Aldo Becci bought his home in Vienna in 1956, living there until his death in 2014. He helped found Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna and was active in the American Legion, VFW, and the community throughout his life. In this undated family photo, Aldo Becci hosts a table at OLGC. Photo courtesy of John Becci
John Becci’s step-mother, Milly, still lives in the house on Branch Road that the Becci children, now adults, grew up in decades ago. John Becci’s dad, Aldo, who bought that home from Yeonas builders in 1956, died in 2014. His mom died of cancer in 1978, the year John graduated from James Madison High School.
“There has always been a Becci in that house,” he says, smiling broadly as he recalls his childhood and youth in Vienna, long before there was a Whole Foods or Church Street renewal.
Although Becci now lives “over the bridge” in Maryland, he maintains an immersive Vienna participation. Becci runs the networking arm of the Vienna Business Association and maintains ties with old friends in the community. His face is as familiar today in the community as it was when he went away to college.
The Beccis have had a history in Vienna from the middle of the 20th century onward. Aldo Becci was a founding member of Our Lady of Good Counsel church not far from Maple Avenue and Westwood Country Club. John Becci’s next door neighbors were the Cunninghams, who founded the Vienna Dance Academy. Richard Cunningham, the couple’s son, is Becci’s age and throughout their lives maintained a friendship. The boys played soccer and cricket in the front yards on Branch Road.
The Cunninghams had a dance studio in the basement in those days and Becci’s mother forced him into ballroom dance lessons when he was eight. Becci says it “paid off” in college. “Girls liked that I could dance,” he said.
BECCI’S RECOLLECTIONS come forth in a burst of joy. He went to school with the Savia kids, “all beautiufl girls,” he says. Patriarch Sam Savia owned property along Church Street and was active in the community, particularly the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. A saddle-and-bridle shop stood where John Edwards is now at the corner of Center and Church streets.
Billy Kilmer, 1970s Redskins quarterback, lived in the condos on the corner of Center and Church streets when he played for the Redskins. While delivering newspapers to the Vienna Inn, Becci said he saw Billy and Redskin “great” Sonny Jurgensen in the Vienna Inn a few times.
Fairfax County Public Schools offered no kindergarten when Becci was a kid so, like many others, he attended “preschool” until he entered first grade at Vienna Elementary School on Center Street.
“Our big field trip was to cross the street to go to Town Hall to visit the jail they had there,” said Becci. “I think it was to scare us into behaving.”
In the shopping center that housed Magruder’s for decades was Peter Pan five-and-ten store and a bakery where Panera sits. Before Magruder’s, there was an Acme grocery store in its stead. “Like in Road Runner cartoons,” Becci said. Becci’s paper route included the Vienna Inn when Mike and Molly Abraham owned the iconic restaurant. “Mike had a heart of gold.”
Before CVS became CVS, it was a People’s drug store with a huge grill and fountain. Becci remembers getting cherry Cokes and milkshakes there. He and his friends walked from Vienna Elementary to their homes on Branch Road, stopping by the center shops.
Every year, there was a carnival in the parking lot where Outback is now, Becci said, and, where the Fresh Market now is, there was once an A & P before the space belonged to Joe Theismann’s and That’s Amore. “It was a big deal for Vienna to get McDonald’s. Long time ago, there was a Burger Chef and, then, a Roy Rogers where Wendy’s is currently. In the spot that Great Harvest bread company sits was the old post office. Money and King used to front Church Street.
When Becci walked to Vienna Elementary from his home, he crossed the railroad tracks – with crossing gates - that have disappeared since to be paved over as the W & OD trail. “We used to collected the ties and spikes when the tracks were pulled up,” he said. “A lot of people did.”
Becci’s father, Aldo, was highly-regarded in the community until his death a few years ago. “Everybody loved Dad, everyone knew him,” said Becci. “Dad was an awesome guy. He was a founding member of OLGC and helped to build some of the wall at the American Legion.” There’s a plaque at the Vienna Community Center with the Becci family name on it.
VIENNA, Becci said, still has that community feel but it used to be a smaller, almost country-ish, town when he was growing up here. “It was like a Mayberry,” said Becci. “You knew everybody; I miss that.” Charles Hawthorne of Hawthorne drug store – in the space that Edible Arrangements is housed in on Center Street – knew the Becci family well, knew John’s mother [Eleanor] had terminal cancer, and always asked for her when a Becci came into the shop. “You get that somewhat now, but, not like back then.
“You can still have personal connections in Vienna but they are not as deep as they were forty or fifty years ago.”
Becci appreciates the improvements the town has witnessed … better roads, a bigger selection of stores and restaurants, a larger well-equipped library. “There is a ton of improvements, lot of changes. Vienna still has its charm.
“It is very special to me to now do business in Vienna with my company and being a member of the VBA, working with long time friends and making new friends in Vienna. It brings back a lot of fond memories.”
He and his Madison High School classmates, those living locally, hold impromptu class “reunions” at local restaurants. Becci keeps the mailing addresses of many of his classmates and they stay in-touch.
“There’s a uniqueness about Vienna,” Becci says. “There’s a bond growing up here.”