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 People see what they expect to see. Would you believe your eyes if there was a breathtaking Christmas installation that belongs to the windows of the most exclusive Manhattan stores, around a house on a quiet street in the far south corner of Staten Island?
Well, I was shocked when I saw it for the first time a couple of years ago. My first thoughts were: “Who are these people? What’s going on?…” I started my investigation and the story behind it deeply moved me.
I decided to spread the word about Joe DiMartino and his truly inspirational story.
It all started when Joe was a young boy and lived with his family in Brooklyn. A lot of people in New York decorate their houses for Christmas, but in his family it was a passion and a work of art. Joe used to work on Christmas installation with his uncle. Once he grew up and moved out to Charleston, Staten Island , he continued this beautiful tradition with his own family.
Year after year, months before Christmas, Joe and his late wife Debra Ann were rearranging everything in and around the house, bringing all decorations from storage and building magical “Christmas Theater” for everybody to enjoy during the Holidays. Every little thing here is so exquisite, beautiful and alive, that you simply can not pass by, without walking around and admiring the talent and craftsmanship of its owner and creator. It’s like our own North Pole!
Happy family, beautiful house, good jobs, adorable girls growing up and there was always a next year's fun Christmas project, until... September 11 2001…Joe’s wife and partner for many years Debra Ann DiMartino, mother of his two daughters, was killed among others in the World Trade Center terrorist attack.
Everything went dark for Joe including his Christmas display. That year he took his family to Florida to try to run away from the holiday season. When they returned home Joe was struck by the darkness & sadness of his house. He made a vow to himself that his house would never be dark again. He knew that's not what Debra Ann would have wanted.
Joe's goal became making the display bigger and better every year. He hopes to always be able to add something new to keep people coming back for more.
Working on Christmas installation helped Joe to survive. This is his way to remember and spread the light around. Joe and his family always visits WTC memorial on September 11, and right after he starts working on his "lifetime" Christmas project. “It keeps me going”, he says.
We met Joe and Marisa for the first time last year. He remarried a few years ago and his new wife Marisa shares his “Christmas Passion”. She takes care of all the decorations inside the house and it’s really beautiful and tasteful. What would Santa do without Mrs. Clause?? They are very nice and warm people. We came to their house for the fist time and it felt like home.
I asked Joe’s permission to make a video of his Christmas installation and to tell his story on my New York Christmas website to let people know that there is a True Miracle just around the corner! Definitely worth a trip!
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Art Giclee Prints
Christmas Miracle in New York
Everything is free, but if you would feel like sharing a few bucks , there is a donation box. Everything will be donated to the Nalitt Institute’s Outpatient Children’s Cancer Unit at Staten Island University Hospital.
