Inseparable cousins in their 90s stay active, relish tales of yore

Leno Bevilacqua and Rudy Notturniano have seen many historical events unfold right before their very eyes, some personal and others world-shaping.

At 95 years old each, the Northland residents are eager to see what’s in store.

The cousins, who grew up in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood, have never lived more than three blocks from each other, except during World War II.

Notturniano was a cook from 1945-46 in the U.S. Army, stationed in Naples, Italy, and serving 200 soldiers and 10 prisoners of war every day.

Bevilacqua was crew chief of a mechanic corps in the U.S. Air Force, and served from 1945-50.

Notturniano said he witnessed the remains of the assassinations of Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy, and his mistress, Clara Petacci, in 1945 in Milan. He has pictures marking the occasion.

Bevilacqua said he sat through some of the Nuremberg trials, where many Nazis were tried and convicted of war crimes.

Transitioning back the states, Notturniano worked as a supervisor at General Motors on the west side, working there for 45 years.

In 1954, Bevilacqua, with his brother, Wedo, opened what is now Ledo’s Tavern – each using a portion of their first names in the bar's title – on North High Street in the University District.

He said he had fond memories of the bar, which entertained many Ohio State University coaches and students.

In one such incident, basketball players Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek, Bobby Knight and others were socializing in a back room, where Bevilacqua had set up a bumper pool table and piano.

“Jerry Lucas could play the piano and he was good,” Bevilacqua said.

Their coach, Fred Taylor, visited the bar in a huff one evening hoping to catch the student athletes partying.

Bevilacqua assured Taylor the young men were only drinking 7UP, of which he only got 2 cents a bottle.

“I told him, ‘Fred, you got a bunch of great guys there, but they’re terrible customers,’” he said.

Bevilacqua’s daughter, Donita Connor, remembers the bar well.

“I grew up in Ledo’s Bar,” she said. “It wasn’t open on Sundays, so we went down there on Sunday evenings.”

While her dad prepared for business the following day, Connor would dig into the crevices of the furniture and pulled out change.

Bevilacqua sold his remaining partnership in the business in 1979.

Both Notturniano and Bevilacqua built and remodeled homes in their spare time and always seemed to live within a block or two of each other.

Right now, Bevilacqua lives on Upland Drive and Notturniano on Vanlear Court.

“None of that was planned, but it just so happened,” Bevilacqua said. “I can’t get rid of him and he can’t get rid of me.”

When Notturniano would end his second shift at 11:30 p.m. at the GM plant, he would always honk twice passing his cousin’s house.

Eager to share their stories and photos with visitors, the men are still active in the community, as members of the Abruzzi Club and the Fraternal Order of Police Associates of Ohio Inc., and cooking pizza at the Columbus Italian Festival held on the grounds of St. John the Baptist Italian Catholic Church, their old neighborhood congregation.

They also were on the inaugural Honor Flight Columbus in 2005.

Still active, doing various maintenance jobs among their volunteer duties, the two men also have extended families. Bevilacqua has two children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Notturniano has three children and six grandchildren.

When asked how they felt about their lives, Bevilacqua said, “Fantastic. We were blessed.”

Notturniano added, “Good life – so far.”

gseman@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekGary

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Inseparable cousins in their 90s stay active, relish tales of yore