You can trace the family of Santamaria of Oletta back to Bastiano Santamaria and his son, Padov Antonio of Oletta (deceased before 1695). This family had several of its men in the priesthood during the XVIII ^th  and XIX ^th  centuries.  Among the priests, Luigi Santamaria who was born in July 1916, of Padov’antonio Santamaria (1768 – 1844) and Catherine De Pruno, distinguished himself and became Luri’s priest.

SCALINATA DUME LECCIA

(November 16, 1925 Oletta – February 16, 2002 Nice)

A remarkable important person of the village in many domains. Dumè Leccia was a municipal employee who took care of everything by himself for many years; water service, garbage pick-up, road maintenance.  In addition, Dumè Leccia, a pious, devoted man was the organist and sacristan of Oletta’s church his whole life.  Loved by all, Dumè left a void in the village after his death.

CARRUGHJU ANTOINE NEGRI  

(May 11, 1925 Oletta – 1949 Hanoi, Vietnam)

At the age of 20 he left for the Far East.  He enlisted in the 6^th regiment of the colonial infantry, was quickly remarked and named corporal.  On December 20 during a Hanoi clean-up, he voluntarily participated in attacking a nest of enemy resistance despite the danger and was mortally hit just when he was attaining, at the head of his men, the designated objective.  Named posthumously, at the General Order of Army Corps, he received the Croix de Guerre (war medal) with a vermillion star and a final quote:  “Beautiful example of courage, elite combatant having demonstrated a spirit of self-sacrifice, especially admired by all”.