Trupo Family

Mary and Keith

Now, about your Mom and Dad. I had been going with San, whom I met during the war at the war plant where I was working. He was my supervisor. After the war we still were seeing each other and were getting married in April of 1948. Mary was going to be my maid of honor.

I was out as usual with San one night. I understood that Mary, my girlfriend Marge, and Mary's girlfriend Virginia had gone to a restaurant in downtown Newark either for lunch or dinner. At any rate, your father was there, and got talking with them. He said he was in the Merchant Marine. He asked Mary for her phone number and she gave it to him.

He called her the next day to ask her for a date, and she said yes. Well, after that he asked her to go out again and she said yes. They hit it off immediately. Mary was very excited and told me she had met this guy Keith, and he was great and they were going out together. She said she wanted me to meet him, but it seemed they always had dates starting at nine or ten o'clock at night. San and I usually went out about seven-thirty or eight. So, I didn't get to meet him, and neither did anybody else.

But, my girlfriend Marge called me and said, "Hey, your sister met this great guy when we were out together and they hit it off right away. I think it might turn into something." I said, "That's great. Mary always wanted a home and family. I hope it does."

Well, they were seeing each other practically every night for four or five weeks. Mary had always wanted to get married before me – she was older – and she finally did.

She didn't come home one night, and the next morning my mother was furious. She woke me up and said, "Do you know where your sister is? She didn't come home last night." I said, "No, I was out with San. How would I know where she is?" We were all wondering where she was and thought maybe something had happened to her. We knew she had gone out with Keith and had been going out with him for five or six weeks, but none of us had met him.

About eleven a.m. we got this phone call, and it was Mary. I think my brother answered the phone. "Where the heck are you? We're all worried." She said, "I'm married. Keith and I got married last night. That's why I'm not home." Tony turned and said, "She's married. She and Keith got married lat night."

My mother was not too happy. People in our family did not elope. Then we all talked to Mary to congratulate her, and she said they were coming home the next day.

As I said, Mom was not too thrilled, but Tony, Pop and I said, "Well, we have to arrange something for when they come home." My mother said, "No. She ran away to get married – she doesn't deserve anything." Pop said, "Hey, Stell, your daughter got married. We have to celebrate." So Pop said, "Call all the relatives and tell them we're having a party tomorrow night because Mary got married."

So we went out, ordered food, liquor, etc. and got prepared for the big party the next night. The Trupos were always ready for a party. Mary and Keith came in about 7 or 8 pm. The Trupos were already there. Of course, we're a big, loud family – all talking at once – listening to three conversations at one time. You had to get used to us. Of course they both looked great when they came in, and very happy. But poor Keith – we started to introduce him, and he said, "Who are all these people? And how will I ever remember them?" I said, "Don't worry, you will. Just say, 'Hello Mrs. Trupo, hello Mr. Trupo' because we're all Trupos here!"

I think every time your father came to one of our family gatherings he got a migraine headache. But we all had a great time.

Keith and Mary rented an apartment about 15-20 minutes from us and lived there for about five or six months. But Keith always wanted to go back to California, and they left and moved to southern California. They lived in the valley. Alan was born first, and Marie was born six months later.

Next: Return to New Jersey