The Naso Marriage
This is the 80th anniversary of my mother's first marriage - a subject I don't think I've brought up before. On August 20, 1938, she married Frank Emberto Naso, then a Los Angeles real estate broker, originally from Marion, Iowa. She had just turned 21.
Exactly how they met, I do not know, but Mother gave up her dream job at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera to marry this man. It did not last long. She left him within a year, and they were finally divorced in 1942. All Mother ever told me about her first marriage was that Mr. Naso had a terrible temper and had beat her, and that she would not stay with a man who abused her. As little as she spoke of their time together, it always seemed to me it was an episode in her life that she deeply regretted. (Especially because, being Catholic, the divorce meant she was excommunicate.)
In spite of their marital mismatch, however, she and Frank apparently remained friends throughout their lives. Mom and I visited Mr. Naso in Point Loma many times when I was little. He always seemed like a very nice man to me. I remember his ultra-modern mansion in the hills overlooking San Diego Bay. I loved his player piano (especially the roll of Chopin's Military Polonaise). He had a really cool rock collection, too. I still have a large black obsidian arrowhead that he gave to me.
Anyway, in the group photo, from left to right, are: Mother's parents, Frank and Lily, the newlyweds, best man Harley Taylor, Mother's sister and bridesmaid, Lorraine Taylor, and Mother's godparents, Pat & Grace O'Malley. The picture was most likely taken in Copperton, Utah, after the wedding at nearby Bingham's Holy Rosary Church.
Exactly how they met, I do not know, but Mother gave up her dream job at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera to marry this man. It did not last long. She left him within a year, and they were finally divorced in 1942. All Mother ever told me about her first marriage was that Mr. Naso had a terrible temper and had beat her, and that she would not stay with a man who abused her. As little as she spoke of their time together, it always seemed to me it was an episode in her life that she deeply regretted. (Especially because, being Catholic, the divorce meant she was excommunicate.)
In spite of their marital mismatch, however, she and Frank apparently remained friends throughout their lives. Mom and I visited Mr. Naso in Point Loma many times when I was little. He always seemed like a very nice man to me. I remember his ultra-modern mansion in the hills overlooking San Diego Bay. I loved his player piano (especially the roll of Chopin's Military Polonaise). He had a really cool rock collection, too. I still have a large black obsidian arrowhead that he gave to me.
Anyway, in the group photo, from left to right, are: Mother's parents, Frank and Lily, the newlyweds, best man Harley Taylor, Mother's sister and bridesmaid, Lorraine Taylor, and Mother's godparents, Pat & Grace O'Malley. The picture was most likely taken in Copperton, Utah, after the wedding at nearby Bingham's Holy Rosary Church.