I have a very unique Zako family background as our ancestors were from Canada and
Syria. There are 4 people in family. My mom, named Rhea, Dad, Dan and my younger
brother Jackson. We are Caucasian. My mother is mostly French Canadian, while my
father is mostly Syrian.
My father was born in 1961 and raised in Livonia Michigan until be was about 8 years
old. At that time, his family moved to Valhalla, New York in search of a better living.
His father was a creative person within an advertising agency downtown Detroit. They
moved to New York just before all the Detroit race riots in 1968.
My mother was born and raised in a small town in Southbury Connecticut in 1970. She
moved to New York City to go to college and start her career in 1989. This is where my
mom and dad met in 1996 and started to date. They went on several dates before my
mom moved to Michigan. My mom and dad enjoyed going to dance clubs and listening
to Madonna and Prince. Shortly after they met, she was transferred with her company to
Michigan.
In August 1996, my mom moved to Michigan. My dad moved here to be with her by
Thanksgiving. They have been together ever since and married in 2000. I was born in
April 2002 and my brother, Jackson was born in April 2004.
But how did we all seem to come together in the United States? It all started back with
my great-grandparents coming from Syria and my grandfather coming from Canada.
My great-grandparents (on my dad’s side), came over from Syria in the 1930’s. They
spoke Syrian and learned English when they came to the States. I never had a chance to
meet them as they had died prior to my birth. I really wished I had met them. They came
to the United States in the 1930’s by boat in search of a better life. In Syria, they owned
and operated a small convenience store. When they arrived to the States, they opened up
another one in Downtown Michigan close to the manufacturing plants. They sold many
items such as food, cigarettes, and household items. My great-grandmother was quite a
lady. She was one of the first women to sit on the Detroit Liquor Board. When the store
started to do really well, they moved from the back of store to a beautiful home in
Roseville, Michigan. Their neighbor was Diana Ross. Today, boxing coach legend,
Emanuel Stewart lives in my great-grandmothers home. My grandfather Jido (my dad’s
Father) was the youngest boy. My Uncle Louis is a Doctor and both boys went to
Michigan University. My Grandfather is since retired from the advertising business and
lives in Florida.
My grandfather (my mother’s father) was born and raised in Baker Lake, New Brunswick
Canada. His first language is French, but he also learned English in school. He came over
to the United States in 1947 to join many of his family members who had moved here for
a better life. As a boy, he lived and worked on their large farm. My grandfather, Pepe
was one of 18 children. Four of his siblings died very young, but 14 of them grew up to
be adults. There were 7 boys and 7 girls. Among the girls, there was one set of identical
twins. Some still live in Canada, but most of them live in New England.
Pepe moved to Connecticut to be closer to his siblings. He joined the Army and served in
Korea during peace time. After the service, he joined his 3 other brothers in a dry wall
construction business. He did that his whole life until he retired about 15 years ago. He
currently lives in Vermont. He has a beautiful home overlooking the Ski Resort Mount
Pico.
Both my great-grandparents and grandfather from two different countries worked very
hard when they came to the United States. They both had to learn English to succeed. I
am thankful to know and spend time with Pepe.