Melina Grimm was born November 17, 1912 in the Bronx, New York, the daughter of Nicola and Vincenza (Ponzi) Santucci. Both of her parents were Italian immigrants, but Melina and her siblings were all born in the United States. Melina more often as a child and a young woman used the name "Emilia." From at least 1910 to 1915 the family lived at 237 E. 151st Street in the Bronx. Her father Nicola supported the family as a "rackman" in a foundry, and later as a laborer for the railroad. Melina had at least two siblings: older brother Michael born around 1910, and younger sister Pasqualina born 1914. There was also a sister Mary, who was born around 1908 and died before 1915.
Sometime prior to 1925 both of Melina's parents dropped out of the picture. That year all three children were inmates at the school/orphan asylum run by the Sisters of St. Dominic in Orangetown, New York. There were two other Santucci children there at the time, Jerry and Kate, who could possibly have also been family members.
In 1930 Melina (listed as Amelia Santucci) aged 17, was a patient at the New York City Children's Hospital on Randall's Island.
On June 20, 1950 Emilia Santucci married Carl Grimm in Manhattan, New York. The 1950 census records Carl Grimm and wife "Amelia" living at 79 W. 35th Street in New York City. Carl worked as a porter in a print shop.
In 1992 Melina Grimm was living at 107 Berry Street in Brooklyn, New York. Social Security records have her listed under five different names: Emilia Sanducci in 1942, Emilia Grimm in 1966, Melina Bernadette Grimm in 1973, Melina Grimm in 1977, and Melina Santucci in 1983.
Melina Grimm died September 2, 1994 at New York Health and Hospitals/Woodhull. She was buried September 28, 1994 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com, US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; 1915 and 1925 NY, US, State Censuses; 1910, 1930, and 1950 US Federal Censuses; NY, NY, US, Birth Index, 1910-1965; NY, NY, US, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018, US, Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Vol. 1.
Sometime prior to 1925 both of Melina's parents dropped out of the picture. That year all three children were inmates at the school/orphan asylum run by the Sisters of St. Dominic in Orangetown, New York. There were two other Santucci children there at the time, Jerry and Kate, who could possibly have also been family members.
In 1930 Melina (listed as Amelia Santucci) aged 17, was a patient at the New York City Children's Hospital on Randall's Island.
On June 20, 1950 Emilia Santucci married Carl Grimm in Manhattan, New York. The 1950 census records Carl Grimm and wife "Amelia" living at 79 W. 35th Street in New York City. Carl worked as a porter in a print shop.
In 1992 Melina Grimm was living at 107 Berry Street in Brooklyn, New York. Social Security records have her listed under five different names: Emilia Sanducci in 1942, Emilia Grimm in 1966, Melina Bernadette Grimm in 1973, Melina Grimm in 1977, and Melina Santucci in 1983.
Melina Grimm died September 2, 1994 at New York Health and Hospitals/Woodhull. She was buried September 28, 1994 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com, US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; 1915 and 1925 NY, US, State Censuses; 1910, 1930, and 1950 US Federal Censuses; NY, NY, US, Birth Index, 1910-1965; NY, NY, US, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018, US, Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Vol. 1.