Carbone’s Restaurant
Owner former Nuclear Scientist
by Karen Fetter
Natalie Carbone Mangini has accomplished a well-rounded life that leaves her
with no regrets and a lot of fond memories.
Not only has she carried on her family legacy of managing Carbone’s Italian
Restaurant in Crabtree, PA, but she can look back on a career as a nuclear
scientist and a mother of four. So when asked what she felt was her greatest
accomplishment, she paused not a second and said it was her children.
The story of this amazing woman stretches back to 1928, when she was born to Nat
and Mary Carbone. She was one of three children, including her sister Rosalie
and her brother Natale. The Carbone family originally settled in the Crabtree
area to work in the coal mines. However, when the opportunity presented itself,
her father opted for a career as an entrepreneur.
In 1936, Nat Carbone purchased Jamison Coal and Coke Company’s community center
building and created a barber shop, candy store, pool room, and bowling alley.
The family lived on the second floor and the businesses were on the first floor.
When the building suffered a damaging flood in 1938, Nat decided to start a
tavern. He asked his wife three times for permission to acquire a liquor
license, but Mary only agreed when he said it would be for a restaurant. She
wanted to have a family business where people could bring their children. That’s
how Carbone’s Restaurant began.
While growing up, Natalie always worked at the restaurant, whether as a
waitress or in the kitchen. But that was not her only interest. Natalie aspired
to be a scientist from a young age. She had chemistry sets and performed a lot
of her own experiments. It was no surprise that she would go onto college and
study chemistry. When Natalie graduated from Seton Hill College in 1949, she
soon after found a job with Westinghouse as a nuclear chemist.
When she arrived at Westinghouse for her interview, she found her prospective
employers had assumed that her application was from a man. When they discovered
she was a woman, they were unsure about whether to proceed with the interview or
not. At that time no women were scientists. But since she was there they
interviewed her and she ultimately got the job.
Natalie was the only woman to work on the USS Nautilus (the first nuclear attack
submarine) and coauthored the first technical procedure used on the atomic
submarine for detecting and disposing of radioactive materials. She attended the
welcoming ceremonies for the Nautilus after the historic “Under the Ice” North
Pole crossing in 1958.
As a result of her achievements Natalie Carbone Mangini has received many
honors. They include the Mademoiselle Award of Merit in Atomic Science in 1958,
the Award for Distinguished Italian-American Women in 1958, American Chemical
Society Affiliates of Seton Hill College Award in 1959, and the Distinguished
Alumnae Award for Seton Hill College in 1994.
Natalie had appearances on What’s My Line on August 24, 1958, the Today Show on
August 25, 1958, and the Dave Garroway TV Show in 1958. She was also featured in
a national advertisement for Seton Hill College that was in Time Magazine and
was featured in Mademoiselle Magazine.
She has used her expertise to write and publish four scientific papers and is
listed in Who’s Who of American Women and in Who’s Who in Atoms. In the late
1950s, her popularity and accomplishments were at an all time high. Yet there
was still one accomplishment that she had not yet achieved – she wanted a
family.
Natalie married Vincent Mangini and soon after started that family. As soon as
she found out she was pregnant she had to leave her job as a nuclear scientist
because of the potential danger to her unborn child. She went on to have four
children: Vanessa, Natalie, Vincent, and Melissa. Natalie and her husband Vince
co-owned Crabtree Oil Company from 1966 to 1991 while raising their family.
Natalie now has six grandchildren: Rosalie, David, Patrick, Donovan, Daniel, and
Evangeline.
“I have had a wonderful life but my biggest accomplishment has been my children.
They are all different and reflect a little of each of our personalities,” said
Natalie. After meeting Natalie, who could ever underestimate the strength of a
woman or the legacy she has provided both to her family and her community?
************
While Natalie was concentrating on her family, Nat
and Mary Carbone continued on with their restaurant. They were smart,
business-minded people. The menu originally consisted of sandwiches, pastas, and
salads. But soon a friend that was a regular to the restaurant recommended other
items because he and his wife started to gain weight from the pastas and
sandwiches. As a result, Nat added meat and fish. The business became a great
success and has been a Westmoreland County landmark for generations. Many people
became personal friends just from being customers at the restaurant.
In time, they expanded the building and made
continuous changes that kept Carbone’s Restaurant lively in the area. In fact,
Carbone’s was one of the first restaurants to buy and use a microwave. They also
were first to use carpeting in the dining room area and to have a computer order
system.
Carbone’s Restaurant was also the first to serve
Rolling Rock draft beer and was the longest seller of the local beer.
Natalie’s father passed away in 1981 and her mother
in 1993. Currently, her daughter Natalie Stefanick and her son Vincent Mangini
manage the restaurant, which continues to do well by maintaining its reputation
for great food, its innovative edge, and customer service orientation.
Carbone’s Restaurant can hold banquets for up to 200
people and has four dining rooms for customers. Customers can also buy Carbone’s
special sauce and salad dressing. Natalie creates a monthly newsletter for
customers and organizes special menu options. Vincent created a Pasta
Engineering Contest three years ago for high school students to participate in.
Students design bridges out of pasta and whichever bridge can hold the most
weight is the winner. The event is one that keeps Carbone’s active in the
community.
In her life, Natalie Carbone Mangini has used her
hands to make food, power nuclear submarines, and to care for children. After
meeting Natalie, who could ever underestimate the strength of a woman or the
legacy she has provided both to her family and her community? Stop into
Carbone’s Restaurant, located along Route 119 in Crabtree, and see for yourself.
Call 724-834-3430 for more information
or to make a reservation.
Visit the website at
www.carbonepasta.com