The eldest of three daughters born to Sicilian immigrants, Bea was christened Biagia Calogera Piazza, after her paternal and maternal grandmothers, by tradition, and was henceforth nicknamed Bebe. Of humble means, her family strived toward Americanization through work and education. Despite a prevailing prejudice against southern Italians, Bea was double-promoted twice in grade school and graduated from Detroit Eastern High School at sixteen. Recommended for a secretarial position at Packard...
The eldest of three daughters born to Sicilian immigrants, Bea was christened Biagia Calogera Piazza, after her paternal and maternal grandmothers, by tradition, and was henceforth nicknamed Bebe. Of humble means, her family strived toward Americanization through work and education. Despite a prevailing prejudice against southern Italians, Bea was double-promoted twice in grade school and graduated from Detroit Eastern High School at sixteen. Recommended for a secretarial position at Packard...