LOVE, BUSINESS AND HOMESICKNESS

The love story, which began in the shadow of Vesuvius, was further strengthened in the United States when, nine months later, their first child Franz was born. While business proceeded sluggishly, the couple had a busy social life. Fortunately, society life helped to ease Raffaelina’s homesickness so that the days passed without suffering too much. Although life in America continued to fascinate the young mother, it was not sufficient to enable her to overcome her loneliness and the feeling of emptiness weighed down on her. Between the distractions of a Caruso concert and an evening at the Metropolitan theatre, Raffaella dreamed of returning home. However, Michele was a sensitive husband and was mindful of her feelings even though she didn’t confess her true desire to anyone, not even to her father: to be reunited with her family. 

THE SUN SHINES AGAIN

Michele was determined to return to Italy. Raffaella’s tears, the veiled suffering which etched her face and extinguished her smile, convinced him to set aside his business plans. A few weeks later he closed the office in New York and arranged their return to Naples. Along with their furniture, he had a series of American creature comforts, none of which the family wanted to do without, sent over to Italy. The return to Torre del Greco was to be a rewarding one for the young couple. The old company office in Torre del Greco, founded with his father Francesco, had been well run by Vincenzo Palomba in the three years the couple had spent in New York; during the absence of his daughter and son-in-law, Vincenzo had lent a valuable hand to the company’s growth. On the return of the De Simone family to Italy, Raffaella’s brother Bartolomeo, who had been working in Japan since 1910, also became a partner in Francesco De Simone & Figlio.