Natale Antonio Umbro

Waltham - Mr. Natale Antonio Umbro, of Waltham, died Friday, February 25, 2011 in his home. He was 81.

Natale was born on December 6th, 1929, in Calabria, Italy, a son of the late Natale and Elisabetta (Carnovale) Umbro in the mountainous town of Polia. At the age of seventeen, he left Italy with his older sister Isabella to reunite with his father and to make his fortune in America, where the streets were "paved with gold". His brother Vito was to come to America later. Socially, he was popular with the ladies and learned to dance going to the various dance clubs where one night he met the shy and reserved Georgette Homsy - here was a woman he could have a good family with, sensible and loving. They were married on September 6th, 1953, and had their three boys: Anthony, Paul, and Joseph. They lived in Georgette’s family home in Allston where they raised their boys upstairs, while Georgette’s sister and brother-in-law, Alice and Tony Zuccala, raised their two daughters, Donna and Barbara, downstairs.

“Tony” was a construction worker in underground utility, but quickly became foreman of his own crew, earning the respect of the owners and his fellow laborers alike. In 1973, Tony decided to take the brave step of starting his own business with Georgette as office manager working out of their home. Umbro & Sons Corp. was to be his legacy to the entire family. “Papa” was a wonderful and endearing father and grandfather – a strong man, full of life, and willing to do everything for his family. “Family is the most important in a life,” he would tell his grandchildren.

He loved making his homemade wine, sopressata, and pizzagaina. In the summer, it was all about his garden and tending his huge pots of herbs and fig trees. Tomato and pepper plants could even be found between shrubs and bushes on the front lawn since he would make use of all the nooks and crannies that were suitable places to grow. Canning tomatoes was a yearly family ritual with everyone benefiting from the effort. His rabbits kept in the backyard were a source of entertainment for his grandchildren in the summertime, though it was not uncommon to find braised rabbit on the menu for dinner shortly after.

In 1986, Tony and Georgette built a beautiful new home in Waltham on Lisa Lane where he retired happily at the age of fifty-three. He would take occasional trips to Italy to visit family, enjoy Florida with Georgette, and travel to Maine, the Cape, and New Hampshire with his sons and their families.

Everyone loved Tony for his sage advice, his strong opinions, and his amazing sense of humor. He was generous to all, especially to the ones he loved most, his family. Waltham neighbors will remember the lights on the side of his house, left up all year round, that spelled out “Buon Natale”, which is a befitting tribute to this extraordinary man, our family treasure, our patriarch.
“HAPPY NATALE”

Rest in peace, Dad – Papa – Friend.

Family and friends will honor and remember Natale’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte.20), on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Anthony’s Church, 43 Holton Street, Allston where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation, 6707 Democracy Blvd Suite 325, Bethesda, MD 20817.