October 10, 2004: Received from Michael J. La Porta (Michael Junior) My Dad now live in Venice Florida 941-493-6479. Also his military service was after the war ended. My uncle, Alfred passed away a couple of years ago. (Send comments to michaeljlaporta2002@yahoo.com .)

October 3, 2004: Bob LaPorta and his lovely wife Jean visited Jim and Linda LaPorta in Dallas October 3, 2004. We had a very nice reunion and discussion of data for the site, an audio history in "native sicilian" that we are going to get soon and host on this site, and in general the state of the NY branch of the LaPorta Clan. Jim and Linda had just returned from their honeymoon in New England ... and just now getting the rest of the site update done!  (You can email Bob LaPorta now by clicking on his name.)

August 17, 2004: Received from Andrew Ray La Porta: Hello, My name is Andrew Ray La Porta, My grandfathers name was Angelo La Porta. Recently deceased... Jazz Musician ... with three daughters Mary, Jenny, and Angela ... Mary is my mother ... I live in Denver, Colorado ... I also have two Uncle Johns .... I was wondering if this was the same family tree?

Thank you, Andy (Click Andy's name to email him)

Hello Andy!  This is one of the reasons for the website. I will be posting your note on the site later this month. I am doing a 5-year backlog catchp form folks that COULD be relatives, or not! With the losss of John LaPorta, a well-know jazz clarinetist just a few months ago, having another musician in the family lost too ... is really pretty likely. It looks like we have a lot of scientists, artists, musicians and other talents in our background! Keep in touch, and watch for the web updates! Jim LaPorta

July 14, 2004:  Received from Cheryl Ann Vigliotti Paulson
"I believe we are cousins. My dad is Charles, son of Virginia Vigliotti and Eddy's older brother.  I have been working on all branches of my family tree for years. Although I have not documented all my findings I believe I'm close with the facts I have collected from members of the family. I would be happy to share my findings wiht you. Your website says you last updated in 1998. Not sure you went any further then what you have on the site. One of your mispelled names in Cardaciotto, Anna's married name.

I asked my dad about the story of Salvatore, he never heard that story growing up. Looking forward to hearing from you. Cheryl (Click Cheryl's name to email her)

Cheryl: Thank you for the information. There's no doubt we are cousins! I have been changing careers, places I live, and other life events since 1998 and this is the first full-fledged update since I started the site! I sat with Uncle Bobo just before that 1998 update, and his son Bob and I transcribed his description of the family saga in Sicily. We have a tape in original Sicilian, and we hope to have that available soon in MP3 format for posting on the web site. That, unfortunately, was the last time I saw Bobo, as you probably know, for he passed away in November 2001.  I too look forward to sharing more information on our family with you. Jim La Porta, August 2004 mailto:jimlaporta@jlaporta.com

May 3, 2004:  Received from "The Cousins Connection" Paul F. Cutrupi   It's Paul, we have drizzle rain today in Fishkill, NY. Can't do much yard work, but got some plants relocated. By the way, I'm Frank and Rose's oldest son. We used to live on the second floor of Grandma Maggie's house ... if you were wondering, I got your address from Linda Bulger.  Here is some updated information: Carmela Pronzo/Maggie's half sister, married my grandfather Paul Cutrupi. They had five children. Savario, who died at a young age and is buried at St. Raymon's Cemetery, Bronx NY along wiht his mother Carmela. Francis, my father (I am the oldest of five children), Frances, Gloria and Saverio II are all deceased now.

• Francis married Rose L. Vigliotti.
• Frances married Lloyd Shanks, divorced and remarried James Milner. They had 2 sons, Lloyd and Richard who live on the west coast somewhere.
• Gloria married Robert Masson, they had a son Henry and Daughter Leslie. Leslie is still single, Henry is married.
• Saverio II married Mary Tutera of Port Chester NY, they had no children.

Tony (Ed: Antonino) was indeed a shoemaker and cobbler. Uncle Tony had a shoe store on Waverly Square next door to Red the Butcher. His house was across the street, behind Mickie Stavalli's Barber shop. They sold that house and then moved to 20 Prospect Avenue on the other side of Route 22. The house is still there, it is currently owned by Frank Calabro and family. Uncle Tony made my first pair of shoes. Being the first born of my father, my legs were not straight. The story goes, Paulie had bad legs and couldn't stand up straight. So, Uncle Tony made his first pair of shoes, with a pivotbar between them, so he could walk straight ... I still throw my feet out when I walk.

Uncle Tony was my grandfather Paul's first cobbler. Tony brought Paul Cutrupi to NY from Italy, Paul was also a shoemaker and cobbler, his shop was up the street across the street from Sholtz Buick.

Virginia (Vincenza) LaPorta Vigliotti married Sabato (Sal) Vigliotti. They had three sons Charles, Edward, and Dennis. Charles and his wife Barbara currently reside in Mahopac NY. Edward married Anita and they live in the Florida Keysand have two children, Edward and Salvatore. Dennis married Connie and they have a son and daughter. More to Follow.  Gardianangel1030@aol.com

Reprinted from "The Last Post Intro" with the author's permission

John LaPorta
reeds
Born: April 1, 1920 in Philadelphia, PA
Died: May 12, 2004 in Sarasota, FL
Reedman, composer, arranger, educator
by Todd S. Jenkins

Copyright © 2004 Todd S. Jenkins

John LaPorta, a beloved music educator and veteran of Woody Herman's First Herd and Charles Mingus' cool period, died from complications of a stroke on May 12, 2004, in Sarasota, Florida. He was 84 years old. LaPorta showed great promise as a reedman, particularly for his skills as a bebop and Third Stream clarinetist, but chose to sidestep into the educator's chair. One of his first professional gigs was with Bob Chester's swing band, beginning in 1942. In '44 he joined the Herman aggregation and remained for two years, making his own imprint on what became a classic big-band sound. His taste and technique were impeccable on alto and tenor saxes and clarinet.

LaPorta moved to New York City in 1946 and was hired by pianist Lennie Tristano at the nascence of the cool-jazz movement. His career in music education began in '48 at Brooklyn's Parkway Music Institute. He also gave private instruction as he pursued his M.A. at the Manhattan School of Music. The list of artists with whom he worked was extensive: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Gunther Schuller, Herb Pomeroy, Billy Eckstine, Kenny Clarke, Lester Young, Max Roach, Hank Mobley, Bill Evans, Buddy Rich, Bill Harris, Fats Navarro, Oscar Pettiford, Helen Merrill, Neal Hefti, Johnny Mathis, and the big band Orange Then Blue. He was also impressive as a classical soloist, performing under Bernstein, Stravinsky, Stokowski and the Boston Pops.

LaPorta played with Charles Mingus for several years until the mid-1950s, appearing on classic Chazz sets like Jazzical Moods and Jazz Composers Workshop (both in 1954). The partnership was rewarding, and LaPorta made his first album as a leader for Mingus' Debut label in '54. The two men finally parted ways when Mingus began moving away from cool and Third Stream jazz into a hard-bop mode. The reedman cut three albums for Fantasy in the mid-50s and led his own group at the 1958 Newport festival.

Master's degree in hand, LaPorta joined the faculty of Berklee School of Music in 1963 and remained there for over thirty years until he retired to Florida. He wrote fifteen books on music education and over two hundred compositions, made some Music Minus One records, and assisted with Stan Kenton's jazz camps. In 1985 he returned to the recording studio to wax Alone Together (Powerhouse). His last album was Life Cycle (1999, Civil Defense).

In Florida LaPorta kept active, directing a high school band, performing with the Sarasota Jazz Club, and lecturing in the "Inside Jazz" program. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from IAJE and the Satchmo Award from the Sarasota Jazz Club. His autobiography, Playing It By Ear, was published by Cadence Jazz Books. LaPorta had been asked to participate in a Tristano retrospective in L.A. later this year and had planned to donate his archives to the American Jazz Museum.

John LaPorta is survived by his wife, Ginny, three daughters, one son and several grandchildren. Donations may be made to the John LaPorta Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 20223, Sarasota, FL 34276.

Todd S. Jenkins
Todd S. Jenkins is a member of the JJA, and a contributor to Down Beat, All About Jazz, and Route 66 Magazine.
E-mail: Todd Jenkins

Comment: John LaPorta is probably Generation 2 and may be from this limb of the family tree. Can anyone confirm? If so, remember to Email Jim La Porta.

4/29/2004: Received from Ronald LaPorta  I am Ronald La Porta, 62 year old son of Michael LaPorta DDS (deceased) and the brother of Michael Jr. and Judith LaPorta.  Our Grandfather was indeed Sebastiano LaPorta married to Rosalia LaPorta, they both had the same last names before they married.  Rosalia's family still lives in Ventimiglia, Sicily on 24 Maggio Street. Giuseppi LaPorta, her father, must be deceased by now he was 90 ten years ago. There are two sons and a daughter living there. Although I haven't been there since 1989, they live in the same house grandma Rosalia was born in. Sebastiano did come from Cimino and he and Mary died in Chicago, IL years ago.  We also had cousins Sam and Andrew Leto in Chicago. They were related to Rosa LaPorta who was Rosalia's sister.  I don't see any connection with your NYC family, but who knows, perhaps there is a connection. I don't think Messina is far away from Ventimiglia. Nice to see your site and to see the accurate info from our family.Sincerely, Ronald LaPorta altamira1065@msn.com   

Ronalds information is very interesting, my cousin Bob went to Sicily a few years ago, and tried to get records from the Parish Priests.... they are very reluctant to do that in Sicily, and I think we are still negotiating to get that information, which could show us a direct connection. Jim LaPorta 8/10/2004

Hello Angelie! Let's here more from Gaetano and you! This is the first update I have done in six years...got too busy to keep up. Some of the other information may provide enough information for a "tie to the past" for you! Jim LaPorta (8/10/2004)

" ... You're related to my father Michael that lives in Clearwater FL? I don't speak to him, but his brother Alfred has passed away. He has other brothers and sisters in San Marco ..."  Contact Gidget at Gidgetlaburn@aol.com  

Gidget: I met Michael when I was working for Motorola and at a sales meeting in Tampa. I still have not found the photo the guys took of your dad and I together, everyone was amazed and thought we were brothers. There are hookups between San Marco and Sicily, trying to find them has been challenging. Here is the tuned up website I promised over a year ago....life got very busy. Jim LaPorta 8/10/2004 (See 10/10/2004 posting)

Michael La Porta from Melbourne, Austrailia wrote on 5/17/2003 noting that his family came from the San Marco region of Italy. You can contact Michael at MLaPorta@moreland.vic.gov.au
Bob Thompson (5/15/2003)from Harrisburg, PA writes about his links to the La Porta families. Note that there are close similarities to our Grandfather Anonino, however they were not the same person. Bob's report on his Decendants of Antonino (Anthony) La Porta.

Antonino La Porta b: 1877 in Italy, d: 23Jun 1939 Frontburg, Allegany Co., MD

Sarah (Sadie) Bollino b: 1884 in Italy m; Abt 1900

Roscoe

Anthony Ross Kathleeen Stowell

Joseph Salvatore

Marie Rose

Della Constatina

Samual Anthony Mary Catherine Thompson

Leonard

Sadie

Nellie

When Bob wrote last year I replied and was getting ready to post this information, and work interrupted... now its time. Bob asked if any of the names sounded familiar. Yes they do, however, not direct because the birth and death dates do not match. Someone may note this information and held both Bob and I complete the LaPorta Saga.  Email Bob Thompson Bpsycho1@aol.com    

Linda Bulger Licata wrote on 4/7/2003

Dear Jim: I am writing to tell that Mom (Alma Bulger) passed away in her sleep this morning from an apparent stroke. I spent some time with her this last week and although she could not see very well and had difficulty speaking because of all the small strokes, she was still her old self. Her spirit was still good and she enjoyed her music and visits from family.

Aunt Vee is last one left now except for Rose Cutrupi who is doing very well and living with Gloria now. My mother-in-law passed away and November and Paul Cutrupi was the limo driver and we exchanged email addresses and now keep in contact.

Tony took a job in Worcester MA so I commute between MA and NY spending 2 weeks in each place. My business also has me traveling some with one big client in North Carolina. Love, Linda  licataener@aol.com 

It was very sad to hear about Aunt Alma. Until she called me back in November 1996 I had lost all track of the La Porta family after my mother died. That was over ten years earlier, and I was delighted to find that I was within an hour of Uncle Bobo and an hour and a half from Aunt Alma. It was wonderful to meet those two sparkling octogenarians, and I wish that I could have seen both more often. With my move from upstate NY in 1998 it became much harder to keep in touch. I am glad the website is helping us all find out about our family, and hope to hear more following this update. Jim 8/10/2004

Linda Licata wrote on 11/22/2001

I am sorry to write to you with bad news but Uncle Bobo passed away on Wednesday. The boys are in Florida and are driving up for the funeral. George Tony and I will drive from Yonkers on Sunday. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Linda licataener@aol.com

Linda, I am sorry that I was not able to come up for the ceremony. I recall we spoke at length on the telephone, that Aunt Vee and Bobo had been in love their whole lives. I am very pleased that I did get to sit and talk to her while I was still in NY. Jim 8/10/2004

Jim and Linda exchanged emails and phone calls on 9/11 and 9/12 2001

Jim wrote: Linda are you and all OK? Linda writes: Everyone is okay here but Tony knows a lot of people who he worked with work at the WTC; no word on any of them. Anthony (son) was called out by the Red Cross about an hour after this thing started and he has been helping to coordinate radio communication between the City and the rest of NY state. Once the Towers went down so did a lot of radio communication. Nextel donated a bunch of phones and the ham radio guys are working with the Red Cross to keep the lines of communication open. THey have been sending vehicles and personnel from all over the state in waves to assist.

Eddie Vigliotti Sr wrote on 4/3/2000

I have established a private Vigliotti Family Web Site on MyFamily.com. If you would like access please email me. sgymp@juno.com  

Eddie: Looking Good. Check out the changes I have made here. Jim LaPorta 8/10/2004

Sebastiano La Porta from Cimino, Sicily who had a sister named Mary was married to Rosalia La Porta from Ventimiglia Sicily. Rosalias brother Giuseppi , possibly in his '90s today may have resided on Magio Street in Ventimiglia. Sebastiano came to the USA around 1900. His son Michael La Porta was born in 1913, an only child. Michael Jr.has a brother Ronald and a sister Judith. Michael Jr. has three children Laura, David and Michael D. Contact Michael if you have more information about his branch at Michael D. La Porta This branch of the family lives in Illinois and throughout the midwest. (Update: 11/17/2004 from David LaPorta: I found your page and some of the inforamtion my uncle gave you for your page. I do not believe that email address is valid for him anymore. If you are still updating this page, use his new email address. P.S. Its cool to ahve a LaPorta site out there! [Mail David LaPorta by clicking here] )Michele Arcangelo La Porta lived in Messina, Sicily during the last 1800s. He emigrated to San Marco on the mainlaind of Itlaly around 1900. His son Michael La Porta was born in San Marco in 1927. Michael served in the Italian Army during WWII and came to the USA after the war. He now lives in Clearwater Florida and would welcome phone calls from those who believe they may be directly related at (813) 736 2776. Michael has a brother, Dr. Alfred La Porta who is retired from Astoria Hospital and lives in the NYC area. (Note: Jim La Porta - your Web Host met Michael in Clearwater during January 1997.) (See postings 8/10/2004 and 10/10/2004)