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By Mandy Haggerson

For the Clemmons Courier

In 1960, Grazi Camastra immigrated to the United States with his mother and older brother at the age of 15 from southern Italy.

“My father wasn’t able to join us for 4 years because he did not pass the health exam, so we were separated for quite some time,” reflected Camastra.

Coming to the United States was a dream for Camastra’s family in order to escape the poverty he knew for the majority of his childhood.

“We slept on cornstalks for beds, and I remember a time when we had to go ask a neighbor for food because we had nothing to eat,” recalled Camastra of the humbling experience. “We chose to immigrate to New Jersey where we had some distant relatives. It took me about 6-7 months to learn English.”

Often teased by his classmates for his inability to speak English, Camastra kept his head down and worked hard both in and out of the classroom.

“Math was always a strong subject for me, and I learned very quickly that it would help me get ahead in school, and then with work. If I wasn’t at school, I had a job to help support my family. I worked at an Italian pastry shop, had a paper route and then I got a position at a drug store as soon as I got out of school in the afternoon. I found it very rewarding earning money to help support my family,” mentioned Camastra.

When Camastra graduated from high school, he was still not an American citizen. However, it was during the Vietnam War and was immediately drafted.

“Because of my capabilities in math, I was offered a position in Huntsville, Alabama, with NASA working on aircraft missiles when I was 17 years old,” remembered Camastra. “I stayed there for about one year before I was sent over to Vietnam. I was with the 4th infantry division in Pleiku. I saw so many things that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Wounded while in Vietnam, Camastra to this day still has shrapnel in his leg.

“I didn’t want to have surgery, and I just take Tylenol when it bothers me,” explained Camastra who was discharged as a 100-percent disabled veteran.

After several years in the United States Army, Camastra decided to go to college.

“My Mom had really valued education,” Camastra said. “She was the hardest worker I ever knew, and my everything. With every major decision in my life, I consulted her, and she was never wrong. That included my deciding to go to the University of Tennessee to earn my degree in chemistry. I had really thought I wanted to become a doctor. I also met my future wife, Sandra while I was in school.”

The newlyweds headed to New Jersey while Camastra earned his MBA at Monmouth University.

“I was grateful to earn my degrees through the GI Bill,” mentioned Camastra. “Knowing that Sandra was from Mooresville, and I had liked living in the South, we decided to move to North Carolina when I graduated.”

Like his mother, Camastra worked in apparel.

“My mom was brilliant, and she made all of our clothes,” explained Camastra. “That’s how I learned I could start a career in designing clothes. I began working for a German company, Lucia, that made ladies sportswear, and then was offered a position at then Sara Lee in the hosiery department which allowed us to move down south permanently. I stayed in that position for 17 years. In that role, I traveled the world, and I always came back home grateful to have had the opportunities I have had here in the U.S. I made sure to call my mom every day, regardless of where I was at.”

One great reason to work hard in his job included his growing family which included son, Marco and daughter, Allison.

“Marco knew from a young age that he wanted to own his own car wash,” said Camastra. “Several of our extended relatives had started them in New Jersey, and with his learning disabilities, he never enjoyed school as much because of it. He had that entrepreneurial spirit and was eager to work hard for it. Unfortunately, in 1996 when he was at a friend’s house during a bad ice storm, a tree fell on him and he was killed at just 16 years old.”

To honor Marco, Camastra decided to continue with his dream of opening a car wash.

“Some of our relatives from New Jersey helped me get it started, and when I saw the sign for sale or to lease at our current location, I decided to just go for it,” mentioned Camastra. “I had spent my whole career at Sara Lee working in offshore manufacturing and quality control. This was a way to honor Marco’s legacy and dreams and still utilize my expertise in quality control, too.”

Camastra likes to remember the happier times too of coaching Marco in Optimist soccer where he played forward.

“He was quite good and loved to score goals,” smiled Camastra. “He was close to his sister, who also is a hard worker. Allison graduated with two degrees from N.C. State University in medical zoology and genetics. I’m grateful that she lives so close with our two grandchildren, Riley (13) and Sloan (11).”

Affectionately known as Nonno, Camastra loves spoiling Riley and Sloan.

“Anytime I get to spend with them is wonderful. The most important thing in my life is my family. They are my priority, and they are the reason I do what I do,” reflected Camastra. “Of course, being Italian and Catholic, my faith is also very important to me. I don’t mind good wine and fresh pasta, too.

“The U.S. has been like the Garden of Eden for me. I don’t take for granted any of these opportunities to make a better life for my family.”