A large quota of the citizenship of New Haven has come from Italy and prominent among the representatives of that sunny land now living in Connecticut is Pasquale Fusco, a New Haven banker and steamship ticket agent who throughout the years of his residence in this state has made steady progress in a business way, while more and more he has won the respect and regard of his follow townsmen. He was born in San Lorenzello, Italy, November 10, 1850, a son of Christopher and Giovannina (Mongillo) Fusco, who belonged to leading families of the section of Italy in which they resided. The father was a well known merchant of San Lorenzello and both he and his wife spent their entire lives in Italy.

  Pasquale Fusco was the younger of two children. He was largely self-educated, learning his lessons by candle light and applying himself to his studies at every possible opportunity until he had secured quite a liberal education. He engaged in mercantile pursuits in his native country until he came to America on the 17th of May, 1881, in the hope of finding better opportunities and advantages in the new world. He established his home first at Paterson, New Jersey, where he secured employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad, continuing there for twelve years. He then returned to Naples, Italy, as a representative of an Italian line of steamships plying between Italian ports and America and for a time was located at Naples but subsequently returned to this country and came to New Haven as a steamship agent for the same line, which he continued to represent, when in 1899 he also founded a private bank under his own name. This has become one of the representative Italian banking institutions of New Haven. Following his return here he also worked for the Sargent Manufacturing Company, with which he continued until the widespread financial panic of 1893. He afterward secured a position as bookkeeper and did that work while continuing as agent for his steamboat line. Thus he managed to tide over the hard times, and once more reaching a point on the highroad to fortune, he then organized the P. Fusco Bank, which has been a successful undertaking from the beginning. His bank is established upon safe and reliable principles and its business methods commend him to the liberal support of the public. His standing among his fellow countrymen in that line of business is indicated in the fact that he has been president of the Italian Bankers Association of Connecticut for many years.

  In Italy, on the 10th of May, 1873, Mr. Fusco was married to Miss Maria Giuseppa Ruggieri, of a very prominent family of San Lorenzello, Italy. They became the parents of ten children, eight sons and two daughters. Carmine, who was born and educated in Italy, is now in business in New Haven. Nicholas, also born and educated in that country, is a grocer of New Haven. Giovannina Grillo, born in Italy, is residing in New Haven. Ralph is also a resident of this city. Louis, educated in Springfield, Massachusetts, is city court interpreter at New Haven. Angelina is at home. Umberto, born in Naples, was educated in the high school of New Haven and is now in business with his father. Ernesto and Sebastian, both born in Naples, were educated in New Haven. Alfredo, born in New Haven in 1897, is a musician and is now with the Second Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers for service with the American army in the international war.

  In politics Mr. Fusco maintains an independent attitude. He holds membership with St. Anthony’s church and he purchased for the parish the ground on which the present church stands. He has been president of the various church societies, including the Holy Name Society, and was the first president of the Joseph Garibaldi Society. He has likewise been president of the Dante Alighieri Society and is interested in various other Italian organizations. Mr. Fusco is both a self-educated and self-made man. With him the call of opportunity has ever been the call to action. He has readily recognized advantages and has utilized them and the course that he has pursued has brought him to success in the business world and gained for him the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated.