STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For decades, Donna Church quietly searched for a father who she had never met. Aware only of his name and a Staten Island connection, the Rhode Island resident frequently scanned the newspaper and searched the phone book for his whereabouts, but always stopped short of dialing a phone number -- fearing that her existence would shock the stranger and intrude upon his life.
Three years ago, after an unexpected “close family” match emerged on the popular genealogy site Ancestry.com, the now 74-year-old finally traced her roots back to Midland Beach.
“I was about 18 or 19 when my mother told me who my real father was,” Church noted during a recent gathering with her newfound relatives at the Colonnade Diner in Grant City, sifting through old pictures while describing a complicated upbringing that was clouded by her own doubts. “I was a hazel-eyed child who didn’t look much like my blue-eyed mother and father. When I learned about my father, I don’t think I was surprised. I guess it was something that I really knew my whole life.”
Born to Constance Prifogle in 1944, Church was raised by her mother on Prudence Island, a small parcel of land located on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay. Home to an U.S Army camp during WWII, which housed soldiers and stored artillery, Church said she believes that her mother met her father before he was deployed to serve in the battles and campaigns of Ardennes, Central Europe and the Rhineland.
“My mother believed he had died,” Church said. “I’m certain he never knew about my birth.”
More than 50 years after discovering his identity and exhausting her search for some form of family connection, a simple online genealogy match unearthed a tremendous link to her past.
“This match popped up instantly on my wife’s side,” noted New Brighton resident Edward Gregory, who joined the site to find clues about his own ethnic heritage. “I asked my wife if she knew someone named Donna, but she had no recollection of anyone by that name.”
Gregory, a self-proclaimed history buff, dug deeper, and said he was completely flabbergasted when he realized Church was possibly his wife’s half-sister.
“I was in shock,” Paula DeVita Gregory said. “How could it be? There was never a word of this spoken in my home, not one indication that another child existed. I called my remaining family members, and they all said it was not possible.”
But according to the DNA and other shared documents and records, it was possible. And Peter DeVita, a respected Staten Island businessman well-known in the borough for his quiet demeanor, kindness and generosity, most likely never knew that Church was born.
“He was shy and soft-spoken, hard-working and kind. He prayed the Rosary every single night,” Paula Gregory said of her father. “His ran a store in Midland Beach, and that was his life. Everyone in the neighborhood knew who he was, and the community loved him.”
DeVita, born and raised in Egbertville, worked as a shipping clerk for a clothing company before enlisting in the Army in 1942. He joined the 23rd Coastal Artillery and was stationed on Prudence Island before being relocated to Fort Hood, Texas, in April 1944, and ultimately served overseas. According to his family, he received the American Defense Service Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal for his service. He returned home to Staten Island in 1949, moved to Mason Avenue and opened DeVita’s Department Store at 590 Midland Ave.
“DeVita’s was an important part of the fabric of that neighborhood, and to the residents who lived in Midland Beach and Ocean Breeze, Pete was an icon,” said Brian Laline, executive editor of the Staten Island Advance, who has often written nostalgically about DeVita’s store in his weekly column.
“Pete opened early and stayed late, seven days a week, for 45 years,” Laline wrote. “Generations of kids and their parents were showered with his kindness.”
After reading Laline’s musings about her father in 2019, Paula connected with the editor, and they often chatted via email. She recently shared news of the Ancestry match with the newspaperman, who organized a lunch, inviting several former Midland Beach residents who could offer Church a glimpse into the life of DeVita.
“He was always behind the counter and greeted everyone by name,” noted Lou Bergonzi, a former sports and news editor at the Advance who grew up on Moreland Street. “He sold sneakers, toys, housewares – you name it -- and if you came in to buy a gift -- even if you spent a quarter on it -- he wrapped it in a beautiful bow.”
Daniel Messina, president and CEO of Richmond University Medical Center, a Greeley Avenue kid himself, agreed.
“He was a true gentleman, always wore a sweater and a tie,” Messina said. “And everyone in the neighborhood loved him. He treated us all like family.”
DeVita met his wife, Anna Laurita, at the store in 1960, while she was summering at the Midland Beach bungalows. They married in 1961, and Paula was born in 1962. The family made a home on Otis Avenue, and DeVita operated the store until his retirement in December 1991. He died four months later at the age of 74. Paula’s mother died in 2008.
“It saddens me that he never knew about Donna, and they were never able to meet,” Paula said. “Although this news was shocking, and it took some time to digest, as his daughter I felt it was necessary for me to welcome Donna into my life.”
After a phone call introduction in 2020, Paula sent Donna a bouquet of flowers and arranged a meeting.
“She looked so much like my father’s sisters,” Paula said. “It was a very emotional day. My entire life I had always wished for a sister. I now have one in my life.”
There’s similarities: Both women love animals and have comparable work histories -- Donna a certified nursing assistant, Paula a caretaker for adults with disabilities. Ironically, they each hate to shop.
“Our father owned a store and built his livelihood on retail, yet we both hate shopping,” Paula laughed.
They email each other regularly and talk via phone each weekend. Paula makes the trip to visit her sister in Rhode Island a couple times a year.
“Life can have so many twists and turns,” Paula said. “But I’ve found peace in this connection. So many of my family members have come and gone. Meeting Donna has created a new family bond.”
Her advice for anyone else dealing with a similar discovery?
“Life is short -- don’t judge anyone for things that happened in the past -- think of the person who is reaching out and wants some answers,” she concluded. “You do not need to form a permanent relationship, but share medical history, some basic facts and a photo. It is true that these connections may not always turn out positive ... but there is a good chance you may find amazing connections and stories. Be prepared for a mix of emotions, but do not be afraid to research and explore your family history.”
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