My mom Barbro Ohlsson (Barbra) was a 17-year-old beauty in Gävle Sweden, when she 1955 left her mom and courageously moved to the big city (New York) over there. She moved to her Aunt Sonja and Uncle George out on Long Island. Also in the house, was George, Tommy, “Lill” Karin, and the dog Flicka. Wow, there's some good old memories.
My mom worked mostly as a model, and part time with interior design. As a model, she was hired in the Garment Center on Sixth Avenue, and modeled clothes on catwalks and in showrooms for i.e. Macy’s etc.
I guess it didn’t take long, before she met Joe Ungarelli, because.
I was born December 1956, in Bay Shore Long Island, NY. I was almost born on the Long Island Railroad track, but my dad got out of the huge Cadillac, and pushed us off the tracks. My Mom and Dad divorced soon after my birth. She moved (with me) to family and friends in Stockholm for a year or two, and then back to New York. I'm not sure, but I think that between 1958 and 1969, my mom and I lived alone, and we spent a lot of time at Coney Island.
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Between 1969 and 1973, I saw James L. Robinson as my dad. James is an impressive man, who was a
James takes care of everyone around him, and he played an important role for me, showing me the importance of studying and working hard, and the importance of being there - for friends and family.
James and I still have a very good relationship, and we have always been eager to find opportunities to work together. We’ve tackled affordable housing in Uganda and Scandinavian furniture in the states, and we are now looking at development projects in NYC and other states.
My last school in NY was Charles Evans Huges High School, at 18th and 8th st. I was on the baseball team, the basketball team and I was captain of the swim team.
I was not so into architectural drawing, so, my first job was delivering blueprints, to our customers, by bike, all around Manhattan.
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After my moms second divorce 1972, I was brought to Sweden (early 1973). It was a huge change from NYC. Schools, work, sports, language, society and friends. It was all gone, and/or very different, but I continued my education, while I experimenting with many different carrier choices.
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My mom married Tage (Ty) Elvegård January 1976. Ty knows almost everything worth knowing, and is one of the nicest and most patient people I know. Ty is also a very cool guy, from a really good family and with an exiting background.
Ty rides horses, owned a factory on Tulegatan (in the middle of Stockholm), went to school with the king (in Sigtuna) and got to see the world as a sailor. His favorite job was his taxi company, which he had when we met him. He was in the shop with his Oldsmobile, and we were there with our Camaro (from New York). It was a beautiful match.
Ty has always been good to me, and he is very close/appreciated as "Farfar" (grandpa) to/by all my kids.
I actually got along very well in Solna (Stockholm 1973 to 1975), but then I met Susanne, a beautiful and sweet girl who stole my hart. She was born in the south (Malmö), and had lived a few of her younger years in Stockholm, but, lived now with her parents up north, in a boring little town called Tierp.
I moved to Tierp, and we got married September 1976. Raised however in a city like New York, Tierp just didn't work for me, and so 1981, we moved back to Stockholm (Sigtuna/Märsta).
Kids:
1995, family in NY (who’s been helping me for years), finaly thought they may have found my biological dad (Joe) in Miami. That was wrong, but they were getting close. Early 1996, they did find him in Sarasota.
And then he called:
It felt wonderful, scary and strange. Should we meet? Would it be great, or terrible? I thought of the Johnny Cash song "A boy named Sue". But, the call was really very touching, and we agreed to meet. I booked a quick (short) detour to Sarasota, on my business trips (to my office in Dallas TX).
First impression:
I saw a good-looking face at Sarasota Airport, which just had to be someone I should know. It was my little brother Joey. A charming young man, and probably the friendliest guy on earth.
He took me to "the house” (on Bay Drive), the "family bar” (Romano's" on 41) and the "family restaurant” (La Casa Roma further up on 41). Everyone was great. I met my grandma Agnes (who gave me win in my baby bottle), and lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, brothers and all the family kids, dogs etc.
I've made many trips after that. Many business trips (without family), and several trips with family, and I'm very happy that everyone (all of my families) in New York, Florida and Sweden have many good and close relationships. So good!
I'm so proud that people see a lot of my dad in me, and that we apparently have/had a lot in common. We both love and appreciate family, and we both enjoy working with gadgets, fixing "things" and just making things better/nicer/smarter!
My dad was very successful (or lucky) in finding a great wife, Dottie, and together, they did a wonderful job of raising my siblings.
I might not have been there until age 40 (1996), but sins then, my wife, kids and I have felt 100 percent welcomed, loved and totally part of the family. It’s so good, and we are all so proud!
See more on Ungarelli family and Ungarelli Preserve
I've lived at several adresses in Solna, Bergshamra and Kungshamra, depending on when and/or where I worked or studied, and I had a few different adresses in Tierp, untill I married Susanne.
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We've moved september 2022 to Hamnvägen 2K, Karlstad, (see pictures)
Best Regards
Kenny