I guess sewing is in my blood. My Mom attended Sarah Hale Academy where she learned dressmaking, as her
Mom did years before in Catania. She worked for a well known dressmaker in Manhatten, as a seamstress and
model, until I was born in 1954. My Grandpa, a specialty taylor from Sicily, made suits for hunchback men. My
Dad was a belt maker. We all lived in a big old house in Bensonhurst.
Mom did years before in Catania. She worked for a well known dressmaker in Manhatten, as a seamstress and
model, until I was born in 1954. My Grandpa, a specialty taylor from Sicily, made suits for hunchback men. My
Dad was a belt maker. We all lived in a big old house in Bensonhurst.
Sometimes it was not so accidental. But Freddie and I always thought it was fun even though we were
guaranteed a smack later on. Sometimes an arm would extend out and yank me in, to help wind bobbins or
to thread a needle. Eventually, I would go on to help stitch up hems, and trace and cut patterns out for my
Mom. I actually enjoyed it. And Dad would always come home with a bandaged up finger...beltmaking
definitely not his forte.
guaranteed a smack later on. Sometimes an arm would extend out and yank me in, to help wind bobbins or
to thread a needle. Eventually, I would go on to help stitch up hems, and trace and cut patterns out for my
Mom. I actually enjoyed it. And Dad would always come home with a bandaged up finger...beltmaking
definitely not his forte.
By the 1970's, things changed. Grandpa and Grandma were gone, my Dad was working for the Post
Office, and my Mom went back to college to fullfill her dream of getting a teachers license. She could
have made a fortune sewing custom wedding gowns, but enjoyed teaching Earth Science until her
retirement in 1990. I would occasionally fire up the old Singer machines to make my bell bottoms and
shirts fit more snug. Other than that they gathered dust. There was a brief period where Freddie's Uncle
Pete would take us on his boat and catch these huge fish by the Norton's Pt. Lighthouse and his secret
spot, which now I'm sure, was the "Tin Can Grounds".
That was so much fun, and the boat was so cool. But boating came to an abrupt end for us after Uncle
Pete died.
Office, and my Mom went back to college to fullfill her dream of getting a teachers license. She could
have made a fortune sewing custom wedding gowns, but enjoyed teaching Earth Science until her
retirement in 1990. I would occasionally fire up the old Singer machines to make my bell bottoms and
shirts fit more snug. Other than that they gathered dust. There was a brief period where Freddie's Uncle
Pete would take us on his boat and catch these huge fish by the Norton's Pt. Lighthouse and his secret
spot, which now I'm sure, was the "Tin Can Grounds".
That was so much fun, and the boat was so cool. But boating came to an abrupt end for us after Uncle
Pete died.
In the 1980's, Cousin Freddie was rebuilding, painting and racing cars in Englishtown, NJ, and I helped
him on my days off from the Post Office. He taught me the importance of following the car's body lines
when painting or pinstriping. We enjoyed taking something ready for a junkyard and transforming it into
a thing of beauty! And we became damn good at it.
him on my days off from the Post Office. He taught me the importance of following the car's body lines
when painting or pinstriping. We enjoyed taking something ready for a junkyard and transforming it into
a thing of beauty! And we became damn good at it.
So, what the hell was I doing working at the PO? Thank God I decided to leave that place with most of
my sanity and my eyesight in 1994. At some point, I took an idiot test and worked in home repair until
something began pulling at me in 2000.
my sanity and my eyesight in 1994. At some point, I took an idiot test and worked in home repair until
something began pulling at me in 2000.
How my wife and I ended up at a boat show at the Javitts Center, I don't know, but I signed up
for a Captains license training course that day. By the end of that year I not only had my
captains license, but I had also purchased a used boat. I used my fiberglassing skills I learned
from my Cuz to restore it myself. What I had learned in home repair helped with the electrical
and plumbing upgrades.
for a Captains license training course that day. By the end of that year I not only had my
captains license, but I had also purchased a used boat. I used my fiberglassing skills I learned
from my Cuz to restore it myself. What I had learned in home repair helped with the electrical
and plumbing upgrades.
But, something was missing, I noticed some boats had these enclosures, and other fabrications that looked so
cool. Some boats did not look as good, and I could tell why. Either the lines of the boat were not followed
effectively, or there was excess canvas because a tuck was needed around a curve, or a vinyl window was wavy
due to poor patterning.
I knew I could make these things myself. But who has the time? After getting some professional estimates for
the stuff, I decided I had better make the time. I found a wonderful company in Indiana that supplied the
heavy duty machines and everything needed, and offered free videos which helped me master the stitching,
and various seams. It wasn't long before I fabricated my very own enclosure, helm cover, and winter cover
etc. And people at the marina started to take notice right away. I felt I was back on the right track, as I really
enjoyed what I was doing and eventually, making my clients very happy too .
cool. Some boats did not look as good, and I could tell why. Either the lines of the boat were not followed
effectively, or there was excess canvas because a tuck was needed around a curve, or a vinyl window was wavy
due to poor patterning.
I knew I could make these things myself. But who has the time? After getting some professional estimates for
the stuff, I decided I had better make the time. I found a wonderful company in Indiana that supplied the
heavy duty machines and everything needed, and offered free videos which helped me master the stitching,
and various seams. It wasn't long before I fabricated my very own enclosure, helm cover, and winter cover
etc. And people at the marina started to take notice right away. I felt I was back on the right track, as I really
enjoyed what I was doing and eventually, making my clients very happy too .
Mom is 98 years young, still living in that big old house on 86 Street Bensonhurst, and still checks my work. She
enjoys telling my kids, the stories of Grampa and Grandma's taylor shop.
... God Bless America!! and May Forever Live the the American Dream!!
- Capt. Phil
enjoys telling my kids, the stories of Grampa and Grandma's taylor shop.
... God Bless America!! and May Forever Live the the American Dream!!
- Capt. Phil
By 1960, that house was a busy place. After school, if I wasn't terrorizing Mr. Noto next door with my never
ending bicycle repairs, I would run and play throughout the rooms with my Sister Vivian, and my cousin Freddie.
Some scary looking men would regularly come in looking for "Grandpa" to fit them. And then there were the
women coming in to get their garments altered by my Mom and Grandma. Sometimes we would accidentally
open the door and walk in on a half dressed woman getting fitted.
ending bicycle repairs, I would run and play throughout the rooms with my Sister Vivian, and my cousin Freddie.
Some scary looking men would regularly come in looking for "Grandpa" to fit them. And then there were the
women coming in to get their garments altered by my Mom and Grandma. Sometimes we would accidentally
open the door and walk in on a half dressed woman getting fitted.