Jared Marmo, a vocalist and pianist (left side) and Michael Toto a trustee at Casa Colombo. (Photo Courtesy of JC IN THE NEWS)
This story was originally published in Jersey City-based Substack, JC IN THE NEWS.
When it comes to preserving the Italian-American way of life in Jersey City, the Feast of Seven Fishes is one cultural avenue. For Michael Toto, keeping that spirit alive also means telling history—evoking the story of the immigrant experience that shaped the city.
In an interview with JC IN THE NEWS, Toto reflected on the customs of everyday Italian life, recalling memories that carry an “arrivederci” or until we meet again type vibe.
“To be an Italian-American in Jersey City is to be part of the history of Jersey City and the fabric of America,” Toto said. “When we talk in our civic discourse about how America was built by immigrants, this is their cherished place in that history.”
Italian immigrants filled the neighborhoods of Jersey City and Manhattan throughout the 1800s, fleeing prolonged poverty and economic scarcity for the promise of “L’America.”
“Representing the Italian-American community takes on a new meaning and a new responsibility now,” Toto said. “It’s no longer just about protecting the Italian community and making sure immigrants have the resources they need to live productively.”
When Toto wants to reconnect with his roots, he turns to the Casa Colombo Italian Educational and Cultural Center (IECC). Built in 1936 and designed by Italian-American architect James V. Richardi, the building has grown into a cornerstone of the Jersey City community.
“I feel forever linked to this very special place,” Toto said. He later learned that his own father had served as an altar boy in one of the weddings once hosted at the IECC.
JC IN THE NEWS attended the institute’s youth mixer calling on young aspiring professionals to network and gauge with the Italian community at-large in Jersey City.
“We embrace the entire community because Jersey City is so culturally different, everyone seems to have embraced it,” said Lisa Collodoro, the executive director of IECC, heading into her fourth year in the role who spoke to JC IN THE NEWS in an interview.
“The younger people are interested in the culture and we encourage people from all cultures to come and experience the Italian culture,” calling it a reciprocal experience in clasping with the Italian culture.
The recent passing of Angelo Estrada, a former Italian Village resident and a native of Jersey City, shook the community to its core. Prior to his passing, a video for the cultural center he said that growing up into a Puerto Rican and Italian household, around the block neighbors would call him “blue eye Angelino.”
Among his favorite memories of the center are the films it has showcased over the years — including one starring Federico Castelluccio of “The Sopranos,” a personal favorite of his.
On the day to day Toto says he keeps the kindred Italian spirit alive and takes pride in enjoying the simple moments in life. In Hudson County, Italian Americans carry a population of over 49,000 Italian residents or 6 percent of the total county size pool, according to census data compiled by Neilsberg, a research firm.
An enclave of generations of Italian-Americans reside in Jersey City, with a population of 14,655 Italians or 5 percent of the given population of over 300,000 individuals.
Toto said that one of the most surreal moments of his life leaned on the memory of him walking aboard the ship his grandfather once sailed to arrive in America, known as the Conte Biacamano, an ocean liner that sailed in the until 1950s.
Toto told JC IN THE NEWS that he arrived at Ellis Island in October of 1926 at the age of 20.
By trade his grandfather worked as an olive farmer, growing up in a village called Grumo Appula in the region of Puglia, a metropolitan area located in southern Italy.
Toto felt history caught up with his present, when he decided to travel to Milan for the first time in September 2024, he said he first stopped at the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science in Milan, Italy. Alongside with him, he brought a printed photo of his grandfather as he walked the museum built in 1953.
“I had tears in my eyes as I recounted my grandfather’s story and my family’s story in America, and some of them were brought to tears listening,” said Toto, referring to the scenario as a full circle moment as told to JC IN THE NEWS.
He ponders on his grandfather’s legacy. “It made me wonder what he thought about on that journey – what were his hopes? His fears? Did he think about what he wanted his children and grandchildren to achieve in America?
He says that he has been living in Jersey City for 12 years, feeling entrenched in proximity to Italian culture, “The Italian people have a very beautiful outlook of life,” he added.
Dining Italian food in Jersey City takes on many corners of the city’s streets, an iconic Italian hot spot is Cangiano’s Marketplace located at 225 Pavonia Avenue–from chicken cutlets dipped in tomato sauce, to the honey mustard shrimp sandwich.
With the tax hike in Jersey City, a grave concern over what the city’s make up will be in the future, is something Toto says he’s paying close attention to.
“Everyone understands that these circumstances have been years in the making, and the state is conditioning aid on revenue increases, but we also know that it will hurt long-time Jersey City residents in our community.”
