My cousin, Irene Fazio Preolitti, Class of 1966, and husband Mike Preolitti live in Traction Park, just past the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Monongah.

 

But the situation is far from grave today as they enjoy with their extended family the nature and pleasures of Chincoteague Island in Virginia.

 

Writes Irene:

“This is our house and dock at the beach. The kids had so much fun fishing and crabbing! Not enough fish for supper but we caught enough blue crabs for a feast! Beautiful place and so much fun!”

Renzy, Irene and Mike’s oldest grandchild, and Nate, their youngest, are with them at Chincoteague. They have eight grandchildren.

Chincoteague and Assateaugue form a National Seashore that is the home of the famous Chincoteague Wild Ponies. My son and daughter have been there many times, and loved it.

Chincoteague Island gained national fame in 1961 in the “Misty of Chincoteague” movie author Marguerite Henry's 1947 award-winning children's book, which she wrote while staying at Miss Molly's Inn on Chincoteague Island.

Irene’s mother is Frances Olesky Fazio, sister of my father, John W. Olesky, Sr. and Helen Olesky Kerekes. Frances found her pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. His name was Renzy Fazio, an assuming fabulous person and golfer who with Frances ran Fazio Grocery at the foot of Jackson Street Hill, between U.S. 19 near Thoburn School and Prezioso Grocery at the top of Jackson Street.
I’m not the only one who feels that way. One of Renzy’s grandchildren is named Renzy, even though she’s a girl.
Irene’s siblings are Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey, who lives on Pike Street in Monongah with husband Tom Ramsey in the home once owned by Helen and Steve Kerekes; David Fazio, married to Cora; Steve Fazio, widower of Nancy; and Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey, married to Tom.

Renzy Fazio had 12 siblings: John Fazio, the lanky pitcher for Monongah High School who passed away in 2006, survived by widow Dolores Stancheck; Jeanette Fazio DiBiase, who died in 2003; Albert Fazio of New York; Mary Virginia Fazio Pasquale and husband Joseph of Fairmont; the late Nick, James, Joseph and Michael; and the Fazio sisters Edith DeCarlo, Elizabeth Domico, Angline Prozzillo and Carmella DePond. Mary Virginia died in 2006.

Paula and I, despite being to 52 countries and 43 states, have never been to Chinoteague Island. We thought about it when we were considering Pocomoke, Maryland, which is 23 miles from Chinoteague.

Maybe someday we’ll have the same fun in the sun as Cousin Irene and her clan.