Angela Marie Vaccaro Martelli

Angela Marie Vaccaro Martelli Born on January 12, 1927, Angela was the eighth and youngest child of Henry Aniello Vaccaro and Annunziata Mandaro Vaccaro. Her father and mother were devout Roman Catholics. They sang the rosary each night, in Latin. Poor immigrants from Tramonti, Italy, they believed in the power of faith, hard work, of a Catholic education. They sent their four sons to Georgetown undergraduate and graduate schools. Their eldest son, Sebastian was knighted by Pope Pius XII with the order of St. George for humanitarian works. Henry had little formal education, but a shrewd mind and a good head for business. In addition to being a landscape architect, he became a real estate tycoon. When Henry died, he owned over 250 properties in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The local newspapers referred to him as a “Horatio Alger”. Angela was the baby of the family. She was her father’s favorite. She sat at his right side next to him at the head of the table. She too had a keen mind, an extraordinary memory and a strong work ethic. When she graduated from the college of Saint Elisabeth in 1948, she had the highest-grade point average in her class, graduating summa cum laude with majors in English, history and Italian. Her yearbook caption read, “refinement, elegance, beauty and charm”. She was a true Italian beauty, raven haired and elegant; people often thought she was an actress or a model. Angela met her husband, Frank Martelli, on a “blind date” while a senior in college. It was love at first sight. Her cousin was marrying the next day, but Frank insisted she have breakfast with him the following morning. He proposed marriage and she accepted. They married on October 16, 1948 at the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption in Deal, New Jersey. The reception for 250 people was held at the storied Berkley Carteret Hotel in Asbury Park. Frank’s family, the Martelli’s of Florence, Italy were patrons of the Church. Frank was named after the Cardinal, Francesco Maria Martelli, who (1633–1717) was a prominent member of this illustrious family. His ancestor, Camilla Martelli was the second wife of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. The Martelli’s owned a chateau in Gricigliano, in the hills outside of Florence, which in recent times they gifted bequeathed to the Church for the preservation of the Latin Mass. Today it houses the order of Christ the King. Angela and Frank had two daughters, Nance and Gina. Frank was a “bon vivant” with a strong spirit of adventure. He closed his businesses in New Jersey and moved the family to Rome, Italy in the early 1960’s. Thus began a whirlwind life of glamour, parties, world travel to exotic places, filled with exotic food, rare art and antiques and music and interesting people. After a decade in Europe - living in Paris, Rome and Milano, the Martelli’s returned to the US. Frank retired from his management consulting business. He and Angela embarked upon a new career as they turned their collection of fine art and rare antiques from a hobby into a lucrative business. They opened International Galleries in Shrewsbury New Jersey, the largest antique gallery on the East Coast. In 1985, they retired and moved to Bel Air, California. With time on their hands and few obligations, Frank and Angela traveled the world and would often be abroad for months at a time. They loved cruising. They visited 187 countries. Following the death of her husband Frank and daughter Gina, Angela moved back to the East Coast to spend her last years with her family: her daughter, Nance and her son-in-law Gerhard. Angela brought great joy to her family. She would delight her great-grandchildren with her nicknames for them and her blessings at dinner. Angela was happiest celebrating with family, seated at the table of ten, just as she had as a child. She would often remark that she was “living in paradise”. Angela had the rare talent for finding the goodness and beauty in everyone she met. She was kind and gracious and was loved by everyone who was fortunate enough to have known her. Her family is blessed to have had her in their midst for these last years. Angela was pre-deceased by her husband, Frank Martelli, her daughter Gina Martelli, her sisters Mary Vaccaro Martin, Assunta “Sunny” Vaccaro Dennis and Amelia Vaccaro Siciliano, her four brothers, Sebastian P. Vaccaro, Martin J. Vaccaro, Pasquale M. Vaccaro and Henry J. Vaccaro and her great-granddaughter Mary Grace Hutter. She is survived by her daughter, Nance Martelli Hutter, her son-in-law Gerhard P. Hutter, her grandchildren Maximilian Hutter, Rudolf Hutter and Alexander Hutter, her granddaughter Emily Sprance Hutter and three great-grand-children, Sebastian Hutter, Elisabeth Hutter and Nicolette Hutter.

Angela Marie Vaccaro Martelli

January 12, 1927 - July 22, 2021