Oresto DiSaia (1900-1976) was a notable
Italian-American architect from
Providence, Rhode Island. He was well known as an architect of large churches, theatres and other buildings.
Life and career
Oresto DiSaia was born January 22, 1900, in
Providence, Rhode Island to Costanzo and Carmela (DePaola) DiSaia, recent Italian immigrants from
Frosolone and
Riccia, respectively.[1] He was educated in the Providence public schools, but did not attend college. After his 1917 graduation he joined the firm of
F. P. Sheldon & Son, mill architects and engineers. With the exception of a brief period with the Construction Division of the War Department in
Washington, DC during
World War I, DiSaia remained with the Sheldons until 1924, when he established his own practice.[2] DiSaia practiced alone for most of his career, but became associated with his two sons late in life. After his death, they operated the practice as DiSaia Associates.
In 1946 DiSaia was appointed state Director of Public Works by Governor
John O. Pastore. He served until his resignation in 1948. In 1950 he was chair of the Legislative Commission on Highway Planning, and in 1973 he was appointed to the Building Codes Standards Committee by Governor
Philip W. Noel.
DiSaia joined the
American Institute of Architects in 1931. He was a member for the rest of his life, excluding the years 1933 to 1937.[3] At one time or another he held every office in the Rhode Island chapter, including president.[4]
Personal life
DiSaia was married to Eleanor Rossi, with whom he had two sons and two daughters.[2] They lived in a house at 481 Pleasant Valley Parkway in Providence, circa 1955.[5] His sons, Kenneth A. (1925-2009) and Robert O. (1931-2012), would become associated in his business.
In addition to his professional associations, DiSaia was also a member of several fraternal organizations. He was a member and trustee of the
R. C. Church of the Holy Ghost in Providence.[2]
^Begun in 1937, but the incomplete pieces were placed into storage after the outbreak of
World War II. Construction resumed several years after the war.
^
abcdeWilliam McKenzie Woodward and Edward F. Sanderson, Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources, ed. David Chase (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1986)
^University of Rhode Island Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2017)
^
abcMartha Bowers, Elizabeth Sargent Warren and Pamela A. Kennedy, Rhode Island: State-owned Historic Properties, ed. Robert Owen Jones (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1989)
^Robert Eliot Freeman, Cranston, Rhode Island: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-C-1, ed. David Chase and Bernard Mendillo (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1980)
^Elizabeth Sargent Warren and Pamela A. Kennedy, Historic and Architectural Resources of Bristol, Rhode Island (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1990)
Oresto DiSaia (1900-1976) was a notable
Italian-American architect from
Providence, Rhode Island. He was well known as an architect of large churches, theatres and other buildings.
Life and career
Oresto DiSaia was born January 22, 1900, in
Providence, Rhode Island to Costanzo and Carmela (DePaola) DiSaia, recent Italian immigrants from
Frosolone and
Riccia, respectively.[1] He was educated in the Providence public schools, but did not attend college. After his 1917 graduation he joined the firm of
F. P. Sheldon & Son, mill architects and engineers. With the exception of a brief period with the Construction Division of the War Department in
Washington, DC during
World War I, DiSaia remained with the Sheldons until 1924, when he established his own practice.[2] DiSaia practiced alone for most of his career, but became associated with his two sons late in life. After his death, they operated the practice as DiSaia Associates.
In 1946 DiSaia was appointed state Director of Public Works by Governor
John O. Pastore. He served until his resignation in 1948. In 1950 he was chair of the Legislative Commission on Highway Planning, and in 1973 he was appointed to the Building Codes Standards Committee by Governor
Philip W. Noel.
DiSaia joined the
American Institute of Architects in 1931. He was a member for the rest of his life, excluding the years 1933 to 1937.[3] At one time or another he held every office in the Rhode Island chapter, including president.[4]
Personal life
DiSaia was married to Eleanor Rossi, with whom he had two sons and two daughters.[2] They lived in a house at 481 Pleasant Valley Parkway in Providence, circa 1955.[5] His sons, Kenneth A. (1925-2009) and Robert O. (1931-2012), would become associated in his business.
In addition to his professional associations, DiSaia was also a member of several fraternal organizations. He was a member and trustee of the
R. C. Church of the Holy Ghost in Providence.[2]
^Begun in 1937, but the incomplete pieces were placed into storage after the outbreak of
World War II. Construction resumed several years after the war.
^
abcdeWilliam McKenzie Woodward and Edward F. Sanderson, Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources, ed. David Chase (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1986)
^University of Rhode Island Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2017)
^
abcMartha Bowers, Elizabeth Sargent Warren and Pamela A. Kennedy, Rhode Island: State-owned Historic Properties, ed. Robert Owen Jones (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1989)
^Robert Eliot Freeman, Cranston, Rhode Island: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-C-1, ed. David Chase and Bernard Mendillo (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1980)
^Elizabeth Sargent Warren and Pamela A. Kennedy, Historic and Architectural Resources of Bristol, Rhode Island (Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1990)