Cauchi Family History

Joe Cauchi (1905-1987) was a life-long artist, painter and art teacher. His history was not entirely typical of rural Connecticut, where he spent 40 of his years. Joe Cauchi was born and raised on the Mediterranean island of Malta. (60 miles south of Italy). In Europe the Cauchi name and family is intertwined with 400 years of Maltese history, and the era of the Knights of Malta.

Joe was the oldest son of Dr. Thomas Cauchi, MD, of Victoria, Gozo (1871-1938) and Marietta Cauchi (nee Galea). Joe began medical training himself in Europe before coming to the United States in 1930. His younger brother Dr. Alfred Cauchi was a Rhodes Scholar and also became a well-known physician in Malta until his death in 1990. Alfred's four children, Thomas Cauchi, Victor Cauchi, Maria Bondi and Emily Spiteri also live on Malta and Gozo.

Joe's sister, Sr. Maria Louisa (Vittorina) Cauchi became a mother superior with the Sisters of Charity hospital and orphanage during and after World War II. His other sister, Adelina Vella, lived in Australia for more than 60 years until her death in 2002.

When Joe Cauchi came to the United States in 1930 he pursued his goal of being an artist, beginning with sketches of New York City and scenes of farmers and farm workers.

Dr. Thomas Cauchi of Gozo

He lived on Mott Street in Greenwich Village (New York City) from 1932 to 1944, while working at Cornell Medical College as a medical illustrator and later a micro-photographer. He attended formal art classes at the Art Students League and the New School for Social Research, where his classmates included Edith Beiner, later to be his wife & life-long partner in art (see photo) and Jackson Pollock.

Joe and Edith's son, Richard, grew up at their home and art studio in West Redding, Connecticut. Richard attended Tufts University near Boston, Massachusetts, and that city became his home for 34 years. He was a Director of the leading electoral organization in the state, concentrating on state legislative policy and campaigns. He also worked for the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Inc., concentrating on health, fiscal and human services policies. Richard is married to Susan Motika; they have a son Thomas M. Cauchi. Richard, Susan and Tommy moved to Denver, Colorado, Susan's home town, in 1996. Richard founded an Internet design company, Colorado Access 2000. He currently works on state legislative health policy in Denver.

Joe & Edith Cauchi in West Redding, Connecticut, 1965
Joe and Edith Cauchi, 1965