DOB/DOD: August 28, 1894 (Palermo, Italy) – June 20, 1974 (Norwalk, CT); 79 years old
LOCAL ADDRESS: 13 Belden Hill Rd (1930 census) and 7 Glover Avenue, Norwalk (1940 census)
MARITAL STATUS: Married Nunziata “Nancy” Garramone (1899-1981) on September 24, 1923 in Norwalk.
CHILDREN: Four daughters, Concetta “Connie” Restivo Palermo (1924-), Catherine Restivo Young (1926-2016), Jeanne “Jennie” M. Restivo Cook (1929-), and Teresa R. Fredericks (1931-2003). One son, John (1934-).
ENLISTMENT: March 29, 1918
DISCHARGE: August 4, 1919.
UNIT: Company D, 12th Machine Gun Battalion, 8th Infantry
FAMILY: Born to Domenico (1864-?) and Concetta M. Fili Restivo (1868-1944). One sister, Biagia “Bessie” Restivo Lipira (1892-1980). Two brothers, Salvatore (1899-1989) and Daniel (1909-1979).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Wounded in action. Gassed with mustard gas on July 23, 1918, at Aisne-Marne, France, during the Battle of Argonne.
OTHER: Emigrated from Italy to the United States in 1907.
Medals from left to right are the World War I Occupation Medal, the World War I Victory Medal with 4 badges representing the battles he was in — Aisne-Marne, St Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Defensive Sector, and the Purple Heart Medal.
It reads at the top, “Columbia gives to her son the accolade of the new chivalry of humanity; and at the bottom, in cursive, John Restivo, Private, Company D, 12th Machine Gun Battalion, and under that, “Served with honor in the world war and was wounded in action. President Wilson requested artist E. H. Blashfield to design an illustration for use on a certificate that would be presented to every veteran wounded in action during the World War. That’s President Wilson’s signature in the bottom right corner. This design was later authorized for use in the official emblem of the Disabled American Veterans of the World War.
From an unknown newspaper, but likely The Norwalk Sentinel. The clipping was found in a collection in the Norwalk History Room of the Norwalk Library.
NORWALK BOY WOUNDED FIGHTING IN FRANCE
Private John Restivo, 13 Belden Hill Avenue, Norwalk, member Company D, 12th Machine Gun Battalion. Enlisted on March 29, 1918. Transferred from Camp Devens to Camp Mills and left the latter camp for overseas service on May 8, 1918. He went through the thickest of the fighting and, on November 26, was officially reported as having been wounded July 23. Since then, the relatives have received no word from him.
From an unknown newspaper, but likely The Norwalk Sentinel. The clipping was found in a collection in the Norwalk History Room of the Norwalk Library.
RESTIVO RECOVERS FROM BATTLE WOUNDS
A letter was received on Tuesday, January 21, from Private John Restivo, of Company A, 12th Machine Gun Battalion, A.E.F., by his relatives on Belden Hill Avenue, in which he stated that he has fully recovered from his wounds received in action on July 23 last, and is now with the American army of occupation in Germany. His relatives are overjoyed to receive this glad news. An article was published in these columns recently stating that Private Restivo enlisted on March 29, 1918, going to Camp Devens, whence he was transferred to Camp Mills. He left for overseas on May 8, 1918. On November 26, he was officially reported as having been wounded in action on July 23. His folks did not know how he was getting along until they received this letter stating that he was gassed and wounded on July 23 but that he had recovered and was with the army of occupation in Burg Kareitelstein, Germany. His many friends will be glad to hear that he is again well and back with his comrades.
From The Norwalk Hour June 21, 1974
John Restivo, 79, of 57 Glover Avenue, died Thursday evening in Norwalk Hospital after a short illness. He was the husband of Nancy Garramone Restivo. He was born in Sicily and had been a local resident for over 70 years. He was a retired custodian at Wilton High School and a veteran of WWI, serving in the U.S. Army. In addition to his wife, he is
survived by one son, John D. Restivo, of Wilton; four daughters, Mrs. Angelo (Connie) Palermo and Mrs. George (Kay) Young, both of Norwalk, Mrs. Robert S. (Jean) Cook, West Redding, and Mrs. Ralph (Teresa) Fredericks of Wilton; two brothers, Salvatore, of Norwalk, and Daniel, of Stamford: one sister, Mrs. Bessie Lipira, of Norwalk; eight grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Monday at 9:30 A.M. in the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk, and at 10 o’clock in St Jerome’s Church for a mass of Christian Burial. Interment will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday from 7 to 9 P.M. and Sunday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Contributions to the American Heart Association, Bettswood Road, Norwalk, would be appreciated by the family. He received the Purple Heart when he was wounded in action during WWI.
Buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Broad Street, Norwalk, Connecticut; unknown section or plot number. Photo from FindAGrave.com.
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