MADERIA — A Madeira tailor has been tasked with making suits for Vice President-Elect JD Vance to wear to his inauguration, according to our news partner WCPO.
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Romualdo Pelle, a 90-year-old Italian immigrant, knows his way around a good suit.
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“My godfather, I was eight and a half, he said ‘Romualdo! I want to teach you what I do. I am a tailor and you’ve got good hands!’,” Pelle said to WCPO.
Pelle grew up in Italy and joined the Italian army in the 1950s. In the 60s, he made the difficult decision to move to Cincinnati and teach himself English.
“One guy from Italy, he sent me a book to translate English to Italian,” Pelle said to WCPO. “I’ve still got the book.”
Pelle opened his tailor shop, called Romualdo, in 1968.
Pelle shares his story with anyone who asks.
“He’s a character,” said Tim Brock, the co-owner of Romualdo, to WCPO. “I started working with Romauldo when I was 19-years-old and he’s pretty much like an adopted grandparent for me. It’s been a wild ride”
Pelle met Vance three years ago, and Pelle says he has genuine character.
“Very nice person to talk to, he understands,” Pelle said to WCPO. “Very smart, I think. Very smart.”
Monday, Vance will be sworn in as the Vice President of the United States, all while wearing one of Pelle’s suits.
“That’s pretty cool,” Pelle said to WCPO. “I think it’s pretty cool.”
Pelle says Vance ordered four suits for the week of the inauguration.
Vance even wrote a note to Pelle, reading: “For Romualdo - with admiration for your hard work and dedication. I will proudly wear your suit at the inauguration.”
Pelle is grateful for his job, and it’s one he loves doing.
“It’s an honor for me, really, at my age that I can still serve people,” Pelle said to WCPO.
He says he’ll continue doing it until he can’t anymore.
“I want to die over here, to tell you the truth,” Pelle said to WCPO.
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