Frank Bertolino can still remember the first paycheck he ever received in America. It was in 1956, and the 20-year-old had just come to the country from Sicily, along with the rest of his family. He had worked in the fish business with his father in the old country, but when they settled in Boston, his cousin got him a job as a carpenter. They made caskets.

“I worked five and a half days, and my first check was 35 dollars. Wow, I’m rich!” he recalled. “I could buy all of Sicily with 35 dollars.”