Welcome To Glauco Ortolano’s Family Branch History Page 

 

Dear reader:

I’m very proud to introduce some of my ancestors to you. My research is still at its infancy and it begins with some data of my great-great-grandfather Pietro Ortolan who was born in Padova (Padoa), Italy in the 1830’s (circa). He married Magdalena Gendri (my great-great-grandmother) probably in the late 1850’s (also lacks documentation). As far as I know, they had only 2 children, Alessandro and Antonio (my great-grandfather) who was born on Feb 08, 1869 in Meglidiano San Vitale, a small town of the "comune" of Montagnana province of Padova (Padoa), region of Veneto in Italy. The family immigrated to Brazil in 1891, departing from the Port of Genoa on a ship called Caffaro on September 07, 1891 (Brazil’s independence day) and arriving at the “hospedaria dos imigrantes” (The Ellis Island of Brazil) in São Paulo on October 05, 1891. Family members soon got engaged in the food and beverage industry prevalent in the region, as well as in other commercial activities. The Ortolan(os) continue to this day to serve their community providing a large number of professionals - dentists, lawyers, educators, scientists, economists, journalists, business and political leaders, among other.

 

Antonio Ortolan, my great-grandfather, married his sweetheart Solidea Gobbi who traveled with Antonio´s family to Brazil on the last decade of 1800’s, a time when Italians immigrated in larger numbers to Brazil, more than to any other country in the Western Hemisphere. They were married on January 22, 1893 in the city of Jundiaí, SP, Brazil. They had 10 children, among which we find my grandfather, Oswaldo Ortolano who married my grandmother, Rosa Rubbo in the 20’s. They in turn had four children among which Odaly Ortolano, my father, born on March 20, 1929 in Americana, São Paulo, Brazil. My father married Ana Borelli, my mother, on April 1, 1956 in the city of Americana. I’m the second of the three children born to this marriage. I was born on March 21, 1959, also in the city of Americana in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Americana takes such name because it was founded by US immigrants who left for Brazil after the American civil war. Italian and American immigrants in a mutual effort turned the city into one of the most important textile centers of all Latin America. I eventually immigrated to the United States where I currently reside.

 

The original name “Ortolan” is a French (provençal) name, from the Latin “hortulanus”, the gardner bird, celebrated for the delicate flavour of its flesh. The family received this name most likely because it was engaged in agriculture as its primary activity. While in Brazil, the name was changed to “Ortolano” as shown in the ratification found in Antonio´s and Solidea’s marriage certificate which I now have a copy. It is also my understanding that the family is widely spread in the region of Veneto in Italy; Southern France; in the State of São Paulo, Brazil; in Argentina as well as in the United States.

 

A special thanks goes to my cousin, Carlos Eduardo Ortolano of Brazil, who graciously furnished all the pictures and many important pieces of  information about our family now found on this site. Without his invaluable assistance this page would not have been possible. (Un baccio, primo, e grazie mille!).

 

Picture 1

My great-great-grandfather Pietro Ortolan and his wife Magdalena Gentri with two sons, Alessandro (older son) and my great-grandfather Antonio (younger son). This picture was taken in Montagnana, Italy (circa 1877).

 

 

Picture 2: My great-grandparents, Antonio Ortolan and Solidea Gobbi and their 10 children. From left to write (adult childern) Fidêncio (Nini), Nenê and Alfredo. Still from left to right (younger children) Gisela, Plínio, Belmiro (touching Antonio’s leg); Elvira, Giolanda (baby); Oswaldo (my grandfather) and Henrique (circa 1912).

 

 

Picture 3: My great-grandfather Antonio’s house still under construction. He can be seen dressed in white with suspenders on the lower far right.

 

 

Picture 4: The finished house built in Americana in the 20’s. Unfortunately the house no longer stands. It was demolished in the 90’s and replaced by a hotel.

 

 

Picture 5: My grandparents Oswaldo Ortolano and Rosa Rubbo with their four children. From left to right, Ayrton, Odaly (my father), Antonio Neto and my aunt Neiva as a child. Considering the age of my aunt then, I presume this picture was taken in 1950.

 

                             

 

Picture 6: On the left, my sister Silvia, I and my brother Luiz Flàvio.  On the right: I am holding Natalia with, my brother Luiz Flàvio, my father Odaly and my mother Ana.

 

Picture 7:  Myself with my six children. Natalia (next to me), Felipe (on the left), Marcelo, Danilo, Mariana (on the beach) and Giovana (in my arms).