An Indianapolis 500 Driver, Peter Kreis, and Sculptor Albert Milani
I've been doing a lot of research on Albert Milani (our first cousin, 3x removed) a prolific sculptor best known for carving the beautiful Georgian pink marble fountain better known as Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park Chicago.
Albert was the son of Beniamino Milani, brother to my Great Grandfather Guiseppe Milani.
I recently visited Asbury Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee, to visit the grave of Peter Kreis, a former race-car driver tragically killed during a practice lap at the Indy 500 in 1934.
How are Albert Milani and Peter Kreis connected? Upon Peter's death, Albert was asked by the Kreis family to create a marble monument to Peter. Typical of Albert's work, the NY Times rated it the Best Monument of 1936.
Please check out this news story by Marshall Hughes of WATE – in East Tennessee, recently posted on youtube.com honoring the 85th anniversary of Peter Kreis' death and Albert Milani’s work in sculpting Peter Kreis’ memorial.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is known as the Brickyard ... check out the detailed brick-inlay carving on the monument. The maxime spectaculi aspect of this creation is the carving of the race car going over the track in the first turn – memorializing the exact moment and place of Kreis’ death.
Interesting side note, in doing genealogy in 2005, I found the grave of my great grandfather's brother, Beniamino in north Georgia. This led me to find his descendants in Knoxville, Tennessee -- where I was invited to attend a family reunion in 2012. It was here that I met Tina Marie Wesson (my 3rd cousin – G Grand Daughter of Beniamino Milani) winner of the second season of Survivor: The Australian Outback in 2001. That's right -- she's a Milani! My family genealogy is fascinating and makes for a wonderful hobby!
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| Pete Kreis, 1900-1934 |
