St. Rita's I do not have an extensive history of St. Rita's. It was founded in 1913, and there is an official website with a brief history at http://www.stritabrooklyn.com. NOTE: Due to the large number of class pictures we have received, I have created a separate page for them
		Southwest corner, Atlantic and Essex,1940 Thanks to both Annette and Tony who reminded me that in the history of St. Rita's, Father Simmonetti rented the storefront on this corner in 1913 while the church was being built. The cornerstone was laid November 15, 1913 and the first 'solemn mass' was held on Easter 1914.
		St. Rita's 1930 These two shots are from the NYPDL archives, dating from 1930 and showing the front and the belfry. Eleanor Deliberti identified the building to the left as the rectory, and the building next to that as the Don Bosco house, where CYA (Catholic Youth Association) meetings were held.
		St. Rita's Confirmation picture 1931 Peggy Solazzo sends in his 1931 St. Rita's confirmation picture of Dom and Mary Solazzo, taken in a studio in 1931. St. Rita's 1939 I did find the tax photo for St. Rita's, though the print is weak you can see the sign announcing the mass times.
		Societa Maria Angela Airola Leonora Licata sent in this image which I believe is from the 1930s. Her maternal grandfather, Giovanni Palladino, is seated front row all the way to the left. Lee has done some research and Maria Airola was canonized, and Airola is the town near Naples where her grandfather was born. This club of St. Rita's may have been a group of men from that town but we are still looking for the full story.
		Phil Santella sent over this 1948 shot of the St. Rita's "Honor Thrift Class". On the right, Peter Stango sends over a copy of his aunt's graduation diploma from 1936.
		Kindergarten Graduation, circa 1946 Caroline (DeGennaro) Noto sent in this shot circa 1946 of her brother Anthony's kindergarten graduation.
		St. Rita's 1946, 1949 June (Giannuzzi) Marmo delivers with a 1946 picture of 1st communion day taken in the St. Rita's schoolyard. The second shot she guesses is from 1949, and features her helping kindergarten students prepare for "graduation".
		St. Ritas 1949, 1951 Some traditions; a parade shot from 1951 with Fr. Fusco. On the right is the nativity scene set in front of St. Rita's in 1949, sent in by Phil Santella.
		San Giuseppe Society, circa 1950 Danny Blanda sends in these great shots of his grandparents, Nicholas and Carolina Blanda, who were both active members in the society. In the first picture they are standing with Fr. Fusco.
		Wedding, July 8, 1951 From Leonora Licata, the wedding of her Aunt Gussie to Joseph Leonardo on July 8, 1951. On the right, her mother Francesca, father Mario and to the right of Mario is Leonora's paternal grandfather, Francesco. .
	Jim DeSapio sent in this 1952 shot of his sister Ruth's wedding. Pictured with Ruth is their father. Not only is it a great color shot but it shows the stairs leading down in the old church from street level.
	First Communion, April 10, 1954 This great shot comes from Charles Passantino and presents a great interior view of the original church.
	From Leonora Licata, this is a shot of her at the old church as a flower girl for her cousin Pauline's wedding on April 30, 1955.
		St. Rita's Hoffman Club 1955 Pat Annuziata sent over this shot of the Hoffman Junior Bowling Club at Hales Lanes in the late 50s. That's "Mac" (an owner?) and Mr. Inguantis on the left. Mr. DeLuca and Father Antonelli is on the right. It has been clarified that "Mac" is Frank McCune (by his grandson) who helped run the league. Mack Kozin was one of the owners. Phil Aguece dates the bowling shot as 1955, the first year of the club. Joe Colantuoni ids himself second row, 3rd from left and Joe Giamundo on his left. Joe dates the picture as 1957. St. Rita's Bowling Dinner, 1958 OK, I'm cheating a little because this is not East New York, but I've got a bowling theme going- Phyllis (Aunnunziata) Esposito sent in this shot of the 1958 Bowling Dinner which took place at the Patio Club.
	St. Rita's Youth Center,1956 Tony Della Croce sends over this clipping from the parish newspaper, "St. Rita's Rose". It is dated April 15, 1956 and it shows the groundbreaking ceremony for the Youth Center which was located on the southwest corner of Atlantic and Shepherd. Tony identifies the following; "The priest turning the shovel full of earth is Father Fusco, the pastor. Also in attendance are Father Anthony Antinello (a curate at Saint Rita's) and Monsignor Arcese (the pastor of Nativity Church in Ozone Park). I'm the altar boy holding the Holy Water bucket. Fred Strianese is the altar boy holding the umbrellas on the right side of the picture." -Mike Raffio informs me that is his father on the far left with the glasses, the owner of Zip's.
	St. Rita's Graduation,1956 Frank Catapano, (not the same Frank Catapano who taught at St. Rita's), sent in this graduation photo from February, 1956 taken in the auditorium. Frank IDs, left to right, Sam Gelato, Massimino Gironta, Frank Catapano, John Abbracciamento.
		Confraternity News, 1956 Clippings sent in by Rod Maggio.
		St. Cosmo and Damian Feast, 1950s Donald DiGennaro, St. Ritas class of 1962, sends in these great color shots from the mid 1950's. The Society still exists in Howard Beach, Queens.
		St. Cosmo and Damian Feast, Poster and clipping I actually found this poster on EBay. On the right, Paula Curci forwards a clipping dated Sept. 13, 1962 from New York's italian language newspaper, Il Progresso, celebrating the Feast of St. Cosmo and Damien.
		Robert Iannotta sent in this shot from the early 60s taken in front of the school. Robert identifies his mother Antionette in the middle, who sadly passed away in 1964, and on the left is Mrs.Carrie Calia who lived in that classic corner house on the corner of Linwood and Ridgewood. The woman on the right is unidentified.
		St. Rita's 1964 Tony Della Croce sends over these shots of the facade in 1964 right before it was torn down along with the rectory to build the new church.
		St. Rita's 1964 Two additional shots from Tony Della Croce shows the rectory, which sat to the left of the church, and the convent, which sat to the right.
		St. Rita's From the 1966 publication commemorating the new church, a shot of the original from Shepherd Ave . On the right, the cover of the publication showing the new church.
		St. Rita's Kindergarten Graduation June 14,1964 The "Amazin' Cin", Cynthia Rongione sends over some classic shots from the St. Rita's School auditorium. Therese Panariello is holding the flag in the first shot. Tony Davenport confesses he is the blond boy all the way on the right in the bowtie. That's Cynthia performing a curtsy in the second shot and she identifies Miss Dorothy (full name Dorothy Koss) as the teacher.
		St. Rita's Kindergarten Graduation June 14,1964 Second set of shots from Cindy. We need some explanation on that hula thing, Cindy identifies the girl on the right in that shot as Mary Jane Prizzi. Cindy is with her parents in the second shot. Ed Giugliano explains that the hula dance was part of a celebration of the World's Fair taking place in New York. There were dances to celebrate different parts of the world, and Ed performed in the Mexican Hat Dance! He claims there are no pictures, but you never know!
		St. Rita's Kindergarten Graduation June 14,1964 From a different source; old pal Pete Colantuoni sends over his performance which we can assume was for Holland given the wooden shoes worn by the girls. We're getting closer Ed! On the right, the diploma awarded to the class.
		St. Rita's First Communion, 1964 From Robert Iannotta, some 1st communion pictures. He doesn't look too thrilled about being on camera. He believes that is Steven LoPiano with him in that shot, if you're out there Steven let us know.
		St. Rita's Construction From the 1966 publication, two shots of the church under constructions in 1964 and 1965. Thanks to Pete for the additional shots from that book. Pat Annunziata tips us off that the building on the right with the word "yard" was Marion Yard.
		Pete Colantuoni sent in these shots from the mid-1960s. On the left is a first communion shot not of him but of Ed Gugliano, and on the right a mock baptism is being performed in class. Pete identified Jacqui Ruvolo as the girl holding the doll and Jeff Ruvolo is looking towards the camera. Therese Panariello identified the "priest" as Richard Morganelli and the "husband" as Richard Rivera.
		Some more mid 60s shots from Pete. In the classroom on the left, that's Pete on the far left. Seated in the front are Jeff Ruvolo, Peter Parella, and Bernard Divone. Behind Bernard is Jackie Ruvolo, and behind her Francis Ricco, with Steven Leong on his right. On the right, Pete outside the school with some classmates including Tony Esposito second from the left. Thanks to Therese and Jeff for the IDs.
		Richard Moore sent over the Graduation program from 1966, (and the class picture which is on the class pictures page of course).
		Frank Lombardo sent over this 1969 Program for a play given to the PTA that apparently included a fashion show. I saw a lot of familiar names so now we need to find some pictures!
		Robert Iannotta sent in this shot from 1970 at his 8th grade graduation. Pictured with Robert is Father Schiraldi, "who was in charge of the St.Rita's Brass Ring and Drum and Bugle corp which my brother belonged to in the 60's...". Robert's photo reminded me my brother has a postcard of the shrine (Our Lady of Fatima) published by the Tyler Specialty Co. in Texas.
		St. Rita's Nuns More great contributions from Joann Montgomery. On the left is a shot of sister Bridgette in 1963; Mike Pataky and Annette Cipriani have identified the nun on the left as Sr. Miriam. On the right, from a 1964 trip to Washington DC are sister Julie and sister Thomas .
		St. Rita's Nuns An undated photo of the sisters from Danny Blanda. Graduation, 1972 Gail (Pennisi)Lazzinnaro sent in this shot of Margaret Farino, herself, Sr. Peters, JoAnne Florio and Maria Savanetti in graduation day, 1972.
		St. Rita's Church, 1972 Gail sends in this 1972 shot of Vito Giamundo in front of the church, 1972. On the right, a shot circa 1971/72 from Joanne Florio. In the back, Frank Saporito, next row, Joann Wilker, Katherine Simmonetti, Kathy Coletta , Rosa Chiccarelli , Ann Salerno. Front row: Helen Papalardo,Cynthia Rongione, Joanne, Therese Panariello, Mary Byrnes.
		St. Rita's Graduation, 1972 Therese Panariello sends in some graduation pics which show the interior of the church. The first two are facing the rear; that's Therese and Peter Parella in those shots.
		St. Rita's Confirmation, 1970s Nilda Ruiz provided a series of photos taken on confirmation day in the 1970s. That's Sister Peters in the shot on the left and the Bishop in the shot on the right.
		St. Rita's 1970s Also from Nilda Ruiz. the shot on left is in front of the Rectory. Vinny Capasso IDs his younger brother Anthony "Spanky" Capasso holding the camera! The 1978 shot on the right is in front of the school yard.
		Wedding, 1979 Lee Licata sent these June 1979 shots from the wedding of Francine Giugliano including one taken by the school.
		Thanks to Neil for these 2006 shots of the church and school.

St. Rita's

I do not have an extensive history of St. Rita's. It was founded in 1913, and there is an official website with a brief history at http://www.stritabrooklyn.com. NOTE: Due to the large number of class pictures we have received, I have created a separate page for them

I do not have an extensive history of St. Rita's. It was founded in 1913, and there is an official website with a brief history at http://www.stritabrooklyn.com.

NOTE: Due to the large number of class pictures we have received, I have created a separate page for them