Mario Pieroni
A glimpse into the early life of Mary Harper’s father, Mario Pieroni, and the confidence, courage, and independence that shaped his future.
My father, Mario Pieroni, was born to hard-working Italian immigrants in Muncie, Indiana. In 1914, of course, doctors had no idea how to treat glaucoma. Dad suffered from painful eyedrops and a botched operation that took what little sight he had. At age four, his world became permanently dark. He could tell when the sun was out but as an adult, had no memory of colors. Intellectually he knew that fire trucks were red but didn’t remember what colors really looked like.
Yet Dad was lucky to have a brother three years older, Charlie, who became his mentor and was the impetus for many of their adventures. My grandparents, Antonio and Eletta Pieroni, allowed the boys great freedom to explore Muncie and when they were teenagers, traveled through Italy by themselves. Their fearless exploring helped my Dad to gain confidence, which contributed to his later success in law and politics.
Mario’s confidence was not accidental. It was built through family trust, freedom, courage, and the chance to explore the world on his own terms.
Stories preserved through memory.
Mary Harper’s blog gathers family photographs, personal recollections, and the moments that shaped The Sound of Her Voice.