The Life and Times of Albert Capo
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The Life and Times of Albert Capo reveals the social, economic, and cultural atmosphere that existed during the latter two-thirds of the twentieth century. The immigrant population that lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s faced many challenges, the least of which was learning a new language as they slowly integrated themselves into American society. Most boys Albert’s age did not encounter the peculiar situations or problems that confronted Albert. The streets of New York were Albert’s playground during his formative years, as it was for most boys living in ethnic conclaves throughout the city. Living through the Depression and prewar years gave Albert a unique perspective on the rapid change in American society. The American landscape looked quite different prior to the nineteenth century; there were no electric illumination of homes, no telephones, radios, TVs, automobiles, or central heating of homes. The importance of the twentieth century cannot be overestimated. The folks who lived through the twentieth century witnessed more technological advancements, inventions, and discoveries than the entire past history of mankind. Along with scientific discoveries was the fight for civil rights for women as well as minorities, two world wars, the development of nuclear energy and the atomic bomb, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and the conquest of outer space by landing a man on the moon. It would take many volumes to describe that which has advanced the cause of civilization during the past one hundred years; and it would stagger the imagination to ponder the vicissitudes of technology for the next one hundred years—if we don’t destroy ourselves in the process.
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About the Book
The Life and Times of Albert Capo reveals the social, economic, and cultural atmosphere that existed during the latter two-thirds of the twentieth century. The immigrant population that lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s faced many challenges, the least of which was learning a new language as they slowly integrated themselves into American society. Most boys Albert’s age did not encounter the peculiar situations or problems that confronted Albert. The streets of New York were Albert’s playground during his formative years, as it was for most boys living in ethnic conclaves throughout the city. Living through the Depression and prewar years gave Albert a unique perspective on the rapid change in American society. The American landscape looked quite different prior to the nineteenth century; there were no electric illumination of homes, no telephones, radios, TVs, automobiles, or central heating of homes. The importance of the twentieth century cannot be overestimated. The folks who lived through the twentieth century witnessed more technological advancements, inventions, and discoveries than the entire past history of mankind. Along with scientific discoveries was the fight for civil rights for women as well as minorities, two world wars, the development of nuclear energy and the atomic bomb, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and the conquest of outer space by landing a man on the moon. It would take many volumes to describe that which has advanced the cause of civilization during the past one hundred years; and it would stagger the imagination to ponder the vicissitudes of technology for the next one hundred years—if we don’t destroy ourselves in the process.
About the Author
The author’s autobiography is written in the third person as Albert Capo, and is the author of the novel Vengeance. Alfred V. Cafiero was born on June 5, 1926, in New York City, and was educated through the New York City public school system. After high school he was inducted into military service in 1944 and served with the Thirty-Third Infantry Division in the South Pacific Theater of Operation. He helped liberate the island of Luzon in the Philippines, and was part of the occupational forces in Japan. He was honorably discharged from military service in October 1946. After discharge from the army he enrolled at Hunter College in New York City, and graduated in 1951 with a degree in chemistry and mathematics. His last employer was the David Sarnoff Research Center in Princeton, New Jersey, from 1960 to his retirement in 1988. Since his retirement he has taught chemistry for two years at the Institute for Professional and Technical Advancement, a division of Middlesex Community College; and from 1990 to 2000 as a substitute teacher for the Old Bridge Township School System. He has coauthored two scientific publications: (1) “Single-Crystal Growth of Mixed Hexaborides for Thermionic Emission,” G.H. Olsen and A. V. Cafiero; Journal of Crystal Growth, 44 (1978) 287-290. (2) “Inorganic Synthesis,” A. G. Karipides and A.V. Cafiero; Cadmium Digallium(111) Tetrasulfide, Vol.X1, p.5. Physically active all his life: cycling, swimming, and skiing. Part of his leisure activities for the past sixty years was panting pictures in oil. He also enjoys gardening and listening to classical music. He currently resides in Old Bridge Township with his wife of sixty years, and has two sons and four grandchildren.