The 32nd Annual NELA Gala
A Virtual Celebration of Heritage and Charity
From Caves to Castles
Exploring the South's Architectural Treasures
When Lemons Give You Life The Zest of Fabrizia Limoncello
Benvenuta in Famiglia! An Irish Fiancée Meets Her Italian Family
ITALIAN AMERICA
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Find recipes and more at www.colavitarecipes.com
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ITALIAN AMERICA
SUMMER 2021
VOL. XXVI No. 3
Italian America
®
T h e O ff i c i a l P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e O r d e r S o n s a n d D a u g h t e r s o f I t a l y i n A m e r i c a ®
FEATURES
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Exploring the South’s Architectural Treasures By Kristin D’Agostino
WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE The Zest of Fabrizia Limoncello By Miles Ryan Fisher
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FROM CAVES TO CASTLES
THE 32ND ANNUAL NELA GALA A Virtual Celebration of Italian Heritage and Charity By Miles Ryan Fisher
BENVENUTA IN FAMIGLIA!
An Irish Fiancée Meets Her Italian Family … at Sunday Dinner By Helen (Pepsin) Colella
ON THE COVER: The coastline of Sorrento off the Gulf of Naples, where lemons are abundant and commonly used in production of limoncello.
(IgorZh)
D E PA R T M E N T S 2 National News 3 Oggi 4 Regions 5 Mangia 6 Pagina Italiana
8 Our Story 14 Book Reviews 15 Bulletin Board 26 OSDIA Nation 31 From the President's Desk
32 Foundation Focus 33 Fighting Stereotypes 34 Letters to the Editor 35 The Last Word 36 Piacere
ITALIAN AMERICA is published by the ORDER SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ITALY IN AMERICA 219 E Street NE • Washington, DC 20002 • Phone: (202) 547-2900 • Web: www.osia.org Editor-in-Chief: Miles Ryan Fisher mfisher@osia.org Writers: Joe Giordano; Kristin D’Agostino; Helen (Pepsin) Colella Translator: Serena Lonigro Proofreader: Peggy Daino, Marlene Palazzo Graphic Designer: Diane Vincent To advertise: Contact ItalianAmerica@osia.org (202) 547-2900
Italian America Magazine is a publication of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), the nation’s biggest and oldest organization for people of Italian heritage. To subscribe, see www.osia.org or call (202) 547-2900. ITALIAN AMERICA
SUMMER 2021 1
ITALIAN AMERICAN ISSUES AND EVENTS
Major Italian-American Organizations File Civil Rights Lawsuit The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations—which includes the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America—Philadelphia Councilmember Mark F. Squilla, and The 1492 Society have jointly filed a civil rights lawsuit against Philadelphia Mayor James F. Kenney and the City of Philadelphia for the unilateral removal of Columbus Day as a holiday in Philadelphia.
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This lawsuit challenges Executive Order No. 2-21 that replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. Mayor Kenney issued the order unilaterally on January 27, 2021, denying public forum and without notifying other branches of the city government responsible for designating holidays. The order also undermines State Statute 44 P.S. Section 32 that declares Columbus Day an official state holiday. The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s Commission for Social Justice President Robert Ferrito, who has been instrumental in The Conference of Presidents, voiced strong support for the lawsuit. “Elected officials cannot do whatever they want,” he said. “They can’t attack our holiday and insult the ItalianAmerican community and think we’ll stand idly by without doing anything about it.” The lawsuit is not only a means to confront the ongoing discrimination against Italian Americans in Philadelphia, but also represents a united front among the entire Italian-American community. Along with the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, all other major Italian-American organizations are represented in The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations. “It’s through our division that cities and their officials have been successful in their attacks on our heritage,” Mr. Ferrito said. “But now, for the first time in history, we are united. And as one, we’ll defend our heritage and make sure it receives the recognition it deserves.”
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ITALIAN AMERICA
OGGI IN ITALIA
ITALY’S NEWS, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
New Italian Ambassador to U.S. Assumes Post For the first time in history, Italy has named a woman— Mariangela Zappia—as Italy’s Ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Zappia has worked in foreign service since 1983, holding key posts at various places, including Dakar, Senegal; Brussels, Belgium; and the United States, where she served as the Consulate General in New York from 1990 to 1993. She has served as the Head of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Balkans Department for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome; Ministry Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva; and the Head of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations. She also became the first woman to serve as Permanent Representative of Italy to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). For her service, Italy has awarded her several honors, including “Ufficiale dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana” and “Commendatore.” A graduate of the
University of Florence, studying political science and international relations before earning a post-graduate degree in diplomatic and international relations, Ambassador Zappia actively champions gender equality and women representation in all fields. Ambassador Zappia begins her assignment this July, assuming the post from Ambassador Armando Varricchio, who served as Italy’s Ambassador to the U.S. since 2016.
Off-Duty Officers Find Stolen 1st Century Roman Statue in Belgium Earlier this year, Italian police officers stationed in Brussels, Belgium, were visiting antique shops after work and happened upon a marble statue that caught their eye. The statue, which features a life-sized headless body wearing a toga, bore the usual signs of damage caused by excavation tools. The officers, who were on a separate assignment by The Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (Carabinieri TPC), then checked their photographs against a database of stolen artifacts once they returned to Italy. Their suspicions turned out to be justified when they confirmed that the statute—aptly named Togatus—had been stolen ITALIAN AMERICA
from the Villa Marini Dettina archaeological site outside of Rome in November 2011. The statue is valued at around $120,000. After the statue was repatriated to Italy, an investigation revealed that an Italian trader had been trafficking artifacts under a Spanish pseudonym. The culprit has been referred to Italian prosecutors.
(Italian Cultural Ministry)
The Carabinieri TPC is the branch of the Italian police responsible for handling art and antiquities crimes. Founded in 1969, it was the first special police force in this sector. It has four departments: archaeology, antique dealing, fakes, and contemporary art. In 2009, the Carabinieri TPC recovered about 60,000 stolen works worth about $200 million. SUMMER 2021 3
REGIONS OF ITALY
ITALY’S TWENTY REGIONAL CAPITALS
Catanzaro
The City of Three V's Catanzaro, the capital of the Calabria region, is located on the southern coast of Italy, overlooking the Ionian Sea and the Gulf of Squillace. It is less than 20 miles from the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west coast, thus giving Catanzaro the nickname “The City of Two Seas.” The city, which was founded in the 9th century by the Byzantine empire, sits on three hilltops that are separated by the Fiumarella Valley. In 1960, these hilltops were connected by the Fausto Bisantis Bridge, a concrete bridge that stands 1,536 feet long and 360 feet high, making it one of the highest bridges in Europe. The bridge incorporates an arch (Viaduct Morandi-Bisantis) that stretches 758 feet long, making the bridge the second largest concrete arch bridge in the world and the second largest arch in Europe. FUN FACT: Catanzaro did not become the capital of the Calabria region until 1970, when it took over the role from Reggio Calabria, which is the largest city in Calabria. Because of its high altitude, Catanzaro experiences windy (ventoso) conditions coming in from the Ionian Sea and La Sila Mountains. This contributes to one of the V’s that gives Catanzaro the nickname “The City of Three V’s.” Another V stands for its patron saint—Saint Vitalian—who lived in the 7th century. The remaining V stands for velvet, representing the significant role the city has played in the silk industry. During the Byzantine era, the city
Catanzaro Region Capital: began playing Calabria an important Province: role in proCatanzaro cessing silk Population: and became 91,028 known as the U.S. Sister Cities: lace capital None of the world. The city even supplied all of the laces and linens for the Vatican and is still famous for its silks, velvets, damasks, and brocades. The city’s silk industry was known by the symbol “VVV” in order to identify it both domestically and internationally. The main center of the city is Piazza Grimaldi. As with many Italian cities, the square boasts much activity and is surrounded by historic buildings with alleyways lined with small shops. One of the most notable sites in the region is the Basilica dell’Immacolata, a Baroque-style church. Also notable are the ruins of the Norman Castle as well as a 16th-century duomo that had been built on top of the Norman Cathedral. Both structures were destroyed by two earthquakes (in 1783 and 1832) and World War II bombing. Nevertheless, the sites remain attractions to this day. Of course, one of the greatest attractions are Catanzaro’s beaches along the southern coast. It is there that one can soak up a full day of sun before returning to the town square to enjoy the cool evening breeze.
The Fausto Bisantis Bridge. (mRGB) SUMMER 2021
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ITALIAN AMERICA
MANGIA!
Crostata di Frutta Fruit Tart with Pastry Cream
For the pastry cream: ¼ cup cornstarch ¾ cup granulated sugar 1 ¾ cup low fat 2% milk 2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten with ¼ cup low fat 2% milk 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Grated zest of a fresh lemon For the pastry dough: 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks) at room temperature 6 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, sifted Pinch of salt
• For the pastry dough, in a medium bowl, with a blender on low speed, cream the butter and confectioner’s sugar until smooth. Add the flour and salt and blend until the dough just comes together and resembles coarse crumbs that can be pinched together.
For mixed fruit: 1 pint strawberries, sliced half lengthwise 2 large kiwi ½ cup raspberries ¼ cup blueberries • To make the pastry cream, in a small bowl, gently whisk the cornstarch and sugar together and set aside. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 ¾ cup of milk over mediumhigh heat being careful to not overcook. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture and whisk over medium heat until it starts to thicken, about 2 minutes.
• Press the dough mixture evenly into the bottom and up the sides of the tart pan with your fingers or the bottom of the measuring cup. Put the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 22 minutes until lightly browned. • Remove the tart pan from the oven, place on a wire rack and allow thorough cooling. After the crust has cooled spread the pastry cream evenly onto the crust.
• Remove saucepan from heat and slowly stream the egg yolk and milk into the saucepan, and whisk well to combine. Return the saucepan to medium heat and continue to cook, about ½ minute until the cream fully thickens. • Allow filling to cool for a few minutes. Add vanilla extract and lemon zest, and mix well until blended. Pour filling into a medium bowl. Cover filling with plastic wrap, lightly pressing the plastic against the surface to prevent a skin from forming, and set aside.
ITALIAN AMERICA
If you like this recipe, check out Italian Cooking & Wine Pairing by John Oliano. All proceeds generated by the book go to the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America.
• Arrange the fruit on the tart in concentric overlapping rings starting on the outside edge of the tart. Cover the pastry cream with fruit, beginning with the strawberries, kiwi, and raspberries, ending with blueberries in the center of the tart. • To remove the ring from the tart pan, place the pan on the center of a small bowl and allow the fluted tart ring to drop away. Place the tart on a flat cake platter, cut desired pieces and serve.
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PAGINA ITALIANA
PER CHI STUDIA LA NOSTRA LINGUA
Che cos’è l’amore? TRANSLATED BY SERENA LONIGRO Valentina sorseggiava un Negroni in un bar di Firenze, i suoi occhi azzurri e i lunghi capelli biondi erano un sonetto, i suoi movimenti sembravano coreografati agli uomini che le si avvicinavano. Eppure tornò a casa da sola. Il giorno dopo, sospirava dinanzi allo specchio per il trucco. Gli uomini erano attratti da lei, ma era amore? Ne parlò con sua madre. “Valentina, hai chiesto come descriverei l’amore.” Sua madre sorrise. “L’amore è un tremore nel tuo cuore. Sei al tempo stesso completamente invincibile e disperatamente vulnerabile. La sua presenza ti dà un calore che scioglie e le farfalle nello stomaco. Quando se ne va, la tua mente porta con sé un’immagine indelebile e attendi senza fiato il suo ritorno.” Lo sguardo di Valentina vagò. “Non sono mai stata innamorata.” Sua madre le strinse la mano. “Dicono che il vero amore capiti solo una volta nella vita. Quando incontrerai l’uomo giusto, capirai esattamente di cosa sto parlando.” *** In una mite giornata di giugno, Valentina stava sbirciando la vetrina di un negozio di scarpe in Via de’ Tornabuoni. Un’ombra le sfiorò la spalla. “Devo comprare quei sandali per te?” Il giovane la fece trasalire. Aveva un sorriso sicuro di sè e indossava un blazer Brioni blu, colletto alzato, e jeans. “Sono Enzo.” “Valentina. Piacere di conoscerti.” “Dobbiamo acquistare le scarpe?” Valentina inclinò la testa. “Non sono sicura di comprare nulla oggi.” “Forse un po’ di vino ti metterà dell’umore giusto.” Le offrì il braccio e lei lo accettò. Nel bar, Valentina osservava Enzo davanti ad un bicchiere di Brunello. “Di cosa ti occupi?”
“Sono un consulente per l’Unione Europea. E tu?” “Sono Assistente Curatore agli Uffizi.” “Ah, Leonardo, Botticelli.” “Hai mai visto la Madonna del Cardellino di Raffaello? Ho lavorato al restauro.” Enzo si alzò. “Devo vederlo.” “Oggi?” “Come posso perdere l’occasione di avere una guida così adorabile?” Valentina sorrise timidamente mentre si alzava. *** Mentre lasciavano gli Uffizi, Enzo esaltò il dipinto. “Il tuo restauro è magnifico. Mi chiedo che tipo di pennello abbia usato Raffaello per ottenere quella luminosità.” “Avrebbe potuto usare anche una piuma d’oca,” disse Valentina. “Si chiama genio.” “Mi hai fatto cambiare idea. Raffaello è stato il più grande pittore italiano.” Fece una pausa. “Hai fame?” “Muoio di fame.” “Conosci Osteria dell’Enoteca?” chiese. “Non ho l’abbigliamento adatto.” “Illuminerai il posto.” *** “Il risotto al tartufo bianco era squisito,” disse Valentina. “E tu te ne intendi di vino.” Enzo ha detto: “Senza cibo e vino, l’amore si raffredda.” Valentina sorrise. Erano arrivati al suo appartamento. “Vuoi salire per un drink?” Dentro casa, lei era abbastanza vicina da sentire il suo respiro. Lui odorava di cuoio. Si baciarono, poi lei condusse Enzo nella sua camera da letto, accompagnandolo verso il letto finché non vi cadde sopra. *** Valentina rimase tra le braccia di Enzo fino a mezzanotte passata. Baci teneri e sorrisi scandivano il tempo. Enzo le sussurrò all’orecchio: “Ho il primo volo per Berlino e non ho fatto ancora le valigie.” Fece una smorfia. “Devo andare.” Valentina sorrise quando le baciò la guancia. “Ti chiamo domani,” disse. Lei sentì i suoi passi giù per le scale e la porta chiudersi quando lui lasciò l’appartamento. Girò il cuscino sul lato freddo. Valentina lasciò che le immagini della giornata le fluttuassero per la testa. Questa era stata un’esperienza di crescita, pensò. Nel crepuscolo, appena prima di dormire, fu sorpresa di quanto si sentisse indifferente per Enzo.
Serena Lonigro was born and raised in Napoli. She graduated from the University of Naples “L’Orientale” with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures and now works in marketing and news media. SUMMER 2021
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ITALIAN AMERICA
What is Love? BY JOE GIORDANO As Valentina nursed a Negroni at a Florence bar, her blue eyes and long blonde hair were a sonnet, and her movements seemed choreographed to the men who approached her. Yet, she went home alone. The next day, she sighed at her makeup mirror. Men were drawn to her, but was it love? She spoke with her mother. “Valentina, you asked how I’d describe love.” Her mother smiled. “Love is a tremor in your heart. You’re at once completely invincible and desperately vulnerable. His presence gives you a melting warmth and butterflies. When he’s gone, your mind carries an indelible image, and you feel a breathless anticipation for his return.” Valentina’s gaze drifted. “I’ve never been in love.” Her mother squeezed her hand. “They say true love only happens once in a lifetime. When you meet the right man, you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about.” *** On a mild June day, Valentina peered into a shoe store window on Via de’ Tornabuoni. A shadow touched her shoulder. “Shall I buy those sandals for you?” The young man startled her. He had a confident smile and wore a blue Brioni blazer, collar turned up, and jeans. “I’m Enzo.” “Valentina. Nice to meet you.” “Shall we purchase the shoes?” Valentina tilted her head. “I’m not sure I’m buying today.” “Perhaps some wine will put you in the mood.” He offered his arm, and she took it. In the café, Valentina gazed at Enzo over a glass of Brunello. “What do you do?” “I’m a consultant for the European Union. And you?” “I’m Assistant Curator at the Uffizi.” “Ah, Leonardo, Botticelli.” “Have you seen Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch? I worked on the restoration.” Enzo stood. “I must see it.” “Today?”
ITALIAN AMERICA
“How could I miss the chance for so lovely a guide?” Valentina smiled shyly as she rose. *** As they left the Uffizi, Enzo exalted the painting. “Your restoration is magnificent. I wonder what type of brush Rafael used to achieve the luminance.” “He could’ve used a goose feather,” Valentina said. “It’s called genius.” “You’ve changed my mind. Raphael was the greatest Italian painter.” He paused. “Are you hungry?” “Famished.” “Do you know Ostereria dell’Enoteca?” he asked. “I’m not dressed for it.” “You’ll light up the place.” *** “The risotto with white truffles was exquisite,” Valentina said. “And you know your wines.” Enzo said, “Without food and wine, love grows cold.” Valentina smiled. They’d arrived at her apartment. “Want to come up for a drink?” Inside, she was close enough to feel his breath. He smelled like saddle-leather. They kissed, then she led Enzo to her bedroom, backing him to the bed until he fell onto the spread. *** Valentina rested in Enzo’s arms until well past midnight. Tender kisses and little smiles passed the time. Enzo whispered in her ear, “I fly to Berlin early, and I’m not packed.” He grimaced. “I must go.” Valentina smiled when he kissed her cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said. She heard his footsteps down the stairs and the door close when he left the apartment. She turned her pillow to the cool side. Valentina allowed images of the day to float through her head. This had been a growing experience, she thought. In the twilight just before sleep, she was surprised how indifferent she felt about Enzo. Joe Giordano’s (jagintx@austin.rr.com) novels include Birds of Passage - An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story, Appointment with ISIL, Drone Strike, and a collection, Stories and Places I Remember. Visit his website http://joe-giordano.com/
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OUR STORY
ITALIAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Italians Lynched in Tallulah Are Honored with Historical Marker at Gravesite On a July night in Tallulah, Louisiana, Dr. J. Ford Hodge shot and killed a goat that had wandered into his garden. The following day—July 20, 1899—Pasquale Di Fatta approached Hodge about having killed his goat. Hodge knocked Pasquale to the ground and began striking him with the gun in his hand. He pointed the muzzle at Pasquale’s head and pulled the trigger. But the gun jammed. Meanwhile, Pasquale’s brother, Giuseppe, ran out of the family’s local grocery, shotgun in hand. He aimed and fired at Hodge. The birdshot pellets from the shotgun hit Hodge in the abdomen and thighs, causing only minor injuries. In spite of this, rumor quickly spread through town that Hodge had been murdered. A mob formed and hunted down the Di Fatta brothers. One bar owner even offered free drinks to anyone who took part in killing the brothers. The mob lynched both Pasquale and Giuseppe in a slaughter yard. Then the mob turned its attention to their younger brother Francesco, cousin Rosario Fiduccia, and brother-in-law Giovanni Cirami, putting their heads through nooses as well. According to one witness, Francesco said, “I live here six years. I know you all. You all my friends.” Then the rope was pulled. After all five men died, the mob then shot at their bodies until they were no longer recognizable. Meanwhile, part of the mob pursued three other family members living in the nearby town of Milliken’s Bend. However, the men were able to escape by boat across the Mississippi River to Vicksburg, Mississippi.
One hundred and twenty-two years later—on Friday, March 19, 2021—the State of Mississippi and City of Vicksburg recognized the five Italian men with a Mississippi State Historical Marker that was dedicated at their burial site. The historical marker was sponsored by three descendants of Giuseppe Di Fatta—Antoinette Fatta Helton, Deborah Helton Flores, and Linda Fatta Ott—to ensure that the men will never be forgotten. Father Rusty Vincent of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Vicksburg blessed the burial site.
Following the lynching, no arrests were made. The Italian Society of Vicksburg and the Italian Counsel Agent, Natale Piazza, believed that the victims should not be buried in the soil on which they were murdered. They instead arranged to have them interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg—a little more than 20 miles from Tallulah—on July 28, 1899. SUMMER 2021
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Linda Fatta Ott officiated the ceremony and remarked how her grandfather, Nicolo Di Fatta (Nick Fatta), anguished over the fact that his father, Giuseppe, never received a proper Catholic burial. Having passed away in 1967, Nick can now finally rest in peace as well. “Nick would be very proud of this ceremony and what the marker represents,” Linda said.
Pasquale Di Fatta
More than 60 people gathered at the gravesite to honor the five Italian men. This included their descendents, Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs, Jr., Tallulah Mayor Charles Finlayson, fellow Italian Americans, historians, ITALIAN AMERICA
OUR STORY
ITALIAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
and friends. Cynthia Savaglio, a University of Tampa Assistant professor who wrote a screenplay about the Tallulah lynching, presented on the events surrounding the murders. After the lynching, she stated, American newspapers and magazines reported incorrect information in an attempt to justify the actions of the lynchers.
Meanwhile, today’s public officials have done what they can to observe the wrongs of the past. Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi recently wrote a letter to Giuseppe Di Fatta’s family regarding the monument for Pasquale, Giuseppe, Francesco, Rosario, and Giovanni. In it, he stated, “This state historical marker will ensure that Mississippians will remember their names so that we will never repeat the tragedy of the past.”
All five of the Italian men had immigrated to Louisiana from Cefalù, Sicily, in hope of making a better life for their families. The Mayor of Cefalù, Rosario Their lynching triggered another Lapunzina, also wrote to the faminternational incident eight years ily. He stated: after to the tragic lynching of 11 Italian men that occurred in New “In today’s world, there are too Orleans in 1891. The fact that many signs that the terrible none of those who performed the history of the nineteenth and Brothers, Giuseppe (left) lynching was ever charged created twentieth centuries can be and Franceso Di Fatta. tension with Italy. While Presirepeated, and that racism, dent William McKinley vowed to prejudice, and human stupidity are now a daily occurrence. For this reason, each make the crime a priority and bring those responsible to of us has the duty to educate young people in the justice, that never transpired. In his December 1899 State values of solidarity, acceptance, and respect.” of the Union Address, he stated in part: (translated from Italian to English) For the fourth time in the present decade, question has arisen with the Government of Italy in regard to the lynching of Italian subjects. The latest of these The victims’ families believe this historical marker will deplorable events occurred at Tallulah, Louisiana, serve as an acknowledgment of the wrongs that occurred whereby five unfortunates of Italian origin were taken 122 years ago and a step forward to healing. from jail and hanged.
“Certainly the five Italians shall never be forgotten,” Linda Fatta Ott said.
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SUMMER 2021 9
BY KRISTIN D’AGOSTINO
At 26 years old, having finished a five-month stint working as a nanny in Salerno, I celebrated my newfound freedom by renting a Fiat with a friend and heading south. The rocky Amalfi Coast’s bustling port towns gave way to verdant hills dotted with olive trees and farmhouses. My companion, a cheerful New Zealander named Arianna, was also a nanny whom I’d met just a few weeks earlier when we were both flirting with the same Italian guy at the local tourism office. No romance came out of our efforts, but a muchneeded friendship formed. Finally, after a long summer of raucous family dinners where my Italian vocabulary ran out before the pasta was served, I had found an English-speaking friend to share the joys and challenges of navigating Italian culture. Our first stop was Alberobello, a UNESCO site known for its 14th century limestone houses—or trulli—whose conical rooftops resemble mushrooms. Thousands of trulli filled the narrow streets, forming a whitewashed wonderland, each one bearing its own rooftop symbol painted in white on the gray stones. Suns, hearts, and moons decorated the rooftops. What did they mean? During my brief visit, I never learned. Arianna and I rented a trullo for the night—the perfect cozy setting for sharing stories. Red wine flowed along with tales of failed romances and pointed remarks on Italian families. SUMMER 2021
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“Why do they call it a matrimonia bed anyway?” I asked, plopping down on one of the full-sized beds. “It’s not just for couples. In the house where I lived the entire family slept together every night. Two parents, one cat, and three kids!”
Ruggiero and Puglia-based tour guide Emanuela D’Andria.
THE CAVE CHURCHES OF MATERA
Late into the night our laughter filled the one-roomed chamber, echoing off the round stone ceiling. For the first time in five months, I felt warm, connected, and at home.
The south is unique, D’Andria says, because it forms a crossway between East and West. Many cultures have dominated this area through the centuries—Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Ottomans, Germans, and Spanish. All have left their mark on the south’s art, culture, and traditions.
Now, nearly two decades later and cooped up during the pandemic, my memories of this road trip spark wanderlust. What would a road trip through the south be like these days? What other architectural wonders lay waiting to be discovered? To shed light on my wonderings, I consulted Art and Architecture Professor Rocky
No visit to the Deep South would be complete without a visit to Matera, situated in the Basilicata region on the instep of the boot’s heel. Narrow streets climb up to this otherworldly city built on a hill, its houses formed within ancient caves. Matera’s resemblance to Jerusalem has earned it a place in many Biblical films
San Pietro Caveoso (left) and Santa Maria De Idris (top right) are some of the ancient cave churches that can be seen in Matera. (Massimo Todaro) ITALIAN AMERICA
(Sailko)
San Pietro Barisano, the largest of Matera’s ancient cave churches.
throughout the years. The city’s cave dwellings, or sassi, date back to the Paleolithic period more than 2.5 million years ago. Despite unseemly living conditions, up to 12 family members lived together in one room. The sassi were inhabited up until the 1950s, when the government stepped in and forced people to leave their homes and move into a newly constructed neighborhood. In later decades, the sassi received a facelift, and now most of its 3,000 caves serve as home for the city’s inhabitants while many others function as restaurants and hotels. Lovers of antiquity will no doubt enjoy simply wandering the city’s many serpentine alleys and climbing its winding staircases. But to get the full experience, one must duck inside one of many cave churches. With their shadowy stone chambers rich in frescoes, they are a mix of haunting and holy, beautiful and beatific. The largest of them, San Pietro Barisano, dates back to the 12th century and is particularly spooky as its altar was plundered in the 1970s and the surrounding statues were rendered headless. Visitors are greeted at the church entrance by frescoes of the Annunciation and the saints. Exploring the underground area where a ITALIAN AMERICA
labyrinth of stone niches forms an ancient catacomb, one can say they’ve truly experienced Matera—the Citta Sotterranea, or Underground City.
FREDERICK II’S CASTLE The Puglia region’s culture and architecture have been greatly shaped by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Though he had German and Norman blood, Frederick II lived in Bari for many years and considered Italy, particularly Puglia, his home. During his time as emperor, he transformed Puglia’s landscape by having numerous castles constructed throughout. By far, the most magnificent of these is Castel del Monte, located northwest of Bari.
and Classical with North-European Cistercian Gothic. The majestic building is a testimony to Frederick’s fascination with astronomy and science. Shaped like an octagonal prism, the castle is located in a carefully chosen manner to invite symmetries of light during the winter and summer solstice. Frederick’s love of numbers is also evident, as both of the castle’s floors contain eight rooms and an eight-sided courtyard forms the heart of the castle. No one knows exactly why Frederick constructed Castel del Monte. It has no moat, no arrow slits, and no drawbridge—it was not built to serve as a fortress. With its octagonal union of a square inside a circle, some speculate it was built to be a celebration of the interconnecting relationship between humanity and God.
Castel del Monte, Frederick II’s medieval fortress. (Stefano_Valeri)
Frederick II, besides being a skilled hunter and passionate traveler, was a LECCE AND THE FRESCOES OF great lover of art and science. “He was an enlightened man,” says Art and Architecture Professor Rocky Ruggiero. “The fact that he settled in Bari meant that artists and musicians came there. There was a 13th-century flowering in that area because of the presence of the imperial court.” Castel del Monte, which is pictured on Italy’s one-cent Euro coin, is unique because it combines diverse styles of architecture, mixing Islamic
BASILICA DI SANTA CATERINA D’ALESSANDRIA
Southern Italy may not contain Tuscany’s Renaissance treasures, but it boasts its own version of Florence and a cathedral that rivals Florence’s finest frescoed churches. The city of Lecce has been called “The Florence of the South” with its baroque old town adorned with noble palaces, charming squares, baroque churches, and Roman monuments. SUMMER 2021 11
(Alvaro German Vilela)
The frescoes inside the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria.
“The symbols can be very different,” D’Andria says. “A cross, a dove, a sun, moon, star, menorah, a letter, a tree, but they all have the same aim: to protect the trullo and its inhabitants.” The Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria. (Gherzak)
The Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Galatina, a town south of Lecce, has an array of vibrant 14th-century frescoes. The church was built by the Franciscans, whose patron was Frenchwoman Marie d’Enghien de Brienne. De Brienne was married to Raimondello Orsini del Balzo, a wealthy noble who traveled to Mount Sinai to visit the relics of Santa Caterina. After kissing the dead saint’s hand, he bit off a finger and brought it back to the basilica as a holy relic. Though the finger has since disappeared from the basilica, del Balzo remains—as it is where he’s buried. The cathedral exhibits a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, Norman, and Byzantine architecture. Its interior is entirely covered in frescoes painted by Neapolitan artists, which are said to rival Giotto’s frescoes in the Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi. One of the most unique frescoes depicts angel musicians holding an array of medieval instruments—the oldest recorded depiction of harps, double flutes, and lutes in Europe.
houses began as small agricultural constructions built by shepherds tending their flocks in the fields. Constructed by placing rock over rock, the improvised huts protected them from the blazing southern sun. “Later,” D’Andria continues, “the town’s peasants adopted the trullo’s construction when the King of Naples imposed a tax on new constructions.” “It was then necessary to build something temporary, easy to dismantle, that could not be considered a regular permanent home,” D’Andria points out. The townsfolk adapted the shepherds’ trullo to their needs, the weather and everyday life. Being superstitious, the homeowners added symbols on the conical rooftops to protect them from the evil eye and bad luck.
Architecture aside, the regions of Puglia and Basilicata offer many gastronomical treasures for foodies and wine lovers. Ruggiero, who lived in Tuscany for 20 years, said he prefers to buy his olive oil from Puglia. In Tuscany, olive trees are trimmed to a smaller size yielding a more refined taste, whereas in Puglia they’re allowed to grow wild resulting in a fruitier, spicier flavor. Dotting the southern landscape, the olive trees are architectural gems all their own. “Giant, gnarly, centuries old … they’re like works of art,” Ruggiero says. “The form they take is breathtaking.” Kristin D’Agostino is a journalist and poet based in Vermont. She writes stories about Italian culture and teaches Viva Italia! memoir-writing workshops that offer Italian Americans the chance to embrace their roots through writing. Connect with her at www.kristinmdagostino.com.
THE TRULLI OF ALBEROBELLO But what about Alberobello’s mystical dwellings and their strange symbols? According to Ruggiero, the SUMMER 2021
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The trulli of Alberobello. (Marcin Krzyzak) ITALIAN AMERICA
and enjoy the finest Italian olive oil from your own tree
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BOOK REVIEWS
SUMMER 2021
THREE DREAMERS
I’M STAYING HERE
“When success finally found its way to my door, she was the only one not surprised by its arrival.” With these eloquent words that author Lorenzo Carcaterra pens about his late wife, it is very easy for readers to see within the first handful of pages that Three Dreamers is a memoir in which they will become immersed.
Set in the South Tyrol, which was originally a part of Austria, Marco Balzano’s novel introduces readers to the lesser-known Trentino-South Tyrol region. The story takes place during the 1920s when Mussolini and his Blackshirts seize control of the area, turning it from a German-speaking land to an Italian-speaking land overnight.
Three Dreamers is Carcaterra’s homage to the three women who affected his life in indelible ways, leading him to become a bestselling novelist and live out his dream of earning a living as a writer, a feat that so few manage to achieve.
Much of the plot revolves around the unfortunate and powerless situations that common folks encountered both individually and collectively. One of the central themes, which recently appeared in news headlines around the world, focuses on the erection of a dam and subsequent submersion of the town, Curon.
By Lorenzo Carcaterra
The first woman, his grandmother Maria, will take you on a trip to the island of Ischia, twenty miles off the coast of Naples. The second woman, his mother Raffaela, will take you on a trip through suffering and heartbreak in the Hell’s Kitchen section of New York City. The third woman, his late wife Susan, will take you on a trip through a love story that shows the importance of having a counterpart who is your biggest champion. At times romantic, at other times severe and tragic, the journey that Carcaterra takes you on offers no exaggeration or sugarcoating. What Carcaterra has written contains uninhibited honesty and truth about the abuse he endured and how those three women helped him make it to the other side.
By Marco Balzano
“God made us with our eyes in front for a reason! That’s the direction we need to look in. Otherwise he’d have put them on the side, like fish!” Written in pleasant minimalistic prose, I’m Staying Here is narrated by an older woman, Trina, who recounts how her family’s simple farm life and little town were torn apart by these times and Mussolini’s colonization. She describes a refugee’s dilemma, as some remained in the town while others fled north to Germany at Hitler’s invitation to join the Third Reich, referred to as “The Great Option.”
And in that, you will find that only a resilient person could experience the success Carcaterra has had as a writer. One whose mother once told him, “The doors to a better life for people like us are always closed. We have to push against them again and again until they open.”
As Trina’s family carries on through a fractured existence, they must then face the uninterrupted transition from Fascism to Nazism once Mussolini is deposed. Initially, the Germans are viewed as liberators of South Tyrol. This perspective quickly shifts, and the townspeople are left to persevere a war that will leave them and their land ravaged and with a mixed identity.
DID YOU KNOW? Ischia’s biggest celebration of the year is the Feast of Saint Anne on July 26.
It’s with this mixture that South Tyrol exists to this day. What Balzano brings forth in this novel is an origin to and the development of this Italian region’s multiple identity, which has evolved to create something beautiful out of a time that was ugly.
Visit www.osia.org to find a selection of recent books written by OSDIA members! SUMMER 2021
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“Italian Roots; American Branches” Wins OSDIA Slogan Contest! In a recent special OSDIA Facebook Live episode, the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) revealed “Italian Roots; American Branches” as the winning slogan in a contest that saw more than 300 entries. Of those entries, sixteen were chosen to be represented in a bracket-style tournament. More than 3,000 votes were cast in the tournament as “Italian Roots; American Branches” emerged the victor to become OSDIA’s slogan. The slogan was submitted by Clara Martone of Annapolis, Maryland, who is a proud member of the Annapolis Lodge #2225. She works as an attorney, and her father was also a proud member of OSDIA. For winning the contest, Clara received a check for $200. The contest’s runner-up—“American Made from Italian Roots”—was submitted by Carmen Paternoster, a proud member of the Columbus Forum Lodge #1492 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a first-generation American and a school teacher who teaches English to immigrant children.
Join OSDIA on YouTube! Subscribe to “Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America” The “Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America” YouTube channel is growing like never before! Videos showcase various aspects of Italian culture as well as the good work of the Sons of Italy Foundation. From U.S. military veteran van recipients through Help Our Military Heroes, speeches at past National Education & Leadership Awards Gala from honorees like Dr. Anthony Fauci, past OSDIA Facebook Live Interviews, cooking demonstrations, and more, there is a reason for anyone with (and without!) Italian heritage to follow OSDIA’s YouTube channel. In order to follow it, simply go on www.youtube.com and search “Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America.” The channel will be listed at the top, and all you have to do is click on the “Subscribe” button on the right side.
T-shirts and polo shirts bearing OSDIA’s new slogan have been specially designed by award-winning graphic artist Anthony Massa. The shirts are available online in black, white, and royal blue with a choice of two designs. Visit www.osia.org or https://the-tsm-shop.printavo. com/merch/osd/ to get yours today!
Have You Checked Out Your OSDIA Member Benefits? The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America offers its members a range of special discounts on Italian products, genealogy research, travel, healthcare, specialty items, and other services. To view your Member Benefits, log on to www.osia.org and click on “Member Benefits” listed on the left. If you are a Lodge Member and do not have a Username/Password, please contact your Grand Lodge or Subordinate Lodge about setting one up. If you are an At-Large Member and do not have a Username/Password, please contact NationalOffice@osia.org about setting one up.
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BY MILES RYAN FISHER
On a Friday night, 23-year-old Phil Mastroianni arrived home from his accounting job to find his Uncle Joe sitting at the kitchen table. Phil took out a bottle of his newly homemade limoncello and poured his uncle a glass. His uncle took a sip, then looked up. “This is the best limoncello I’ve ever had,” he said, straight-faced. “This is what you should be doing.” Initially, Phil didn’t know what to make of his uncle’s reaction. Producing limoncello was what he should be doing … for a living? “Oh come on,” Phil said, responding as if Uncle Joe was putting him on. “No, I’m serious,” Uncle Joe said. This ignited a spark in Phil. After all, his uncles were part of the reason he’d started to make limoncello to begin with. In the past, he’d attempted to impress them with homemade wine, but whenever he tried sharing a bottle with them, they’d simply slide it aside and pour another glass of SUMMER 2021
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their own homemade wine, certain that it was superior. None of his uncles, however, had ventured to make limoncello. This, Phil decided, was a way he could best them.
Instead, he was left lying in bed that night, replaying Uncle Joe’s reaction in his mind. “I couldn’t sleep,” Phil said. “I just kept thinking about all the reasons he was right.” Of course, the journey didn’t originate simply with a bottle of homemade limoncello and a desire to one-up his uncles. Rather, it began in 2003 when Phil was a 20-year-old college kid taking his first trip to Platania, a small hilltop town in Calabria where his grandparents were born. It was the place where his grandmother, Laura, had emigrated from as a young girl and where his grandfather, Philip, had emigrated from as a young man—with the help of Laura’s father, who turned out to be his future father-inlaw. That’s how his grandparents ended up living on the same street—High Street—in Newton, Massachusetts. Philip worked as a landscaper for his future father-in-law and also pulled night shifts at a General Motors car factory. It was in Calabria in 2003 that Phil explored the town ITALIAN AMERICA
of his roots and began to understand where so many of his family traditions originated. “All of my extended family observed the same traditions, especially related to food, that we did in Newton, Massachusetts,” he said. “And all of a sudden it connected a dot—this is why we do these things. We learned them right here. From that moment on, I decided not to sit on the sidelines.” With that spirit, Phil left Italy determined to learn more about his family’s roots and further immerse himself in Italian culture. It was this that led him on several return trips to Italy, back to the small hilltop town in Calabria. And it was on one of these trips that his Cousin Angelina took out a bottle of limoncello made with lemons that grew on her own property. While Phil didn’t return to the United States with a limoncello recipe in hand, what he did bring back was a desire to create his own. After his first attempt—and after his uncle’s reaction to it—he began experimenting even more, creating his own style with one objective in mind: to bring his homemade limoncello to the world. With that, he settled on the name Fabrizia, the name of a Calabrian town an hour away from Platania. The beginnings of Fabrizia were so humble they started in a garage— Phil’s parents’ garage, to be exact. Inside that garage, friends and family members came together to peel thouITALIAN AMERICA
Nick (left) and Phil Mastroianni in their Fabrizia factory in Newton, Massachusetts.
sands of lemons. Meanwhile, Phil’s brother, Nick, who is four years his junior, joined the cause even though he was busy attending the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Together, they searched for and rented out space where they could make the limoncello and also obtained all the licenses they needed for commercial production.
As the years went by, they began to sell the batches in shorter amounts of time. They got it down to two months. Then one month.
That’s when Phil decided to take the leap from a world of safety nets to a world of no guarantees. He left his stable job as a certified public accountant to pursue what had developed Then they made their very first into his passion. And, like his grandfalarge-scale batch: 175 gallons of li- ther, he worked as a landscaper to earn moncello. what he could part time while comThe batch took four months to sell, mitting himself to Fabrizia full time. The start was a struggle. Though as Phil continued working his accounting job by day and Nick continued Phil felt confident that he had a firststudying at the university three hours rate product, he also found that stores away. Phil made the product at night, were not particularly interested in and Nick drove home on weekends limoncello, even if it was offered at a with some friends who helped him competitive price. bottle it, labeling every bottle one at “Limoncello, while loved by many, a time. is not necessarily keeping the lights “It was my dream,” Phil said, “and on at your local liquor store,” he then somewhere along the way, Nick remarked. made it his. Now, it’s our dream.” Still, he managed to get his bottles into New Hampshire’s state-run SUMMER 2021 17
“Italian Margarita,” a mixture of lemons, limoncello, and tequila. It was a drink that Phil and Nick’s younger sister, Jenna, had concocted for them to enjoy in the backyard. In addition to this, they developed a variety of other canned beverages that utilized the leftover lemons.
The Mastroianni Family gathers for the very first official Fabrizia Limoncello taste testing.
stores, which had the requirement that new products needed to sell 3,000 bottles in their first six months in order to remain on the shelves. Then came a break of fortune in the form of a feature story. It ran on the cover page of New Hampshire’s Eagle Tribune. The story featured a front-page picture of Phil’s ten-year-old cousin Vinny peeling lemons in his parents’ garage. From there, sales in New Hampshire took off, and Fabrizia was on the shelf to stay.
gion in Italy. They grow out of Mount Etna’s rich volcanic soil on the east coast of the island. Every winter, Fabrizia imports approximately 200,000 lemons to satisfy its total limoncello production. With that amount of leftover lemons, they began making their own
Like the lemons that grew from the soil of Sicily, Fabrizia was flourishing. They were able to purchase the property they’d rented at the very beginning. They even managed to expand by purchasing the neighbor’s unit as well. Then the pandemic struck. Just after they had imported $80,000 worth of lemons in preparation for the spring and their 2020 campaign, the pandemic set upon them, and
From there, the company began to diversify its product, concocting other forms of limoncello, beginning with blood orange limoncello. Then there was the question of what to do with all the leftover lemons that had been stripped of their zest by the lemonpeeling machine that Phil and Nick had lovingly dubbed “Giuseppe,” after their Uncle Joe. The lemons themselves hail from Sicily, the top lemon-producing reSUMMER 2021
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Peeling lemons in the Mastroianni family garage. ITALIAN AMERICA
Fabrizia Limoncello Cocktail Recipes with that, came canceled orders, including one for March from a big distributor. Initially, Phil resigned himself and Fabrizia to a grave fate. After several sleepless nights, struggling in a “sink or swim” situation, Phil and Fabrizia were tossed a life preserver in the form of hand sanitizer. With a sudden need for sanitizer, the FDA was allowing distilleries to produce it. So Fabrizia pivoted and immediately began producing lemon-scented hand sanitizer in order to survive. And since they were offered this opportunity to survive, Fabrizia felt the obligation to give back. They did so by donating over 20,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to first responders. With this altered approach, Fabrizia continued to diversify, opening a limoncello bakery to produce cookies and pies and, most importantly, keep their workers employed. It’s in this new outlook, one that embodies the spirit of rebuilding to survive, that Fabrizia perceives its motto: Living Life Zesty. Meanwhile, Fabrizia continues to produce its limoncello, something that has served as a tonic to a lot of people during the pandemic. And it’s through this passion—a passion for the zest of lemons— that they embody the spirit of what it means to be Italian. A spirit of survival. Miles Ryan Fisher (mfisher@osia. org) is the Editor-in-Chief of Italian America magazine. ITALIAN AMERICA
Fizzy Field of Lemons 2 oz Vodka 1 oz Fabrizia Limoncello 3 Basil Leaves Club Soda Add all ingredients except soda into a shaker. Add ice and shake until chilled. Double strain into a glass over crushed ice. Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wheel and fresh basil. (Recipe and photo courtesy of Kevin Chen @Chenaholic on Instagram)
The Limosa Frozen Blackberries 2 oz Fabrizia Limoncello Prosecco Layer a handful of frozen blackberries in a glass. Add limoncello and top with Prosecco. (Recipe and photo courtesy of @captain_cocktails on Instagram)
Limoncello Smash 1 oz Fabrizia Limoncello 1 oz Bourbon or Rye 0.5 oz Lemon Juice 0.5 oz Simple Syrup 3 Lemon Wedges Sprig of Mint Gently muddle mint and lemon wedges, being careful to muddle lemon flesh instead of rind. Shake vigorously with ice. Strain over fresh ice in glass. Garnish with copious lemon slices and mint. (Recipe and photo courtesy of @potions.and.spirits on Instagram)
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ANNUAL NELA GALA
FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2 021
A Virtual Celebration of Italian Heritage and Charity BY MILES RYAN FISHER
For the first time in history, the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) hosted its 32nd Annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala virtually on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend.
military and its ongoing support of Help Our Military Heroes. The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s (OSDIA) Chief Operating Officer Joseph J. DiTrapani opened the night.
On this evening, the SIF presented awards to highly accomplished honorees, awarded scholarships to ten extraordinary students, and recognized veterans of the
“Since 1989, the Sons of Italy Foundation—the philanthropic branch of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America—has held this event to recognize the bright students awarded scholarships, to pay tribute to (those) serving in the armed forces, and to honor the accomplishments of outstanding Italian Americans,” he said. “This is the first ever virtual NELA Gala, and we would like to thank everyone who made this evening possible.” Following Mr. DiTrapani was OSDIA National President Nancy DiFiore Quinn, who spoke on the difficulties that the Order rose above in the past year. “Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, our world has faced a great deal of challenges,” she said. “But as Italian Americans, we are resilient, finding strength in each other and our community. Throughout my administration as National President, I have seen firsthand how well our organization has overcome these obstacles and how well we’ve adapted to these changes.” She then remarked on the importance of the NELA Gala and all of those who supported it. “Your generosity is a powerful reminder of the impact we can make as Italian Americans.”
OSDIA National Past President Paul S. Polo with his son, OSDIA National Third Vice President Michael G. Polo, proudly display the Polo Family’s 2021 SIF National Education & Leadership Award. SUMMER 2021
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The Embassy of Italy First Counsellor Domenico Bellantone then made an appearance to recognize the Order and its Foundation’s efforts as well as the close relationship the Order has with the Italian Embassy. “My sincere grazie goes to your wonderful organization for the pivotal role you play in promoting Italian culture in the United States,” he said. “Among your achievements, allow me to recall the $200,000 donation to the Bocelli Foundation for the building of a school in Muccia.”
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, Following Mr. Bellantone’s address, soprano Maria Fassio Pignati performed beautiful renditions of “Fratelli d’Italia” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” OSDIA National Chaplain Rev. R. Adam Forno then offered the Invocation. “One hundred and sixteen years ago, it was you Lord, who inspired Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro to give new Americans of Italian descent a vision that would unify hearts and minds in bonds of fraternal charity and service that evolved in preserving our cultural heritage and eliminate ethnic prejudice through the work of our Order.” For the 18th straight year, actor Joe Mantegna emceed the gala.
THE HONOREES The Polo Family received the 2021 SIF National Education & Leadership Award (NELA) for their longtime support of Italian-American causes and commitment to the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America. Beginning with the marriage of Sebastian “Subby” Marco Polo and Mary DeAngelis in 1940, the family joined the OSDIA Hartford Lodge #333 in Connecticut. Subby served in several leadership positions, as did his sons, Paul S. Polo and Michael S. Polo. From 1995 to 1997, Paul Polo served as OSDIA’s National President and subsequently served as Sons of Italy Foundation President for eight years. Today, his son, Michael G. Polo, serves as OSDIA National Third Vice President. Mr. Paul Polo offered some wisdom about what led him to become successful in the aerospace manufacturing business. “I (was) working third shift at Pratt Whitney aircraft with three children. I was living, hopefully, weekto-week. So I took a part-time job at a small manufacturing company in Manchester, Connecticut, and thirteen years later, I owned the company. And some people have asked me, ‘How did you do that?’ Well, I try to treat people the way I want people to treat me. It doesn’t always work, but I try. And always be truthful in everything you do.” Following Mr. Polo, his sons, Michael G. and Daniel, spoke about the business and the Polo family. Yolanda Cellucci received the 2021 SIF Award for Excellence in Business for her success in the fashion industry. Known as “Fashion’s First Lady,” Yolanda opened her first store in Belmont, Massachusetts, in 1968. She then built a multimillion-dollar empire that included a bridal boutique, full-service beauty salon, and a health spa, during a fashion career that spanned over 50 years. Yolanda was highly regarded for producing fantastic over-the-top ITALIAN AMERICA
The 2021 SIF Award for Excellence in Business honoree, Yolanda Cellucci.
fashion shows, which made her a favorite guest on local and national television shows. She currently hosts her own show, Yolanda Style & Glamor, on WCAC-TV. In accepting the award, Ms. Cellucci spoke about her upbringing and how it taught her what is important in life. “I was fortunate to grow up in an Italian home full of love, food, and respect. A home where family and friends could always feel welcome to drop in,” she said. “We were taught early on that you could be anything you wanted to be through hard work and dedication, but to always show respect and kindness. My mom and dad showered us all with love and lessons learned.” She then imparted some words for everyone to live by. “I tell everyone that there are three stages in life,” she said. “There’s learning. There’s earning. And then returning.” The 2021 SIF Humanitarian Award was presented to Bob and Lisa Tramontano for their lifelong dedication to charitable and civic organizations. With a belief in “Faith, Family, and Food,” the Tramontanos returned the blessings that life and Bob’s 37-year career at NCR gave them by helping the church and by helping women in difficult situations take control of their lives while creating a home SUMMER 2021 21
, inventor, and entrepreneur, having earned three engineering degrees. He developed the Meleform process, a revolutionary concept in the forging industry which can be applied to many industries including aviation, automotive, shipbuilding, and civil structures. He also worked on a system using Isogrid Panels to capture the wind more efficiently than conventional Fiberglass Turbines for creating electrical power. For this and the Maleform process, he holds patents. Mr. Mele spoke about his involvement with ItalianAmerican organizations and how proud his father would be about his receiving this award. “I wish my father was here. He would’ve loved to have his first born in this country be honored like I am today. He loved this country very much, as I do,” he said. “I would like to thank those Americans of Italian descent who continue to love this country like they loved their country in Italy.”
THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS The 2021 SIF Humanitarian Award honorees, Bob and Lisa Tramontano.
Fifteen very promising students received SIF scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 and totaling more than $100,000. As with all past NELA Galas, a main focus
for their children. Over the last ten years, they have focused their efforts on Seton Home—a residential community that helps young girls, ages 12-18, that are pregnant due to abuse and neglect—and Guadalupe Home—a transitional shelter for adult women who are living on the streets, are pregnant or parenting, and need shelter. In accepting the award, Bob and Lisa Tramontano spoke about their dedication to charity, and Bob shared a particularly memorable anecdote about his family. “I dated Lisa for five years before we got married, and I remember going to my grandmother, who was a wonderful Italian cook, and I said, ‘Grandma, teach Lisa how to make sauce.’ Because my mom used to have us grind tomatoes and … make braciole and meatballs on Sundays, and I wanted to be able to keep that tradition alive. And my grandma said, ‘Yes, I’ll teach Lisa how to make sauce.’ I said, ‘Well great, Lisa’s available next weekend.’ She said, ‘No, I can’t.’ And I said, ‘Why?’ And she said, ‘Because you’re not getting married for two weeks, and she could leave you at the altar and have my recipe. I’m only teaching her after you two are married.’” Joseph Mele received the 2021 SIF Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments as a designer, SUMMER 2021
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The 2021 SIF Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Joseph Mele. ITALIAN AMERICA
, showcase event. It happens once a year. And we look forward not only to tonight, which is virtual, but next year when we can meet you in person.”
THE VETERANS General Peter W. Chiarelli (United States Army, Ret.)—the NELA Gala’s second Honorary Chairman—led the military portion of the evening following tenor Michael Amante’s annual performance of the Armed Forces Medley. He did so in part by acknowledging the Foundation’s past and present contributions to patriotic causes.
USArmy Col Philip Lee Swinford (ret.), the Sons of Italy Foundation’s 2020 van recipient through Help Our Military Heroes, talks about his injury and how the van has affected his quality of life. Visit www.osia.org to view the video.
of the program involved the awarding of scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students of Italian descent for their exemplary combination of academic performance, school leadership, and community service. Since 1989, several millions of dollars in scholarships have been awarded at the 32 NELA Galas. SIF President Joseph Sciame pointed to the Foundation’s annual presentation of scholarships. “We want to acknowledge the outstanding scholarship students, young people who are entering every field of endeavor,” he said. “This is our
“The Sons of Italy Foundation helped fund the creation of the World War II Memorial and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial,” he said. “In recent years the Sons of Italy Foundation has given tens of thousands of dollars to various groups that support veterans’ causes, including the Wounded Warrior Project, the Gary Sinise Foundation, Luke’s Wings, and Help Our Military Heroes, among others.” General Chiarelli then introduced an incredibly moving video featuring last year’s van recipient, USArmy Col Philip Lee Swinford (ret.), that was made possible through the SIF’s donation to Help Our Military Heroes (HOMH). Col Swinford is an Incomplete Quadriplegic suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to IEDs on multiple deployments. The video showed the impact that the van has had on Col Swinford’s life and can be viewed on the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s website: www.osia.org. View the entire 32nd Annual NELA Gala online at www.osia.org
, Congratulations to the 2021 Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) National Leadership Grant Recipients The Charles Evans Scholarship ALESSIA WELCH
Hometown: Dallas, TX School: University of California San Diego – La Jolla, California Alessia is an incoming freshman who will study Computer Science with a focus on Artificial Intelligence. While in high school, she competed in figure skating for the Dallas Figure Skating Club, worked as a ball kid for the Dallas Mavericks, and volunteered at the Dallas Zoo. She earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT and had an unweighted 4.0 at Ursuline Academy of Dallas.
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Columbus Citizens Foundation Scholarship ALEXANDER DENNIS
Hometown: Franklin, MI School: University of Michigan Medical School – Ann Arbor, MI Alex graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Italian in 2017. Following graduation, he received a Fulbright Student Award to teach in Italy and spent a year living in Campobasso (Molise region), where he taught classes focused on economics, marketing, and international relations. He spent the summer of 2020 translating his grandfather’s memoirs from the Barese dialect into English. Alex is now enrolled in the University of Michigan Medical School. SUMMER 2021 23
, The Anthony J. & Eldora B. Perfilio Scholarship for Italian Language AMANDA COCCIA
Hometown: Medford, NY School: Middlebury College – Middlebury, VT
Amanda is a rising junior at Middlebury College double-majoring in Italian and French. She is also taking Sicilian language courses with the Italian Charities of America and will begin research this summer for her thesis on the Creole Italian (mixed language) that was birthed out of Italian migration to the United States. After she earns her degree, she plans on becoming a language teacher.
The Henry F. Salvatori Memorial Scholarship ANTHONY ZITO
Hometown: San Jose, CA School: California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, CA Anthony is an incoming freshman at California Polytechnic State University, where he will major in Business Administration. In high school, he served as Vice President of the FIRST Robotics Team 1351 and was also a staff writer for his school newspaper, The Monarch. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation.
The Lucia & Antonio De Vico Family Scholarship BENNETT DIDENTE COMERFORD
Hometown: Bend, OR School: Harvard University/Harvard Divinity School – Cambridge, MA Bennett received his Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies and Master of Theological Studies from Boston College. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the Committee on the Study of Religion at Harvard University, where he specializes in comparative religious studies and South Asian religions. As an undergrad, he received the Italian Book Award from the Boston College Romance Languages and Literatures Department.
The Franzone Family Scholarship CATHERINE CAVANAUGH
Hometown: Lansdale, PA School: University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA
Catherine is an incoming freshman at the University of Pittsburgh Honors College, where she will study Neuroscience. She is a 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholar and founded the Spanish Translation
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Project, an initiative to translate the Pennsylvania common core biology, chemistry, and health curricula into Spanish. She is also gifted cellist who has performed at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in the Nashville Fields of Gold Honors Orchestra.
The DeSantis/Giuffrida Scholarship COLE MCCUBBINS
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT School: University of Cambridge – Cambridge, United Kingdom Cole is an incoming Master’s student studying economics at the University of Cambridge. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Utah and is the first in his family to acquire Italian citizenship by jure sanguinis. While an undergrad, he was recognized for his novel economic research on food insecurity and disruptive technologies.
The Lido Club of Washington, DC Scholarship ESTER LUNA
Hometown: Washington, DC School: Yale University – New Haven, CT
Ester is an incoming freshman at Yale University, where she will study Comparative Literature and Linguistics as a double-major. She speaks three native languages (Italian, English, and French) and is fluent in Chinese and Spanish. She also works as a freelance translator from/into Italian, French, and English for the nonprofits conSLAncio and American Friends of Chartres. This summer, she will be an Italian camp counselor at Concordia College’s ‘Language Villages.’
The Franzone Family Scholarship FELICIA RAGUCCI
Hometown: Tewksbury, MA School: Dartmouth College – Hanover, NH
Felicia is a rising junior at Dartmouth College, where she studies English and Biology and is completing pre-medical courses. Last year, from January to March 2020, she interned at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Headquarters, exploring science
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, communications and helping the Quarantine Branch respond to the rapidly emerging COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, she interned at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters and completed a space history research project for an upcoming e-book.
The Joseph Sciame Scholarship FRANCESCA MARINI
Hometown: Sagamore Beach, MA School: University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, PA
Moves in the Field.
Francesca graduated from the University of Pennsylvania last spring and is currently enrolled at the UPenn School of Engineering & Applied Science, where she will graduate in 2022 with a Master of Science in Engineering in Computer & Information Science. She has worked in Natural Language Processing research (a branch of machine learning) and co-authored two research publications. She is also a United States Figure Skating Gold Medalist in
The Pietro Secchia Memorial Scholarship GABRIELLA WHITED
Hometown: San Francisco, CA School: John Cabot University – Rome, Italy
Gabriella is currently studying at Santa Monica College and has been accepted to John Cabot University in Rome next year. At 16, she wrote and published her first song, “I keep on falling,” and at 17, she started an online e-commerce store called Diavoline. In 2020, she was invited to speak at the “Stronger Than You Think” program to address mental wellness for teens.
The Cappellotti Family Scholarship JULIANNA BIBBO
Hometown: Pasadena, MD College: Villanova University – Villanova, PA
Julianna is an incoming freshman at Villanova University. In high school, she was the only student to receive all three honors awarded for service/scholarship, outstanding school spirit, and personal character. She founded the organization “Cards2Care4Teens,” which designs and distributes support cards for teens facing health and/or economic hardships. She also received both the United States President’s Gold Level Volunteer Service Award and the Maryland Governor’s Volunteer Service Commendation.
The American University of Rome/Sons of Italy Foundation Scholarship SAMANTHA PIROZZOLO
Hometown: Staten Island, NY School: The American University of Rome – Rome, Italy
Samantha is a rising senior at the American University of Rome, where she is majoring in Business Administration with a minor in International Relations. She has worked in four foreign countries, including Zimbabwe as a stable manager, China as an au pair, South Korea as a farm hand, and Italy as a resident advisor for the university. While in Zimbabwe, she also learned how to ride horses in the African bush.
The Peter & Jeri DeJana Foundation Law Scholarship SERGIO VALENTE
Hometown: Palo Alto, CA School: Stanford Law School – Stanford, CA
The Angelo Tomasso Sr. Scholarship JOHN VANETTI
Hometown: Louisville, KY School: Purdue University – West LaFayette, IN
John is an incoming freshman at Purdue University and will be majoring in Aerospace Engineering. While in high school, he graduated from the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program and worked as a Seeds of Change biological researcher in Costa Rica. He hopes to use his degree to contribute to space exploration and expand the horizons of humanity.
Sergio will be a second-year student at Stanford Law School this fall. He graduated from American University with degrees in international relations and economics. At 14, Sergio studied abroad in Rome, Italy, and took all his classes in Italian despite not speaking the language at the time. At Stanford, he serves as a leader of the Clean Slate Pro Bono Project, which helps former convicts expunge their criminal records and reintegrate into society.
To contribute to the SIF Scholarship Fund, visit www.osia.org/sif ITALIAN AMERICA
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OSDIA NATION
OSDIA LODGES AT WORK
MASSACHUSETTS The Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Lodge #2183’s Easter Bunny tooled around Wilmington in style last April, riding around in a shiny white Camaro Convertible and surprising both children and adults with visits. The bunny was played by lodge member Alicia Johnson and chauffeured through town by fellow lodge member Michele Caira Nortonen.
their cameras ready as children ran up to hug the bunny and receive a sweet, chocolaty treat courtesy of the Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Lodge.
From there, the bunny visited some town residents who were feeling under the weather and then returned to Yentile Recreation Center for another impromptu visit to its park, where the They paid visits to Windsor Place, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Lodge once Advinia Care, and the Yentile Recre- built a beautiful pavilion for which the ation Center, where delighted children lodge raised $100,000. hopped off the playground apparatus and sprinted to the Easter Bunny. Parents took out their cameras and got busy snapping some candid shots. After a brief carrot break, the Easter Bunny was driven to the Town Common, where children were getting ready to hunt for Easter eggs hidden by members of the Junior WOW (We’re One Wilmington), a service organization comprised of high school volunteers. An abundance of squeals permeated the park as the bunny made her way onto the Common. Once again, parents had
(L.) Twins Celine and Vivienne Nadeau visit with the Easter bunny before the Easter egg hunt. (R.) The Easter bunny with its chauffer, Michele Caira Norton.
WEST VIRGINIA Last March, La Vittoria Lodge #914 of Morgantown held their 2nd Annual St. Joseph’s Day Celebration, which featured the blessing of their new St. Joseph statue donated by lodge member James Laurita, Sr. Following the blessing, Monsignor Anthony Cincinnati spoke about Joseph’s life to more than 40 members who were in attendance. In honor of St. Joseph, the lodge held a food drive for St. Ursula Food Pantry. Members also indulged in three types of homemade zeppoles as well as pizzelles, Italian roast beef sliders, fresh fruit, imported cheeses, pizza, and a large selection of wines. The lodge hopes to continue to build on its St. Joseph’s Day Celebration to include a procession carrying the statue into the church, having the Knights of Columbus members marching alongside, and inviting the public to attend.
FLORIDA Last May, the Cuore d’Italia Lodge #2703 of Jupiter celebrated its 25th Anniversary. The lodge very proudly sponsors many deser ving causes, which includes awarding two $1,000 scholarships every year to high school graduates in the community as well as supporting organizations like Wounded Warrior Project (through their local Veterans Administration), American Cancer Society, and OSDIA’s three national charities: Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, and the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. The lodge celebrated its 25 years of SUMMER 2021
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The Officers and Trustees of the Cuore d’Italia Lodge #2703 at their 25th Anniversary celebration. devotion and support to all these community needs with a fantastic event at a local Country Club. There, the lodge recognized the efforts of Lodge President Carole DeVito as well as its Officers, Trustees, and members.
La Vittoria Lodge #914 members celebrate their 2nd Annual St. Joseph’s Day Celebration.
Have you or your lodge done something remarkable that makes a difference to your community or promotes our heritage and Italian studies? If so, send details including your lodge’s name/ number, a brief write-up, and digital photos of 300 dpi to Editor Miles Fisher at mfisher@osia.org ITALIAN AMERICA
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
RHODE ISLAND On March 30, OSDIA’s oldest member, Emma Pezza, celebrated her 110th birthday. She received many proclamations and well wishes from around the state, including a bouquet of roses from the Salvatore Mancini Lodge #2440 and a plaque from the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. She was also presented with the key to her hometown of Johnston by Mayor Joseph Polisena. On behalf of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America and its National President Nancy DiFiore Quinn, Grand Lodge of Rhode Island President John Bonaventura presented her with a Certificate of
Recognition from OSDIA’s Supreme Council. A drive-by parade preceded the presentations and a light meal followed the festivities. Sadly, Emma passed away on May 10, 2021.
Emma holds the Certificate of Recognition given to her by the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s Supreme Council. Beside her stand Salvatore Mancini Lodge President Rosemarie Capalbo and Grand Lodge of Rhode Island President John Bonaventura.
“Rhode Island lost a treasure,” said State President John Bonaventura. “This beautiful, kind, generous and deeply religious lady was the oldest member of the Sons and Daughters of Italy in the entire United States. Rose Marie Capalbo, President of the Salvatore Mancini Lodge, often asked Emma what the secret of her longevity was and she always responded with the same answer: ‘God.’”
WASHINGTON The Cle Elum Lodge #1968, with the support of the Grand Lodge of the Northwest, sponsored and installed a memorial dedicated to Italian immigration to the Pacific Northwest. The memorial is set in the historic Roslyn Cemetery, which has 23 ethnic cemeteries within it. Three of these are Italian cemeteries, which were named after Italian lodges and were formed to help pay funeral expenses. The memorial is set in the Silvio Pellico Cemetery. The other two cemeteries are named the Druids and Caccitore d’Africa.
(L. to R.) Lou Depicolzuane, Kathi Butorac, and Mike Butorac at the back of the memorial. ITALIAN AMERICA
When the idea for the memorial was first presented, the lodge began work on a design that would honor the immigrants, fit within the historical aspect of the cemetery, and demonstrate pride in Italian heritage. The obelisk was suggested by Lou Depicolzuane, and Kathi Butorac created the design. The inscription is in English on the left panel and in Italian on the right panel. On the back appears some mushrooms—hunting them being a traditional Italian pastime—and the word “Salute”—a greeting for health and well-being. Funding for the project came from many sources. The Cle Elum Lodge hosted community dinners and worked at a rest stop. The Grand Lodge of the Northwest and many local lodges provided financial resources. Within the community, many individuals who live or grew up in the area donated to the cause. Suncadia, a resort community,
and the Roslyn Downtown Association gave generous donations. Local businesses donated materials. The memorial committee consisted of Mike Butorac, Rich Grillo, Cheryl Ficele, Rachele Rogalski, Joye Fredrick, and Lou Depicolzuane. The Cle Elum/ Roslyn area is located on the east slopes of the beautiful Cascade Mountains in Washington State. The memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day.
The front of the memorial, inscribed in both English and Italian. SUMMER 2021 27
An Irish Fiancée Meets Her New Italian Family … at Sunday Dinner BY HELEN (PEPSIN) COLELLA
Shortly after Eddie and I became engaged to marry, I received the formal invitation to join him and his parents for Sunday dinner. Combining their Italian heritage, the stories I had heard about my future mother-in-law’s culinary skills, and my love of Italian food, generated my excitement and anticipation of eating a gourmet meal. The day before the family gathering, I went for a haircut, a manicure, and a pedicure. I purchased new dress slacks, a silk blouse, and a blazer. My goal was to dress to impress and feel confident. On Sunday, I carefully and meticulously readied myself. I slipped into my new outfit, took care putting on make-up, and practiced smiling and laughing in the mirror so I wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb. I felt prepared for anything by the time I arrived at their home … until Eddie opened the front door and my nervousness reared itself. The aroma of Italy filled the air. “It smells delicious,” I said. Eddie smiled, and I took a deep breath and tried to relax. “Come on in,” he said. “Everybody’s waiting to meet you.” Helen and Eddie before they were married.
Everybody? The word caught my attention and swirled around in my head like a tornado. The word caught in my throat. I didn’t have time to ask just what “everybody” meant because when I entered, it took but a second to understand. Surprise? Yes. Shock? Yes. Fear? Yes. The small, intimate family gathering with Eddie and his parents turned out to include his sister and her family of four, his brother, and several aunts and uncles—all there to meet and greet me.
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cooking. No chips or dips or anything of the sort. Only specialized Italian hors d’oeuvres. I tried to limit my portions, but every time I turned to talk to someone, the food on my plate mysteriously swelled in volume. I could never quite identify with the let’s-see–how-much-I-can-eat mentality, but that Sunday it was fully present. As the afternoon progressed, I began to feel quite comfortable in my surroundings. After all, with a glass of wine here and a glass of wine there, a nibble here and a nibble there, fitting in was easy. Before long, dinner appeared in massive, seemingly limitless, quantities. First came soup and salad. Then came the “macs” (pasta) smothered with red gravy (not sauce), meatballs, and fresh grated parmesan cheese. What a delicious meal! “Mangia! Mangia! Mangia!” This seemed to be the word of the day as family members encouraged me to have more. When I indicated how much I enjoyed everything, I was told not to worry. “We’ll make a plate for you to take home,” they said. The deliciousness was phenomenal, and since the only Italian food my mother made was Irish spaghetti—buttered macs with stewed tomatoes—I knew I had a lot to learn about Italian-style cooking. What transpired next fell into the overwhelming category. Helen and Eddie right after they said, “I do.” Everything changed for me in an instant. My apprehension accelerated to a level of pure panic. I stood there smiling, the center of attention, and didn’t know what to say. This, I thought, could become the Italian Inquisition of the modern world. But each one welcomed me with genuine warmth and affection, gave a hug and kissed me on the cheek, and thankfully didn’t ask too many questions. I took several deep calming breaths, did my best to suppress my fears, and enjoyed the company of my soon-to-be new family. Then it began. The meal, that is. No, it wasn’t exactly a meal as I knew one to be. Rather, it was a feast. Or maybe not a feast and more like an event. The dining room table had been set in a buffet style which turned out to be “the noshes” you nibbled on and the wine you sipped while the main course finished ITALIAN AMERICA
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Roast beef, mashed potatoes, and three vegetables found their way onto the table—the second part of the meal. Everyone passed the serving plates and then ate with increased gusto. I knew I couldn’t refuse, for I feared I’d appear to be ungrateful for all the preparation that went into this dinner for me, so I indulged as well. As I glanced around the table, the smiles and nods verifying the approval of the skinny Irish girl who could eat as much as and keep up with all of them, I felt special and just couldn’t get over the idea that someone would prepare such a celebration for me. What a remarkable family to be brought into! Although I offered to help clear the table, my future mother-in-law and sister-in-law were adamant about not allowing me to do so. “No, no, no,” they insisted. “You’re the guest of honor. Sit. Relax. Let the family get to know you.” It wasn’t long before the table turned into a spectacular party of sumptuous, sweet desserts. There were so many choices it could compete with any dessert cart wheeled through a fine restaurant. Homemade cookies, pies, tiramisu, pastries from ‘the’ favorite family bakery, and an assortment of fruits and nuts teased my taste buds. I couldn’t wait to partake. Determined to enjoy all the goodies, coffee, the afterdinner liqueurs and drinks, I once again indulged but kept the portions under control. I tasted and savored it all. My body silently screamed of a “pending explosion” but I forged onward. As I looked around the table, I felt I shared my family-to-be’s romance with and appreciation of food. When it was time for goodbyes, we all exchanged promises to gather together again. I praised the delicious meal and promised to learn—with their help, of course—how to
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Helen’s in-laws, Helen and Louis Colella, who welcomed her to Sunday dinner. make such tasty meatballs and red gravy. I also emphasized what a wonderful time I had. In my own mind, I couldn’t get over the idea that someone would go through so much trouble for me. I felt blessed. No sooner had this day passed that I once again returned to join the family for Sunday dinner. To my surprise, the exact same ritual of the past prevailed, from the buffet of noshes and the multiple dinner courses to the dessert and special beverages. I didn’t want to seem thoughtless or neglectful so I leaned toward Eddie and asked, “Is this another special occasion or celebration you forgot to tell me about?” He shook his head and smiled. “No,” he said. “It’s the usual Sunday dinner.” I didn’t say a word. Instead, I quietly enjoyed the wonderful Italian delicacies spread out in front of me once again. Realizing that I’d been mistaken, my heart overflowed with love. There had never been a celebration in my honor. No, I was already convsidered part of the family.
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Helen (Pepsin) Colella is a published freelance writer, mother of five, and former teacher. Her work includes educational books/materials, articles/stories for adults/children that have appeared in general interest and parenting mags, and anthologies. ITALIAN AMERICA
FROM THE NATIONAL
WHAT NATIONAL DOES FOR YOU
From the President’s Desk
By Nancy DiFiore Quinn
Well, I can’t really say that “time flies,” but I find myself at the end of my term of office for the Order Sons and Daughters in Italy in America! Did I really think 40-some odd years ago that I would have reached this pinnacle of success in our beloved Order? No, not really. But here I am completing my term. What a sincere privilege it has been to serve as your leader these past two years. I had a mostly “virtual presidency,” and the only good thing about that is that no one can compare me to other National Past Presidents! Thankfully, my family and I stayed healthy during the pandemic so I was able to do the best possible job in a virtual situation. Our National officers—including our COO Joseph DiTrapani—have helped me through this unusual time. Our office staff is simply the best, and I don’t know what we would do without them. Kudos to SIF President Joseph Sciame for pulling off our first (and hopefully last) virtual NELA Gala. Thanks to our CSJ President Robert Ferrito for keeping us at the forefront of all Italian issues. These are thankless jobs, but not to me. I would just like to mention the editor of our Italian America magazine, Miles Ryan Fisher. What an interesting and current magazine he manages to put together quarterly for us. The information is always current and fascinating. If you did not know much about your Italian heritage, that has certainly changed if you read Italian
America cover to cover. What you are paying in dues to our national organization is equal to the cost of a yearly subscription to our great magazine! I’m looking forward to our next season of Facebook Live interviews. If you haven’t seen all of the first three seasons, just log on to our Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Facebook page and enjoy the wonderful guests. The next season will begin in September. Also, on our Facebook page are pictures and interesting facts about our 2021 scholarship. You will be proud to see such mature and intelligent awardees of our own Italian heritage. If you are reading this and know someone who would like to join our organization, please encourage them to do so. They can join a lodge in your area or join as an “atlarge” member or maybe even start a local lodge if there isn’t one close to home. There is “strength in numbers,” and God knows we need all the strength we can get to deal with today’s world. Well, it is time to say farewell. I look forward to going back to my local lodge and reconnecting with the brothers and sisters who have been my friends for over 40 years! I am confident that the next administration will be planning new and exciting programs for OSDIA. I am proud to have served as the Order’s 37th National President! “I feel like I really don’t need to say goodbye – I just have this feeling like I will see you again soon.”
Sons of Italy Foundation Donates Van to U.S. Coast Guard Veteran This year, the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) proudly presented another donation of $20,000 to Help Our Military Heroes (HOMH)—a non-profit organization dedicated to providing fully equipped, adaptive minivans to our country’s most severely wounded, injured, and ill service men and women who sustained their injuries while on active duty.
This year’s donation marks the seventh time in eight years that the SIF has donated at least $20,000 to HOMH. The donation provided a minivan grant for United States Coast Guard CPT Lucas ‘Luke’ Jackson (ret.), who was injured while on active duty and is now paralyzed. “Thank you to the Sons of Italy Foundation for making it possible to get this Luke with his wife, Ellen.
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THE SONS OF ITALY FOUNDATION ®
HELPING THOSE IN NEED
The Foundation Focus By Joseph Sciame, President
Well my sisters and brothers of the OSDIA and all supporters of our Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF), Friday, May 28, 2021, was certainly different. It was a virtual but grand National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala, like no other since 1989. Nonetheless, with the help of many and a sense of persistence—especially from our National Office staff—we did it! The pandemic made us grow in many challenging and interesting ways. We can also say that with great pride we saluted some very outstanding students and presented scholarships to fifteen students who are either graduating from high school or currently enrolled in universities (including one law student and one medical student). As an administrator in higher education, I am always proud to learn of organizations that support scholarships, and the SIF is doing just that. This year’s awards amounted to $100,000! That is a grand amount of scholarship support from one organization, especially one whose early members were unable to do such in 1905. Look at how far we’ve come over the span of 116 years since our founding.
veteran’s and his family’s life. This is a perfect example of the good we can do in the memory of our ancestors and in the name of our heritage! All of this would not be possible were it not for the ongoing generosity of our OSDIA members throughout the country—the efforts of local lodges and grand lodges and our SIF’s individual donors. One such individual couple remembered us in their estate last year and enabled us to establish the endowed Franzone Family Trust Scholarship with their $1.1 million dollar gift! They will be remembered forever and students will benefit in perpetuity from such generosity. As I close this message, to each of you, I urge you to join us on our journey to do even more. For students, for veterans, for many other worthy causes. Please support our mail order program, and our fundraising efforts. Think about us in your estate planning and memorialize your loved ones. For we are Italians and Italian Americans, and our DNA is full of such generosity. Ad summum is the motto—to the highest!
Another important feature of our NELA event was the presentation of a van to a most worthy veteran. As you will read below, the van has already helped ease this
Sons of Italy Foundation Donates Van to U.S. Coast Guard Veteran (continued from previous page) van. It’s made my life a whole lot easier as far as transportation goes,” he said. “It’s made me a lot more independent, a lot more willing to go out and do things on my own.” Prior to receiving the van, Luke had relied heavily on his wife, Ellen, whom he’d met while both were stationed for the Coast Guard in Alaska. “Having the van makes it a lot easier to get in like I could before my injury and just go out on a date and not have to worry about breaking down the SUMMER 2021
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wheelchair,” he said. “It adds a little bit more normalcy to my life.” HOMH works with each individual to provide a minivan with modifications specific to his or her needs. It was co-founded in 2009 by Laurie (née Serricchio) and Ted Hollander and Marybeth Vandergrift. Since then, they have awarded 165 adaptive minivans to deserving veterans. United States Coast Guard CPT Lucas ‘Luke’ Jackson (ret.) behind the wheel of his modified van donated by the Sons of Italy Foundation. ITALIAN AMERICA
THE COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE ®
FIGHTING DEFAMATION
The CSJ Perspective
By Robert M. Ferrito, President
I would like to begin this issue’s column with some good news. We have succeeded in preserving Columbus Day in Randolph, New Jersey! Many of you may have heard that the Randolph School District initially replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day, and because of our collective opposition to it, they decided to remove all holiday names from the calendar. This is the kind of decision-making and leadership that we are dealing with! As you can imagine, the removal of all holiday names experienced such a backlash that the school district decided to put all of the holiday names—including Columbus Day—back on their school calendar. This is thanks to our vocal members throughout New Jersey and New York as well as One Voice Coalition’s work to help organize opposition. A victory for all of us across the country. What a wonderful example of what Italian Americans can accomplish when we are united! Speaking of united, you may have already read the article on page 2 of this summer issue about the joint lawsuit that we have filed as part of The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations against Mayor Jim Kenney and the City of Philadelphia. This is a landmark motion for a couple reasons.
lowing the public to speak. After all, they are called public servants for a reason! They are here to serve the public, not insult ethnic groups like ours by removing our holiday simply at their own discretion. Second, it shows that Italian Americans are finally coming together and standing united in firm support of Columbus Day. It is only through this that we can preserve our heritage and our holiday. For too long we have combatted this from a rather fractured front, but now—and with this lawsuit serving as a prime example— all major Italian-American organizations are operating as one. It makes me proud to represent the Commission for Social Justice and the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, and I am determined to continue playing as active a role as possible. Though we’ve experienced some victories and we’ve been successful in uniting, the attack on our heritage will inevitably continue. I vow that we at the CSJ will do everything in our power to preserve our heritage and our holiday, but I must appeal to every single one of you for your help. Your individual voice is absolutely necessary. Please follow us on our Facebook page—The Commission for Social Justice—so that you can see any alerts we post in which you can lend your individual support to strengthen our collective voice. Sempre Avanti!
First, it shows that Italian Americans will not tolerate elected officials who make unilateral decisions without al-
YES! I would like to help Save Columbus Day and
Fight Italian-American Stereotypes.
Please accept my tax-deductible donation to support the Commission for Social Justice’s mission. To donate online, visit www.osia.org/csj To donate by phone, call the National Office at (202) 547-2900 $10
$25
My check for the total amount of $
$50
$100
$
is enclosed.
(Please make check payable to the “Commission for Social Justice”)
Mail to:
ITALIAN AMERICA
Commission for Social Justice 219 E Street NE Washington, DC 20002 SUMMER 2021 33
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Letters to the Editor Another excellent issue. I liked your article about Nicholas Jannetti and his suffering with Cooley’s Anemia. It is so sad that babies are born with serious conditions and defects that are major threats to their immediate existence and long-term survival. Nicholas’s donor, Jessica, is as beautiful outside as she is within. I also enjoyed reading the book review about Tony Lazzeri. I thought he was called “Push’em up Tony” who always seemed to move the runners ahead. Then I discovered it was “Poosh ‘Em Up Tony.” I also found out that of all the players who hit the natural cycle, he is the only one who had a natural cycle which ended with a grand slam home run. It is always a pleasure to read Italian America. Edward Giuffre West Islip, New York Constantino Brumidi Lodge #2211 Corrections for Spring 2021 issue Book Reviews (page 21) - The first Jewish communities on the Italian peninsula is the second century B.C.E, during the Roman period. Jews were not living in Rome or that area before the Romans. SUMMER 2021
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I cannot tell you how fascinated I was to read the article “The Dying City Lives On.” It amazes me that anyone could build a city on top of that volcanic rock. Although only a handful of people are still living there, it is a marvelous site for a tourist to see, and hopefully it will last longer for many more to view it. To me it is a major accomplishment of what mankind can do.Yes, Italy should be so proud of the “dying city.” Joan Gallo Boca Raton, Florida I love the magazine and look forward to receiving it. Keep up the good work. Especially enjoy the recipes! Josephine (D’Amico) Vespoint Clarksburg, West Virginia PS. Please excuse the bad handwriting. These 87-year-old fingers don’t work so well anymore. Editor’s Note: Those 87-year-old fingers write better than a lot of fingers half that age!
ITALIAN AMERICA
Italian America®
Italian America Magazine is produced by the national headquarters of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®, 219 E Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 202/547-2900. Email: nationaloffice@osia.org Chief Operating Officer Joseph J. DiTrapani Editor-in-Chief Miles Ryan Fisher Director of Finance Adam Jacobs Program Director Emily Knoche Managing Director Justin Smith Italian America® is the official publication of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America® (OSDIA), the largest and longest-established organization of American men and women of Italian heritage. Italian America provides timely information about OSDIA, while reporting on individuals, institutions, issues, and events of current or historical significance in the Italian-American community nationwide. Italian America (ISSN: 1089-5043, USPS: 015-735) is published quarterly in the winter, spring, summer and fall by OSDIA, 219 E Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. ©2015 Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any method without permission of the editor is prohibited. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily imply an opinion on the part of the officers, employees, or members of OSDIA. Mention of a product or service in advertisements or text does not mean that it has been tested, approved or endorsed by OSDIA, the Commission for Social Justice, or the Sons of Italy Foundation. Italian America accepts query letters and letters to the editor. Please do not send unsolicited manuscripts. Italian America assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Annual subscriptions are $20, which are included in dues for OSDIA members. Single copies are $4.95 each.OSDIA MEMBERS: Please send address changes to your local lodge. Do not contact the OSDIA National Office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Italian America, 219 E Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Subscriptions are available through the OSDIA National Office, 219 E Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. OSDIA membership information is available at (800) 552-OSDIA or at www. OSDIA.org. Archives are maintained at the Immigration History Research Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn. Printing by Printing Solutions Inc., Sterling, Va. To advertise: Contact ItalianAmerica@osia.org (202) 547-2900. Also see www.osia.org for advertising rates, specs, demographics, etc. ITALIAN AMERICA
BY MILES RYAN FISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ITALIAN AMERICA MAGAZINE
I stood at home plate and hit ground balls to the elevenyear-old shortstop that I coached. He fielded them and tossed them to his father, who stood beside me. It was after our team practice had ended that Grant asked me if I could stay to hit him more grounders, and I was happy to do so. Any player who asked for extra practice was a player I loved to help. One after the other, I hit and he fielded. “So who do you think gives up first?” I asked his dad. “Me or Grant?” “To be honest, Miles,” he said, “I think you do.” I thought for a moment, then hit another grounder to Grant as dusk set in. “You know,” I said, “I think the real answer is the sun.” It wasn’t by pure talent or luck that I could unfailingly hit Grant one ground ball after another at just the right speed and in just the right places where he could—and sometimes couldn’t—reach them. It was because I shared his passion for baseball and had parents who always encouraged it. They never pressured me or had any specific expectations as to where my ability would lead me. They simply added their energy to the energy I already had. My dad even recruited his best friend, Jim, a big man with a gentle voice and witty sense of humor, to come over to our house on a ninety-degree day and help him handle the heavy-duty auger we’d rented. In the midday sun, we drilled four-foot holes into the earth so that we could erect sixteen-foot posts that would hold up the net for a batting cage. It was in that batting cage that I spent many evenings hitting until the sun went down and it became too difficult to see the ball. More than a decade later, after I’d been out of college for some time, Jim was battling cancer in a fight he wasn’t going to win. I sent him a letter in which I wrote about the day he helped build the batting cage where I’d taken hundreds of thousands of swings. I told him how much it meant to me that he supported my passion for baseball—a passion I still have to this day. It wasn’t until after Jim passed that I started coaching little guys, hitting just the right infield and outfield practice to them, which isn’t an easy thing to do. But I could do it, time after time, without error, only because others like Jim cared about helping me grow. And there I was, years after he’d passed, using an ability that he’d had a hand in developing to hit one ground ball after another to a determined little ballplayer—until the sun finally gave up.
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PIACERE! PLEASED TO MEET YOU, BURT
Burt Young Burt Young (born Gerald Tommaso DeLouise) is an actor, painter, and author, who is best known for his role as Paulie Pennino in the Rocky series. For his role as Rocky Balboa’s best friend and future brother-in-law, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor after the first film. He also played characters in such notable films as Chinatown, The Gambler, and Once Upon a Time in America, as well as in television programs such as M*A*S*H, Law & Order, and Miami Vice. In addition to acting, Burt is also a painter, having displayed his art in galleries throughout the world, and a published author. He was born in Queens, New York, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1957 to 1959. Tell us about your Italian background. My father, Michael, was born here and went back to Bari with his dad when he was very young to work. They needed money. He was an iceman. He delivered ice with a horse and wagon in Italy and in New York. We lived in Corona and Astoria, then Jackson Heights when Pop started doing better. My father was a dean and a shop class teacher. He was great. He could sing, play the harmonica and banjo, work wood and metals. He painted and played baseball and handball. He was an artist. He could do everything. My mother, Josephine, was a seamstress—she was a designer. She made beautiful clothes, beautiful dresses. The neighborhood was clean cut. Til I came along and sort of spoiled it. You put together an impressive boxing record as a U.S. Marine and then continued to box professionally under aliases. Why did you go by the aliases and what were they? I wasn’t that proud of being a boxer. I was very good though. I couldn’t tell my father. His brother, my uncle Lou, caught me coming out of the gym, and I begged him, ‘Don’t tell Papa.’ So, I boxed under aliases so family wouldn’t know. Dino was one. And Durango. I fought a lot of guys. Sunnyside Gardens. Gramercy Park. I trained with Charlie Goldman. He was a great trainer. He knew me from the gym. I was so good, they all wanted to manage me. And I was young. Cus D’Amato trained me, too. He was the greatest trainer in the world. Later, I did some exhibition fights with Mohammed Ali. I had a good time with that. It just came natural. They put me in the ring with him cause I was really pretty sharp. SUMMER 2021
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At what point did you realize that Rocky was going to experience such success and that Paulie would be a character you are forever remembered for portraying? Right away. Right away I recognized the youngster’s talent, you know. And I fit right in. The script was poetry. I always enjoyed writing and it came easy to express, and this body of work sent me to the moon. I knew what we had. So that was clear, right away. You’ve played hundreds of characters throughout your career. What is something poignant that you’ve learned from one of them? Caring for everybody. It’s easy to give back so the audience will care for you. Your recent movie, Road to the Lemon Grove, is a poignant look at the Italian immigrant experience. How timely do you feel this story is, and why might you feel this message is so important? Well, I guess the Italians are like any immigrant group— always had a bad time with those who were here already until they got a little more time. It was important to me to share with others. And important for others to see where we could go. I’m a lucky guy, what can I say. Leave us with some words to live by. Be as honest as you can be. And also as tough. And I don’t mean tough like a mean guy. I just mean someone who could not get shook up with everything, you know. ITALIAN AMERICA
15 years together
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