America's First Family of Fireworks

When fireworks fly in the Zambelli family, it’s a good thing. They are, after all, the First Family of Fireworks, a name they’ve earned by putting their hearts and careers behind an immigrant-established business that’s thrived for more than a hundred years.

Zambelli Fireworks Internationale has lighted up the sky over the White House for President Kennedy, illuminated Mount Rushmore, and annually provides the spectacular Thunder over Louisville fireworks show before the Kentucky Derby.

Theirs is an “Only in America” tale, with chapters on family values, work ethic, and mutual respect to which each in this large, close family subscribes.

“I’m the old man,” George Zambelli Sr., 78, says, by way of introduction, but his son, George Jr., interjects, “He’s currently ‘Mr. Fireworks’—better known as Boom Boom Zambelli.” In jacket and a tie embossed with colorful sprays against a night sky, George Sr. is the firecracker behind Zambelli Fireworks.

His immigrant parents founded the company, but George took the reins in 1957, guiding a family firm that would lead the industry into electronically controlled displays and reap sales around $10 million annually.

Coming to America

George’s parents, Italian immigrants Antonio Zambelli and his wife, Maria, left Naples for America in 1893 with a small black book of family secrets: recipes for fireworks. Italians have used pyrotechnics in festival celebrations for centuries, becoming famous firework producers since explorer Marco Polo’s time. The Zambellis settled in New Castle, Pa., amid a rolling landscape and moderate climate similar to their homeland.

Creating fireworks was, and is, a labor-intensive business, so the couple’s three sons helped out. But it was George who lighted the skies into the 21st century with the help of his own five children.

George began rolling firecracker tubes early on. By 16 he became a “shooter,” setting off pyrotechnic displays. He entered Duquesne University in nearby Pittsburgh, honoring his father’s dream of getting an education—but after graduation, he opted for family ties with his brothers who were skilled pyrotechnicians.

Now, as then, he asks no more of others than he expects from himself. He arrives at company headquarters in New Castle’s old New Penn Hotel a little later these days—6 a.m. rather than his usual 5:30 a.m. And his days last until about 6 p.m. instead of 11 p.m. as they once did.

His wife, Connie, encourages him to slow down, especially since he’s battled cancer, but George’s stamina and hearty handshake confirm his desire to keep charge.

His children—George Jr., 54; Donnalou, 50; Marcy, 46; Annlyn, 45; and Danabeth, 38—also chose to participate in the family business in some way. Ingrained with the work ethic of parents and grandparents, they work long hours and weekends, but the time is spent with people they love. They’re easily each other’s best friend, on the job and off.

Work and family are hard to separate, and Marcy admits business conversations creep into family get-togethers. “Do we ever get together and not talk business? I doubt it,” agrees George Jr.

Each sibling has a corporate identity—Danabeth is director of public relations in the Boca Raton, Fla., office with Marcy, vice president of marketing—but they’re all “cross-trained” to do whatever is needed, explains George Sr.

They’ve also been on the job as far back as they can remember. By the time Danabeth turned 3, she’d often have breakfast in one city, lunch in another, and dinner in a third while accompanying her parents to multiple events in one day, Marcy says.

Their parents raised them to work together, which helps account for their success. “We don’t compete,” Annlyn says. “My mom and dad raised us to really help each other.”

George Jr., an ophthalmologist, performs surgeries and examines patients each morning before fielding fireworks calls or heading to the company. Like George Sr., he got an early start in the business.

“When I was 12, I did a lot of woodworking, making frames for fireworks flags and battleships for July 4th celebrations,” George Jr. recalls. “Before you knew it, I’d ride with my Uncle Lou, help him unload, and set up the show.”

One of his most powerful memories occurred when he was in high school. “We were commissioned to do a fireworks show at the White House for President Kennedy. That was the first time I ever drove a vehicle—I drove the White House Cadillac tractor in helping to set up the fireworks,” he recalls.

Daughter Annlyn, administrative director, and husband Michael Richards, director of operations, work a few doors apart at the corporate headquarters. Michael, who worked for Zambelli Fireworks before he met the boss’ daughter, sets the pyrotechnic displays to music.

“The choreography is one of many things I do, along with a lot of the buying and selling,” he explains. Choosing the colors or shells and patterns is just the beginning; setting everything up might take two more weeks in the factory and another week on site.

“There’s a lot of work and a lot of people who are responsible for the end result,” he says.

Donnalou practices dentistry, but she, with daughters Summer and Amberlee, helps out during showtimes. Her husband, Pat McVay, assists in the plant.

Putting the spark in sparklers

Dazzling light shows are painstakingly created by hand at the fireworks plant, which sits within a chain link fence on the outskirts of New Castle. Most materials arrive from Asia, but once arranged in a bevy of cement block storage magazines, they’re ready for the Zambelli touch.

Employee Mark Spielvogel, an artist trained at the University of Pittsburgh, creates set pieces which he describes as billboard-sized “Lite Brite paintings,” referring to the children’s game where translucent colored pegs create illuminated pictures.

In another small building, Jerry Black dons protective gear to assemble black powder and colors loaded in small cylinders. Over in the specialty building, Bill Gallentine spends the day creating special effects—everything that makes us “ooh” and “aah” at a fireworks show.

Back at headquarters, it’s easy to see where such handiwork has taken the Zambellis. They supply fireworks to about 3,500-4,000 shows a year, some as close as Pittsburgh and others across the globe. Some are huge events; others celebrate weddings in American hometowns.

George Sr.’s hall of fame highlights his family’s most prestigious shows. Photographs, some poster-size reminders, hang alongside signed mementos—a presidential signature here, a note from David Letterman there. It’s a display of Dad’s pride and children’s awe at what they’ve accomplished together.

“Here’s a great shot of the St. Louis arch,” George Sr. says, noting that the celebration honored Pope John Paul’s visit. Zambelli fireworks also have helped celebrate Miami’s Latin Festival, the Texas State Fair, and Alberta’s Calgary Stampede. They’ve entertained every president since Kennedy.

“My father really put fireworks where they are today,” Marcy says. “He was the biggest promoter of fireworks across the United States.”

Every Zambelli shares great pride in putting on an entertaining show, even though they let the Grand Finale take final bows.

Now, the fourth generation is entering the business. “They’re groomed to love and respect our business, just like we were,” Marcy explains, listing off a myriad of shows they’ve attended. “My children—Aubriana (9) and the baby, Alandra (4)—stop by every day after school,” she adds. “I even ask their opinions because you know, fireworks are for all ages.”

Marcia Schonberg is a freelance writer and author of B is for Buckeye: An Ohio Alphabet.

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