Author Traces His Father’s Unique Journey from Italy to America
By Ray La Verghetta
On April 19, a joint event sponsored by the AMHS, Ciao DC and Casa Italiana will feature author Anthony DeSantis (Tony) as guest speaker. Last year Tony published an exciting book titled “The Stowaway in First Class,” the story of his father’s dramatic emigration to America. The book, which was launched in May of last year at the Italian American Museum in Washington, D.C., has become an Amazon Best Seller, and work is underway to turn it into a motion picture. The screenwriter and director of the upcoming film, Chris Martini, will also be in attendance.
Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Mr. DeSantis about his book and the highlights of my interview follow. In response to my question about what prompted him to write the book and the timing of his decision to do so, he answered that, growing up, he often heard his father, Gaetano (Guy) DeSantis, talk about the circumstances of his 1929 journey to America. He understood that his father’s story had elements in it that made it stand out from the stories of many other Italian immigrants, and friends of the family who knew the story shared that conviction. As an example, Tony’s father’s journey to America unknowingly ensnared him in a dangerous extortion ring likely perpetrated by the Black Hand (Mano Nera). Interestingly, the book also covers his father’s quest, some 57 years after his arrival in America, to return overseas (Paris) and find the woman with whom he had a relationship at the time of his departure and to whom he didn’t have the chance to say goodbye. These remarkable events are part of what makes the book a page-turner suitable for the big screen. The book also satisfies the author’s longstanding desire to have his children and grandchildren understand how they came to be in America and the courage and sacrifice that were required for them to enjoy the lives they have.
Anthony DeSantis
As to the timing of the book, Tony stressed that his careers and family responsibilities caused him to delay the project until his retirement, and that had it not been for a health crisis during that period, he may not have gotten around to it even as a retiree. Ultimately, however, he wrote and published the book, despite having no previous writing experience. Tony stressed that his father was very proud of what his harrowing journey had accomplished: he went from an illegal immigrant to a U.S. citizen who, in the space of a single generation, was able to give his son the opportunity to go to a prestigious school (the U.S. Air Force Academy) and fulfill his ambition to be a pilot (Tony flew for American Airlines for thirty years).
If this extraordinary story and book sound like something you would be interested in hearing more about, put April 19 on your calendar. The event will take place at Casa Italiana at 1:30. The cost is $50 per person for lunch catered by Il Porto and the presentation. Tony will be signing books at the event, but he won’t be selling any. You can get your copy directly from Amazon or through Tony’s website (www.anthonydesantis.com), which also contains a great deal of information about him and the book.
Purchase tickets for the event HERE.
Spring 2026