60 years of love

Mike Quiroz arrived in Trieste Italy April 1948 and was assigned to Company M. 351st infantry regiment stationed at Caserma San Giovanni. After 6 months Mike meet Ida Novarese. Her family owned a shooting booth in Luna Park located by Trattoria Brochetta. Mike and Ida enjoyed each other’s company to the extent they became engaged. The greatest enjoyment was walking up and down viale Venti Settembre looking at shops and stopping for an occasional cappuccino and going to the cinema, sometimes two in one day. Finally after about one year of paper work preparation they were married in the third (3rd) battalion chapel by Chaplain O’Connor August 16th 1950. Mike and Ida were surprised by Ida’s family and friends having a reception at Trattoria Boulugense in Trieste. Mike’s company (U.S. Army) gave him a 3-day pass and the two celebrated their honeymoon in Venice. After the honeymoon they purchased a 1947 Pontiac and visited towns in northern Italy. In November 1951 they were transferred to Fort Ord California. Driving the car across the United States they stopped in Gleeson Arizona where Ida meet the Quiroz family, everyone liked her. In California the first son Patrick was born the 16th of January 1953 the same day as Ida’s birthday. In February 1953 Mike was transferred to Germany. Ida had to stay behind because the baby was too small to travel. 15 days later Ida and baby Patrick sailed from New York on the Andrea Doria to Genova Italy where her mother Pierena was waiting for Ida and Patrick. After 6 months Mike had living quarters so Ida and Patrick went to Augsburg Germany. In February 1956 Mike was transferred back to Fort Ord, California and Robert the second son was born at the Army hospital. In 1958 the entire family went back to Germany. While in Germany the family made frequent trips to Italy via the Brenner Pass. Ida had family in Milano, Brescia and Genova. The third son Michael was born in February 1960 at the Army hospital in Heidelberg Germany. In 1961 the entire family transferred to Fort Hood Texas. Mike retired from the Army in October 1964 and moved to Orange California living there for 25years then settled down in Arizona, Ida said she used to dream of Arizona when she was a small girl.