Josef

“I’m pleased to hear he’s doing so well, and I’m pleased that he has you as a teacher. In spite of wanting to throw you out

of my office the first time we met.”

“My father-in-law told me he was surprised that didn’t happen.”

“Who is you father-in-law? Do I know him?”

“Angelo Panelli, he’s also an attorney.” Josef mentioned the law firm Angelo worked with.

“Of course; I don’t know him but I know who he is. And you’re married to his daughter?”

“Yes, sir; very happily married.

”I’m happy to hear that. Now back to the subject at hand. Do you have a recommendation about what violin he should

get?”

“Yes, and I’ve found a dealer in the city who handles them. I would be happy to go with Richard to find the model most

suitable for him. I should warn you, it will be expensive.”

“That’s not a problem. Have the dealer call my office to arrange for payment.”

It was the middle of March when Josef went with Richard to the music dealer. The dealer had told Josef by phone that he

had a large selection of the violin Josef had in mind. The selection was good, and one model that Josef tried had the tonal

quality Josef was looking for. Unfortunately, it was small in size and not large enough for the long, slender fingers and

gangling body of an almost 15 year old. The dealer assured Josef he could order one from his source in Italy, and have it

there within a week.

“Order one and we’ll come back to have Richard try it. If it has a tonal quality equal to this one you’ll have a sale.”

A week later, Richard had a new violin, and six weeks left in which to learn two solo pieces Josef wanted him to play at

the Julliard program.

During the Spring Christina informed Elena that she was pregnant, with the baby due in October. “I’m going to take a

leave of absence from my teaching job; perhaps for a year and possibly longer. Peter, I know, would like me to stay home

while the family is being raised; we’ll be discussing it more.”

The Julliard recital was a huge success for Richard; he played the two numbers Josef had assigned him superbly. There

were many participants, ranging in age from a 6 year old Brazilian girl to a young man in his twenties. The range in talent was

as great as the range in age; some were mediocre, some talented and a few excellent.

Josef thought Richard was one of the top three, playing at least equally as well as a 16 year old flautist from Boston and

an 18 year old pianist from Philadelphia whose rendition of Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’ was one of the best Josef had

ever heard.

Also, during the spring, Dr. Samuels asked Josef to pay a return visit to the musical festival in Storrs, Connecticut, this

time as assistant director. Josef gladly accepted and asked Dr. Samuels if he could ask Richard to participate.

“By all means, Josef. With his talent I’m certain he will be a great addition to the program. The flautist from Boston and

the pianist from Philadelphia have already accepted the invitation, so it should be an exciting time.”

Josef and Elena completed their junior year at Columbia in early June and spent most of that month relaxing before

moving on to the festival in Storrs. As a celebration of their first wedding anniversary they returned to the bed and breakfast

where they had stayed their wedding night.

XIX: July - August, Year 5

The music festival was an inspiring experience for Josef, although he worked more than he participated. His main task

as assistant director was to oversee the scheduling of events and be certain everyone involved knew their scheduled times.

He was able to play his violin one evening and to organize a jazz group for Saturday night dancing.

Richard mingled well with the other young performers, many of whom were his age, and told Josef he was having a ball.

“I’m glad you suggested this, Josef,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot more about music as a performing art than I could have in

any other way.”

Josef and Elena were given a small cottage to stay in, one of the perks of Josef being assistant director. Elena

wandered and listened to many of the sessions and wrote an essay about the festival to submit to a leading magazine.

The idyllic session came to an abrupt end for Josef two days before the festival ended when Josef received a message

from Lucia that Pietro had suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized in Trieste. Josef immediately informed Dr. Samuels

then booked reservations from New York to Florence for that evening for himself and Elena. One of the instructors drove

them to Kennedy Airport, arriving an hour before the 9:30 P.M. flight time. From the airport Josef called Signor Marchetti in

Florence, explained the situation and asked him to fly them from Florence to Trieste.

They were met at the Trieste airport late the next afternoon by Giuseppe, who was driving Pietro’s truck. Giuseppe, not

his usual buoyant self, told them that Pietro had been placed in intensive care and was listed as critical.

“I was with him in the vineyard when it happened,” Giuseppe told them. “All of a sudden he turned red and then white and

collapsed. Mamma and Lucia are at Papa’s bedside and haven’t left it now for more than 24 hours. Talk to Mamma, Josef,

and convince her she has to take care of herself or it won't help Papa recover."

Josef gathered Francesca into his arms and tried to console her as she wept. “I thought we had lost him,” she mumbled

through her tears. “You are right; he should have retired earlier.”

“Let’s plan for the future, Mamma and not berate ourselves for the past. Elena and I will stay with you as long as we need

to. With Giuseppe’s help we’ll get everything worked out.”

Josef and Giuseppe sat at Pietro’s bedside while Elena took Francesca and Lucia to freshen up and get something to

eat. “You have to keep your strength up, Mamma,” Elena told Francesca as she led them from the room.

While Josef and Giuseppe were in Pietro’s room the doctor in attendance, a man in his mid-thirties, entered to check on

the patient. Before he could get away Josef asked him for a prognosis.

“Signor Cella’s signs are mostly good,” the doctor told them. “The heart attack apparently also caused a temporary

obstruction of the blood flow to his brain. In all likelihood he has lost the use of some parts of his body, at least temporarily.

We won’t know for sure how much damage has been done to his system for several days. You can expect him to be

hospitalized for several weeks and then he will need a long therapy period to help him relearn some of his body functions.

Are you all from Trieste?”

“None of us are from Trieste,” Josef replied. “Signor Cella and family live in San Reino. My wife and I are currently going

to school in New York.”

“New York!”

“New York; but we can be here as long as we’re needed. This takes priority over everything else. We will try to get

them resettled in Trieste, close to medical help, before we even think about returning to New York. Giuseppe will have more

to say about that than I will. He’s their natural son; I’m an adopted son.”

Here Giuseppe joined the conversation. “Josef is just as much their son as I am. Any suggestions he has we will all

listen to.”

During the next week Josef and Elena, between them, convinced Francesca and the two Cella children it would be best

for all if if they rotated their time at the hospital. They located a hotel nearby and obtained rooms for all. Elena then set up a

schedule of visiting time so there was always someone at Pietro’s bedside, with overlapping visits in order to provide

constant communication among them.

Dr. Donatelli, whom at least one of them spoke to each day, advised them that Pietro was being heavily sedated and

that the sedation would be gradually reduced as Pietro showed signs of stabilizing. The doctor added that he should have

periods of consciousness in a few days, with the periods becoming more frequent and longer lasting as his recovery

progressed.

Such was the case. Francesca was sitting next to his bed on the third day when Pietro moved, opened his eyes briefly

then went back to sleep. Several hours later Lucia and Elena were there when a longer interval was perceived.

The next day Pietro turned his head, looked at Giuseppe briefly and asked where he was. Before Giuseppe could

answer Pietro again went to sleep.

Each day, for the next week, Pietro woke up for a short time and each time stayed awake longer. After the 7th day he

was able to converse briefly with his visitor and on the 10th day to sit up and stay awake for an hour at a time.

At this animated discussions began among family members about where to take Pietro when he was released from the

hospital. Francesca wanted to take him home but all the others argued to convince her that Pietro needed to be where he

could continue to receive frequent professional care.

They finally prevailed. Josef and Giuseppe located an apartment close to the hospital in Trieste. It was large enough for

Giuseppe to live in also as he did not want to return to San Reino. Francesca agreed to stay there three months.

“No longer than that,” she said firmly. “I can take better care of him in my home than anywhere else.”

“And if Papa has a relapse?” Josef asked.

“If he can relax and forget about the vineyard he should be all right,” Francesca replied.

And so it went. In the middle of August Pietro was moved to the apartment where he and Francesca would live with

Giuseppe. Lucia returned to San Reino to see if she could find someone there to help salvage the upcoming grape harvest.

Giuseppe got a job as an automobile mechanic in Trieste.

Before returning to New York in late August Josef, with help from Elena and Giuseppe, had long conversations with

Francesca and Pietro. When they left Trieste both Josef and Elena had convinced them that the vineyard had to be sold as

Pietro would no longer be able to work and Giuseppe was adamant about staying in Trieste.

XX: September, Year 5 - January, Year 6

Beginning the new school year was difficult for Josef. His constant worry about Pietro made concentrating on his school

work much more arduous than was usually the case. Fortunately, Elena provided a much needed shoulder to lean on. She

tackled her studies with her usual zest and maintained a cool demeanor that helped Josef settle down.

He had lost his only pupil. Richard’s parents had decided, with Richard’s approval, to send him to a private secondary

school in New Jersey to complete his college prep work.

Josef talked to Francesca twice a week on the phone to keep abreast of Pietro’s progress. On two occasions he spoke

to Giuseppe. One good piece of news he received was that his fisherman friend, Antonio, had given up fishing in order to

take over the operation of Pietro’s vineyard. A financial arrangement had been worked out to provide both Antonio and

Pietro an income.

Each week news of Pietro’s recovery was encouraging. By the end of September he was walking, with a walker, and

had recovered 50% of the use of both arms. Francesca began to talk about returning to San Reino but was dis-couraged by

each family member and by Dr. Donatelli. The doctor had arranged for Pietro to have therapy and was able to convince

Francesca that Pietro needed to continue regular visits to the therapist to benefit fully from the program. Francesca finally

agreed and made plans to remain in Trieste with Pietro until the end of the year.

In the meantime, life for Josef and Elena went on. Both were now in their senior year of college with Josef anxious for it

to end and Elena at a stage where she felt she was just beginning to learn the writing craft. Beyond college they had as yet

to make plans other than to start a family.

In October the essay Elena wrote about the music festival appeared in a leading magazine. Also, in October Christina

gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She was named Maria Lucia after Christina’s mother and grandmother.

During the Fall Josef began playing at the jazz club once a month, on a Saturday evening. More than anything else he

enjoyed playing jazz on the piano as a change from his constant exposure to classical music. He also found the musicians

there a pleasant group, one he enjoyed being with.

Thanksgiving was again with the Panellis; all the family, including Christina’s new baby, was there.

As soon as school let out for the Christmas break Josef and Elena flew to Florence where they stayed with Signor

Marchetti for a few days. Before moving on to Trieste they also visited with Benedetto Vicenzia and paid a brief visit to the

Florence Conservatory.

In Trieste they were pleased to see how much progress Pietro had made in the recovery of his bodily functions. He was

walking without a walker, although he needed a cane for balance. He had almost full use of his arms and could talk clearly

but with a few hesitations in his speech pattern.

Other than that the most obvious change was in his hair, it was now almost white.

Francesca was more spirited and more positive in outlook since they had last seen her in August. In fact, she talked

about remaining in Trieste for a longer period, perhaps permanently.

“Dr. Donatelli and his therapists have done so much for Pietro it would be better if Pietro remains in his care. Besides,

Giuseppe likes it here and Lucia is going to move here too. We might get a larger apartment.”

The stay in Trieste extended until January. At that time Josef and Elena flew back to New York knowing their worries

about Pietro were over, for the time being at least.

XXI: January -May, Year 6

For their last quarter in college both Josef and Elena, knowing they had all the credits they needed to graduate in May,

signed up for classes they could manage easily so they could concentrate on setting up their future. Elena knew she wanted

to write and thought she might want to teach also, at what level she wasn’t sure.

“Not in the city,” she told Josef. “Perhaps in a college town close to the city, one that has all the cultural advantages, but

not the crowding. I also want to start our family, so perhaps the teaching can be postponed for a few years.”

“I think I would like a college town also,” Josef replied, “one where I can teach at the college level and also give private

lessons.”

Josef’s opportunity opened first when Dr. Samuels approached him in late March with an idea that Josef grasped

wholeheartedly.

“Julliard would like to open a music camp close to New York City as an adjunct to the music program already in

operation at the school. It would be similar to the one at Storrs that both of us are familiar with but year-round instead of a

short summer program,” Dr. Samuels began.

He went on from there to tell Josef that Julliard would have their top music scholars, up to 20 at a time, spend a month out

of each school year at the camp honing their skills and helping younger students. Dr. Samuels would oversee the operation

of the camp from his office at Julliard. He had recommended Josef as administrator of the camp, in a sense assistant

director.

Josef was stunned. This was the type of situation he had thought about all through college but was certain it would be

several years down the line. To even think about going directly to such an undertaking this soon was unbelievable.

“Julliard has already committed itself to the program and will use property it owns on Long Island for its location. There

are buildings now on the property that will be used as temporary administration buildings until new facilities are built. Plans

are for it to open at the beginning of the school term in September of next year, ”Dr. Samuels continued.

He then described its location to Josef, on Long Island, about a 30 minute train ride from the city. “During the next year

your job would be on site preparation for the program. We’ll work together with visiting faculty members who will rotate

during the year, perhaps a quarter at a time. Are you interested?”

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