By José A. Ayala
Nunzio was a great father, teacher, poet, former city councilor, mayoral candidate, community activist, former champion and local boxing coach and veteran of the United States Army.
Born in Motta Santa Anastasia in Sicily, Italy, Nunzio will remain in our memories as an exceptional human being from the Lawrence area who loved life and his family, and always acted in good faith and dedication to the community and immigrants.
Nunzio loved to talk, and he did it in any place and condition: radio, television, face to face, by phone, in the parking lot, in the store …wherever he was.
Nunzio, I don’t know how he did it, combined family time, education and literary work with radio, sports, music and politics.
In addition to playing the saxophone, Nunzio did radio in English, Spanish and Sicilian. One of her favorite cabin companions was his friend Dalia Díaz with whom he shared for years in different programs and frequencies of Costa–Eagle Broadcasting combined with occasional opinion pieces on local papers.
Among the family, politics, debates, radio programs and meetings these two pillars of local activism always found that much needed space for relaxation and entertainment as well, something difficult to combine in the community work environment.
The adventures of Nunzio and Patricia to enjoy a good wine were famous. It was impossible not to mention on the radio those walks by the Italian section of the North End of Boston.
Nunzio never forgot his Italian roots, especially his beloved Sicily. He honored Lawrence veterans of Italian origin with an emphasis on those he called “the forgotten” of WW1.
Nunzio was a role model for the young ones. He taught us through his daily routine that well known quote from Italian satirical poet Décimo Junio Juvenal “Healthy Mind in Healthy Body” when Nunzio coached local soccer teen players after school. He truly believed that being involved in sports at a young age is an excellent recipe against gangs, drugs, stress, bullying, depression, drinking, teen pregnancy, and other common challenges faced by our youth.
Nunzio DiMarca is recognized as the councilor who led a legal battle so that the Federal Law on Equal Employment Opportunities would be applied to the full extent of the work in the Lawrence municipality. At that time, public complains of job vacancies in the local government that were not published so that everyone had the same opportunity, were known. Sometimes, these positions were assigned to friends, collaborators and even family members.
The attraction for everything Latin was so significant that it motivated Nunzio to learn Spanish so well spoken, read and written that he was hired as an instructor. Subsequently, he was an avid promoter of changes at Lawrence High School’s curriculum for the inclusion and teaching of Hispanic American literature and history in our public schools for native students and newly arrived immigrants.
Despite talking and acting with pride about his Sicilian roots (Italy), his passion for social issues, local politics, migration issues, the Latin American community and his struggles, motivated Nunzio to jog another mile to learn more about our Latin American culture. And as many of us know a common way to achieve this is through love, a similarity to the story of Romeo and Juliet. And that was exactly what happened when Patricia replied to him “Yes, I do want to be your girlfriend”. He sealed his love and brotherhood with our community when Patricia DiMarca, his loved-other half, a wonderful woman from Colombia, arrived to his life decades ago, and with whom he formed a beautiful and exemplary family.
Nunzio was also a member of the board and later president of Lawrence Hispanic Week; a devotee and collaborator of the Festival of the Three Saints in Lawrence, an annual celebration of the Italian community in our region, hosted by Saints Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino Society.
In addition to Italian, English and Spanish, Nunzio dominated French, Portuguese, Latin and Sicilian (a Romance language from Latin).
My condolences to his beloved Patricia DiMarca and his wonderful family while they mourn Nunzio’s departure.
Nunzio, friend, great voice giver for the silent and ray of light for the blinded, rest in peace.
