Meet Cirino Bosco, a Highlands resident since 2010. He is the owner and operator of the Highlands Barber Shop in Highlands Plaza. A native of the small town of Taormina, Italy, he came to the United States at the age of 20 in 1972 with his parents, two brothers and a sister.
“We were so blessed to come to the land of opportunity,” Bosco said. His father was a bricklayer and a stonemason who worked with his hands, building walls and homes in this rural area of Italy. “Sometimes he had to cross two rivers and walk miles each day but he was a hard worker and he saved his money so we could come to America,” Bosco said.
Bosco’s uncle lived in the United States and would come to visit the family in Italy and tell stories of life in America. It was that uncle who sponsored them. “I will never forget that day that we went to Palermo to get our visas,” Bosco said. “We were so happy because we were going to have a new life.”
In 1972 the family packed up all of their possessions and moved to Brooklyn, where his father’s brother had rented them an apartment. “He picked us up in a Chevy Impala. It was like a limousine. I kissed the ground,” Bosco said.
“I will never forget seeing the Brooklyn Bridge or Fifth Avenue. It was like a dream, all thanks to Uncle Benny.” Bosco was a quick study, learning English and taking classes. He got a job at a men’s clothing store and learned to tailor and fit suits. One day, when he showed up for work, he found the store had been “padlocked by the sheriff” and he was out of work.
At a cousin’s suggestion, he started taking classes in hairstyling. After studying for eight months, he took the certifying test. “I took it in Italian and failed. I took it in English and passed. I had become an American,” Bosco said.
After graduating, he worked at a number of exclusive salons in New York City and Ft. Lauderdale and Vero Beach, Fla.
There were difficulties to overcome. The 1970s was a time of significant racial unrest. One day after he boarded a subway car, Bosco was attacked by the African American passengers because he was white. Understanding the racial difficulties and diversity was a major adjustment for him.
Bosco also spoke about his love for Italy. After being in America for 10 years, he went back to visit the country, to see its cities and the place in which he grew up. “Where you were born, Where you were raised, becomes a part of you,” he said. He thought about maintaining dual citizenships but let that go. “I’m so proud to be an American. There is so much opportunity here,” he said. “Anything you can dream, you can be.”
Bosco moved to Highlands because of his friendship with Lori Schmidt. She invited him to visit one winter and “I came out of Mountain Fresh and huge snowflakes were falling. I thought I was in heaven.”
Bosco is married to Dolores and has two adult sons, Justin and Max. In the time he has been here, has become fully a part of the community. Welcome home, Cirino.
Peter Ray is the chair of the Board of directors of the International Friendship Center, based in Highlands.