A Mount Laurel resident and veterinarian recently published a biography to honor her mother’s life as an Italian immigrant.
“A Remarkable Woman in America” tells the story of Dr. Phyllis Cassano’s mother, Rose Fusaro Cassano, a resilient parent who became a naturalized citizen, and who, despite her struggles, made a life for herself and her daughter in a new country.
Phyllis’ parents were both Italian descendants who had dual citizenship in America and Italy. Her father served in the U.S. Army during World War II and visited Italy in 1948, when he met and married Rose. They moved to the U.S. when Rose was two months pregnant with Phyllis, but when she was just 2, her father had a series of heart attacks that led to his death.
Rose – who spoke no English – was left to raise Phyllis herself. She ultimately decided to stay in the U.S. because of the opportunities she thought would be available to her daughter.
“(My mother) struggled, but with courage and determination,” Phyllis recalled. “We made it (and) I am so grateful to her. She really sacrificed a lot in raising me.”
Rose worked as a seamstress and even got an offer to attend design school in Manhattan, but without child care for her then-5-year-old, she had to turn it down.
“I hope this real story on her life gives insight and courage to all single mothers and the sacrifices they had to make in raising children against all odds,” Phyllis noted. “A lot of these stories (in the book) are both things we’ve experienced along the way.”
Phyllis got her undergraduate degree at Rutgers University and her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Università di Bologna in Italy. She worked as a veterinary management executive, with a 30-year career in global veterinary medical sales, marketing and technical services for veterinary pharmacies and related companies.
Phyllis was also Maryland’s state veterinarian, providing leadership on current animal-health issues and trends for surveillance of animal diseases.
She began writing the biography before her mother’s death at 99 in 2014.
“I was writing things in a diary, because I always had the idea that I would write a book about my mother sometime in the future,” Phyllis remembered. “I started writing it a long time ago, then I would stop, then I would go back to it. So I finally pushed myself to finish.”
The book also includes Phyllis’ eulogy for her mother, photos, poems and Italian recipes.
“(My mother) had a lot of insight and courage,” Phyllis explained. “She was very determined; she helped me through veterinary school, and she was very proud when I finished (my degree). This (book) is a loving memory of my mother’s life, and I wanted to tell the story of just how resilient she was and how many sacrifices she made.
“And I hope that the book gives other immigrants the courage to press on.”
Cassano will sign copies of “A Remarkable Woman in America” on Sunday, April 12, from noon to 2 p.m at Barnes & and Noble in Marlton.
