighth grades who wanted to compete could. He tried to solicit financial support, but ended up paying most of the expenses himself the first year.
The next year, entrants paid a nominal fee to help cover expenses. Ricci went statewide after a few years, and students came to Auburn from all over New York.
Ricci's latest endeavor is to try to start a Toastmaster's Club in Auburn.
“The crux of the Toastmaster program shows how you can speak effectively in front of a group of people,” he explained. “It develops all facets of giving a speech or speaking in public. There is not pressure to join or to actually speak in public.”
Learn more
For additional information on the Toastmaster program, contact Michael Ricci at 252-4561
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