| Sources |
- [S84] E-Mail, Manda Fox [mgfoxx@iol24.com], 2 Aug 2004.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 22 Jan 2007.
What's in a name?
By: GAIL CRUTCHFIELD
Community News Editor
January 22, 2007
Families with same name form lasting friendship
With a name like Schettini, Diane and Steve Schettini thought there wouldn't be another family with the same name when they moved to Sevier County from New Jersey.
But much to Diane's surprise, every time the professed shopaholic told someone her name she was often met with the same question. "Are you Art's wife?"
"I went into Volunteer Cycle and they asked, 'Do you know Art Schettini?'" she said. The lady in lay-away at Kmart asked if she was Art's wife.
"I kept hearing about Art Schettini (pronounced Skeh-TEE-nee) and thought, who the heck is this Art Schettini," Diane said.
The she interviewed for a job at Dixie Stampede and met a cousin of Art Schettini.
She learned then that her husband the famous Art Schettini had more in common than their surname.
Both men worked in law enforcement, with Steve Schettini retired from the New York police force and Art Schettini a former member of the Sevierville force. Both men ride motorcycles. Both come from the New York area.
"We've both got weird wives," Art said.
"Hey!" Paula was quick to reply, with Diane and Steve laughing.
Then the calls started, with people asking for Art Schettini. Diane said she finally got a phone number for Art Schettini through their motorcycle connections and was able to relay messages accidentally called in to her and Steve's phone.
"I'm Art Schettini's secretary," Diane said.
All of this was said in fun as Diane and Steve Schettini visited with Art Schettini, his wife, Paula, and their 9-year-old son Kendal.
"It's like we all blended in like a big family," Diane said of the relationship the families have forged since their introductions.
The first came by phone, when Art returned a call Diane had made to him. They weren't home, but Diane has kept the recording saved to their answering machine for more than a year.
"Hello Schettini family," Art is heard saying. "This is the Schettini family."
They finally got to meet in person at the 2005 Shiloh Riders Toy Run that Art helps plan every year.
Art said he paved the way for Diane and Steve when his family moved to Sevier County when he was 10 years old. The new kid with the Bronx accent got in his share of scuffles, he said.
People also had trouble with his name. The announcers at football games would simply say Art's number and his first name, skipping over his last name, when they announced the roster. When they did try to say his name, more often than not it was mispronounced.
"They're already starting that with Kendal," Paula said.
The Schettinis haven't found any hard evidence so far that they are related. They have noticed physical resemblances to other family members on either side.
When Steve asked how far back Art has traced his family, Art tells him he knows his family is Sicilian.
Steve traced his grandfather's name to a certain ship that arrived at Ellis Island.
"Your cousin said she's trying to track everybody back," Diane said.
So before you know it, the Schettinis may be bound by more than friendship and the same name,
- [S84] E-Mail, Gary A. Cole [garyac314@comcast.net], 26 Oct 2009.
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