Trace Your Tree With Theresa

06/20/2026

🎙️ Thrilled to be featured on the Ohio Genealogical Society’s Ohio Roots podcast! We talked about my genealogy journey, Italian & German research, and digging deep into census records.

A huge thank you to the Ohio Genealogical Society for this wonderful opportunity! If you’re interested in family history, I hope you’ll give it a listen. ❤️ 🎧

I’d love to hear about your family history adventures too - drop a comment below! 👇

In this episode of the OGS Ohio Roots podcast, genealogist and Professional OGS Member Theresa Dandy joins the us to discuss her lifelong passion for family history, tracing her journey from a fourth-grade hobbyist to a professional researcher. Theresa shares her experiences uncovering her Italian roots, navigating the complexities of German records, and her specialized skill in mining census data for hidden details. Listen at www.ogs.org/podcasts or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

04/14/2026

🎉 Genealogy Breakthrough After YEARS of Searching! 🎉

Happy dance! 💃 After MANY years of searching, I finally found my great-grandparents (on the Dandy side) in the 1920 U.S. Federal Census - and it happened because I applied Elizabeth Shown Mills’ FAN Club principle (Friends, Associates & Neighbors). 🪭

For years I’ve been hunting for my great-grandparents' missing census records with zero luck. They were Italian immigrants who came to America and changed their last name from D’Intino to Dandy. 🇮🇹 Trying to find them felt impossible — like looking for a needle in a haystack.

I had no luck searching directly under either name. On top of that, there was a transcription error in the census: their name was written as “Daney” instead of Dandy. No wonder I (and everyone else) couldn’t find them!

Last night I had a total light-bulb moment. 💡 Instead of searching for their name yet again, I searched for a family friend named Jim Bruno. A few households down in the 1920 census… there they were!

My great grandpoppa Tony (Donato D’Intino), my great granny Rosey (Pasquarosa Silla), and kids: Mike, Ralph, Flora, Julia (my uncles and aunts), and little Tony - my Pappaw!

Seeing their names written there, with one lodger living with them (another clue to chase) 🔍, made my heart skip a beat.

This is exactly why the Genealogical Proof Standard and reasonably exhaustive research matter. When direct searches fail, looking at the people around them can unlock everything.

I’m so grateful for that “light bulb” moment and for all the genealogy friends who share these amazing research strategies!

If you’ve ever felt that thrill of finally finding a long-lost family member in an old document, you know exactly what I mean. Drop a ❤️ or tell me your own story in the comments, I would love to hear all about it. Stuck at a brick wall? Persistence, a little creativity, and a whole lot of heart really do pay off! I'm happy to help break down that brick wall!

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