Page 8 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 59 Spring 2026

Donato Gammerino’s sons carried formation on the Gammerinos. Many
on the business for several decades readers will remember Pat’s sister
after the founder’s death. Along the Beverly Donofrio who wrote Riding
way they acquired an unofficial broth- in Cars with Boys about growing up
er in Peter Fresina, a local man who in Wallingford in the 1960s. Sergeant
learned the business from the Gam- Detective Edward Donofrio, Pat and
merinos and became a licensed py- Beverly’s father, was the grandson of
rotechnician. Eventually Fresina took Donato and Irene, and served over
over Wallingford’s July 4th fireworks 25 years with the Wallingford Police
creating entertainment for Wall- Department. Another great grand-

Over the years, the Gammerino fame ingford families from 1970 to 1982. daughter and Wallingford resident
Wallingford continues to celebrate Marie Higgins was featured in a 2010
spread and they were hired for special Independence Day with an impres- Record-Journal article about the Gam-
events around the country. sive fireworks display at Sheehan High merino fireworks family. Her son Rich-
School. No longer produced by the ard is a Gammerino great great grand-
1914: Cotton Carnival in Galveston, Gammerinos, or made in the U.S., son.
they originate in China who manufac-
Texas tures about 90% of the fireworks we As I write, winter has blanketed Wall-
1925: Celebration for President enjoy in our country today. ingford with mountains of snow, and
spring seems far away, but July will
Coolidge in Swampscott, arrive before we know it and on In-
Massachusetts GAMMERINO FAMILY TODAY
Though I have not discovered anyone dependence Day families will make
1930: Celebration for President currently living in Wallingford with the trek up Sheehan High School hill,
Roosevelt in Washington, DC the Gammerino surname, there are spread out blankets and pillows, lie on
still direct descendants in town and their backs, and look to the heavens
1931: Fireworks at the Washington elsewhere. Wallingford resident Pat for the show to begin.
Monument. At the time, The Bentley, a great granddaughter of Do-
Washington Post featured an article nato and Irene, gave me the idea for
about the Gammerino company and this story and provided me with in-
its history in the U.S. and Italy.

1933: President Roosevelt re-
election inaugural celebration in
Washington, D.C.

END OF A GENERATION
As their father aged, the boys took
over much of the business, especial-
ly the gigs that required travel. But
the fireworks patriarch never totally
retired. Then on July 19, 1934, Do-
nato was found dead from a heart
attack outside his fireworks factory
on Florence Avenue. Though it must
have come as a complete shock to the
family, Donato was only 68, his end-
ing seemed fitting in a cosmic way. He
was at work when it happened, con-
tinuing the beloved family tradition.
And, it happened in July, the month
during which much of the action in
his life had occurred since coming to
this country. Donato was never nat-
uralized and remained an Italian citi-
zen his whole life. He is buried in Holy
Trinity Cemetery, his casket borne at
the funeral by the Sons of Italy. Irene
died 26 years later and is buried by his
side.

8 WALLINGFORD MAGAZINE - SPRING 2026