In Loving Tribute to Minio Ciampa

By Charlotte Vincent

On November 1, 2010, Minio Ciampa recorded his flying time and closed his log book. It was to be his last time flying – his final log entry. On June 19, 2011, Minio Ciampa flew West. It was Father’s Day and his family lost a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a dear brother. 2B2, along with LWM and the entire Northeast aviation community, lost a born flyer and a very special friend that day.

Family and flying – these were Minio’s two great loves. Over the last few years of his life, these two loves grew closer in heart – both for Minio and for those of us who were touched by him. His family grew to include his flying friends. The flying community embraced Minio’s family as one of their own.

Paying Tribute - On October 9, 2011, Minio’s family and the local flying community came together at 2B2 to pay tribute to Minio. It was the kind of 2B2 day that Minio relished. It was warm and sunny. The air was filled with the sounds of planes taking off and landing on the runway and the grass. There was simple food on the grill and pot luck side dishes and desserts in the lounge. There were dozens of people sharing conversation and laughter on the 2B2 deck. There were the typical stories and jokes, of course. But on this day, memories of Minio were at the heart of all the dialogue. The day culminated with the dedication of a memorial plaque which reads: “In loving memory of Minio Ciampa who flew west but left his trail of gentle smiles and loving kindness for all those he touched”. This plaque now hangs in the 2B2 lounge honoring his legacy and keeping him a perpetual part of our 2B2 flying community.

As I sift through memories of Minio, I feel like I am looking through a kaleidoscope. The kaleidoscope reflects rich and vibrant patterns of attributes and characteristics which define the man. These, in turn, trigger a fervor of sweeping and enduring emotions. This tribute blog is a look through this kaleidoscope at this very special man and his inspirational life.

The Early Years - It’s June 5, 1933 and Minio enters the world. He is the oldest child and only son of his American mother from Dedham, MA and his Italian father from the Avellino region of Italy. Three years later, he is joined by sister, Lena. From this moment on, I see Minio always watching over Lena as the loving big brother.

The Ciampa’s have settled in Italy. Minio’s life is marked by what he has and what he doesn’t have. All too often, he has a lingering hunger in his stomach. Nearly always, he has scant clothing on his back. At no time does he have a bicycle to call his own. Life is tough. Sadly, it is about to get even tougher.

World War II is breaking out in surrounding countries. Minio’s dad signs up to serve. Word soon comes that he has been killed in action in Africa. It is 1936 and I see Minio, the 3 year old boy, brutally robbed of his father and his childhood and, in the words of his sister, Lena, “forced to grow up very fast.”
A Bold Move - The war finally ends and the rebuilding begins; but the future’s uncertain in Italy. It is 1950 and the Ciampa’s are coming to America. For Minio’s mother, it means coming back home. For Minio and Lena, it means going to a whole “new world”.

Minio’s mother and sister head out first and settle down in Revere with the help of relatives. Minio is a working age teenager and cannot come to America without a work sponsor. It takes 6 months and the help of a cousin, but Boston’s Standard Boxspring, Co. steps in to sponsor him. Minio waves a final goodbye to his grandparents. He boards the plane and makes the long transatlantic flight on his own. I see Minio as a teenager with unwavering courage and gutsy independence.

Minio sets foot on American soil with nothing but a borrowed suit on his back. He does not know a soul aside from his mother and sister. He does not speak the language. He does not know the culture. He does not have a trade. But he does have a job and he does have an unwavering determination to build a better life in this “new world” for his mother, his sister and himself. I see Minio, the 16 year old teenager turned 16 year old “man of the house” all too soon!

The first thing that Minio does in America is attend to the last thing he did in Italy. Minio made two promises to his grandfather. First, he promised to return his borrowed suit once he arrived in America. Second, he promised to repay him for his airline ticket as soon as he could. Minio takes these promises to heart. The “Sunday Best” is to be Grandpa’s burial suit when the time comes! Minio knows better than to leave Grandpa waiting … let alone God! No sooner is the suit off Minio’s back that it’s loaded on the next ship to Italy! Over time, he saves enough from each paycheck to send Grandpa a check for $528 – payment in full for the airfare plus a dividend in gratitude for Grandpa’s investment in him. Parting promises kept. I see Minio, a man of integrity, a man of his word.

Getting Grounded - As “man of the house”, Minio must support his family and must master the language. So, for the next 9 years, Minio works full time days and goes to school nights to learn English. He is determined not only to speak English well, but to speak it without an accent. Years of study and practice pay off in the end. Minio speaks fluent English without any traces of Italian. In what had to be an especially sweet “coup d’état”, he now speaks Italian with an American accent! I see Minio as a determined and perseverant man – giving everything his best, giving everything his all.

Minio approaches work with this same zeal. After a few years on the job, Minio jumps out of bedsprings and into marble. He takes a job at Freeport Marble Company in Dorchester. He spends the next 8 years installing marble in hospitals, courthouses, and colleges all over New England. Over 60 years later, you can step into institutions like Dartmouth College and still see Minio’s fine craftsmanship behind the marble work. I see Minio as a hard working immigrant, providing for his family; I see him putting down roots and assimilating into the “new world” ; I see him making America “his home”.

Time Out - It is the mid 1950’s and Minio takes a break. He goes to the Ocean View in Revere Beach for a night of camaraderie and dancing. Rose Belmonte is also there with a group of girlfriends - all ready to kick up their heels. Rose catches Minio’s eye. He asks her to dance and the music begins. By the end of the dance, the two have begun to catch each other’s hearts. They date for a few years and then marry for a lifetime.

In 1959, they welcome their daughter, Gina, to the world. Their son, John, follows the very next year. Last on the scene is their son, Joseph, who arrives 6 years later. It is 1966 and I see Minio as a devoted husband and loving family man.

Back to Work - Back at Freeport Marble, Minio’s work is getting the attention of his boss. Rose highlights why his boss takes a liking to him. “His boss liked him because he was smart, he was quick, and he took control of things.”

Minio’s bold move 8 years earlier is proving to be a real game changer. He is becoming proficient in the marble trade and marble business. He is building a name and reputation for himself throughout New England. He and a co-worker have been taken “under the wing” of a benevolent boss.

Branching Out On Their Own - With their boss’ blessing and help, the two partners begin taking on small jobs on their own. They work on these side jobs after a full day’s work. They work from their own little shop space and on their own time at night and on weekends. The quarters are cramped and the machines are noisy. It is time to “spread their wings” and fly on their own. It is 1962 and Wonderland Marble and Stone opens its doors for business.

They scout out marble refinishing work at area furniture stores to get the business going. Their first line of business is marble fabrication for fireplaces, table tops, and bathrooms. Over time, they diversify and begin working with bluestone and flagstone. These rougher stones form the basis of their new outdoor patio line. They show their industry foresight, understanding of customers, and business acumen when they bring limestone into the business. Limestone is coming from Indiana and is a new stone to work with in this area. Its uniformity in size and color makes it attractive to customers. Wonderland Marble and Stone is one of the first to enter the marketplace selling limestone steps. I see Minio as a smart businessman and a successful entrepreneur.

Shaping Lives - While Minio builds a business, Rose builds a home for the family of five. Though Minio’s business responsibilities keep him away from the house, nothing keeps him away from his responsibilities and role as a parent. Though he grew up without a father – or perhaps in part because of that – he grows to be a wonderful father. He, along with Rose, shapes and leaves a lasting imprint on the lives of their three children.
His adult children share reflections of their Dad as a father and a man.
Through Gina’s eyes: “I was the only daughter and my father was a tough Italian father. He had a way of helping you if you thought you couldn’t do something. He was very clear in his thinking. It was either A or B. Everything was simple with him and it all made perfect sense to him …He was always a centered person. He was solid in his direction of what he believed, solid in his thinking. I always appreciated and loved that about him. I always thought it was very cool.”

Through John’s eyes: “My father was hard on us when we were young, but in retrospect, it was the best thing for us. He took his good traits and passed them on as valuable lessons for life. My father was an honest man and taught you to be honest with yourself and with others. He was a hard worker and believed in teaching you hard work and the value of money. He taught you not to be jealous of people – he never was. My Dad was a very passionate guy and taught you to approach everything in life without fear.”

Through Joseph’s eyes: “I thanked my father for teaching us what was really important in life. Things like integrity, character, respect, your word … being a man of your word. All things that get overlooked in today’s materialistic society. They don’t teach these intangibles anymore. Even though his love was tough, I admire and I thank him for what he instilled in me, my brother and my sister. I thank him for bringing us up that way. You can take material things away, but you can never take away these intangibles.”


Changing Hands – It is 1970 and John is 10 years old. He begins what he refers to as his after school “forced march” to Wonderland Marble and Stone. He is being groomed by Minio to take over the business one day. By the late 1980’s that day is coming closer. Minio and his partner begin turning over greater responsibility for the business to each of their sons. It takes a few more years, but Wonderland Marble and Stone passes to the next generation.

Childhood Dreams – As John takes the business reins from his father, Minio has more time on his hands. His children are long gone from the house. It is 1988 and Minio decides it is time to go after his own childhood dream. Rose reveals how very long ago that dream was born. “When he was a little boy, he always looked up at the WWII war planes in the air and said he wanted to fly!” Minio is 55 years old and begins to chase his dream with his signature passion. Rose describes his approach. “First, it was the ultra-lights. When he took the lessons, he’d be studying here every night with his book. He was focused on it - ‘dead on’ – till he got it. Then about 5 years later, when he was 60 years old, he studied for the planes. He did really good. He flew really good too.”
Minio’s dear friend and fellow pilot, Al Hasapis, concurs and brings out Minio’s simple pragmatism and sense of humor. “He was a ‘natural flier’. He did things by the book, by the number. He had his mental checklist and he concentrated on it. One day I asked Minio how he got out of ultra-lights and into general aviation. Minio’s response: ‘Because I crashed so many ultra-lights!’”

I see Minio as the guardian of the dream and the passionate dream catcher.

Flying Machines - Minio takes great pride in his flying machines. He is proud of his first red ultra-light - not just because he built it, but also because it is pretty state of the art and pretty close to being a plane. Of course, he claims each of his flying machines to be the best!
Minio also treats his plane with care and respect. She is a lady, after all! He lovingly refers to his Piper Cherokee as “My Baby”. He boasts how beautiful she is. He drums his fingers on the dashboard to encourage her on with “Come on, Baby.” He secures her in her reserved place and thanks her for another great day of flying.

Taking to the Skies - For over 20 years, Minio enjoys many great days of flying. He flies every chance he gets. He enjoys flying to Sanford for breakfast or to Jaffrey for a late day ice cream. He loves flying to meet the guys for lunch or for a few hours of stories and jokes on the 2B2 deck. He enjoys taking off simply to roam the skies.

Minio also enjoys his planned flying to visit the state capitals with his dear friend, Bart Bratko. Bart is a veteran WWII B-24 pilot. He is also in the Guiness Book of Records as the world’s oldest certified flight instructor! Photos from their state visits reflect a childlike sense of adventure. They also capture the smile in the eyes of two special friends sharing the precious gift of time. They make the rounds of 48 out of the 50 state capitals together!

Taking People Up – Minio enjoys his solo flights, but he finds a different joy in going sky-hopping with passengers in tow. He offers lifts to fellow pilots who are without wings for the day. He spontaneously invites friends to fly to Beverly for a muffin. He flies with love whenever he’s “flying Miss Rose” to anywhere and everywhere. He flies with pride whenever he can give his sons a chance to break loose from this earth for a bit.
His son, John, remembers every one of his 20 or so flights with his Dad and wishes it could have been more. “It wasn’t enough.”

His son, Joseph, relives a special day of unexpected joys flying with his Dad. “I didn’t fly a lot with my Dad but one time we went up. It was a beautiful fall day. We flew to Provincetown and were flying low over the water. We spotted a mother whale and her pod of babies. It was unbelievable. We were whale watching from the sky! We didn’t know it, but it was the last day of the Tall Ships visit to Boston. We got to see them pulling out all in full sail. My Dad tipped his wing to the guys on the ships. They loved it. So did I and so did my Dad. It was all on the same day … and all by chance.”

Whether in the air or on the ground, Gina sees her father as “a man with an invigorating zest for life!”

The Little Ones – For Minio, a great day of flying turns into a grand day of flying whenever he takes a child up to the skies with him. Rose explains why. “Minio was good with kids. He loved them and they loved him.”

Rose shows us a display case in which Minio kept all his flying memorabilia. It includes notes from parents and youngsters thanking Minio for their ride to the skies. Rose shares a little of one mother’s sentiments: “…We met you in November … It so happened to be Tristun’s birthday. You made our 9 year old boy very happy. Tristun still talks about that birthday! Thanks for your kindness. Here are some pictures from the day.”

Al Hasapis echoes this at the October 9 memorial dedication. Al sees Minio reaching out to children and touching their lives. “Many times he would land at some distant airport and immediately befriend young and old. There are kids in New England who sat in a general aviation airplane for the first and maybe only time in their lives because Minio opened his plane and his heart to them.”

A Grandpa’s Love - Back to Minio’s first great love – his family. Grandchildren first enter the family picture in 1988 with the birth of a granddaughter, Ashley. In 1997, grandsons Justin and Zachary complete the family picture.

Gina and Paul LaRose’s son, Justin, takes an early liking to flying with Grandpa. Gina remembers Justin being “4 or 5 years old when he first went up with my Dad. He loved flying with his grandfather.”
We soon learn that flying was just one of the things they did together. Gina gives us a glimpse into Minio, the grandfather. “He loved his grandchildren. He was actively involved in their lives. It wasn’t just come over and sit and talk to me. He was always taking them places and doing things with them. They’d go to a farm to pick tomatoes or go to the carnival. They loved going to flea markets. Justin and Zachary are the same age. Sometimes they’d both go, other times they’d go alone with Grandpa. My father’s energy level was incredible.”

Grandpa plays an equally vital role in the lives of Ashley and Zachary, John and Deborah’s children . John shares more on his children’s Grandpa. “My Dad had more time when Zachary was growing up. They did a lot of outings together – like going for ice cream and going to flea markets. Zachary’s been playing hockey for 8 years. In the last few years, my Dad came to a few of his hockey games. Zachary and I also go to the house once or twice a week for dinner. My Dad liked to tease Zachary. He’d ask ‘Any girlfriends yet? What’s going on?’ They had quite the conversations.”John tells us “It was a little different with my daughter Ashley. She’s 9 years older than Zachary. She was the first grandchild and my mother smothered her with love. My father was still involved with the business and he was learning to fly. He didn’t have as much time to spend with Ashley.” Ashley may not have shared as much time with her Grandpa, but she definitely shares her Grandpa’s core family values and the role of the “older sibling”. Ashley and Zachary are not close in age, but they are very close in heart. I see reflections of Minio in how Ashley keeps a watchful eye over Zachary as the loving big sister.


It’s All About Others - We see a recurring theme running throughout Minio’s life. With Minio, it is all about others, all about people. This love of people is at the core of his being and of his living. It’s what his family wants people to remember most about Minio, the man.

Rose’s remembrance: “just that he loved people. He was very good with people and loved the social connection. He loved talking to people whether friend or stranger. He loved people no matter who they were.”

Joseph’s remembrance: “He always made everyone feel comfortable. He was willing to start a conversation. He was not afraid to put himself out there.”

Gina’s remembrance: “He really was a gentle soul. There was a kindness and gentleness about him. He was always there – if you needed him – he was there”

John’s remembrance: “My Dad was honest and passionate. He was loving and he showed it. He always took care of his family and friends.”

We have come full circle in our look through this kaleidoscope at Minio, the man. He had a hard take off to life but came in with a soft landing in the end. Tears were brushed dry by his warm, gentle smiles. Shaky footing in “the new world” was secured by the roots he put down in making America “his home”. A work sponsor and “boss’ wing” opened the door to a business all his own. A child who grew up without a father grew to be the loving patriarch of a beautiful family. His hard work with the stones of the earth gave him lift to soar playfully with the birds of the sky. The boy without a bicycle found his childhood dream as the man with his flying machines.

Bicycles and flying … hearts and love,,, I can’t help but think of that signature scene and musical score from the movie classic, “ET”. I catch a final glimpse of Minio as the lyrics from “Heart Light” ring in my ears.
“…Turn on your heart light
Let it shine wherever you go
Let it make a happy glow
For all the world to see;
Turn on your heart light
In the middle of a young boy’s dream
Don’t wake me up too soon
Gonna take a ride across the moon
You and Me …
Turn on your heart light now...”

I see Minio waving to us and giving us his gentle smile farewell.

Minio, may you spend eternity flying freely and frivolously among the stars. May your heart light glow perpetually – casting your light and warmth over the hearts of all of those you touched. May his memory be eternal.