Concetta Scolo was only a young teenager when she saved her brother from perishing in the violent torrential flood of Modica in 1902. This cataclysmic event devastated the town of Modica, a southern Sicilian city nestled in a valley in the province of Ragusa.
Tragically, Concetta lost members of her immediate family. With the home and much of the town destroyed the surviving family members relocated to Pozzallo where she would later meet her future husband Salvatore Agosta who was eager to explore economic opportunities in America and traveled ahead in search of a better life for the family.
In 1914, Salvatore wrote a letter to Concetta from America explaining that the shipping lanes across the Atlantic were closing and told her, “Either come now or forget me!” With a daughter in tow, Concetta boarded the last boat leaving Sicily before the start of World War I.
Her parents settled in Hackensack, New Jersey never to return to Italy. Born during the Great Depression, Sadie Tambourine was born a first generation American and penultimate of nine children growing up with five sisters and two brothers all born two years apart.
Fortunately her father worked during the depression and became a role model as he was proud and grateful to America. He became a US citizen just as soon as he could. Her mother taught the children Italian culture teaching them heritage and to speak Sicilian. She vehemently refused to speak English although she understood it.
Sadie married and had three children of her own with her first husband who unfortunately passed away at 42. After remarrying, her second husband an engineer was transferred to ITT Corporation in Point Loma temporarily for six months. Sadie suffering from asthma, discovered the California climate cured her ailment. Soon after, they made the move permanent from Paramus, New Jersey to San Diego in 1981 settling in Encinitas.
Possessing Italian style and charm she quickly found the lifestyle in California very different to what she was used to back east and experienced a huge culture shock. After ten years, Sadie separated from her second husband and worked as a successful travel agent.
Realizing she was losing touch with her Italian culture, Sadie joined the Order of the Sons of Italy La Costa dei Fiori lodge in Encinitas to reconnect with Italy. She met her present husband of six years Sid Tambourine through the lodge. Becoming extremely active with the club, Sadie held many offices serving as treasurer, vice-president and was the lodge’s long standing president for 13½ years.
When Sadie was elected to president, the club was on the verge of collapse with factions and nineteen members. Through her good nature, honesty, sincerity and love, Sadie saved the lodge which currently has over one hundred members successfully realizing her goal of bringing people back to their Italian culture.
This past June, Sadie was recently promoted and elected to state orator at the Grand Lodge in California excited to continue supporting and promoting Italian culture.
Donate