Driving Sophia Loren from Providence to New York to DC: One Rhode Islander’s Adventure
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Cranston resident Al Saccoccia was only supposed to drive Sophia Loren for a few days in Providence, when she came to Rhode Island for "An Evening with Sophia Loren" at the Convention Center.
A week and a half later, Saccoccia found himself having chauffeured the iconic actress down to New York, around the city, and then to Washington D.C., all at her request.
"I'm usually pretty under the radar, but this is what it is," said Saccoccia, who said he asked Loren if he could share photos and tidbits of their time together and got her permission.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"She couldn't have been more gracious, she couldn't have been more sweet," said Saccoccia of driving hundreds of miles with Loren.
Getting the Gig -- And Then More
"It was my first job [driving] through the Dunkin' Donuts Center," said Saccoccia, who drives with Premium Transportation, of getting tapped to chauffeur Loren.
Saccoccia was hired to drive Loren when she arrived at the airport, and then to the event at the Convention Center.
"Then she wanted me to drive her the rest of the time she was on the East Coast," said Saccoccia. "So I drove her to Manhattan on Friday, she wanted me for an hour and a half Saturday night there too, so [her team] paid me to go to New York and put me up overnight."
"And yesterday, we went back to New York, to drive her to DC -- we left here at 3:30 in the morning, and got back at 11:30 at night. I thought I'd probably end up stopping to stay over somewhere coming back but I lucked out with traffic," he said.
So why does Saccoccia think they hit it off?
"We just got along really well," said Saccoccia, who being "Alfred," said Loren called him "Fredo."
"We talked a lot about Italy, family, food," said Saccoccia, who had owned the Music Man Cafe in Johnston.
So naturally, Saccoccia did what was second nature.
He made food for Loren.
"Things she could eat in the car," said Saccoccia, who noted one of his dishes was a calzone with "rapini, pancetta, raisins for sweetness — and asiago [cheese]."
"She loved it," he said. "She loved all of it."
Saccoccia, who had never previously met Loren, said she was "just so gracious."
"She travels with a small team -- including her children's former nanny," said Saccoccia, of Loren's loyalty.
And fans who wanted an autograph?
"She never told anyone no," said Saccoccia. "They'd literally jump out in front of her, and she'd say, "I sign, I sign," to them all."
This story was first published 11/20/19 10:23 AM
