Louis Molinaro was born in Catanzaro in Calabria, Italy, on November 22, 1915 and came to Baltimore with his parents, Raffaele and Angelina Molinaro, in 1917. The oldest sibling of a family that would grow to five children (Lou, Raffaele, Jr., Rose, Frank, and Mary), Lou held a variety of jobs as a teen and young man to support the household after his father died.
Lou worked in a grocery store and operated machinery in a piston ring factory, but these daily obligations never dimmed his enthusiasm for an assortment of hobbies and activities, such as playing guitar in the Jimmy Hipp band.
In later years, as husband to Marceline and father to four sons and a daughter, Lou expressed his creative talents in woodworking and home improvements. He was never idle, and always eager to find another project for himself. In his 70s, he built a sunroom onto the house, a project he single-handedly undertook and completed. Many times, he retired to his basement workshop to make toys and furniture for his 10 grandchildren.
Lou fought in the European theater during World War II, joining the Army in January 1943, and serving with the 358 Engineers. On June 7, 1944, he took part in the invasion of Normandy, landing at Utah Beach. He was awarded a Purple Heart during the war, but years later, in 2001, Lou experienced one of his proudest moments when, in a ceremony held in Baltimore, he was presented with the French Jubilee of Liberty Medal in recognition of his war efforts.
Marriage and family followed the war, and after settling in West Baltimore, Lou and Marceline were among the founding members of Our Lady of Victory Church. The church and parochial school served as outlets for Lou's tireless volunteer efforts.
For almost 50 years, Lou worked as a salesman and sales manager for local firms that sold auto and truck parts until retiring at 77. Naturally, he was a good shade-tree mechanic, as well.
At home in Catonsville, he kept a beautiful lawn, and turned his property into a great setting for the many parties he and and his beloved wife Marceline hosted over the years. Lou was an avid cook, especially when a crowd was expected. His meatballs were legendary and were always the first item on everyone's plate at family parties. In his backyard, he tended to a garden that produced big, juicy tomatoes.
Lou worked in a grocery store and operated machinery in a piston ring factory, but these daily obligations never dimmed his enthusiasm for an assortment of hobbies and activities, such as playing guitar in the Jimmy Hipp band.
In later years, as husband to Marceline and father to four sons and a daughter, Lou expressed his creative talents in woodworking and home improvements. He was never idle, and always eager to find another project for himself. In his 70s, he built a sunroom onto the house, a project he single-handedly undertook and completed. Many times, he retired to his basement workshop to make toys and furniture for his 10 grandchildren.
Lou fought in the European theater during World War II, joining the Army in January 1943, and serving with the 358 Engineers. On June 7, 1944, he took part in the invasion of Normandy, landing at Utah Beach. He was awarded a Purple Heart during the war, but years later, in 2001, Lou experienced one of his proudest moments when, in a ceremony held in Baltimore, he was presented with the French Jubilee of Liberty Medal in recognition of his war efforts.
Marriage and family followed the war, and after settling in West Baltimore, Lou and Marceline were among the founding members of Our Lady of Victory Church. The church and parochial school served as outlets for Lou's tireless volunteer efforts.
For almost 50 years, Lou worked as a salesman and sales manager for local firms that sold auto and truck parts until retiring at 77. Naturally, he was a good shade-tree mechanic, as well.
At home in Catonsville, he kept a beautiful lawn, and turned his property into a great setting for the many parties he and and his beloved wife Marceline hosted over the years. Lou was an avid cook, especially when a crowd was expected. His meatballs were legendary and were always the first item on everyone's plate at family parties. In his backyard, he tended to a garden that produced big, juicy tomatoes.
Louis Molinaro was born in Catanzaro in Calabria, Italy, on November 22, 1915 and came to Baltimore with his parents, Raffaele and Angelina Molinaro, in 1917. The oldest sibling of a family that would grow to five children (Lou, Raffaele, Jr., Rose, Frank, and Mary), Lou held a variety of jobs as a teen and young man to support the household after his father died.
Lou worked in a grocery store and operated machinery in a piston ring factory, but these daily obligations never dimmed his enthusiasm for an assortment of hobbies and activities, such as playing guitar in the Jimmy Hipp band.
In later years, as husband to Marceline and father to four sons and a daughter, Lou expressed his creative talents in woodworking and home improvements. He was never idle, and always eager to find another project for himself. In his 70s, he built a sunroom onto the house, a project he single-handedly undertook and completed. Many times, he retired to his basement workshop to make toys and furniture for his 10 grandchildren.
Lou fought in the European theater during World War II, joining the Army in January 1943, and serving with the 358 Engineers. On June 7, 1944, he took part in the invasion of Normandy, landing at Utah Beach. He was awarded a Purple Heart during the war, but years later, in 2001, Lou experienced one of his proudest moments when, in a ceremony held in Baltimore, he was presented with the French Jubilee of Liberty Medal in recognition of his war efforts.
Marriage and family followed the war, and after settling in West Baltimore, Lou and Marceline were among the founding members of Our Lady of Victory Church. The church and parochial school served as outlets for Lou's tireless volunteer efforts.
For almost 50 years, Lou worked as a salesman and sales manager for local firms that sold auto and truck parts until retiring at 77. Naturally, he was a good shade-tree mechanic, as well.
At home in Catonsville, he kept a beautiful lawn, and turned his property into a great setting for the many parties he and and his beloved wife Marceline hosted over the years. Lou was an avid cook, especially when a crowd was expected. His meatballs were legendary and were always the first item on everyone's plate at family parties. In his backyard, he tended to a garden that produced big, juicy tomatoes.
Lou worked in a grocery store and operated machinery in a piston ring factory, but these daily obligations never dimmed his enthusiasm for an assortment of hobbies and activities, such as playing guitar in the Jimmy Hipp band.
In later years, as husband to Marceline and father to four sons and a daughter, Lou expressed his creative talents in woodworking and home improvements. He was never idle, and always eager to find another project for himself. In his 70s, he built a sunroom onto the house, a project he single-handedly undertook and completed. Many times, he retired to his basement workshop to make toys and furniture for his 10 grandchildren.
Lou fought in the European theater during World War II, joining the Army in January 1943, and serving with the 358 Engineers. On June 7, 1944, he took part in the invasion of Normandy, landing at Utah Beach. He was awarded a Purple Heart during the war, but years later, in 2001, Lou experienced one of his proudest moments when, in a ceremony held in Baltimore, he was presented with the French Jubilee of Liberty Medal in recognition of his war efforts.
Marriage and family followed the war, and after settling in West Baltimore, Lou and Marceline were among the founding members of Our Lady of Victory Church. The church and parochial school served as outlets for Lou's tireless volunteer efforts.
For almost 50 years, Lou worked as a salesman and sales manager for local firms that sold auto and truck parts until retiring at 77. Naturally, he was a good shade-tree mechanic, as well.
At home in Catonsville, he kept a beautiful lawn, and turned his property into a great setting for the many parties he and and his beloved wife Marceline hosted over the years. Lou was an avid cook, especially when a crowd was expected. His meatballs were legendary and were always the first item on everyone's plate at family parties. In his backyard, he tended to a garden that produced big, juicy tomatoes.
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