|
 Rocco
Muriale
Rocco Sam Muriale was born December 14, 1946 in
Clarksburg, West Virginia, the only child of Sam R.
Muriale and Rose A (Vilone). I grew up in an area
known as Kelly Hill, a four block section of
Clarksburg known for its rich Italian culture, where
Italian Americans were proud to be Americans, proud
to be part of the new world and all it's freedoms. I
knew how fortunate I was to be part of that
neighborhood and was inspired by many people, simple
that had little, but had everything.
People, to this day, that I thank
for being just who they were, are: Tony Skinner -
"my mentor," Joe Skinner, Joe Minard, Sunny Olivero,
Sam and Mike Ielapi, Joe Beer, the Minutellis, Joe
Mahoney, Larry Cann, Joe Clamente, "Engine" Arco,
Mrs. Zannino, Angelo Alasstano - "My first boss,"
the Dinaldos, Pauly and Betty Romano, the Tallaricos,
Tibby's - at the loop, Rosie and Frank Oliverio, the
Bombardiers, the Chidos, the Congis, the Gangos, the
Cosmicos, the Naverinos, and poor Ester, born an
angel with lesser dreams. She is in Heaven! And
there are so many more that would make this page go
on forever, ordinary people with extraordinary
gifts. I remember how nice they were to us kids and
how they would always treat us as their family.
Growing up with an incredible
family and tremendous influences, me and the other
kids in the neighborhood knew that we had to do the
right thing. We could not let our neighborhood and
family down. We could never embarrass our families,
we were from Kelly Hill and that meant something! We
felt a special honor to uphold. We had to carry on
the tradition of doing the right thing and
especially work hard for what we earned, no matter
what the pay, no matter what the hours.
The really true heroes were my
mother and father. The "unselfish ones," watching
them worry and labor their way through life, giving
and giving with constant layoffs and
disappointments. How they lived with limited means
but never complained. I learned early that I had to
help myself as hard as my parents were trying to
help me.
In 1963, and a sophomore in high
school, I would encourage my parents to open a small
food place. And finally, while I was in the U.S.
Army, my parents did. Muriale's restaurant in
Fairmont, West Virginia opened three months before I
was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in
August 1969. A decision had to be made. I was an
army musician and was accepted into the United
States Army field band at the same time my parents
opened their restaurant. It was so exciting for me
to be accepted into one of the army's prestigious
bands, but even more exciting to me was that my
parents could finally work for themselves, and I
decided to decline the opportunity to stay in the
service and return home and help my parents and
Uncle Frank. I worked from 1969 to 1977 with my
parents and was so proud to be part of their huge
success.
I believe that everyone has their
own ideas, dreams and styles. I knew then, that
Muriale's was my father's and uncle's restaurant and
I had to make the hardest decision of my life, the
decision to leave the comfort of my family and
friends, to find my own way. I recall the saddened
feeling and the fear of making such an unprepared
move. During this uncertain time, I often thought of
my grandparents sailing the ocean in the hull of a
boat to the New World. The fears they must have had,
knowing nothing of the consequences waiting for
them. How did they do it? What gave them the
courage?
How could it be so hard to move
just three hours away, when my grandparents left
their families and county, never to return again?
Even realizing that, it was still a hard decision to
make. Fortunately, my best friend, Frank Lucente and
his wife Betty were so encouraging and gracious in
helping to make my decision to move easier. They
both truly helped tremendously in those scary, early
days and firmly helped me on my way. I knew only one
thing about the food business back then; quality
could never be compromised, never! Knowing that and
knowing that work is a virtue and an honored
tradition everything came together.
My only regret is that within nine
months of Rocco's Ristorante opening, my father
passed away and never got to see how my business
developed. He always worried about me being in
business and away from home.
I feel so fortunate to have my
mother and favorite Aunt Eva Carrico working beside
me today. Both work as hard today as they did 50
years ago. Nothing stops them! And the many aunts
and uncles and cousins, all were so loving and all
were so loved, and the very special ones, my
grandparents. It was like watching saints work
miracles, brilliant in their detail and common
sense. There could never be a greater love than they
had for their grandchildren. They were so special
and certainly a special breed. I really believe that
without knowing them, I would be nothing.
What really gave me the total
feeling of acceptance, fulfillment and a special
purpose was when I met my wife, Joan Underdonk, and
together we had two, cherished children. Samantha
Rose, now 19, a sophomore at West Virginia
University and Rocco Anthony, 17 who will finish his
last year at Huntington High School, starting this
fall. Nothing in my life could ever mean more to me.
They were the missing void that was finally filled.
So when you are sitting here in
these dining rooms, looking around, you are looking
not at what I have done but what all the great
people in my life have done for me. That is the
driving force that made me the best that I can be
and I still feel that I have been blessed beyond any
expectations I had for myself.
Now going 30 years of business you
can still experience the flavors and aromas that
have been passed down to me, the flavors and aromas
that filled the air of that four-block neighborhood
known as Kelly Hill. The food there was never taken
for granted and Rocco's food is inspired by the
great people in my life and by that great
neighborhood. I will continue to offer great food
with a personal touch. Start tasting!
Benvenuto e Buon Appetito!
"There can be no taste as the
table without love in the kitchen." Allen Watts
Rocco
|
