Marking a centennial

Caroline Milone Giaquinto celebrated her 100th birthday at the Rockville Links on Dec. 5 in the company of about 70 family members and friends. She received a citation from Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a proclamation from Rockville Centre Mayor Mary Bossart and a blessing from Pope Benedict.

A lifelong resident of Rockville Centre, Caroline was the second of eight children born to Dominick and Elisa Coppola Milone. Her father came from Italy to the village in 1898 and the next year, he founded the construction firm of Dominick Milone, Inc. which built numerous churches, public buildings, schools and homes throughout Long Island for 100 years until the company closed its doors in 1999.

Caroline’s parents were married in St. Agnes Church on July 3, 1906 by Msgr. Peter Quealy. Caroline was baptized in St. Agnes Church by Quealy and graduated from St. Agnes High School in 1926. Thereafter, Caroline worked alongside her father and brothers, Salvatore, John, Joseph and Dominick Jr. in the construction company. In addition to her four brothers with whom she worked, Caroline had a brother, Louis, and sisters Vera Milone Ferme, who lived in Rockville Centre and Grace Milone Caso, who lives in Merrick.

A highlight of the firm’s craftmanship was the construction of St. Agnes Church in 1935. When the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre was established in 1957, it became St. Agnes Cathedral.

In addition to that church, Dominick Milone, Inc. was the general contractor for the construction of St. Agnes Rectory in 1965, and the renovation of St. Agnes Cathedral in 1982. The firm was also the general contractor for St. Marks United Methodist Church, Temple B’nai Sholom, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Shiloh Baptist church and many other public buildings in the village. The firm also built the Long Island Railroad overpass through the Village of Rockville Centre.

In 1951, Caroline married Biagio (Ben) F. Giaquinto, an attorney at law, at St. Agnes. With their daughter, Caterina, the couple continued to live in Rockville Centre. Caterina attended Hewitt Elementary School and graduated from St. Agnes High School and Marymount College. Ben died in 1974. Caterina and her husband, Greg Derkasch, settled in Garden City.

During World War II, Caroline worked in the Red Cross driving an ambulance vehicle in Mitchell Field. And throughout her life in the village, Caroline actively participated in a number of volunteer activities with groups including the Mercy League, the Altar Rosary Society at St. Agnes, the Night of Song at Molloy College, the AHRS and the Rockville Centre Republican Club.

She was honored as “Woman of the Year” by Molloy College and is a Lady of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.