Pinto descendants celebrate arrival in America

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Pinto descendants celebrate arrival in America
The Pinto Family, above, emigrated from Portugal 70 years ago, and their descendants celebrated the event with a party at the Hudson Portuguese Club. Arriving at Ellis Island on Sept. 16, 1954 were, from left: Alexandrina, Irene and Lucia Pinto, their mother, Maria Pinto, Cipriano and Maria Pinto. (Photo/Courtesy)

HUDSON – Descendants of Maria Pinto marked her arrival in America from Portugal, with five children, with a 70th anniversary party at Hudson Portuguese Club Sunday, Sept. 15. Originally from Misarella, near Lisbon, the family was one of many migrating from Portugal to America in those years. 

The family arrived aboard ship at Ellis Island on Sept. 16, 1954 to join their husband and father, Diamantino Pinto. He had come to the United States in 1951. The Pinto family settled in Hudson shortly after their arrival. 

Five generations of family attended the 70th anniversary observance. 

“We celebrated with Portuguese ‘favos’ dancing, music and food,” said Lucia (Pinto) Lampinen, one of the arrivals at Ellis Island, and among those arranging the anniversary event.  

The Pavilion at the Club, site of  the event, was decorated with family pictures and other mementos. 

The family was seeking “a better life,” Lampinen said, and were required to enter a lottery for permission to emigrate. Meanwhile, her father, who had come three years earlier, was earning money working in construction in Rhode Island to expedite their coming. 

Ranging in age from teenager to toddler, were daughters Maria, Irene, Drina and Lucia,  and son, Cipriano, a few of whom were ill during the one-week crossing. The family was met at Ellis Island by relatives and driven to Hudson, where an apartment had been rented on Walnut St.

Pinto secured construction work in the area and his wife went to work for Thomas Taylor & Co., as did two of the daughters. At one time, all four of the Pinto sisters worked at H. H. Scott in Maynard, making stereo parts.  

Pinto descendants celebrate arrival in America
Children and grandchildren of Diamentino and Maria Pinto celebrated the family’s arrival at Ellis Island from Portugal in 1954 with a 70th anniversary party at the Hudson Portuguese Club: seated from left: Cynthia Rio, Debbie Cardoso, Irene Teixeira, Drina Cardoso, Lucia Lampinen, Amy Lampinen, Donna DiBlasi; rear, from left: Laura Duplisea, Lisa Teixeira, Susan McLaughlin, Melissa DiFonzo and Kerrie Lampinen. (Photo/Courtesy)

Lampinen recalled her earliest days at Broad Street School (now Cora Hubert School), trying to learn English, and mastering the walk to her home. (Editor’s note: She eventually graduated from Hudson High School in 1966.)

Despite the fact that they were still learning the language, and neither of their parents drove, about four years later they bought a home on Arlington Street, where there were several Portuguese neighbors. They quickly adapted to American customs, including turkey dinner at Thanksgiving. 

All five of the Pinto children became American citizens, but their parents’ lack of the English language kept them from applying. 

The family became associated with the Hudson Portuguese Club shortly after their arrival and continue to participate in many religious and social events. They continue to walk in the Our Lady of Fatima procession and join in the club festivities annually in October. They were members of Christ King parish until its closing, and then of St. Michael’s parish.

The youngest, and only son, Cipriano “Soupy” Pinto died in 2021. His mother, Maria Pinto, had died in 1998 and his father, Diamantino, in 2008.  

Five generations of family joyously celebrated the arrival of their great-great grandparents in 1974!

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