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Man reared at children’s home, now works there
By Julie Filby
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Photo by James Baca/DCR |
For 84 years, Mount St. Vincent Home in northwest Denver has been part of Pete Zarlengo’s life. When he was 2 years old, his father left him at the orphanage to be raised by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.
That was 1927. Today he is the facilities manager of the property that serves as a residential treatment facility for children with severe emotional or behavioral problems.
Last week, Zarlengo sat down with the Denver Catholic Register at the historic brick building atop the “mount” at 4159 Lowell Blvd. The building, an orphanage from 1883 to 1969, is one he knows inside and out: “From shingles to crawl spaces,” according to executive director Sister Amy Wilcott, S.C.L.
“He takes care of it like it’s his own,” she said. “He’s a ‘walking saint’—simple, kind and very devoted.”
Zarlengo, who heads a team of three, has maintained the 128-year-old building, outer buildings and the campus’ 17 acres for three years. Prior to becoming an employee, he helped maintain the facilities on a volunteer basis for more than 50 years.
“It’s an honor to be here,” said Zarlengo, who was wearing a red and black fleece jacket with the Mount St. Vincent Home logo. “I’m thankful I was raised here.”
“He won that jacket,” said Sister Wilcott proudly. “You can’t buy them—it’s an award called ‘Mission in Action,’ for living the mission of Mount St. Vincent Home.”
In addition to serving the home, Zarlengo has raised his seven children, 14 foster children, and supported 46 children living in poverty in 25 countries through humanitarian organizations.
“I’m not doing anything different than somebody who’s helping one person,” he said. “It’s a matter of helping, and hopefully passing that on where other people will pick it up.”
History
Zarlengo was born May 6, 1925. According to the original register used to record arrivals at the orphanage he was admitted Sept. 7, 1927, as penned by “Sister Ida.” Flipping back through a few of the yellowed pages reveal that older brother, Dominic, was admitted earlier that year.
“Our mother died when I was 6 months old,” he said. “My father couldn’t take care of the three of us.”
His sister Carmela grew up in the since-demolished Queen of Heaven Orphanage for girls near West 48th Avenue and Federal Boulevard.
“They brought the girls over from Queen of Heaven once, maybe twice, a year,” he said. “I’d be introduced to her, just like I was introduced to you today.”
Though not acquainted growing up, he and his sister are close now; and see each other weekly.
Zarlengo shared memories of growing up there, such as classes in a one-room school; visits from celebrities including The Lone Ranger, cowboy Tom Mix, and MGM’s mascot Leo the Lion; and listening to “Amos and Andy” on a crystal radio receiver on Sunday evenings.
At Christmas, they could request a gift up to $1 from the Knights of Columbus.
“I remember one of the first things I asked for was a flashlight,” he reminisced. “I took it outside at night time until the batteries went dead.
“And that was the end of the Christmas present.”
In the summer, they would fly kites, work the farm and build tents.
“We had a lot of fun here,” he said.
Zarlengo left Mount St. Vincent in 1939 and attended North High School. He was drafted into the Navy in 1943.
“I never thought I’d be on Omaha Beach on D-Day,” he said, referring to the June 6, 1944, Allied invasion of Normandy, France. “We shuttled troops in … soldiers and marines fighting up front.
“That part of the story is horrendous. I seen ‘em go down faster than they could walk,” he relayed sadly. “They just cross-fired and caught every one of ‘em … 3,000 on the first day.”
He spent three years shuttling wounded across the English Channel, and delivering fresh troops. He was discharged in 1946. Shortly after, he received word that his brother—also in the Navy—had been killed in the South Pacific.
Family
Zarlengo traveled with jobs and to meet relatives he’d never known, before settling down in Arvada with bride Florence. The couple had seven children—six girls and one boy—and were married 22 years when Florence left the family in 1978.
“She decided she wanted to move on and left me with the seven,” he said. “In the meantime we were also taking on foster children, some of them out of St. Vincent’s.”
He raised the children in a farm house he built in Henderson, while traveling with his job as an office building manager.
“We had a lot of fun on the farm … we had 12, 15, 20 in the house at a time,” he said. “My biggest challenge was keeping us all together as I covered seven states due to my job.”
Today he has 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, with one on-the-way.
“My children have been the greatest gift in my life,” he said. “I’m thankful for three things: God, the Sisters of Charity, and my family. Those three things have shaped my life.”
Zarlengo, who lives in Keenesburg and is a parishioner of Holy Family Church, starts most days with 7 a.m. Mass at the chapel at Mount St. Vincent’s and never leaves before saying evening prayers.
“I thank God over and over and over,” he said, “and it doesn’t take (but) 10 to 20 minutes out my life every day.”
He intends to stay busy with “no plans whatsoever” to retire and will continue to sponsor more children around the world.
“I’ve got 46 now and I’m lookin’ for 50!” he said. “I’ll support them financially; whatever it takes.”
He has paid for beds, mattresses, a washing machine, plumbing, tuition and farm animals.
“I was given such a great life,” he said. “That’s why I want to continue (sponsoring these children).”
When asked the secret to his positive and grateful spirit, he replied: “You just have to stop and think about what you’ve been given … that’s all there is to it.”
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