Rocco Alfredo D’Avino, senior partner in the firm of D’Avino & Marchetti, architects and civil engineers at New Haven, has developed a business which in extent covers the entire state of Connecticut. His record is indeed notable and should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. Born in Italy on the 16th of April, 1882, he is a son of Carmene and Carmela D’Avino, the former deceased, while the latter is still living. He pursued his early education in public and preparatory schools in Italy and in 1898, at the age of sixteen years, crossed the Atlantic to America. He became a resident of New Haven in 1900 and for one year was employed in Sargent’s factory. He afterward spent two years with the New Haven Clock company and two years with the Winchester Arms Company. Later he was occupied in various ways, accepting any employment which would yield him an honorable living, and during this period he spent all the time and money he could in going to night school. He recognized the value of an education as a preparation for life’s practical and responsible duties and utilized every opportunity to continue his study. He took a course in the Sheffield Scientific School and there he mastered his profession. He became a special student in Yale and gained accurate and comprehensive knowledge of civil engineering. He first opened an office in 1908 and now has a branch office managed by his partner. He came to the United States without money or friends and is now at the head of an extensive business. The firm specializes in reinforced concrete work in apartments and residences, also in factory and mill construction. Much of their work is scattered over various points in Connecticut and nearby places. They now have under contract twenty-five apartments and three stores for B. Cohen, of New Haven, twelve apartments for A. L. Watkins, of New Haven, sixteen apartments for John Chiota, of Bridgeport, sixteen apartments and four stores for Dr. Cipolla, of New Haven, fourteen apartments for A. Baron, of Derby, Connecticut, twelve apartments for Charles Smith, of Shelton, Connecticut, two business blocks for K. Lorea, of Ansonia, a bakery and business building for the New Haven Bread Company, two theatre buildings, one for O. A. Carino, of New Haven, and the other for Fay Brothers, of New Haven, residences for D. V. Bannert, of New Haven, and William Strouse, of this city, the Italian Episcopalian church at New Castle, Pennsylvania, and the Hungarian clubhouse at New Haven. During his active business career in New Haven as a contractor, architect and civil engineer Mr. D’Avino has executed over one thousand separate jobs and has had work amounting to four hundred thousand dollars under construction in Hartford alone during 1917, where a branch office is maintained. He has reached a position among the most prominent architects and civil engineers of New England and his standing is the result of personal effort intelligently directed.

  On the 25th of October, 1911, Mr. D’Avino was married to Miss Margherita Helen Marchetti. They are members of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic church and Mr. D’Avino gives his political allegiance to the republican party, having long since become a naturalized American citizen. He also belongs to the Reserves of the Connecticut National Guard. Actuated by laudable ambition and stimulated by unfaltering purpose and determination, he has steadily worked his way upward until he occupies a most creditable and enviable position in business circles, being thoroughly conversant not only with every practical phase but also with all the scientific principles that underlie his work.