Sante Righini

Sante Righini was born in Pisignano, Cervia, Italy on 19 November 1883. He was the son of Giuseppe Righini and his wife Gertrude and had an elder sister named Emma (b. 15 November 1875).

His sister Emma had come to the USA in 1895 and in 1903 married a Swiss-born insurance broker, Frederick Wenger (1868-1939). The couple had a daughter, also named Emma (b. 1905) and the family made their home at 265, 89th Street, Brooklyn, New York. 

Sante later followed his sister to the USA, departing from Naples and arriving in New York on 3 December 1903 aboard the Palatia; at the time he was described as an unmarried labourer and was travelling to be with his sister. 

Settling in Brooklyn, Righini declared his intention of naturalising as a US citizen on 30 November 1910; described as a valet, physically he stood at 5' 5", weighing 145 lbs and had brown hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion, stating his last foreign residence as Rome and his then current residence as 109 West 54th Street, New York City. Exactly when he came into the employ of Mrs John Stuart White is not certain.

Righini boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with his employer Mrs John Stuart White, her maid Nellie Bessette and friend Marie Grice Young; the group travelled under joint ticket number 17760 which had cost £135, 12s, 8d.

Sante Righini died in the sinking and his body was recovered from the sea by the MacKay Bennett (#232):

The remains were returned to Halifax, Nova Scotia and upon identification, the body was shipped to New York under the care of his brother-in-law Frederick Wenger. Contemporary reports state that he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, New York on 4 May 1912 following a funeral service from his sister's home at 265 89th Street in Brooklyn. That same day a death notice appeared in the New York Times, presumably placed by his employer:

REGHINI(sic)---At sea, April 15, on steamship Titanic, Sante Reghini(sic), faithful and trusted servant in the employ of Mrs. J. Stuart White. Funeral at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Frederick Wagner(sic), 265 89th Street, Brooklyn, Saturday, May 4, at 2 o'clock.

His sister Emma continued to live in Brooklyn but later died in Philadelphia on 21 August 1959;  

Sante Righini is buried with his sister in Evergreen cemetery, Brooklyn, New York (section: Nazareth, lot 4304).