Biography

Grandmother Rose Candiotti Sasportas

On the 12th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, we remember the 17th anniversary of the death of our beloved grandmother Rose Candiotti Sasportas. Rose was born in Gallipoli, Turkey on February 14, 1892. Rose arrived in the United States in the early 1900's and lived in New York. She met David Sasportas and was married May 31, 1912. She lived in the Hartford area for the last 64 years of her life. She had five children - 3 sons (Abraham, Max and Ben) and 2 daughters (Welcome and Regina). She had 15 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Grandma's mother tongue was Ladino (the language spoken by Sephardic Jews for 500 years since their expulsion from Spain). The most beautiful memory I have of grandma took place in the West Hartford Manor, the convalescent home where Rose spent the last years of her life. In the late 70's I had learned an old Ladino song from the Passover seder (One Who Knows) sung at the end of the seder. I had never heard it sung at our family seders. I came to visit grandma. She had lost most of her faculties and hardly recognized her own sons and daughters. During my visit I began to sing this old Passover Ladino song. Grandma, who was at an almost complete memory lose, began to sing along with me, remembering the melody and words. She smiled and her eyes lightened up. I smiled and cried while singing along with her. I will always remember and cherish that special moment together. We must know from where we came in order to live the future. Tradition. Grandma Rose died November 28, 1982 at the age of 90. May she rest in peace. Please share with me your own personal memories you have of Grandma Rose. Click here to send me an e-mail.

Memories from Steven Lazerow:

It was wonderful to read Robert's memories of Grandma Rose. It is also nice to see that you're staying in touch with the rest of the family even though we're so many miles apart.

My memories of "naunie" are more general in nature. I remember fondly the family dinners in my grandparents house in West Hartford and the Passover Sedars. And she made the tastiest food including buemellas, arroz con leche and mina (sorry about the spelling). I also remember her visits to New London both when she was well enough to enjoy it as well as after she had begun to lose her faculties.

Best wishes!

Steve Lazerow

Memories of Mom - From daughter Welcome DiCicco:

My Mother, Rose Condiotti Sasportas, was a wonderful, loving, and compassonate person. She was quite a cook - transforming low cost foods into magnificant gourmet meals. Our home always had the pleasant aroma of delicious food cooking. To this day I can not make arroz con leche taste like Mom's.

Mom was always stylish in her clothing and ideas. She loved us to pamper her when we fixed her hair in a special way or polished her nails. She was a very modern woman.

We often had fun looking at merchandise in G. Fox and Company, where Dad was employed as an accomplished cabinet maker. G. Fox and Company was the largest family owned department store in Hartford at the time. It was the place to shop!

Mom looked forward to being a guest at G. Fox and Company's Centenial Room Hall - an elegant restaurant where models would walk around displaying the newest fashions. The owner of G. Fox and Company, Mrs. Auerbach, always made a point of saying, "Hello" and personally greeting Mom. I remember the gleem and pride in Mom's eyes.

When Mom an Dad lived on Bina Avenue, relatives from New York would visit every summer for a few weeks. They enjoyed the hospitality, company, and of course, Mom's special cooking.

Fresh vegtables were always available for picking from Dad's beautiful garden. Dad had a green thumb with his vegtables, and Mom had a special gift for her flowers. Her flower garden was a sight to behold. Cut flowers always lit up the kitchen.

As neither Mom or Dad drove a car, they enjoyed walking. I suppose the necessity to walk contributed to their healthy life style and helped them remain strong late into their lives.

Mom was always ready to laugh and have fun. She had a ready smile. She loved her family and was interested in so many things. Mom really had the gift of love.

Here is a picture of Rose with Daughter Welcome.

Click here for a picture of David and Rose from 1955.

Click here to view David and Rose’s engagement picture from 1911.

Family is the foundation of all our life experiences!