Saint Leo's Italian Orphanage 1913-1957

5/20/2015

I have a few favorite stories on the history of Little Italy that I covered in my book and I'd like to share one of the top favorites ... about Saint Leo's Italian Orphanage. It is typical of Italian folks to want to care for, feed and nurture others. I like to imagine that the spirit of that concept was exemplified in the scenario of the orphanage back in its day, as the nuns - and the loving residents of the neighborhood - took charge of their tiny young Italians, the orphans. I hope you enjoy reading the story, too.

25 Comments

Mary Grams

7/6/2015 01:36:55 am

I loved your book, as I just borrowed it from my local library. Can you tell me if you know if their are any records of the residents at the orphanage, and if they are available to the public. Thank you.

Charles Fuller

8/24/2016 10:13:09 pm

Where can I find more info, would like to know if there are records showing the years I was living there, I thik it was 1950 thru 1953, no one left in my family that knows?

Carolyn Anthony Lanier

10/4/2017 04:56:32 pm

I am Nicolas Anthony's daughter. I would love to get more information on St. Leo's Orphanage.

Carmetta

2/12/2018 09:56:20 am

I’m in the process of doing my family tree and looking for information/pictures.
I have learned that my Aunt Mary Varsalona volunteered at the orphanage . If anyone knew of her please share.

jim eber

3/15/2018 06:50:21 pm

My wife's mother was there in the early 1940's, Edna Santoro. We have relatives named Varsalona also.

Carmetta

3/16/2018 03:05:52 pm

Hi Jim! My aunt was married to Luigi A. Varsalona.
They lived on Decker ave. in Baltimore City.
Mary volunteered at the orphanage for 39 years. She died at the age of 58 in 1964.

Jim

3/16/2021 04:38:25 pm

Hi Carmetta, sorry to not get back to you, but I just saw this post today. My wife had an uncle Luigi whose sisters were Carmella and Maria. I don't recall him being married.

Frank Bonsiero

6/19/2023 10:45:44 pm

Carmetta- I remember your Aunt and Uncle, the Varsalonas. Although I always mispronounced their name as Barcelona; I was four or five when I first met them. I also recall that they would visit us at our summer home at Fort Smallwood.

Theresa Masilek

9/7/2018 10:24:23 am

The 1940 census has my cousin's name misspelled "Panicio" instead of "Panichio". There is a ward number allocated too. I heard that my Aunt Rose's other children were taken from her for a time back then too but I do not have that information. There should be a Connie, Mary, Anne, Blaize and Nick. I heard a story that Anne kept escaping. I don't know what that was about. Nick, Connie and Angela are still alive and two live in Maryland.

Joanie Knill

2/8/2020 11:52:54 pm

I would love more information as well...
My grandmother and her brother we there, nit sure the years. Margaret Fiorino.

Suzanna Molino

2/9/2020 09:37:12 pm

Joanie, the best information I uncovered for the book was included in my book - it is copied here. I do not have more to offer, nor uncovered a list of orphans' names.

Melissa Jordan link

11/28/2020 03:01:12 pm

Hello, I came across this comment while looking for information on my grandfather, he was at St. Leo's in 1940. The reason I'm replying to your comment (it might be completely un related) is because while looking at the 1940 Census for St. Leo's, I my grandfather and from your comment recognized the name Fiorino, I just went back to the census and seen there was an Albert Fiorino, 9 (born1931), & girls Marion & Louise Fiorino, 6 (born1934) I assumed twins. I noticed from my research and talking to others, that a lot of children names had been a misspelled, their first name on file was their actual middle name, or another first name all together. Here's something I found interesting about the name change or mix ups.

*ANY given name of a Sicilian or Italian immigrant (or any immigrant) to the U. S. or other English-speaking country may have been 'strange' to ears unaccustomed to it. That being the case, such names may have been changed to ones that bore no resemblance whatsoever to the original name. If an American neighbor, employer, teacher, census-taker, etc. couldn't or wouldn't pronounce Calogero, or Nunzio, or Salvatrice, and if those names didn't have an obvious translation, the listener often just decided to call the immigrant "Bud" or "Jack" or "Jane" or some other non-descript nickname. There's no way to categorize such random substitutions.

I know your comment says Margaret . Here's a link to the census. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/M-T0627-01510-00551?treeid=160908130&personid=122112337303&usePUB=true&_phsrc=eqT295&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=149589136

Joanie Knill

3/17/2021 09:02:53 am

I am sorry, ....just seeing this comment as well. I will check back for future replies as the website doesn't notify me. Margaret and Albert....they were brother and sister, if this correct. I do not recognize the other names. I will try to open the link again. Thanks so much.

Melissa Jordan link

11/28/2020 03:09:12 pm

I know I just left a comment However, I went back to 1940 census and looked at the page prior to the one my grandfather is listed on and there was in fact a
Margaret Fiorino 11, born 1929 (110 Front Street)

I hope this helps.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/M-T0627-01510-00550?treeid=160908130&personid=122112337303&usePUB=true&_phsrc=eqT295&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=149589090

Joanie Knill

3/17/2021 08:59:28 am

Thank you so much. I'm sorry for the late response, but the website didn't notify me of your reply. Unfortunately the link won't open. If you have any additional information, please let me know. Thank you!

Marie Bonsiero

3/2/2021 01:11:28 am

I would like to know if anyone has pictures from the orphanage during the years of 1954 to 1957. I was in the orphanage at that time with my younger brother and sister. Our mother had died in 1953. I’m doing our genealogy and would love to know if pictures of the place and of the Sisters that cared for us are around. Thank you Marie

SUZANNA MOLINO

3/16/2021 04:13:12 pm

I researched this information back in 2014 for my book published in 2015: Baltimore's Little Italy: Heritage & History of The Neighborhood. I published what info I found and borrowed photos from I think it was the archives at St. Mary's Seminary that has The Catholic Review newspaper archives (Archdiocese of Baltimore). I have no more photos or information. Perhaps you could find more information online or through their archives? I think they are open to the public. Email [email protected]. Thanks for the interest.

Sarecia Powers

3/8/2021 02:49:52 pm

Looking for information on my grandmother Marie Lambert who was there in the late 1930s early 1940s

Sarecia Powers

3/8/2021 02:51:22 pm

I’m looking for information or my grandmother Marie Lambert who was at Saint Leo’s late 1939 and on the 16 March 1940 census

Frank Bonsiero

3/15/2021 10:42:26 am

I was at St Leo's orphanage from 1953-1957; I also attended the first and second grades at St Vincent de Paul parochial school, which was directly across from the orphanage on Front Street. I would love to read more about the orphanage and some of the nuns that cared for us. The nuns were selfless and tireless, whose first and only priority was providing for the kids in their care.

Gerri Stephenson

10/30/2021 05:46:30 am

Where would I find more information? My grandfather had children from a first marriage. When his first wife died he remarried. They all lived in Little Italy in Baltimore. There was a story in the family that the first three children from that first marriage was sent to St. Leo’s. I want to check this out. Happen in early 1900

Valerie Kline

6/23/2023 01:46:43 pm

My grandparents adopted a girl and then my Dad from a Italian orphanage in Balto. City and I am trying to found some info out about him and who his parents are .My phone is 443-206-4432 as well as my email address to

Raven Chesnavage

7/16/2023 10:54:12 pm

My mother and siblings were in St. Leo's in 1951. I'm trying to find more information about them. The last name is Ringus. If anyone can help, that would be great.

crystal.Iouk...husband peter ringus

8/7/2023 05:47:38 pm

Replying cuz my husband father Peter Ringus was in orphanage with siblings around same time...look forward to talking with u

Charles L Fuller link

10/27/2023 12:14:46 am

Me and my brother lived at Saint Leo’s in 1950 thru 1953.

Saint Leo's Italian Orphanage 1913-1957

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