Tommy Rettig

Birth Name: Thomas Noel Rettig

Date of Birth: December 10, 1941

Place of Birth: Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: February 15, 1996

Place of Death: Marina del Rey, California, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)
*Italian/Sicilian (mother)

Tommy Rettig was an American actor, computer software engineer, and author. He starred as Jeff Miller in the 1950s series Lassie, and as Bart Collins in the film The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T., among others.

Tommy was the son of Rosemary and Elias Rettig. His father was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents. His mother was also born in New York, to Italian (Catholic) immigrants. He had two children with his former wife Darlene Portwood.

Tommy’s paternal grandfather was named Isaac Rettig (the son of Lazarus Rettig and Sarah).

Tommy’s paternal grandmother was named Ida Eisenberg/Cantor.

Tommy’s maternal grandfather was Gaetano Tom Nibali (the son of Signorino Conti Nibali and Rosaria Bevacqua). Gaetano was born in Tuscany, Italy. Signorino was the son of Vincenzo Nibali and Rosina Calabrezi. Rosaria was the daughter of Gaetano Franchina and Francesca Calameri.

Tommy’s maternal grandmother was Francesca Triscari “Frances” Benemavo (the daughter of Friscari Benemavo and Rosaria Continglio). Francesca was born in Tortorici, Messina, Sicily, Italy. Rosaria was the daughter of Antonio Benemavo and Francesca Fiumari.

Sources: Genealogies of Tommy Rettig (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com

Tommy’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Death record of Tommy’s paternal grandfather, Isaac Rettig – https://www.familysearch.org