With additional photographs and documents not included in the book.
Picture Earliest photo of my grandmother, Maria Murn, and her sister, Leopoldina. Fiume 1907
It is remarkable that these photos survived the years of upheaval. My  parents always viewed them as treasured possessions and I am grateful for their safekeeping. 
                      1890 - 1980
               1884 - 1920     ---      1914 - 1979         Earliest photo of my mother Elisabetta Rubessa.
PictureGiuseppe married Leopoldina in 1912.
Court papers dated Nov. 1914 - my grandmother Katarina's lawsuit against Prof. Slowik, for child support. 
Not a happy lot, and no wonder, judging by the teacher's demeanor. It's been suggested that the boy in front row centre had serial killer potential.
Vlado never fully explained this photo but it always brought a wistful smile to his face. Check out the footwear fashion on the woman on the right.
PictureNow that is one determined woman! (1892 - 1971)
Photo taken in Karlovac
My aunt Emilia (left), my mother (right). Trieste - 1933
Picture
Ist prize in skiing competition dated year XII of Fascist era (1934)
Vlado's gold-buying friend Gianni, left, Montana, Oct 3, 1936. 
 Italian Citizenship granted to Vlado on Feb. 10, 1938, Year XVI of Fascist Era.
Vlado and friend Giordano. Adwa, Eritrea (actually Northern Ethiopia)
​April 24, 1934. 
               A penny for her thoughts!
Picture
My mother, Elsa Rubessa, 1936.
Picture
Nina was my mother's closest friend, and my godmother.
Picture
Photos sent to Vlado by Americans he befriended in Fiume.
Vlado in Eritrea - 1935.
Picture






​
My mother was already two months pregnant. You might say that was ​my first trip to the caves of Postumia (Postojna in Slovene). The second was in 2008.
My godfather, Nino Birolini, and my father, in 1936.  By coincidence, my godparents names were Nino and Nina.
Tiberio Birolini with unidentified friends. Fiume, 1936.
Classic film noir.
Vlado on parade with the shipyards Fire Brigade. Black Shirts on the reviewing stand - Fiume 1942.
There's no mistaking those legs! And a face that only my mother could love.
My aunt Piccina and my uncle Dino with their very first doll.
Fiume 1939. The civic tower in the background - the eagle was removed by the Communists in 1949. The double-headed eagle was restored in 2017. In 1919, one of D'Annunzio's soldiers sawed off one of the eagle's two heads thus turning the Austrian eagle into a Roman one.
My first impersonation of Humpty Dumpty.
Fiune 1939. From left: Nino, Vlado, Elsa, Aldo and close family friend Ubaldo. He could imitate a barking dog to my great delight.
Vlado's army discharge papers dated Feb. 23, 1936.
 Picture
Order from the German High Command to vacate our residence. The order was signed by the Mayor of the city. Ironically,  four months later, he was executed by the Yugoslav partisans. 
Halcyon days (despite my glare)
​at 17 Via Monte Grappa, 1941.
Studio portrait with my mother. I recall that the buttons on my shirt were green chicks. The pendant is the Raphael cherub.
Picture
Claudio on the balcony of Viale Camice Nere. Summer 1946.
My grandmother's house on the river Kupa.

     the house today.

Picture
​Air-raid shelters similar to Fiume's Sasso Bianco​.
     Shelter similar to the one near our school .
Uncle Claudio, an avid soccer player.  Fiume 1939, age 14 .   
Uncle Claudio, 2nd from right, prisoner of war in Hamburg, Germany - 1945 - age 21.
Uncle Claudio Zupancich - prisoner of war    identification card. Kiel Canal, Germany.
Grade 2 and 3 report cards issued by the Popular Liberation Committee in 1945 and 1946. Written on either side of the star is "Death to Fascism-Freedom to the people."
​My aunt Piccina, age 20, member of the Italian national basketball team, with her eldest brother Giuseppe (Pepi).
 Last family photo taken in Fiume. From left: Aldo, Katarina, Claudio, Vlado, Elsa, baby Vladimir - May 1947.