At the turn of the twentieth century, Vincenzo Martinelli migrated from the Provence of Calabria with his family in pursuit of the American dream. Upon entering the country, a chance meeting changes the trajectory of his life, and that of his family’s for generations to come. Filled with back-room deals, Prohibition-era mobsters, and everyday life in the growing town of Elizabeth, New Jersey, A Street Paved of Gold is an epic tale of one family’s rise to success through hard work, perseverance, and dedication to principles, and the traps and trials many immigrant families faced on their way to find their own street paved of gold.

About the Author

Robert R. Dattilo is a fourth-generation Italian immigrant whose family immigrated to America at the turn of the twentieth century. He has been a lifelong resident of Union County, New Jersey, and has lived with the stories handed down through generations. Dattilo has studied twentieth-century American history and holds a BA in history, an MLS of American history from Kean University, and a PhD in natural medicine from Kingdom College. Dattilo has worked to raise money for Deborah Hospital, the Linden Boxing Association and its youth programs, and received a citation of bravery for his heroic work in rescuing survivors at the World Trade Center.

He currently spends his time living at the Jersey Shore and Florida with his loving partner of twenty-three years Lucia and daughter Dominique.