(Medical):Buster believes Donato had diabetes as his leg had been injured in a mine colapse and it never healed. Daughters Maria Antonia and Rose also developed diabetes in later years. Another good indication would have been his kidney problem, mentioned on his death certificagte, as diabetes directly affects the kidneys. Only one picture of Donato Zaccagnino has been found amongst the many family photos. In it he is holding Billy, who would appear to be between one and two years of age. That would make Donato about 62 years of age at the time of the photo. The main feature that stands out is his mustache. According to Buster, he was very proud of that mustache; each morning he spent time grooming it and applying wax to get those handlebars. Buster also relates that he had a full head of hair under the hat. The only information I've gathered about my great grandfather has come from my dad. Buster went across the street everyday to his grandparents' home and had nothing but the fondest memories of the time spent with them. Buster would have been just shy 9 days of his eleventh birthday when his namesake died. In the 1900 census record it lists that Donato can read and write; Caterina cannot read or write. Buster remembers his grandfather reading his English language Bible every day. Caterina never spoke more than a smattering of English words up until the time of her death, although my mother often said that by the time she knew her Caterina understood enough English so that they could communicate. Because Caterina did not speak English, the family spoke Italian primarily in the home in Buster's childhood (probably only in the presence of the grandparents, out of respect). Thus, Buster related, he spoke Italian before he spoke English. He continued to be able to speak Italian into his adult middle years, as witnessed at extended family gatherings where the older generations would often speak in Italian with him. He lost most of his ability to speak Italian in his later years, due to lack of practice after the passing of the Italian speakers in the older generations.