Westside stories oral history collection, 2003

Desimone (b. 1940) chats about religion, rock and roll music, attending a Grateful Dead concert in the 1990s, the West Coast Hobo Gathering, and various hobos he has known and traveled with. Desimone, who caught his first freight at sixteen, was National Hobo King in 1992.

DiIorio (b. 1923) talks the emigration of her family from Italy, recalls her childhood in New York state, her marriage to a fellow Italian, the birth of her children, and her conversion from Catholicism to the LDS Church.

Driggs (b. 1907) recalls his childhood in New York and Salt Lake City, and talks about his marriage and children.

Harward (b. 1929) recalls his early life working on ranches at sheep camps in Utah. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in biology from the University of Utah and taught at Bountiful High School for thirty years.

Jensen (b. 1920) recalls her childhood in the Salt Lake valley and going to high school in Los Angeles. She reminisces about her courtship and marriage, the birth of her children, married life, a mission to New Zealand, and the experience of caring for a husband with Alzheimer's disease.

Kasai (b. 1916) discusses her childhood in Japan with her grandparents, her schooling in Utah, her marriage, life during World War II, the formation of the Japanese Citizens League (JCL), and getting older.

King (b. 1945) reminisces about her childhood as a member of a large, wealthy, upper-class family in Nanjing, China. She discusses life during the Sino-Japanese war, her marriage and emigration to Taiwan, raising children, joining the Baptist church, Chinese and American holidays, and being a grandmother.

Kuhel (b. 1933) talks about her childhood on a ranch near Tabiona, Utah. She also recalls life during the Depression, World War II, her marriages, and a visit to Pakistan, where she lived with her in-laws and met Osama Bin Laden as a young boy. Other topics include being a Jehovah's Witness, her life philosophy, and her children and grandchildren.

Elizabeth Lewis (b. 1946) recalls her childhood on a farm in Oregon, living with relative in Idaho during her high school years, and attending Brigham Young University. She describes her marriage to a classmate, talks about rasing children and about her life after divorce.

Elsie Merrill (b. 1924) grew up in Sugarhouse, Utah. She discusses her parents and recalls her childhood, including a house with a haunted attic, harvesting sugar beets, and performing chores. She joined the Marine Corps during World War II and was stationed in North Carolina. She also discusses various family members.

Myrtle Muir recalls her childhood in Midvale, Utah, her courtship and marriage, and raising a family during the Depression. She describes her divorce and earning her living by caring for elderly women.

Josephine Nagle (b. 1915) talks about the death of her mother when she was ten years old, and her subsequent life on an Iowa farm with her siblings and cousins. She left school at twelve and worked as a hired girl and babysitter before moving to Utah, where she was married and divorced.

Helen Nisenblatt (b. 1925) recalls traveling to America from St. Petersburg with one suitcase and a backpack. She was born in Odessa, and was educated in Russian Literature and English language and literature. She describes her experiences as a teacher and leaving Russia just ahead of the Germans during World War II.

Charlie Piper was born in Arapaho, Wyoming. He recalls his early life in a tent on the reservation, where he lived a traditional Indian life and went to Catholic school. His grandfather introduced him to the Sundance ceremony when he was sixteen. He now teaches Indian youth the traditional way of life.

Parvaneh Pishvai (b. 1937) was born in Iran. She recalls family life and her childhood home near the Caspian Sea. She discusses courtship and marriage customs, her arranged marriage with a man seventeen years her senior, and married life. She recalls the Iranian revolution, her immigration to America, separation from her husband, and living and working to support herself in Salt Lake City.

Bernie Quintana (b. 1923) talks about growing up in New Mexico, serving in the U. S. Navy during World War II, and health issues related to his war service.

Paschoa Rosetto (b. 1919) was born near Bebedouro, Brazil. She discusses her childhood as the daughter of a farm worker and health problems that she and her siblings suffered. As a teenager, she moved to Sao Paulo and worked in factories and as a seamstress. After joining the LDS Church, she moved to the United States in 1976 and worked as a maid in Utah and Southern California. She retired to Salt Lake City.

Ronald Seaman (b. 1947) recalls his birth in Clifton Springs, New York. After the death of both his parents, he and his siblings were raised by an aunt and uncle. He began working for the New York State Department of Transportation at age 17, and eventually worked in the payroll department for 21 years. After marrying and having three children, he moved to Provo, Utah, in 1985. He also discusses his divorce and his life as a gay man in Salt Lake City.

Mary Spackman (b. 1942) was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She discusses her childhood as the tenth of sixteen children and the vision problems she has suffered, as well as her marriage, children, and divorce.

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