The law firm of Fusaro, Altomare & Ermilio was recently featured in a book written by Vincent A. Lapomarda, S.J., S.T.L, Ph.D., an associate professor of history at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. Professor Lapomarda’s book is entitled, “The Italians in Worcester County, Massachusetts.” In the book he notes, “As for the Fusaro family name, it has become famous in Italian American society for the practice of law in Worcester County since 1917. Originally, the name goes back to the second son, Nunziato (1895-1985), of Carmine (1855 to 1926) and Mariagrazia Mammone (1886-1944) Fusaro, both natives of Acri, a town in the Province of Cosenza, Italy.” The book goes on to describe how Nunziato, a native of Worcester, attended Holy Cross College and obtained his law degree from Boston University in 1917. He began the general practice of law in Worcester in 1917. His younger brother Nicholas obtained his law degree from Northeastern University and began practicing law in 1923 with what became known as the firm of Fusaro & Fusaro.
Professor Lapomarda then describes the connection between the original law firm and the present Fusaro, Altomare & Ermilio firm. “While Nunziato was the firm’s anchor in law, Nicholas was its anchor in finance as an incorporator of Bay State Savings Bank. Both elements are still evident in the firm of Fusaro, Altomare & Ermilio which has evolved from the parent company and which serves clients who are challenged with financial, legal, and personal issues.” The book was published in 2015.
Present day FA&E partner, John Altomare, is the grandnephew of Nunziato and Nicholas, and John’s father, Nicholas Altomare, was their nephew who joined his uncles in the firm Fusaro & Fusaro when he began practicing law in Worcester. The law firm was later renamed Fusaro, Altomare & Ermilio, and thrived for many years under Mr. Nick Altomare’s direction. FA&E partner Tom Scannell’s wife, Deborah Fusaro, is a grandniece of Nunziato and Nicholas. Tom is a 1982 graduate of Holy Cross.
The above information and quotations are from the book “The Italians in Worcester County, Massachusetts”, Vincent A. Lapomarda, S.J., S.T.L, Ph.D. (2005).