![]() |
| Photo credit: Dr. Daniele Cesaretti |
Roberto and Leonello Berardi were the sons of Adam and Teresa Berardi, natives of the Republic of San Marino. The Berardi family emigrated
to the United States in 1927,
having left from Genoa, Italy on the ship Conte
Biancamao. In 1930 the family was living
on McKelvey Street
in Sandusky, in
a section of town known as “Little Italy.” This area was located along Milan Road, bordered
by Finch Street
and Boalt Street.
Sadly, both
sons of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Berardi were killed during World War II. Leonello,
often called Nello, was killed in action in Italy in 1944. Roberto died
in Germany
in 1945. A plaque honoring the memory of the Berardi brothers was erected in
the FiorentinoCemetery
in San Marino.
A front page article in the Sandusky Register of April 5, 1961
reported on the memorial in San Marino.
At the dedication of the marble monument in
San Marino
on March 25, 1961, Dr. Frederico Bigi stated,
“As citizens of the world’s
oldest Republic, they took with them the spirit of Liberty
as they traveled to the world’s youngest Republic, and showed their devotion to
Liberty by
laying down their lives to uphold freedom.”
To read more about Roberto Berardi and Leonello Berardi,
see the website of the American War Memorials Overseas, Inc. The final resting
place of Adam and Teresa Berardi is at St. Joseph’s
Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.
