Buddy Valastro
Valastro in 2013, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Bartolo Valastro, Jr.
Place of Birth: Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of Birth: March 3, 1977
Ethnicity: Italian [including Sicilian]
Buddy Valastro is an American baker, celebrity chef, businessperson, and reality television personality.
Buddy is the son of Mary and Bartolomeo/Bartolo Valastro. His parents were born in Italy. His father was born in Lipari, an island located 19 miles from Sicily, and moved to the U.S. when he was twelve. His mother was born in Altamura, Apulia. His grandfathers were born in the U.S., and later returned to their families’ homeland of Italy. Buddy was raised in Hoboken and Little Ferry, New Jersey.
He is married to Elisabetta “Lisa,” with whom he has four children. His brother-in-law, Maurizio Belgiovine, is director of operations at Carlo’s Bakery.
Buddy’s paternal grandfather was named Antonino “Anthony” Valastro. Anthony was born in New Jersey.
Buddy’s paternal grandmother was Grazia/Grace Lauch (the daughter of Carb Lauch and Giuseppa Russo). Grazia was Italian.
Buddy’s maternal grandfather was Nicola Tubito (the son of Massimo Tubito and Makia Galetta). Nicola was born in New York.
Buddy’s maternal grandmother was named Maddalena Giordano (the daughter of Joseph Giordano and Antonia).
Sources: Video about Buddy’s family history – http://www.ksl.com
Genealogies of Buddy’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com
New York passenger record of Buddy’s father – https://www.familysearch.org
Looks like Grace’s real name was Grazia
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVMF-6KC3
Buddy’s mother’s obituary
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=180626518
tag: Sicilian
Family tree shown in video at this link:http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43108155&nid=148
paternal grandparents: Francisca Valastro (son of Joseph Valastro and Francisca Giordano) and Grace Lauch (daughter of Carb Lauch and Giuseppa Russo).
maternal grandparents: Nicola Tubito (Massimo Tubito and Makia Galetta) and Maddalena Giordano (Joseph Giordano and Antonia).
I think there is some confusion with his paternal grandfather’s parents’ names as they’re listed in the video.
What about “Carb Lauch”? It does not sound much Italian to me or like an anglicization. Also “Francisca” is a female name and two Joseph Giordano in the family tree seem odd (but still possible).
On familysearch there’s a couple from Hoboken, Bartolo/Barthelow Valastro and Francesca/Francisca, who are likely Buddy’s great-grandparents.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9Q-JTCF
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4RJ-MTZ
Buddy’s father, Bartolomeo/Bartolo “Buddy Sr.”, was born in Lipari, Sicily, Italy. He moved to U.S. at 12. Lipari is an island, located 19 miles from Sicily.
Buddy’s mother, Mary Tubito, is from Altamura, Apulia, Italy,