This is a story about fatherhood, war and a seven-decade love affair between a guy called Gigi and a gal known as Tootsie.
Luigi “Gigi” Tortu and his wife, Theresa “Tootsie” Tortu have been married 68 years. He’s 95 and she’s 93. They have lived in The Villages for 31 years and have two children, Louis and Barbara.
Luigi is a World War II Army veteran who saw fierce combat in the North – not the South – Pacific. His son, Louis Tortu, who also lives in The Villages, was called up for active duty in the Air Force to serve in the Mid-East during the Iraq War, nearly a decade ago.
“My father was in World War II and I was always interested in the service,” Lou Tortu, 60, said. “I’m so proud of him and I wanted to be just like him.”
You can see a video of father and son on the Villages-News.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheVillagesNews?ref=tn_tnmn
The time in combat left a mark on his father, but he was able to cope with it. He served in the Aleutian Islands during the early years of the war. Japanese soldiers had taken over two islands called Kiska and Attu, located between Alaska and Japan. American troops were sent there to drive them out. It was “bloody” Luigi said. ‘I’m still trying to forget it.”
The weather was usually cold, dark and miserable. Artillery battles and fire fights were common. Eventually, the Japanese troops were defeated, nearly all of them killed.
“I don’t know if the war changed me,” the elder Tortu said. “My outlook on life back then was I wanted to make It through another day and come home.”
He came home and then, nearly a half century later, his son was sent off to another war. Luigi was barely in his 20s when he was sent overseas. His son was in his 40s and had two children – a son Andrew and daughter Adina — in addition to his wife, Paula.
“Of course I was worried about my son,” Luigi said. “I can’t explain those feelings in words. I’m so proud of him.”
The call-up was especially difficult on Louis’ family. His son was a teenager at the time and had some difficulties living without his father. His daughter was older but her life was also changed.
Paula Tortu, meanwhile, took on a new role: mother and father.
“For me, the hardest thing was being a single parent,” she said. “I had to do everything, including helping my son with school and sports, and taking care of the house and the bills.
“I had to keep everything going. I knew the kids were worried about Dad, and I wanted to keep their spirits up. I didn’t want them to know how worried I was, and I couldn’t show it.”
Lou Tortu, who between active duty and reserves was in the Air Force for 20 years, admits the call up, “was tougher on my family, than it was on me. I felt safe. I was on a secure base in Kuwait and I knew I would come back home. It was nothing like my father went through.”
Back in World War II, Luigi said there was little communication with home and he once waited one full year to get a package in the mail. “It was Christmas candy, and it didn’t taste very good.”
Louis Tortu had a far different experience during his service overseas.
“I was able to Skype (video call) my family all the time,” he said. “When the mail was slow, it would take a week to get a package from home.” Hearing those words, his father just looked at him and smiled.
It was a blistering hot June day in The Village of Silver Lake. Luigi and Theresa were sitting at a dining room table with their son. Behind them was a shelf with a family picture showing the couple with their 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Luigi was wearing a white shirt and gray walking shorts. He is balding and has a neatly trimmed moustache. He seems far younger than his 95 years and remains a character.
“I met him right after the war,” Theresa said. “He was very quiet. I remember the first time I saw him he was sitting and reading a book. Gigi was always reading.
“I asked, ‘How come you never talk? He told me, ‘I’m not a talker.’”
Some of Tootsie’s friends couldn’t understand why she was interested in a guy who wouldn’t talk. But Tootsie had a feeling about Gigi and it was mutual.
“We just fell in love, I knew it would happen,” she said. The quiet Gigi finally opened up to say, ‘Will you marry me?” That was 1947.
Next thing you know, Tootsie and Gigi are living in a little house in Queens, N.Y. First they had a daughter named Barbara and then Louis came along.
Gigi was in his mid-60s when the couple visited Florida and heard about a small development called The Villages. They bought their present home over three decades ago.
“We can’t believe how big The Villages are today,” Luigi said. “We always loved it because we were always busy. We would go square dancing, golfing and do everything.”
They have slowed down some, but Luigi still likes to play golf and Theresa enjoys her friends and family.
“My Mom and Dad really love each other and we are so blessed to have them,” Louis said.
Louis earned a Master’s Degree on the G.I. Bill and become an executive with a telephone company in New York. “Being in the service changed my life,” he said. “I was able to go to college and get an education. But more than that, I learned about leadership, discipline and respect. I’m grateful.
Louis and Paula would regularly visit his parents in The Villages. One day, they drove down and Paula said something like: ‘Let’s move here and get rid of the car and buy a golf cart.’”
They bought a house in Tamarind Grove a few years ago. “It made a lot of sense,” Paula said. “We could be near Mom and Dad and we love it here.”
Luigi has one secret for his longevity.
“A glass of wine every day,” he said.
When asked about the meaning of Father’s Day, “it means I’ve lived another year and I’m grateful for that because I’m still with my wife, my children and my grandchildren.”
He talked about his own father, Orazio, who came to America at 14, and worked as a water boy on the railroad. Later, he would become a foreman and lead other workers.
“He worked so hard,” Luigi said. “He taught me about what it means to live in this country and have the chance to make something of yourself.”
Louis Tortu also learned a lesson from his father about America and said serving your country, “is an honor.”
Luigi was recognized for his service when he was among the World War II veterans invited on The Villages Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Also, at a recent D-Day Concert at the Eisenhower Recreation Center, Luigi and Theresa were among the honored WW II veterans and their wives sitting in the first row.
Military service, for the Tortu family, in a very real sense, is a way of giving something back.
Luigi and his son share that common bond and they are not alone. Sadly going off to war remains a constant for generations of fathers and sons.
“There will always be war,” Luigi Tortu said. His son nodded before saying, “that’s the way the world is.”
Even on Father’s Day.
