Essay written by:
Ida Gianni (John Gianni's wife):

     John (Giovanni) Gianni was born on March 15, 1910 in a four family home on Navy Street in Brooklyn, New York. The house was owned by his parents. He was the sixth child of Antonio and Anna and after John came four more girls – a total of ten children.

     At the tender age of fourteen, John lost his father to cancer. His dream of going to high school was shattered. To graduate elementary school, in those days was rare. At the age of fourteen, or even younger, most children were pulled out of school to find some work. Due to the family’s circumstance, this became his fate as well. John loved school and as an adult he took courses whenever he could at the School for Design and Construction.

     John’s older brother, Frank, became the father figure. Frank had a good job and was a member of the “Cutter’s Union”. Ida remembers him in silk shirts and beautiful suits. He was tall and commanded respect from the whole family. When John proposed to Ida they had to go to Frank’s house for his “blessing” – out of respect.

     The Depression hit the Gianni family hard. They lost their four family home and had to rent an apartment. John, who was the only son living at home, became responsible for the rent which was 30 dollars a month. John could not find work in construction, so in 1936, he joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). He reasoned that his mother would have one less mouth to feed and the 1 dollar a day he earned in the CCC would pay for the family’s rent.

     John’s time in the CCC was a real adventure. He was sent to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming! The park had been recently established. There were few roads, no trails and no buildings. John and his unit, known as “The Teton Toilers”, worked on the construction of log cabins that became ranger stations. He was commended for the exceptional job he did on the masonry construction of the stone chimneys. John was a nature lover and the CCC also gave him the opportunity to see the west. He loved to look back at this time and told stories of the beauty of the west which instilled a deep love of nature and patriotism in his children.

     After securing a job back in New York, John was discharged from the CCC and returned home. There he met Ida. On October 5, 1941 they were married. He was drafted into the army on July 8, 1942, just nine month’s after his marriage. John served three years, three months, and 15 days. He was stationed in New Guinea and Australia and saw his son Anthony for the first time when the child was twenty-two months old. After John’s discharge, in 1945, he and Ida had a second child, Annette, and bought a house in Midwood, Brooklyn.

     He was a happy man who loved gardening and fishing. He regularly brought his children, grandchildren, nephews, and friends’ children fishing with him. He loved to teach them about the sport and about nature. He was a member of the Carpenter’s Union and retired at the age of sixty-four.

     One day, in mid afternoon, on Geritson Beach in Brooklyn, two boys demanded his wallet. He refused to give it up. As a result he was assaulted with a shot gun and killed immediately. The assailants were soon apprehended and are, at present, serving time in jail. This happened on August 29, 1995. After ten years the family is still struggling with the senselessness of this tragedy.
 

Written on Aug. 14, 2005
 

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