Violeta Manrique Seriel
Violeta Manrique Seriel was born in Cuba more than 124 years ago on February 27th, 1895....
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Violetas birth year of 1895 included.
• On February 25th, 1895 the first rebellions take place marking the start of the Cuban War of Independence.
• On May 6th, 1895 future silent film star Rudolph Valentino is born @ Castellaneta, Apulia in the Kingdom of Italy.
• On June 11th, 1895 the Paris–Bordeaux–Paris race is held. It is often referred to as the first automobile race in history.
• On August 19th, 1895 American frontier murderer and outlaw John Wesley Hardin is killed by an off-duty policeman in a saloon @ El Paso, Texas.
• On November 25th, 1895 Oscar Hammerstein opens the Olympia Theatre, the first theatre to be built in New York City's Times Square district.
*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*
*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*
Aristides Seriel was born more than 103 years ago in Tampa, Florida on September 11th, 1916 to his Mother Violeta Manrique, and Father Evelio Serial.
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Aristides birth year of 1916 included.
• On January 29th, 1916 Paris is bombed by German Zeppelins for the first time during the World War
• On March 7th, 1916 in Munich, Germany the automobile company BMW (Die Bayerischen Motoren Werke) is founded.
• On April 20th, 1916 the Chicago Cubs play their first game at Weeghman Park (Modern-day Wrigley Field), The Cubs defeat the Cincinnati Reds 7–6 in 11 innings.
• Between July 1st and July 12th, 1916 the Jersey Shore shark attacks take place: At least one shark attacks 5 swimmers along 80 miles of New Jersey coastline resulting in 4 deaths and the survival of one youth who requires limb amputation. This event is the inspiration for author Peter Benchley more than 50 years later to write Jaws.
• On November 7th, 1916 Democratic President of the United States Woodrow Wilson is re-elected when he narrowly defeats his Republican challenger, Supreme Court Chief Justice, and former New York Governor Charles E. Hughes.
*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*
*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*
*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*
Violeta would immigrate to the United States where she settles in Tampa, Florida and marries her Husband Evelio Serial a native of Calabazar, Cuba. For nearly the entirety of his adult life, Mr. Seriel is employed as a cigar maker in Ybor City.
The young couple would have two children together during the course of their marriage. On September 11th, 1916 they would welcome a Son whom they name Aristides. Two years later on October 12th, 1918 with the ravages of war and the scourge of a Worldwide pandemic dominating the daily headlines, a Daughter, Yolanda would seemingly complete their evolving American dream.
But alas, it was not to be. The Spanish flu pandemic would take Violeta from her family on October 17th, 1918 just five days after experiencing the joyous birth of her darling Daughter. She was and will always be twenty three...
Violeta and Evelio's children would begin their lives and formative years without their biological Mother but the Serial family would forge ahead with personal aspirations, and seemingly endless opportunity in a rapidly emerging Southern city of the Sunshine State.
Twelve years and twelve days after having lost his Mother, Aristides found his way to the Hillsborough River with his pal Tony Craparo where the two decide to go for a swim on a sultry Autumn day in October of 1931. Fifteen year old Aristides was first to enter the water as he swam far from sandy shoreline. Tony suddenly realizes that his friend was struggling in the river deep but he himself was not a strong enough swimmer to reach Aristides. In a frenzy, he calls out for help and encounters a man giving a bath to his two dogs alongside the river. The unidentified man replied to Tony that he could not swim at all. Inexplicably
neither the man nor Aristides friend Tony took further action to save him or even report the incident at all. It was several hours later when the worried Serial family went looking for their Son Aristides and asked Tony where he was that he finally reported the incident. The search of the river continued until midnight when a thick fog forced authorities to wait until morning to continue. After some time, a decision was made that dynamite would be used in the river in an effort to bring Aristides body to the surface but fate intervened and they fortunately found his body moments before this extreme action was executed
Aristides was gone
He was and always will be fifteen...
** Family Patriarch Evelio Seriel would marry again and re-establish his life in Tampa, Florida where he would remain for the rest of his days until passing away on June 2nd, 1978 at the age of 85.
Violeta and Aristides Seriel.... Beloved Mother, Wife, and her precious Son...