THE ROSSI FAMILY TREE
name: Chase Rossi
birth date and age: July 24, 1977; 34
birth place: New York City, New York
hometown: Bergen County, New Jersey
current residence: Manhattan, New York
ethnicity: French-Italian
nationality: American
Paternal Grandparents.: Armando Neroli Rossi (deceased, 1909 -2005) Worked as a shoemaker and carpenter. One of Chase's middle names pays homage to Armando. He inherited his grandfather's dedication and eye for detail.
Francesca Anastasia Tagliabue (97), lives in the small town of Cesano Maderno, in Northern Italy near Milan. She refuses to speak in anything besides Italian although she learned to speak a hybrid between Italian and Romanian because of the immigrants in her neighborhood. Mothered eight children [Guerino (1929-1934), Giuseppina (80), Oreste (deceased, 1937-1990), Gaspare(72) , Carolina (67), Renato (65), Maria (62) - Nun, and Giovanni].Despite her age, she still enjoys walking to church and feeding pigeons.
Maternal Grandparents.: Raynard Chance Bertrand "Nonni" (84) The true patriarch of the Bertrand branch of the family. Chase is said to look more than Raynard and Constance than his own father. The joke in the family is that the looks skipped a generation. Ironically, Constance derived Chase from Chance as an homage to her father. There's a strong bond betweeen Chase and his grandfather. He wishes one day he'll have a big family and still be around to take care of his grandchildren just like Nonni did with him and his kids.
Eugenia Marcellina De Luca "Nonna" (83) The Rossi family's favorite grandmother. Everyone in the family calls her Nonna, the Italian word for grandmother. She is the spirit of the family and the caretaker of the family's history. She keeps an old bible with the lineage of the De Luca and Bertrand families. Mothered six children [Arnaldo (60), Pietro (58), Constance (57), Ermanno "Uncle Herman" (53), Michele (51), and Anna Maria (51) ].Chase and Marco often retreat in Tuscany to their mother's (Constance) childhood home to eat Nonna's home cooked meals and hear stories about their mom as a child. Nonna and Nonni's house is one of the few spots in the world that truly feels like home for Chase. Nonna often looks out for her great grand children whenever Chase is overwhelmed with Tyra or Luciano and Ana need a break. Chase calls his grandmother at least once a week, sometimes every other day during the winters.
Parents.: Giovanni Rossi (61), b. 1950, an Italian-American born on an American military base (Camp Darby) in Italy served as a New York police officer for nine years, a police detective for fifteen, and twelve years as chief of NYPD. Truly an Italian citizen but books were forged by Armando Neroli Rossi, Giovanni's father who had pull in the new country. The Rossi history is always safe-guarded and for the sake of legitimacy hush money was paid to avoid questions of origin.
Constance Ginette Marina Bertrand Rossi (57), French-Italian international model with Tuscan origins. The height of her career was during the 1970s well into the 1980s until she spent the latter end of her career doting on her family and becoming the muse for several French and Italian couture houses. Good friends with Samantha Masters, up and coming fashion model, and mother to Kodi Sloan.
Siblings.: Luciano Pietro Rossi (36), the perfect son that Giovanni Rossi hoped would mirror in the rest of his children. A married lawyer who is as dedicated to the law as he is to his father's wishes. Bounces in between New York, New Jersey and Washington DC, is certified in seven states lining the east coast. Takes after their father in looks and mannerisms. Very competitive, sports oriented, and carries the Italian machismo torch. Has 5 children with Sarah Rossi. Children: Grace (14); Leo (7); the triplets, Marcellina, Raynard, (3)
Chase Carlo Armando Rossi (34), the black sheep of an artist who despite his father's training went the route of art versus the strict way of law and justice. Owns three fine art galleries, made a name for himself without family contribution, and ran generally disinterested in his family during the majority of his youth. Ran away at 18 and now, with two children, is re-establishing old ties with his family. Highly protective of younger siblings and children, precision-based, and highly organized. Lives in Santa Monica with youngest brother Marco.
Children.: Tyra Mali Rossi (13), born out of wedlock to a drug addicted mother who remains generally nameless in polite conversation. Her mother contracted HIV/AIDS after Tyra's birth from a shared needle and subsequently passed when the little girl was two years old, thus leaving her to the care of her maternal grandparents until the age of 8. Unwilling to take a blood test, Chase helped take care of the little girl under the assumption she was not his. In the fall of 2008 after actively seeking guardianship Chase confirmed that he was her father through blood testing. Physically, Tyra takes after both parents but primarily her father. Personality wise, Tyra is a mixture of Sully's sensibility, Chase's slyness, Kodi's fashion-ability, and her own ingenuity. Tyra and Chase's relationship is not that of the average father/daughter but instead as two friends struggling with self-identity while forming a true family. Tyra lives in Santa Monica with her father, her father's boyfriend, and her Uncle Marco
Matteo Armand Rossi Ortiz (2), born to Anna Ortiz-Mason a fetish club owner of an ex who wanted a child after turkey baster attempts failed. Affectionately called 'prune' he is the apple of his daddy's eyes. Chase absolutely loves his son and although he's technically a sperm donor, he helps out to the best of his ability with taking care of the baby.Siblings Cont.: Matteo Rossi (31), a federal police officer whose specifics are not shared with the family. Matteo is the more aloof and mysterious brother who shows face around holidays but for the sake of his job and personal reasons keeps conversations about himself to a minimum. Has an estranged relationship with older brother, Chase, and still embittered at the older Rossi for running away and abandoning the family. Had a close relationship with him as children until that night. Is one of the favorites in their father's eyes and said favoritism is forever apparent at any family reunion.
Paul Santino Rossi (29), the forgotten child feels every bit of the middle child syndrome. Although the middle status is shared with older brother Matteo, he typifies everything their father wanted that had yet not been achieved by the eldest Rossi. Paul took the route of law and business, settling on following the footsteps of the men in his family by enrolling in the police academy.
Marco Vittore Rossi (26), the golden baby boy who was overprotected by both parents. By the time Giovanni and Constance had Marco they softened in their ways but not enough to expect anything short of excellence from him. Generally lost and stuck in the shadows of his older and successful brothers, Marco convinced Chase to allow him to remain in Las Vegas a week prior to Chase's 30th birthday. After arguments, butting heads, and a general lack of interest in initial independence, the 'baby Rossi' finally pursued his interest in animals by enrolling in university in Los Angeles and working with a vet. After close to twelve years of not seeing his idolized brother, the two brothers are forging a closer relationship by living together in Santa Monica. As much as Marco looks up to Chase, Chase admires Marco's heart. Marco is not only one of his father's favorites but Chase's as well.
Ana Gaelle Rossi (24), the baby and social reject in the Rossi family line. The mother of two shocked the family by having Lucas at the tender age of seventeen, leaving the family with then fiancee and becoming a hairdresser much to her parent's chagrin. The true wild child covered in tattoos, piercings, and rather slack off than take anything serious, she came to rely on Chase until she cleaned up her act.Children.: Lucas Rossi (7), born to Ana at the tender age of 17, his birth caused a lasting rift between Giovanni and Ana. At sixteen bordering 17, Ana fled to the comfort of her older brother's estate in New Jersey overlooking the shoreline. She lived with Chase and tried to hide the fact she was pregnant but it didn't last for long until Chase made sure she was well fed, taken care of, and sent her to look for a suitable job until she was far into the pregnancy. Lucas is doted upon by all of his uncles but primarily Chase. Lucas often is spotted running about Chase's gallery dressed in a little suit and clinging to the legs of his grandmother, Constance at any of Chase's functions. With the signature Rossi wide blue eyes, the baby boy steals the attention from everyone else. Lucas along with Tyra are being primed to take over the budding Chase Rossi empire.
Elisabeth Rossi (3), Ana's second child at the age of 21.Extended Family Kodi Sloan (2?), a socialite turned fashion designer of notable The Ides of March, sauntered into Chase's life with a cigarette in need of a light. Dysfunctional, chaotic, magnificent and beautiful, Sloan was the modern Edie in need of a Warhol and in Chase she found that and more. The one true love of his life and a candle that burned out long before it should, Kodi embodied the female version of Chase: a beautiful mess. A muse, a best friend, a lover, a sister, she was everything to the artist and left not only her scent on his clothes and bedsheets but her impression on him and his daughter, Tyra. She left him a stained kiss on the cheek, a letter, and a young boy in need of a guardian.
Children.: Gabriel Sloan (7), son of Kodi Sloan, left in the care of his grandmother, Elizabeth Masters, in London, England and partially in the care of Chase Rossi in Santa Monica, California. Blue eyed, brilliant blond hair, the little boy is close to Tyra and together they deal with the loses of their mother through friendship and silent conversations filled with shared looks. His schooling is mostly in London but spends vacations with the Rossi family and taken under the care of Mama Rossi who watches over all the children.
Extended Family Cont.: Bryan Thomas Callahan (25), a young rich male socialite turned restaurant owner, entered Chase's life with a quote from Fight Club. Their relationship began as a one night stand but seeing that Bryan spent the night and made Chase breakfast, that singular act invited the young man not only into his home but his heart. The duo had more ups and downs than a roller coaster; however, he forever is and will be one of Chase's great loves. The two began dating in Las Vegas, often spending their nights in his Bellagio penthouse, discussing music, movies and art over excellent home cooked meals. Their relationship developed and matured once Bryan built Armando's, a fine dining restaurant named and modeled after the artist. It was upon their move to Los Angeles did things take a turn. They were madly in love with one another but combated their bachelor ways and jealous streaks through affairs, fights, and the inevitable pattern of breaking up and making up. This time, things were different. The two separated after Bryan had an affair and Chase torched their Long Beach estate in rage. It took two years, a child on Bryan's part, depression and mental help on Chase's part, for the lovers to reunite. Now, two years after the chaotic ending of their relationship, the pair remain friends and find a way to raise their children Tyra and Max, respectively, together.
Extended Family Cont.:Children.: Massimo Miracolo "Max" Callahan (2), the blue eyed blond bundle of joy is a spitting image of his father. He was a lovechild between Bryan and a lesbian waitress during one of Callahan's many misadventures. Max not only is the light of Bryan's life, but also of Chase's. He sees the little boy as a part of his ever expanding troupe of children. It is only fitting that Max is an honorary Rossi, especially after him and Tyra causing Bryan and Chase to run into one another again. After a couple of years of failled communication, Chase ran into Bryan while picking up Tyra from a babysitting job. Seeing that Tyra was too young and never around when Bryan was, she didn't know he was the man than broke (and mended) Chase's heart. Max, far too young to know any difference, immediately connected to Tyra and Chase. The little boy is often found asleep atop Chase's chest or next to him and his son, Matteo.
Anna Ortiz Mason, a former girlfriend of Chase Rossi who is close friends with his younger brother, Matteo. The Mexican-American woman has been around the Rossi's enough to carve a spot in their lives and hearts. Her ties with the family only deepened upon the conception of Matteo Armand Rossi Ortiz, named after both his father and uncle. She serves as Chase's reality check over the years but primarily one of his largest concerns when it comes to her and the child's well-being. Initially, she wanted Chase to be a donor for her but the bond between both parents and their child have solidified him as having a presence in the little boy's life. Quick witted, independent, and strong, Anna is one of the few women that Chase can trust even if he cringes every time she rips him a new one then a few minutes later asks him to cook dinner for her. She's one of his few friends even if he acts as if he doesn't care.
Anthony Kelley "Sully" Sullivan, one of the former love of Chase's life. The Irish-American bartender from Venice Beach won over the artist through his sharp tongue, flirtations, and ability to serve a killer drink. His literary knowledge, affinity for beat literature, and impeccable writing skills sparked the man's attention. Sully is everything that Chase is not: a responsible, family oriented, loyal man who puts the children before anything else. If there was one person Chase needed in life, that was Sully. He keeps him grounded, deals with his inner turmoil while struggling his own along with a bad heart. Sully is a fighter and that's mirrored even in his Catholic chosen name of David --fighting adversity and overcoming the limitations that heart trouble can cause. Sully is an honorary Rossi, adored by Mama Rossi and Nonna (Constance's mother), and tolerated by Giovanni who still despite his homophobic tendencies is glad to see a respectable man dating his son. Their on-again/off-again relationship is too difficult for anyone in the Sullivan or Rossi family to keep track of, but if there's one thing certain, Sully will always be a part of the family. Complex and quiet, creative and charming, Sully is the writer's writer and the best friends Chase has ever had.