They Brought Their Boats with Them The Italians of Fisherman's Wharf
Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro's Inaugural Address The Day the Order was Founded
The Rise of Artemisia La Famosissima Pittrice
Roses for Lena
Retracing the Pain of the 1918 Flu Pandemic
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ITALIAN AMERICA
It Starts with Colavita.
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A FAMILY. A BRAND. A LIFESTYLE.
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ITALIAN AMERICA
WINTER 2021
VOL. XXVI No. 1
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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THE RISE OF ARTEMISIA La Famosissima Pittrice By Lisa Pike
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THEY BROUGHT THEIR BOATS WITH THEM
The Italians of Fisherman’s Wharf By Miles Ryan Fisher
DR. VINCENZO SELLARO’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS The Day the Order was Founded Translated by Frank P. Oliveri
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ROSES FOR LENA
Retracing the Pain of the 1918 Flu Pandemic By Maria Coletta McLean
ON THE COVER: The landmark Fisherman’s Wharf sign in San Francisco. (ken18)
D E PA R T M E N T S 2 High Profile 4 National News 5 Oggi 6 Regions 7 Mangia
8 Pagina Italiana 13 Bulletin Board 14 Our Story 20 Book Reviews 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: Ryan Byrnes; Lisa Pike; Frank P. Oliveri; Maria Coletta McLean 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. WINTER 2021
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HIGH PROFILE
ITALIAN AMERICANS MAKING AN IMPACT
A Kidney for Carmen
Peter Prudente Takes Giving to a New Level He volunteers as a firefighter. He organizes community blood drives. He confesses that he has a hard time saying no to those in need. So when technicians from the blood donor program suggested that he take the next step—and donate a kidney—Peter Prudente didn’t recoil. Instead, he went straight home and discussed it with his wife, Allison. Allison, who shares Peter’s rare B negative blood type, didn’t recoil at the suggestion, either. In fact, she supported her husband’s interest being a donor even though it meant that, should she ever need a kidney transplant, he couldn’t be her provider. “Her sacrifice was as big as mine,” Peter said. “She looked at me and said, ‘I know you need to do this.’” The only problem was—Peter didn’t have anybody to give his kidney to. He would have to become an altruistic donor, the term used for someone who donates an organ to a complete stranger. His initial wish was to donate to a fellow firefighter or first responder, so he mailed a letter to 50 different fire departments in the Long Island area in search of a recipient. However, due to his rare blood type, it was difficult to locate a match. As he continued to search for a recipient, Peter’s year of donor clearance approached its expiration date, meaning that he would have to undergo the whole clearance
process a second time in order to be eligible for another full year. And, at 58 years old, he was just two years from turning 60, an age when individuals are usually considered to be out of range to donate a kidney. So Peter moved on to his next wish, one with children in mind. He hoped to give his kidney to a mother or father. “Allison and I weren’t able to have children,” he said. “But God gives you another path. And ours was to help somebody who does have children.” He managed to locate a match, and the transplant was arranged for March 23, 2019—Peter’s 59th birthday. He entered North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset on his own birthday and prepped to undergo surgery to remove his kidney. Just before surgery, he was suddenly informed that the designated recipient was no longer a match. For a kidney transplant to take place, it requires the matching of several conditions that fall under three general categories: blood typing, tissue typing, and serum crossmatch. The serum crossmatch is performed several times, including right before transplant. Without a recipient but prepped for surgery, Peter asked the hospital staff if there was anybody else who needed a kidney. “We have a lady who’s not going to make it until Friday,” they told him. As it turned out, the lady, Carmen, Peter Prudente stands before Engine #4 of the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department.
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had two young daughters. After a series of tests, it came back that she was a near-perfect match to Peter. On his 59th birthday, Peter became just one of the 150 altruistic donors in all of New York State in 2019. “You’re given certain things to do on this earth,” Peter said. “This was part of mine—to save a life in dire need.” However, Peter didn’t save just one life. Upon learning that her mother would receive a kidney through an altruistic donor, Adriana—Carmen’s 20-year-old daughter—decided to donate her own kidney to a stranger in need, thereby creating a “pay-it-forward” donor chain. As this chain continues connecting links beyond what Peter can track, he continues to receive recognition for having been an altruistic donor as well as having a longstanding history of community service. He has received recognition, such as the U.S. Congressional Award from
Congressman (and OSDIA member) Thomas Suozzi, and was even commissioned a Commonwealth of Kentucky Colonel by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Last winter, the Grand Lodge of New York made him the first recipient of the Positive Image Award—an award created by Grand Lodge President Anthony Naccarato—at the New York State Commission for Social Justice’s 40th Anniversary Dinner Dance. But Peter doesn’t bask in these accolades, which he attributes more to his parents, Amato and Marcelina. First-generation Italian Americans, Peter’s parents became members of several community-based clubs, from the Knights of Columbus to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It was through these clubs that young Peter learned the importance of giving back to the community. Today, he follows in their footsteps as a member of several clubs, including OSDIA’s John Michael Marino Lodge #1389 in Port Washington, New York. Though he attributes his selflessness to his parents who worked the sand mines of Port Washington, he doesn’t mind the recognition. Rather, he embraces it as an opportunity to create a more positive environment and to encourage others to do so as well by giving a little more of themselves. And, he assures, that doesn’t have to involve giving a kidney. “It can be anything,” he said. “It could be a cup of coffee—not a kidney.” Peter’s Call for a Kidney
Peter at the bedside of his kidney recipient, Carmen, a mother of two daughters.
Peter would like to recognize the following individuals who are in need of a kidney. Nassau County Fire Marshal and Fire Academy Instructor Mike Strong is in need of an O+ kidney. Vietnam Vet and Glen Cove EMT Tony Jiminez is in need of an A+ kidney. Sue Dea, wife of Manhasset Lakeville Firefighter Mike Dea, is in need of an A- kidney. Vivian Jepp, a Port Washington mom of triplets, is in need of a kidney with A blood type. Contact Peter at pwpete@icloud.com
Save the Date! The Sons of Italy Foundation’s 32nd Annual
NatioNal EducatioN & lEadErship awards (NEla) Gala Friday, May 28, 2021 For Updates and Announcements, visit www.nelagala.org WINTERAMERICA 2021 3 ITALIAN
ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2021 3
NATIONAL NEWS
ITALIAN AMERICAN ISSUES AND EVENTS
United States Welcomes First Italian-American First Lady dies program, the Biden Foundation, and Joining Forces—an initiative built to rally Americans around service members, veterans, and their families and support them through wellness, education, and employment opportunities.
First Lady Jill Biden was born in Hammonton, New Jersey, and grew up in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Philadelphia. She earned a bachelor’s degree and doctoral degree from the University of Delaware, as well as master’s degrees from West Chester University and Villanova University. She has spent much of her professional life as an English teacher, teaching reading and writing at both the high school and college levels. She is believed to be the first wife of a U.S. Vice President to hold a paying job during her husband’s term.
Meanwhile, her family back in Italy—at this point, distant cousins— First Lady Jill Biden visits The welcome her to visit the Fort Riley Middle School in Fort Riley, Kansas, in 2016. small village where her grandfather was born. Cousin Caterina said, “When and if she will be here, I will make for her platefuls of meatballs with tomato sauce, lasagna, grilled meats, and sausages of all kinds, and we will eat together.” Then, as if that weren’t enough to make one’s mouth water, she added, “I will also make … aubergine (eggplant) parmigiana with cheese, pasta ‘ncasciata, and Cannoli pastries filled with fresh goat ricotta which are one of my specialties.”
In addition to her professional work, she has also been very active in the non-profit world, founding the Biden Breast Health Initiative as well as co-founding the Book Bud-
(mark reinstein)
With the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the United States welcomes its first Italian-American First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden (née Jacobs), into the White House. The First Lady’s grandfather, Domenico Giacoppo, was born in Gesso, a small Sicilian village of 500 people that lies ten miles northwest of Messina and offers spectacular views of Mount Etna. At just two years old, Domenico traveled with his family across the Atlantic in 1900 and settled in Hammonton, New Jersey. The family name— Giacoppo—was Americanized to Jacobs.
OSDIA Live Interview Series Returns with Season 3 First Episode to Air on Wednesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. On January 27, the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) will return with Season 3 of the OSDIA Live Interview Series. The third season will run for 12 weeks and feature some exceptional guests, including Actor Joe Piscopo, CEO Tonino Lamborghini (son of Lamborghini’s founder), and Adriana Trigiani as a special guest host. Season 2—which aired last fall and featured Lidia Bastianich, Deana Martin, and Astronaut Mike Massimino— garnered over 150,000 total views. The most-watched episode was the one in which Adriana Trigiani served as a special guest host, interviewing fellow Italian-American writers Francesca Serritella and Lisa Scottoline. The OSDIA Live Interview Series can be viewed on OSDIA’s Facebook page. Episodes air every Wednesday
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(Clockwise) Astronaut Mike Massimino, Television Personality Clarissa Burt, OSDIA Managing Director Justin Smith, and OSDIA First Vice President Robert Bianchi. at 7 p.m., beginning on January 27. Past episodes and seasons can be viewed on OSDIA’s Facebook page as well. ITALIAN AMERICA
OGGI IN ITALIA
ITALY’S NEWS, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
Italian Teenager One Step from Sainthood Carlo Acutis was only 15 years old when he died of leukemia in 2006. His memory, however, has continued to live on through the Roman Catholic Church, and he may become the first millennial to be canonized. On October 10, 2020, in Assisi, Italy, Pope Francis beatified Carlo after a miracle was attributed to him earlier in the year. This is the penultimate step to sainthood. Born in London, England, to Italian parents, Carlo and his family moved to Milan when he was a child. At nine years old, he began teaching himself computer programming and graphic design, which he used to promote positive aspects of the Catholic faith. This included the building of a website that served as a directory for miracles. Through this, Carlo is being called “the patron saint of the internet.” While Pope Francis has spoken about the ill effects that the internet can have, he has also embraced it for the goodness it can spread and has pointed to Carlo as an example of that. Carlo’s mother, Antonia, echoed this sentiment. “Carlo was the light answer to the dark side of the web,” she said. “(His life) can be used to show how the internet can be used for good—to spread good things.” After Carlo’s death, individuals from around the world began contacting Antonia about miracles they’d experi-
A portrait of Carlo Acutis displayed at his beatification in Assisi. (Daniel Ibanez/CNA) enced after praying for her son. Some were cured from cancer. Others from infertility. In one instance, which was recognized by Pope Francis, a little boy’s malformed pancreas suddenly healed after he came into contact with one of Carlo’s old shirts. While it may be some time before Carlo is canonized, should he attain sainthood, he would join the 120 saints who died as children or teenagers. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes over 10,000 saints in total.
Pistacchio, the Puppy Born with Green Fur Last fall on the island of Sardinia, sheep farmer Cristian Mallocci and his family were in for a big surprise when their pregnant dog, Spelacchia, gave birth to a green puppy. Unlike the puppy’s four siblings, who were white like their mother, his fur was green. Quite appropriately, the family decided to name him Pistacchio. This occurrence, while extremely rare, is not completely unheard of. It is believed to occur when light-colored puppies come into contact with biliverdin prior to their being born. Biliverdin is a green pigment found in bile—and is also the same pigment that turns bruises green—which colors the puppy’s fur while the puppy is still in the womb. Recent cases of this were reported in North Carolina last January (a German Shepherd named Hulk) and in Scotland three years ago (a golden retriever named Forest).
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While the Mallocci family has put Pistacchio’s siblings up for adoption, they are going to hold onto their little green friend. “He arrived in a dark time, but he will bring luck!” Mallocci exclaimed.
Pistacchio, the mixed-breed puppy whose name— true to the Italian spelling—has two c’s. ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2021 5
REGIONS OF ITALY
ITALY’S TWENTY REGIONS
Aosta Valley
The Foot of the French Alps The Aosta Valley is both the smallest region in Italy and the least populated (as well as the least densely populated). It is the only region that is not subdivided into provinces and is also one of Italy’s five autonomous regions that handle their own legislative and administrative affairs. The Aosta Valley sits at the foot of the French Alps in the northwestern corner of Italy. It borders France to the west, Switzerland to the north, and the Piedmont region to the east and south. However, most of its influence comes from its western neighbor, France. The region is bilingual—Italian and French are both official languages, each one being taught in school and appearing on road signs. Italian, however, is more commonly spoken as the everyday language. FUN FACT: In 1536, the Aosta Valley’s government became the first government to make Modern French its official language—three years before France did. Though the Aosta Valley is regarded as the “least Italian region of Italy,” it’s capital—Aosta—is said to be “the most Roman town after Rome.” With authentic architecture reflecting the Roman Empire, Aosta was founded in 25 B.C. after being conquered by Caesar Augustus and made into a military stronghold to prevent enemies from passing through the Alps.
The alpine ibex at Gran Paradiso National Park. (Stefano Politi) tains and glacial lakes, the park has a beautiful array of wildlife ranging from chamois and marmots to golden eagles and the famous ibex. The park was initially a Royal Hunting Reserve created in 1856 by Victor Emmanuel, who later became King of Italy. It wasn’t until 1920, when his grandson, King Victor Emmanuel III, donated the land to create the country’s first national park. When it comes to cuisine, it’s no surprise that the Aosta Valley is influenced by both the countries to its north—France, Switzerland, and Germany—and Italy and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Like northern Italian regions, polenta serves as a main food stuff. True to the Alps, cheese fondue is a popular food item and is frequently made from Fontina, a cow’s milk cheese that has been produced in the region since the 12th century. When combined with eggs, cream, and butter, this cheese produces Fonduta, a fondue that is certainly fit for the Alps.
The Alps, of course, is what the Aosta Valley is bestknown for, as the region includes the world-famous mountains of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Monte Rosa. While tourists do not tend to frequent the Aosta Valley, its mountains do attract serious skiers and hikers. The region also contains Italy’s oldest national park: Gran Paradiso National Park. With snow-capped moun-
Aosta Valley (Valle d'Aosta) Capital: Aosta Population: 126,933 (20th of the 20 regions) Size: 1,260 square miles (20th of the 20 regions) Provinces: None
Mount Blanc, which lies across the border of the Aosta Valley and France, has the highest peak in Italy at 15,777 feet. (Marisa Estivill)
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MANGIA!
Crab Meat Ravioli in Saffron-Chive Cream Sauce & Toasted Pine Nuts Ingredients For the Pasta: 2 cups flour 3 eggs, lightly beaten Healthy pinch of salt 1 teaspoon olive oil For the Filling: ½ lb. ricotta ½ lb. crab meat ¼ cup grated cheese ¼ cup minced chives ½ cup minced raw spinach Zest of 1 lemon Salt & pepper to taste For the Sauce: ½ stick unsalted butter (4 tablespoons) 1 shallot, minced ½ cup dry white wine 1 cup cream Pinch of saffron ¼ cup minced chives Salt & pepper to taste ½ cup grated cheese ½ cup toasted pine nuts Make the pasta: Whisk the flour and salt in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs with the olive oil. Create a “well” in the middle of the flour (a large hole in the center, clear down to the bottom of the bowl). Add egg mixture. Using a fork slowly whisk egg mixture, adding in a little flour at a time, until the egg has absorbed most or all of the flour. Gather the dough and knead it on a lightly floured surface. If it’s too sticky add a little flour. Knead until smooth and the floury surface turns eggy yellow in color, about 3-4 minutes. Shape in a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest at room temp for 30 minutes.
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If you liked this recipe, find more in Chef Paulette Licitra’s Italian Cooking Party: A Little Bit of Italy at Home.
Make the filling: Mix the ricotta, crab, grated cheese, minced chives, minced raw spinach, and lemon zest. Combine well. Season with salt & pepper. Make the ravioli: Cut the dough into four pieces. Work with one piece at a time and keep the other pieces covered in plastic wrap. Flatten the dough into a rough rectangle, and roll through the pasta machine, changing the numbers from thick to thinner (lower to higher) one at a time until you reach the next-to-the-last number on the machine. Dust the sheet with flour in between every couple of numbers to keep it from sticking in the machine. Lay the sheet on a table. Place scant ½-teaspoons of filling in row on the bottom half of the sheet, about an inch apart. Fold the top half over the bottom half. Press all the edges closed to seal well. Cut in between to make the individual ravioli. Place the finished ravioli on a flour-dusted sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough. Make the sauce: Melt butter in a medium sauté pan. Add shallots and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add wine. Cook until simmering and the wine reduces a bit. Add the cream. Stir to combine. Cook on medium low heat until cream is bubbling and slightly reduced. Add the saffron and chives. Cook until thickened a bit more. Season with salt & pepper. Cook the ravioli: Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Salt water. Drop in the ravioli and cook until al dente, about 3 minutes. Spoon half of the sauce into a large shallow serving bowl. Add ravioli, top with more sauce and gently coat. Serve with sprinkled with grated cheese & toasted pine nuts.
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PAGINA ITALIANA
PER CHI STUDIA LA NOSTRA LINGUA
Pompadour alla siciliana TRANSLATED BY SERENA LONIGRO
“Antonio, i francesi non hanno il monopolio dello stile,” lamenta zio Pietro, fissando il salone francese dalla finestra del suo negozio di barbiere. “Che fine hanno fatto i barbieri siciliani onesti come te e me?” La sera stessa, mentre la cugina Giuseppa bolle la pasta, Antonio nota che i suoi capelli sono pettinati alla Pompadour. Risplendono di un misterioso prodotto che profuma di lavanda. “Sei andata al salone di bellezza!” lo zio Pietro sbatte il pugno sul tavolo, facendo tremare i piatti. “Fanno un lavoro di gran lunga migliore del tuo,” sussurra lei. Antonio è d’accordo; i capelli di una donna erano estranei allo zio Pietro quanto le strade di Parigi. Al mattino, lui le spazzola i capelli crespi come la criniera di un cavallo, come fossero qualcosa da tenere a freno, e lei sussulta quando la spazzola graffia e tira. Quando finiscono, la spazzola è aggrovigliata con ciuffi scuri. Ogni domenica, lei si lascia cadere sulla poltrona del barbiere, con le braccia incrociate e il broncio. “Anna Maria Orlando aveva una perfetta acconciatura Marcel in chiesa la settimana scorsa,” disse lei. “Sua madre le ha insegnato ad usare un ferro arricciacapelli, sai.” Zio Pietro osserva le sue forbici. Si ferma, aggrotta la fronte e sospira. Antonio si immagina tagliarle i capelli e fallire, condannando Giuseppa a camminare al mercato e acquistare il latte con un una chiazza calva sul cuoio capelluto, come
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un campo di grano raccolto a metà. Povera ragazza. “Antonio, perchè non fai tu i capelli di Giuseppa oggi. Conosci l’acconciatura Marcel, sì?” “Io?” domanda Antonio. Vede il suo riflesso nelle forbici: sembra un agnello al macello. Raccogliendo le forbici, Antonio le avvicina alla testa di Giuseppa. La sua mano trema. Zio Pietro lo guarda, braccia incrociate, a giudicare la sua tecnica. Snip. Il primo ricciolo fluttua come una piuma verso il pavimento. Snip. Snip. Snip. Prendendo il flacone spray, Antonio preme l’erogatore di gomma e spruzza i capelli scuri fino a quando sono umidi. Diventano lucenti. Le taglia i capelli fino alle spalle, li lega alla nuca e glieli fissa sopra l’orecchio con una forcina di cristallo. Zio Pietro brontola. Quando Antonio finisce con le forbici, estrae l’arricciacapelli dalla custodia. Il calore gli fa scorrere gocce di sudore lungo il braccio. Arriccia le onde strette, avvolgendo e sciogliendo il ferro tra i folti capelli. Dopo che la metà destra della testa di Giuseppa è pettinata, Antonio fa un passo indietro. Giuseppa accenna un sorriso, non si sa se divertita dal terrore di Antonio o felice dei suoi risultati. Antonio fa schioccare le nocche delle dita e si tuffa di nuovo nel suo lavoro, le sue mani più forti e ferme a ogni giro del ferro. Dopo trenta minuti, conclude con il tocco finale: fa scorrere l’ultimo ricciolo che rimane contro la tempia destra della ragazza. Giuseppa si studia allo specchio da varie angolazioni. Lo zio Pietro espira rudemente dalle narici. Per un secondo, Antonio teme che lo zio sbatta il pugno sul bancone, ma poi Pietro fa un cenno del capo e grida: “D’ora in poi le taglierai tu i capelli,” uscendo dalla porta del negozio con ancora indosso il grembiule e non tornando per un’ora. 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.
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Sicilian Pompadour BY RYAN BYRNES
“Antonio, the French do not have a monopoly on style,” Uncle Pietro complains, glaring at the French salon from his barber shop window. “What’s become of honest Sicilian barbers like you and me?” That evening, while cousin Giuseppa is boiling the pasta, Antonio notices her hair is done up in a pompadour. It shines with a mysterious product smelling of lavender. “You went to the salon!” Uncle Pietro slams his fist on the table, making the dishes shake. “He does a far better job than you,” she whispers. Antonio agrees; a woman’s hair was as foreign to Uncle Pietro as the streets of Paris. In the mornings, he brushes her hair rough as a horse’s mane, like something to be reined in, and she winces as the brush scrapes and pulls. By the time they finish, the brush is tangled with dark tufts. Every Sunday, she drops into the barber’s chair, arms crossed and pouting. “Anna Maria Orlando wore perfect Marcel waves to church last week,” she says. “Her mother taught her to use a curling iron, you know.” Uncle Pietro observes his scissors. He pauses, knits his brow, and sighs. Antonio imagines himself cutting her hair and failing, condemning Giuseppa to walk to the market and purchase milk with a single bald spot on her scalp, like a wheat field partway through the harvest. Poor girl. “Antonio, why don’t you style Giuseppa’s hair today. You know the Marcel style, yes?” “Me?” Antonio asks.
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He sees his reflection in the scissors—he looks like a lamb at the slaughter. Pinching the scissors, Antonio holds them to Giuseppa’s head. His hand quakes. Uncle Pietro looks on, arms crossed, judging his technique. Snip. The first curl feather-floats to the floor. Snip. Snip. Snip. Taking the spray bottle, he presses the rubber bladder and spritzes her dark hair until damp. A sheen settles on it. He cuts her hair shoulder-length, ties it at the nape of the neck, and pins it above her ear with a crystal hair pin. Uncle Pietro grumbles. When Antonio finishes with the scissors, he draws the curling iron from its holster. Its heat rolls sweat beads down his arm. He curls the waves tight, clipping and unclipping the iron on the thick hair. After the right half of Giuseppa’s head is styled, Antonio takes a step back. Giuseppa curls the smallest grin, either entertained with Antonio’s terror or happy with his results. He cracks his knuckles and dives back into his work, his hands stronger and steadier with each turn of the iron. After thirty minutes, he concludes with the final touch—the single curl that is left to bounce against her right temple. Giuseppa studies herself in the mirror from various angles. Uncle Pietro exhales roughly out his nostrils. For a second, Antonio fears his uncle will slam his fist on the counter, but then Pietro gives a single nod and croaks, “You will cut her hair from now on,” walking out the front door of the shop still wearing his apron and not returning for an hour.
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In his early 17th century depiction of the Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi, French engraver Jérôme David declares Artemisia to be “a miracle in painting, more easily envied than imitated.” Her expression is serious and determined as she looks out toward the viewer. Based on a lost self-portrait, this French engraving—currently housed in the British Museum—reveals the tenacity of the first woman in history to become a member of the celebrated Accademia delle Arti del Disegno (Academy of the Arts of Drawing) in the illustrious city of Florence. Born in 1593 in Rome, Artemisia was the only daughter of Tuscan painter Orazio Gentileschi and his wife Prudentia Montone. Following her mother’s death, an adolescent Artemisia found herself immersed in the artistic life of her father’s workshop. Orazio immediately recognized his daughter’s talent as superior to that of her brothers and encouraged her to culti(Above:) The earliest of Artemisia’s surviving works, “Susanna and the Elders” (1610), currently located in the Schönborn Collection, Pommersfelden, Germany.
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(L:) “Self Portrait as the Allegory of Painting” (1638-1639) currently located in the Royal Collection of the British Royal Family. ITALIAN AMERICA
vate and develop her artistic gifts. At a time when women and their activities were restricted to house and home, Artemisia managed to craft an international reputation for herself in the public sphere. In one of her letters to the Sicilian patron Antonio Ruffo, for example, Artemisia powerfully defies any prejudice or doubts he might have about the abilities of a woman painter. Confident and certain of her skills as an artist, Artemisia writes to assure him of her fortitude and talent. “With me,” she proclaims, “your Illustrious Lordship will not lose and you will find the spirit of Caesar in the soul of a woman.” Artemisia’s large-scale, dramatic paintings are often compared to those of the renowned Caravaggio; and yet, these canvases take up female themes and exhibit a style all their own. With bold strokes and startling use of color, Artemisia’s work seizes the viewer’s attention and demands a response. She takes up biblical and mythological themes to depict figures in the throes of emotion and turmoil as well as violence. It is through these dramatic scenes of conflict that Artemisia offers new perspectives and viewpoints of experience.
as a woman fending off unwanted advances of the two significantly older men. Her body twists, turning away from them in fear and in a desire to preserve her dignity. If her dramatic style is comparable to that of Caravaggio, Artemisia’s manner and treatment of themes is unique to the female hand. The “Judith Paintings” take up yet another biblical figure in a unique way. Completing a total of four largescale works that focus on two scenes—“Judith Slaying Holofernes” and “Judith with her Maidservant”—Artemisia depicts the widow and heroine Judith beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes in order to save her town. A popular subject during the Renaissance and the Baroque periods, the story of Judith was interpreted by such masters as Botticelli, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Bartolomeo Manfredi. The physicality and strength of force depicted by Artemisia’s work, however, distinguishes her treatment of the Judith theme. The figure of Judith is front and center on the canvas, and her feminine yet robust body towers over the doomed Holofernes. The paintings of Judith and her maidservant similarly show the solidity and vigor of two women working together to carry out an act of survival. At a moment in history when women artists were prohibited from study and training with nude models, Artemisia’s work was highly praised and recognized by her contemporaries for its realistic and accurate depiction
In some ways, Artemisia’s art is linked to her personal struggles: the untimely death of her mother, the loss of four “Judith Beheading Holofernes” (1611-1612) of her five children within her currently located at the Museo di Capodimonte, lifetime, and the traumatic Naples, Italy. experience of being violated at the hands of painter Agostino Tassi. While apprenticing of the human body. Roman by birth, Artemisia’s career as a professional in her father’s workshop, Artemisia was accosted by Tassi, who was charged with rape only after he did not marry artist took her to various Italian cities as well as abroad. From 1614 to 1620, she was a successful court painter her—as was required by law at the time. One of Artemisia’s earliest paintings, now displayed in under the patronage of the Medici family in Florence. She in the Schloss Weßienstein collection in Pommersfelden, also spent time living in Venice, as well as Naples, and was Germany, takes up the biblical scene of “Susanna and the once invited to England’s court of King Charles I, where Elders.” Dated 1610, when Artemisia was just 17 years old her father was painting, and worked there for several years. and still under the tutelage of Tassi, this painting depicts the feelings of its female figure, Susanna. Traditionally seen as temptress to the elders, Susanna is instead portrayed WINTERAMERICA 2021 11 ITALIAN
Wherever she went, the famosissima pittrice (famous female painter) befriended other artists and influential thinkers of her day. Among those she knew in Florence ITALIAN WINTERAMERICA 2021 11
In recent years, several exhibitions have been organized to showcase both Artemisia’s works and life. The 2020 exhibition at the National Gallery in London, England is perhaps the most high-profile example. For the first time, original documents regarding Artemisia’s life appear alongside some of her most well-known works. Letters to patrons and clients requesting her services, love letters to the Florentine Francesco Maria Maringhi, and the court transcripts of the infamous 1612 rape trial are all on display. Artemisia’s words and her paintings are placed side-byside for the first time to encourage a more complete understanding of the artist and her life. On her own terms and by her own female hand, Artemisia has shown the world, both then and now, the triumph of her enduring spirit and remarkable talent. The triumph of la famosissima pittrice. Lisa Pike (lisa_pike@outlook.com) is a writer, editor, and translator who has lived in France, Italy, and abroad. She currently resides in Canada, bordering the city of Detroit. “Judith and her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes” (1623-1625) currently located at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
were physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei, as well as noted poet and playwright Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger. Through her ties to the artistic and cultural circle of Cardinal Francesco Barberini in Rome, Artemisia also met artists from outside Italy, such as French painter Simon Vouet. The international reach of Artemisia’s life and art is all the more impressive for the fact that she was also a wife and mother. With her husband and fellow painter Pierantonio Stiattesi, Artemisia had five children, four of whom died tragically in childhood. Gravely affected by these deaths, and further troubled by financial difficulties due to Stiattesi’s mishandling of the couple’s money, Artemisia nevertheless persevered in her artistic pursuits and ambitions. Today, Artemisia’s paintings can be found in galleries throughout Italy and the world. Her meditations on the theme of Judith and Holofernes hang in Palazzo Pitti and the Uffizi Galleries of Florence, in the Museo di Capodimonte of Naples, and also in the Detroit Institute of Arts. Other paintings like “The Birth of St. John the Baptist,” “Venus and Cupid,” and “Saint Apollonia” rest respectively in such far-flung places as the Museo Nacional del Prado of Madrid, The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museo Soumaya, Mexico City. WINTER 2021
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Female Painters of the Renaissance
Sofonisba Anguissola (1532-1625) Born in the city of Cremona, Anguissola studied and apprenticed in the fine arts. She was known for her talents as a portraitist—particularly for her portraits of children. One of the first and most successful female court portrait painters, Sofonisba Anguissola became the official court painter of King Philip II of Spain.While in Rome, she also both befriended and was mentored by Michelangelo. Her success and recognition paved the way for future women artists to pursue professional careers. Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) Listed as one of the “donne addtrinatte” (women with doctorates), Fontana studied at the University of Bologna. She was the daughter of Prospero Fontana, a painter with the School of Bologna. In 1603, her services as a portraitist were requested in the Vatican by Pope Clement VIII. Mother of 11 children, Fontana was married to fellow painter Gian Paolo Zappi. Zappi ran the household affairs, acting as his wife’s assistant and agent. Elisabetta Sirani (1638-1665) Daughter of painter Giovanni Andrea Sirani, Elisabetta first trained in her father’s workshop. In her mid-teens, she took over the role of family breadwinner when her father became too ill to work. She taught students and had a steady stream of portrait commissions. In her short lifetime (she died mysteriously at the age of 27), Elisabetta Sirani produced more than 200 paintings, 15 etchings, and drawings that number in the hundreds.
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OSDIA Slogan Contest! Calling all creative minds, advertising copywriters, and wannabes! The Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) is sponsoring a contest open to all OSDIA members to develop a fresh, new, edgy slogan for our Order. Entries should be original, 20 words or fewer (shorter is preferred), and convey the essence of OSDIA and what it means to be member. Ideally, it will be used as a hashtag. The winner will be determined by a vote of the membership and will receive special recognition in Italian America magazine along with a $200 cash prize. The winning slogan will also be transitioned into a custom logo and will be used on a unique T-shirt that will be available for purchase. The contest closes at midnight Feb 25, 2021. All entries or questions should be emailed to membership@ osia.org. Please include your name and your lodge. Watch for updates on the contest and instructions on how to vote for your favorite slogan on our OSDIA Facebook page and on our website www.osia.org.
Celebrate Next Year with Scenes from Italy! The Sons of Italy Foundation 2021 Calendar Get yours while supplies last! Sons of Italy Foundation®
Sons of Italy Foundation Scholarships Apply Now! Every year, The Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) awards 10-12 scholarships to assist outstanding Italian-American students with their college and graduate studies. Grants awarded are up to $20,000 per student.
2021 CALENDAR
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Make any donation to the Sons of Italy Foundation, and we will send you a 2021 calendar exclusive to the Foundation’s supporters. Proceeds from the calendar will be used to preserve Italian-American culture, support educational excellence among Italian Americans, and improve lives in many other charitable areas.
Scholarship recipients will be recognized at this year’s SIF National & Education Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala on May 28, 2021. Each applicant will receive a one-year At-Large Membership to the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, which includes a one-year subscription to Italian America magazine.
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Deadline to Apply: February 28, 2021 The 2019 SIF scholarship recipients at the NELA Gala.
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OUR STORY
ITALIAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Historical Amount Donated to Sons of Italy Foundation The Franzone Family Estate Leaves Funds for Future Students Last year, the Franzone Family Estate donated the largest single sum ever received by the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF). The donation was made specifically to the SIF Scholarship Program. “Everything in moderation,” Louis Franzone was fond of saying. “And if you live that way, you’ll live a long life.” Louis and his wife, Rose, lived a modest, simple life, and true to Louis’s prediction, they both lived a long time. Louis lived to be 102, passing away in 2005. Rose—who was seven years younger—lived to be 109, passing away last year.
continued keeping active. At 95 years old, she began volunteering at the St. Mark’s School Library and remained there until she became a centenarian. With savings that had accumulated over several decades and with no children of their own, Louis and Rose wanted to contribute to a cause that was particularly important to them. “They wanted to give young men and women an opportunity to get a good education,” Monsignor Grimaldi said. “Neither of them completed high school, and learning from their struggles, they felt that education was the key to success in life.”
“They were products of their generation,” said MonAs proud Italian Americans, Louis and signor Joseph Grimaldi, who knew the Rose wanted to leave a portion of their Franzones since 1986 and currently serves savings to students of Italian-American Saint Bernard Church in Brooklyn, New descent. To do so, they turned to the York. “They grew up through some difSons of Italy Foundation. “The Foundaficult times.” Both Louis and Rose led tion was an organization that they felt was lives that were certainly shaped by having doing a lot of good for Italian-American experienced two world wars, the 1918 inyoung men and women to help further fluenza pandemic, and the Great Deprestheir education,” Monsignor Grimaldi sion— all before either of them turned 40. Louis and Rose Franzone said. Louis was born in 1903 in Palermo, in March 1998. The Sons of Italy Foundation, which Sicily. He had five brothers and one sister, who perished during the flu pandemic. Rose, whose par- provides about $80,000 in scholarships at its annual Naents were from a town called Vico Equense (20 minutes tional Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala, northeast of Sorrento), was born in 1910 in New York has granted millions to students since it was established City and lived with her parents and four brothers in a in 1959. “The Franzone family’s magnanimous donation will allow us to create a long lasting endowment in their tenement on 9th Avenue. family name and assist many students nationally,” said A proverbial “jack-of-all-trades,” Louis earned a living Joseph Sciame, Sons of Italy Foundation President. by picking up whatever jobs he could find. He worked as It was clear to the Monsignor that, rather than spending a longshoreman and a dress cutter. He sold life insurance and property insurance and real estate. It was through their money on themselves, the Franzones’ focus on savselling real estate that he met Rose in the 1930s when he ing and giving back was a consequence of their experience sold her family a house in the Lake Ronkonkoma area, part growing up and living through difficult times. of Long Island’s outward expansion at the time. In 1941, Louis and Rose were married at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan and settled in Brooklyn. For the next 64 years, they lived a modest life, working to earn what they made and saving what they worked to earn. “They never allowed material possessions to complicate their lives,” Monsignor Grimaldi said. This, he posited, likely resulted from having lived through the Great Depression. When Louis passed away in 2005, Rose WINTER 2021
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“They didn’t have a sense of entitlement, but of indebtedness,” Monsignor Grimaldi said. “They realized, ‘I’m not entitled. I have to work for everything I can get, and then if I am blessed to become accomplished, then I have an obligation to give back.” At the 32nd Annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala this May, the Sons of Italy Foundation will introduce The Franzone Family Scholarship, which will be given out in their memory every year in perpetuity. ITALIAN AMERICA
OUR STORY
ITALIAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Sons of Italy Foundation Donates $10,000 to Ronald McDonald House Last fall, the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) showed its love for children by making a $10,000 donation to the Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) in support of its “Share A Night” program. The RMH-NY provides temporary housing for families during their child’s cancer treatment. With eight major hospital systems in close proximity to its Manhattan location, the RMH-NY hosts children and families from around the world—many of whom would find it very difficult to afford the cost of lodging. In taking care of a family’s basic needs, the RMHNY enables family members to focus on more important things like doctor appointments, medical procedures, and coping with their battle against pediatric cancer. In 2019, RMH-NY hosted 1,136 pediatric cancer patients and 3,527 family members—providing a total of 28,650 family night stays. Their “Share A Night” program allows donors to cover the “share” of a night stay. Through the SIF’s $10,000 donation, a total of 285 family night stays will be covered and will go toward the most financially hard-pressed families.
A mother and her daughter during their stay at the Ronald McDonald House in New York. “The Sons of Italy Foundation contributes to all kinds of wonderful causes, and one such as this—that involves children who fight cancer alongside their families—is certainly a cause to be proud of supporting in the name of our Italian heritage and our spirit of generosity,” said Joseph Sciame, Sons of Italy Foundation President. In recognition of the SIF’s support, the RMH-NY will display a special “Welcome Home” plaque in their lobby.
100-Year-Old OSDIA Member Certificate Discovered Beneath Photo Twenty years ago, when MaryEllen MaryEllen herself began downsizing in Ambrosi was visiting her hometown of preparation for her move to the Virgin Port Chester, New York, she met an Islands, that she uncovered the centuryelderly lady on the sidewalk who unexold certificate beneath her photo like an pectedly asked her if she wanted some old piece of hidden artwork. framed photos. The elderly lady told The certificate initiated a new memMaryEllen that she was downsizing— ber—Canio Colangelo di Angelo—to that it was time to part with some of her the Loggia Emanuele Gianturco No. possessions. MaryEllen agreed to take The 100-year-old member certificate 380, an Order Sons & Daughters a look, and the lady escorted her to her salvaged by MaryEllen Ambrosi. of Italy in America (OSDIA) lodge garage, where she had several framed founded in Port Chester, New York, in pictures free for the taking. MaryEllen took a couple items: 1915. The lodge is no longer in existence, so MaryEllen a framed picture of the Virgin Mary and an old certificate contacted OSDIA’s National Office, offering to send in the that was dated June 1, 1920. artifact. The certificate is now preserved in the National She decided to use the frame of the certificate for one of her own photos, leaving the certificate behind it. So, for the past two decades, her photo hung on the wall, the certificate hidden from sight. It wasn’t until this past year, when WINTERAMERICA 2021 15 ITALIAN
Office in Washington, D.C., and the hunt has begun to track down any of the member’s descendants. Grazie mille, MaryEllen, per questo artefatto inestimabile! ITALIAN WINTERAMERICA 2021 15
BY MILES RYAN FISHER The famous felucca with its triangular sail. In 1873, one could see 1,000 of them sailing in San Francisco Bay. (U. S. National Park Service and San Francisco Maritime Museum
One of the many fish market stands that served patrons and fishermen alike prior to, in many cases, being converted into a restaurant. (Alessandro Baccari Collection WINTER 2021
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Feluccas at port. (U. S. National Park Service and San Francisco Maritime Museum)
ITALIAN AMERICA
More than 1,000 green-colored lateen-rigged sailboats with triangular sails stippled the San Francisco Bay. Feluccas, they were called—built in the same style as the small boats the Italian fishermen had used back home. Painted on the hull of each boat was the name of a patron saint, perhaps of their village in Liguria. Most of the early Italian fishermen hailed from the region of Liguria, where the Ligurian Sea made fishing a common occupation. They’d ventured to San Francisco after the Gold Rush of 1849 had opened up the waters of San Francisco Bay. After the Gold Rush took off, Meiggs Wharf was built in San Francisco in 1853. It extended between 1,600 and 2,000 feet from the shoreline into the bay and was the only major construction there for years, initially built to attract the lumber shipping industry.
A 1932 photograph of A. Sabella Fish Market. On the right are oysters and clams on ice. (Alessandro Baccari Collection)
Meanwhile, Italian fishermen, who’d grown up in the fishing villages of Italy and honed their craft on the Mediterranean waters, began flocking to the west coast of the United States after receiving word about the wealth of fish in San Francisco Bay. There were sand dams, rex sole, round-nosed sole, flounder, halibut, rock cod, salmon, and pompano. And then there was the one catch—a crustacean—that Fisherman’s Wharf would become known for: the Dungeness Crab. In the early days, beginning in Mid-November, the crabs were caught in abundance, and before fish markets and stands hung their big black cauldrons full of boiling WINTERAMERICA 2021 17 ITALIAN
A 1980 photograph of Frank Cresci inspecting the caught crabs. He sold crabs for 70 years, starting out as a boy and always wearing the hat his mother knitted for him. (Alessandro Baccari Collection)
water to cook the crabs, the fishermen set up their own cauldrons. There, on the dock, they would cook the crabs they caught and then serve them to visitors in paper cups— a simple crab cocktail. Decades after the Gold Rush, with the arrival of “The Great Migration” in the 1880s, an influx of Italians would usher in large numbers from another Italian region known for fishing: Sicily. By 1890, before the wharf that served these fishermen of San Francisco Bay would become known across the world as Fisherman’s Wharf, it would first be known as Italy Harbor.
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THE FISHERMEN’S FELUCCAS The Italian fishermen appeared at dawn, donning heavy shirts and rubber boots that came up to their hips. They boarded their feluccas and set sail into the bay for another demanding day at sea. The early morning fog covered the bay, making it impossible to see another man’s felucca. So the Italian fishermen took to singing. They bellowed arias by composers like Giuseppe Verdi as a way of informing their fellow fishermen about their location in the sea. If the bay was windy, the feluccas glided through the waters. If it was calm, however, the fishermen would be forced to take up their oars since feluccas were completely dependent upon the wind. At times, the fishermen managed to toss a grappling hook into the rudder chain of a steamer and hitch a ride, much to the displeasure of the steamer’s crew. The day at sea could be long, lasting from four in the morning to four-thirty in the afternoon. But if the fishermen hadn’t made their catch, they would remain out at sea for days. Oftentimes, the fishermen would gather aboard their feluccas and enjoy a meal at the end of their day. Once they returned to the harbor, they would dismantle their feluccas—every spar, rope, and sail—and bring each piece of their boat ashore, leaving the hull of the boat as an empty shell to be cleaned.
TWO TRAGEDIES STRIKE THE WHARF Then, as the wharf continued to develop and activity burgeoned, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire
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The trollies at Fisherman’s Wharf. (T photography)
brought destruction. Buildings were reduced to rubble, the harbor completely demolished. Yet the Italian fishermen continued to fish and the wharf remained active. This prompted reconstruction on top of the rubble left by the earthquake, which led to the wharf becoming the landmark it is today. As the wharf’s reconstruction foreshadowed growth, evolution came to the sea as well in the form of the felucca’s replacement: the Monterey Hull boat. The proverbial “Model T” of boats, the Monterrey Hull boat became the “second-generation” of fishing boats at the bay. Their gasoline engines made it possible to fish more days out of the year, as the boats no longer required the wind necessary to fill the felucca’s sails. The engines also allowed the fishermen to haul in bigger, larger nets and lines. With this enhanced capability, the fisherman’s beloved felucca faded until it all but disappeared from the bay. Today, only one felucca remains—a replica—which can be found in the San Francisco National Maritime Museum. The wharf’s second tragedy struck with the outbreak of World War II. Silence fell on Fisherman’s Wharf, as the Italian fishermen who were not naturalized citizens were designated “enemy aliens” by the United States Government. Not only were they prevented from fishing on the bay—affecting a total of two thousand Italian fishermen— but they were banished from the coastline altogether. All unnaturalized Italians were forced to leave the coast and were not permitted to set foot within 14 blocks of the bay. Meanwhile, the fishermen’s empty vessels were confiscated by the government and appropriated for wartime purposes, only to be returned after the war was over. Many of the boats were returned damaged and required serious repairs that cost the fishermen money from their own pockets. Some of the boats were returned unsalvageable. ITALIAN AMERICA
Ghirardelli Square with the sign above its building that was erected in 1915. (rarrarorro)
THE WHARF’S ATTRACTIONS
GHIRARDELLI SQUARE
Yet once again, the wharf outlasted tragedy. Many of the fish markets and stands evolved into restaurants, something which had begun in the 1930s just before the war and increased in the 1950s and 60s after the war was over. Renowned restaurants like Alioto’s, A. Sabella’s, Scoma’s, and Capurro’s opened and would operate for many decades. Some of them remain open today. And even as the fishing industry waned with catches not being as plentiful as they used to be, Fisherman’s Wharf continued to grow, developing into a universally known landmark, rife with restaurants, attractions, and even sea lions.
The square named for Domingo Ghirardelli, an Italian immigrant who founded the famous confectionery in San Francisco in 1852, is located at Pier 39. It is known for the 25-foot-high by 125-foot-long sign atop its building on the Wharf. Ghirardelli founded the business after an unsuccessful attempt at mining for gold. The famed sign was erected in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held that year.
PIER 39 The world-famous Pier 39 was the product of one man’s dream to transform a rundown pier into a “turnof-the-century fishing village.” In 1978, William Simmons would achieve his dream when Pier 39 opened after seven years of pier reconstruction. Today, it serves as one of San Francisco’s top tourist attractions—a marketplace full of restaurants and festival-oriented entertainment that hosts millions of visitors every year. In 1989, the pier also attracted a colony of sea lions that took up residence at the dock and have been steady tenants ever since.
PIER 45 Developed in 1926, Pier 45 originally served as the location where freighters would dock and transfer their freight to a railroad car. After World War II and the relocation of this trade zone, a breakwater was installed at the pier to protect the fishing fleet. Today, the pier serves as the Fisherman’s Wharf Seafood Center for wholesale fish companies. It is the largest such operation in the United States. Miles Ryan Fisher (mfisher@osia.org) is the Editor-in-Chief of Italian America magazine.
If you are interested in reading more about this, please see Alessandro Baccari, Jr.’s San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Find his book at www. arcadiapublishing.com As many as 1,700 sea lions have inhabited Pier 39 since their arrival in 1989. (Filip Fuxa) WINTERAMERICA 2021 19 ITALIAN
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BOOK REVIEWS
WINTER 2021
FROM THESE BROKEN STREETS
BASILICATA: Authentic Italy
Set in World War II Naples, Roland Merullo’s From These Broken Streets is a wellpaced read as its Neapolitan characters race to end Nazi occupation. The story opens in the time after Mussolini has been deposed, when Allied forces are en route to Naples and a Nazi colonel is tasked with holding the city and, as a last resort, razing it prior to retreating north.
Author Karen Heid takes us on her travels through Basilicata, one of Italy’s lesserknown regions. Originally put on the map by Carlo Levi’s Christ Stopped At Eboli, a book written about Levi’s experience as a dissident exile during World War II, Basilicata has been long-regarded as a neglected and poor region. Heid, however, casts Basilicata in a brilliant contemporary light as she experiences old, preserved traditions mixed with present-day life.
By Roland Merullo
As Nazi control of Naples grows more tenuous and Allied forces approach, Neapolitans realize that Nazi preparations to destroy the city are underway. This inspires the people to rise up and retake their city. Within this, Merullo depicts how disparate parts of the population—from the clergy to the mafia, from the scugnizzi (street kids) to the prostitutes—unite to sabotage Nazi efforts. After all, they understand their own city better than any outsiders do.
Surely there were thousands of young men who’d never wanted to be in Hitler’s army. But it was the vulgar and violent ones who left an impression. It was the killers and torturers, the rapists and sadists, the Gestapo monsters. Hitler’s boys. And Mussolini, too, because there was no lack of Italian Fascists with the same appetite for violence and humiliation, the same need to prove to themselves and everyone else how right they were. The experience is told through varying perspectives of Neapolitan characters, alternating with each chapter. There is the scugnizzo, Armando; the aging mafioso, Aldo; his paid lover, Rita; his daughter, Lucia; and her bookish boyfriend, Giuseppe. Through them, you will experience the suffering and horror they endured during Nazi occupation, and you will join them as they take up arms to drive the Nazis from Naples. A novel in which bad people do good and good people do bad in their fight for the same cause, From These Broken Streets is an engrossing and edifying read that shows how such dissimilar individuals are invariably linked together by the city that each one of them calls home.
Visit www.osia.org to find a selection of recent books written by OSDIA members! WINTER 2021
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By Karen Heid
On Heid’s eventful journey into many towns throughout Basilicata, you’ll experience local celebrations like the Sfilata dei Turchi (Parade of the Turks) and Il Maggio (The Ancient Marriage of Trees). You’ll walk with her on Il Pecorso delle Sette Pietre (The Path of the Seven Stones) and zipline with her on the Volo dell’Angelo (Flight of the Angel). You’ll visit the “cursed” town of Colobraro—and hear the words, “It isn’t true, but I believe it.” In addition to getting to know the locals and the landscapes, you will learn how present-day Basilicata reflects the past, a history steeped in the struggles of southern Italy, particularly as it relates to northern Italy. The disparity that Garibaldi intended to remedy through Italy’s unification in 1861, paved the way for exploitation and political greed that harkens America’s Gilded Age. This led to various consequences, from the formation of Robin Hood-like brigands as well as a land plagued by emigration. However, at the end of the day, the sun will set on Basilicata’s ancient towns and natural surroundings, warmed with the friendliness of its inhabitants. So while it may be difficult to make travel arrangements at this point, take a trip through literature to experience a place that many never see.
DID YOU KNOW? In Basilicata, the inhabitants are referred to as Lucani, after the original name—Lucania—that was given to the region by the Lucanians who controlled Central Italy.The Normans are credited with naming the region Basilicata, after the 11th-century basilica in the town of Acerenza. ITALIAN AMERICA
On The Bookshelf Books by and about Italian Americans
Recipes My Nonna Taught Me by Francena Hall
Celebrate Lent & St. Joseph’s Day with a copy of my cookbook Recipes My Nonna Taught Me for the special sale price of $10 with FREE S & H.
Eggplant Dip This can be served hot, cold, or at room temperature with crusty Italian bread. 1 medium eggplant peeled and diced 1 medium chopped onion 2 diced tomatoes 2 cloves minced garlic Fresh basil (dried is fine, too) * Just remember you can use more fresh because dried is stronger. Salt and pepper to taste Saute eggplant, onion, and garlic in olive oil. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, and basil. Enjoy!!
Send $10 to:
Francena Hall 125 Boyce Road Centerville, OH 45458 937-433-7313 francena514@gmail.com
Makes a wonderful stocking stuffer, hostess gift, and an addition to your cookbook collection.
Father Nicholas A. Marziani, Jr. Presents A two-PArt series
Holy Fool, Holy Father
AwArd-winning novelist
Gina Iafrate
A young Russian and his lady companion discover an unexpected call as they come of age, bringing them all the way to Rome in order to embrace a destiny that will astonish them while they bless the world.
SEQUEL TO HOLY FOOL HOLY FATHER
FOOLS’ JOURNEY
THE SHOWDOWN
Fools’ Journey: The Showdown In this sequel, the pope leads an overland expedition to Jerusalem to confront an ancient pretender who threatens to enslave the world in the wake of global chaos.
NICHOLAS A. MARZIANI, JR.
Will he return alive to Rome?
Gina Iafrate presents fast narrative and heartrending family saga novels that allow readers to travel the world without leaving the comforts of home. These sweeping inspirational tales hurtle across time, countries, and characters. They explore how love heals, reconciles, rebuilds, and restores — even as life continually presents tragedy and misfortunes. Available Through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Chapters Indigo, and Local Bookstores.
Both titles now available in Paperback and Electronic Formats on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3dsJm6K) and wherever fine books are sold. WINTERAMERICA 2021 21 ITALIAN
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The Founding of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America
Discorso del 22 Giugno 1905, dato del Dottore Vincenzo Sellaro
Inaugural Address by Founder Fondatore dei Vincenzo Sellaro, M.D. “Figli D’Italia in America” New York City June 22, 1905
Today is the 22 nd of June 1905. Today we are Blessed with a magnificent day of sunshine. Today the Almighty has brought us together for a purpose. With all of you, and with my most intimate compatriots, let’s say our brothers and their wives, our sisters, who represent every corner of Italy. All of us are Italians! No matter what part of Italy we come from, we are first and foremost Italians. I, Vincenzo Sellaro, happen to be from Sicily; our pharmacist, Ludovico Ferrara, is from Piedmont; our attorney, Antonio Marzullo, is from Campania; the sculptor, Giuseppe Carlino, is from Lazio; and our barbers, Pietro Viscardi from Calabria and Roberto Merlo from Tuscany. We cannot continue to see Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro each other and treat each other as sub-nationalities of the Italian Peninsula. By continuing this way we will not only remain weak as a nationality within the larger American society, but will also continue to find it ever more difficult to achieve our rightful place of influence and respect in the role we must take in making this country greater than ever before. This wonderful country can only become the richer and more cultured as a result of it. Today we are gathered together for one main purpose, that I want to believe someday will become a very imporWINTER 2021
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Ricerche e Testo di Frank P. Oliveri
Oggi è il 22 Giugno 1905. Oggi siamo stati Benedetti con una stupenda giornata di sole. Oggi L’Onnipotente ci ha radunato tutti insieme per uno scopo. Con tutti voi, e con i conpatrioti più intimi, diciamo i nostri fratelli e le nostre mogli, le nostre sorelle che rappresentano ogni angolo d’Italia. Tutti noi siamo Italiani! Non importa da che parte d’Italia veniamo, noi siamo prima di tutto Italiani. Io, Vincenzo Sellaro, sono Siciliano; il nostro farmacista, Ludovico Ferrari, è Piemontese; il nostro avvocato, Antonio Marzullo, è della Campania; lo scultore, Giuseppe Carlino, è del Lazio; e i nostri barbieri, Pietro Viscardi della Calabria e Roberto Merlo della Toscana. Noi non possiamo continuare a vederci ed a trattarci come diverse nazionalità della Penisola Italiana. Continuando così, noi non solo rimaniamo deboli come una nazionalità dentro una più grande società Americana, ma anche continuamo a trovare sempre più difficile a raggiungere il nostro dovuto posto d’influenza, e rispetto, nel ruolo che noi dobbiamo prendere, per rendere questo paese sempre più grande. Questo meraviglioso paese può solo diventare più ricco e più culturale per via del nostro contributo. Oggi noi siamo tutti radunati insieme per uno scopo ITALIAN AMERICA
tant part of American history. We are the newest of the immigrants to this great country, and because of the fierce and undeserved prejudice and brutal discrimination that we have had to suffer for nearly two decades, we must begin to work together for our common good. This is the reason that today I have a dream, the same dream that I have every single day that the prejudice, this painful discrimination against our people, will cease to exist. My hope is that this can and will happen within one generation from this very moment. But how? I ask myself every day. We must educate ourselves, and insist that our children receive the best and highest education that is possible. Only through this education will we understand the ways and beliefs of this marvelous adopted country of ours, and be treated as equal and worthy American citizens.
principale, che voglio credere che un giorno saremo una parte importante della storia Americana. Siamo gli immigranti più recenti di questo grande paese, e per via del pregiudizio e della discriminazione aggressiva, e non meritata, che noi abbiamo dovuto soffrire per almeno due decenni. Noi dobbiamo cominciare a lavorare insieme per il nostro bene. Per questo oggi io ho un sogno, lo stesso sogno che ho ogni giorno, che questo pregiudizio e questa discriminazione dolorosa contro il nostro popolo cesserà di esistere. La mia speranza è che questo accadrà almeno in una generazione di questo momento. Ma come? Mi chiedo ogni giorno. Dobbiamo istruirci ed insistere che i nostri figli ricevono il meglio ed il più alto delle istruzioni. Solo attraverso questa istruzione capieremo i modi e le credenze di questo nostro meraviglioso paese adottato, e saremo trattati come cittadini Americani eguali e degni.
We left our native land for a new life in order to survive. Our former country with its government demonstrated, after Abbiamo lasciato la so many years of trying, nostra terra nativa per that it was simply not cauna nuova vita, al fine di pable of providing us the sopravvivere. Il nostro life we deserved, a decent ex-paese con il suo governo ha dimostrato dopo life, a respectable life. tanti anni di tentativi che The majority of us have semplicemente, non era come to these shores as in grado di fornirci la vita the poorest of all Italians, che meritavamo, una vita and the least educated dignitosa, una vita rispetof most of Europe. But tabile. La maggior parte di today I must also share noi è arrivata su queste cowith you that we are also ste come la più povera di the most courageous for tutti gli Italiani, e la meno having made the decision istruita della maggior parto come here, for having left our motherland and The only known photo other than his headshot, Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro te dell’Europa. Ma oggi poses with his wife, Maria Lignante, who was from Naples. devo anche condividere our families behind in the con voi che siamo anche hope of not finding a new i più coraggiosi per aver preso la decisione di venire qui, life, but to earn a better life. Where only a few of us, before leaving Italy, were di aver lasciato alle spalle la nostra madrepatria, le nostre fortunate enough to have received an education, most of famiglie, nella speranza di non trovare una nuova vita, ma us have reached these shores as common laborers, tenant di guadagnare una vita migliore. farmers, field workers and shepherds, gardeners, fishermen. But many as well arrived here as artisans, such as masons, WINTERAMERICA 2021 23 ITALIAN
Ladove pochi di noi, prima di lasciare l’Italia, hanno avuto la fortuna di aver ricevuto un’istruzione, molti di noi ITALIAN WINTERAMERICA 2021 23
carpenters, stonecutters, jewelers, bakers, blacksmiths, cooks, shoemakers, barbers, tailors, and miners. Second to none has our contribution been of tradesmen, lawyers, teachers, accountants, entrepreneurs, pharmacists, and yes, doctors as well.
hanno raggiunto queste coste come braccianti comuni, agricoltori dei campi, contadini e pastori, coltivatori, pescatori. Ma altrettanti artigiani, come muratori, carpentieri, tagliatori di pietre, gioiellieri, fornai, fabbri, cuochi, calzolai, barbieri, sarti e minatori. Secondo a nessuno è stato il nostro contributo di commercianti, avvocati, insegnanti, commercialisti, imprenditori, farmacisti, e si, anche dottori.
One of our most important objectives should be to reclaim the rest of our family members left behind, and as soon as possible. The Uno dei nostri obietother objective that all The original charter of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America, tivi più importanti doof us must keep in mind signed on June 22, 1905. It now hangs in the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. vrebbe essere quello di at all times is that our recuperare il resto dei presence in this great country, which has received so many of us, in whatever we membri della nostra famiglia lasciati indietro al più presto do and say, must always enhance its greatness with every possibile. L’altro obiettivo che tutti noi dobbiamo tenere turn. We ask only for the opportunity to earn a living. We a mente in ogni momento è che la nostra presenza in are not here to be a burden. By staying united and helping questo grande paese, che ha ricevuto cosi tanti di noi, in one another we will realize everything and anything that qualunque facciamo e dicciamo, deve migliorare la sua grandezza in ogni momento. Chiediamo solo l’opportuwe wish to achieve. Some say that history has dealt us a lousy card, being nità di guadagnarci da vivere! Non siamo qui per essere un that we are the last to come to America, but after all, was peso! Rimanendo uniti e aiutandoci a vicenda realizzeremo it not one of our own who discovered America? And yet tutto, e tutto cio che desideriamo ottenere. another of ours that gave it its name? I say to them that the others, however, for the most part came here with masters,
Alcuni dicono che la storia ci ha dato una carta scadente, dicendo che siamo gli ultimi a venire in America, dopotut-
Tributo a Vincenzo Sellaro By Sergio Potenzano
Measuring at 100 centimeters by 90 centimeters (approximately 3.5 feet by 3 feet), Sergio Potenzano’s colorful portrait of Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro was donated last fall to the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America on behalf of the Capitolo di Roma Lodge #3002 in Rome, Italy, and Lodge Founder and President Carmelo Cutuli.The framed painting now proudly hangs at the entrance of the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
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ITALIAN AMERICA
came here as slaves in many cases, and continued to suffer dreadfully as their wretched time of despair would never seem to come to an end. We, on the other end, have come of our own accord, we are a free people, without masters and are the slaves of no one! We are a proud people! It is because of this that today I have a dream and a hope that someday, even if it takes one hundred more years before we are fully accepted, our children and their children’s children, even if a single drop of Italian blood continues to run through their veins, will be able and proud to continue to carry our traditions, our culture, and our language. I am absolutely certain that all of you have the same dream and the same hope that I have, but let us now step out of that dream, leap out of it and do all that has to be done to make it a reality! It is up to us and what we decide to do today! May The Good Lord always Protect this wonderful country. God Bless America and God Bless Italy!
to, non è stato uno dei nostri a scoprire l’America? E poi un’altro dei nostri gli ha dato il suo nome? Dico loro che tanti degli altri tuttavia, per la maggior parte sono venuti qui con i padroni, sono venuti come schiavi in molti casi, e continuarono a soffrire atrocemente, poiche il loro tempo di disperazione apparentemente non passava mai. D’altra parte, siamo venuti da soli, siamo un popolo libero, senza padroni, non siamo schiavi di nessuno! Siamo un popolo orgoglioso! È per questo che oggi ho un sogno e una speranza che un giorno, anche se ci vorranno altri cento anni prima di essere pienamente accettati, i nostri figli e i figli dei loro figli, anche se portano una sola goccia di sangue Italiano, saranno in grado ed orgogliosi di continuare a portare le nostre tradizioni, la nostra cultura e la nostra lingua. Sono abbastanza certo che tutti noi abbiamo lo stesso sogno, e la stessa speranza che ho, ma cerchiamo di uscire dal sogno, balzare via da esso, e fare il possibile per farlo realizzare! Dipende da noi da cosa decidiamo di fare oggi! Possa Il Buon Signore Proteggere sempre questo meraviglioso paese. Dio Benedica l’America e l’Italia!
A Note from the Researcher and Translator This research was done during the years 2001 and 2004. It took place across several continents and involved speaking with people representing 12 to 15 countries and the cooperation of nearly 100 families, descendants of some of the original founders, and descendants of some of those who were present on the day that Dr. Sellaro gave his address. My own paternal grandfather, Francesco Paolo Oliveri, was one of those present on that momentous day in 1905. Piecing together various diaries that had been kept and word of mouth passed on—shared with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—still did not allow me to produce the entire address as I would have liked. While the research that had to be done was a difficult and challenging task, nonetheless, it was the very scant with seemingly disconnected pieces of information that finally and thankfully allowed me to put it all together and reconstruct it to the best of my ability. It became very evident to me that Dr. Sellaro’s own personal pain was sharpened to such a level, as he witnessed the humiliation his people continued to experience, that ultimately led him to the address that, for so many, became a life-changing event. My own paternal grandfather referred to it as “a memorable day in history and a defining moment in my life.” The more I reflected on Dr. Sellaro’s words, the more his message to Italian immigrants became very clear to me. He was laying a path of renewed hope for them in this, their new world. As I was inspired by the passion that those very words conveyed to me, I made it my goal to attempt to tap into what he felt, to get into his mind, his heart, and his soul. Due to the fact that there was so much missing of the original address, as a researcher and writer, I was compelled to take the liberty of using my own words, placing them back into Dr. Sellaro’s tongue, giving them life once again, and thereby conveying his wonderful message and his passion. It is my sincerest hope that I have done him justice and honored his memory. Frank P. Oliveri WINTERAMERICA 2021 25 ITALIAN
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OSDIA NATION
OSDIA LODGES AT WORK
OHIO Member of the John Pirelli Lodge #1633 in Dayton—and Immediate Past President of the Grand Lodge of Ohio—Brian Andzik was recognized on September 24, 2020, as “Daytonian of the Week” by the Dayton Daily News. This honor was due to his extraordinary efforts in organizing and managing the lodge’s “Italian Fall Festa,” one of the largest Italian festivals in the state. The annual festa, which is held in September and attracts 40,000 visitors over a threeday period, is an event made possible by many volunteers from the 500+ members of the Pirelli Lodge. As a result of the pandemic, Brian and his team of volunteers re-engineered the festival so that it was a drive-through event in which the Dayton and Southwest Ohio community could order and pick up their favorite Italian food specialties—from mufaletta sandwiches and calzones to tiramisu and cannoli … and, of course,
Immediate Past President of the Grand Lodge of Ohio Brian Andzik sports his Italian Fall Festa apron on his way to being named “Daytonian of the Week.” spaghetti and meatballs. Meanwhile, live music was performed by tenor Aaron Caruso and his band, The Sungilli Trio, for the line of drivers. More than 4,000 cars were served over the three-day festa and lots of positive attention placed on the Order! Prior to its festa, the John Pirelli Lodge #1633 also found another quite unique way to help the commu-
nity. When the Dayton Census Office needed locations to conduct employee orientations, two office employees— and members of the Pirelli Lodge— stepped in with the support of their lodge. Administrative Clerk Patrick Meehan and Administrative Manager Paul DeMasi opened the lodge’s outdoor pavilion in order to process over 250 Enumerators, part of a cohort of the 1,400 employees needed to document the population that covers a nine-county area in Ohio. Bravo, Patrick, Paul, and the Pirelli Lodge for your patriotic support!
Census workers conduct the training of new hires at the Pirelli lodge.
PENNSYLVANIA The Nicola Misasi Loggia #1277 of Sewickley starred on-screen as the setting for multiple scenes of the newly released film “That’s Amore.” The movie, whose screenplay was co-
Productions and hired a crew and cast to film the movie in July 2018, utilizing the Nicola Misasi Lodge to host some scenes.
A scene filmed at the lodge, featuring Dave as Rocco (bottom left) and Joe as Gino (facing).
The exterior of the Nicola Misasi Loggia #1277. WINTER 2021
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written by lodge member Joe Puglisi and Dave Petti, is about four ItalianAmerican characters who endure adversity and confusion to find friendship and love. Joe and Dave formed a production company called Little Italy
Joe and Dave play the main male characters (Gino Mascari and Dr. Rocco Costa, respectively) in the film, which also features stand-up comedian Tammy Pescatelli (as Lucia Lombardi) and Barbara Russell as her mother (Rosa). Barbara appeared several times on “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” and was an icon in the Pittsburgh area, having performed in many films and theater productions. “That’s Amore” is currently available to stream for free on Amazon Prime. ITALIAN AMERICA
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
MASSACHUSETTS Last year, marked the 100th anniversary of the Piave Fiume Lodge #1036 of Watertown. Although celebrations were postponed due to the pandemic, lodge members managed to gather at Columbus Delta in Watertown Square for a wreath presentation on Columbus Day. The monument on the delta was originally proposed by the Watertown Knights of Columbus Council #155 with support from the Piave Fiume Lodge. The name “Columbus Delta” was approved by the Watertown Board of Selectmen with the dedication on October 12, 1940. The monument is a tribute to Christopher Columbus for his four grand voyages. Engraved on the stone is the phrase:
HE GAINED A WORLD HE GAVE THAT WORLD ITS GRANDEST LESSON ON! SAIL ON! “This year more than ever, Italians need to come together and celebrate their heritage,” said Antonio Mastantuono, President of the Piave Fiume Lodge #1036. “Instead of tearing down history, we must celebrate it. We must educate each other, Italian and non-Italian alike. Italians have brought so much to America from the arts, science, culture, food, music, and more. None of this culture would be possible if it wasn’t for Christopher Columbus.”
WASHINGTON Last October, the Bella Vita Lodge #2285 of Olympia held its first fundraiser since the onset of the pandemic. They hosted a drive-by takeout lunch that included a Verone’s Italian sausage sandwich and garlic fries. In honor of Columbus Day, every takeout order came with an informational flyer about Christopher Columbus. By the end of the day, everyone who volunteered was healthy, and the fundraiser was a great success! “Because of this pandemic, we have not been able to conduct any of our fundraising events,” said Tony Bisceglia Anderson, Bella Vita lodge member and OSDIA National Financial Secretary. “So we decided to get together and have a fun-raiser. We raised some money, and more importantly, we were able to see each other in person. As I like to say, ‘Anything we accomplish in life is never accomplished alone, but TOGETHER.’”
Members of the Bella Vita Lodge mask-up and raise funds for good causes.
Lodge members at the Columbus Delta, including Lodge President Antonio Mastantuono, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts President Denise Furnari, and Sons of Italy Foundation Trustee James DiStefano.
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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
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BY MARIA COLETTA MCLEAN
We’d arrived on the outskirts of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on a late August afternoon and wandered the rows of tombstones with arched tops bleached white by the sun, some leaning slightly forward, their etched names now filled with spongy moss. Many names were illegible, row after row of small stones dated in the fall of 1918 without a wreath or a flower in sight. We got to the end of the row and waited. My mother stood in the sunlight, a bouquet of flowers dangling from her hand, looking lost. My father called out to her. “Josie,” he said. “It’s here.” I was only a few feet away but somehow my mother got to the gravesite first. She had her hand on a tall white tower with a cross on the top. Her fingers were tracing the letters that ran its length: MARIA GIORGIO BORN AUG. 15 1891 DIED NOV. 1 1918 My grandmother’s stone was graceful, tall and slender, with a quiet WINTER 2021
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elegance. We had not seen another stone anything like it—an obelisk of sandstone standing high above the other graves, unique but not flamboyant. “It’s pretty big,” my sister said. “Do you think it cost a lot?” “Doesn’t matter,” my mother said. The cost of things always mattered to our mother, but here, in the Greensburg Catholic Cemetery, we had a mother who’d bought a dozen red roses at the florist without asking the price. A mother who intended to lay those roses on a grave to wilt in the sun and not think it was a waste of good money. A mother who always told us that the amount of money you spent had nothing to do with how much you loved someone. “No photo of her,” my mother said, as if they were the saddest words in the English language. My father looked around before he answered. “They don’t put photos on graves here,” he said. “In America.” Maria Giorgio’s headstone at Greensburg Catholic Cemetery in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, a town about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. ITALIAN AMERICA
her nose and her tears, and exchanged the handkerchief for her address book. The clasp on the purse clicked tight and my mother flipped to the back page where she’d written a street name and number in black ink. My dad drove into town with my mother reading aloud the street signs. “We’re looking for Tremont and Highland Street,” she said.
The four Giorgio children who survived the 1918 flu pandemic. Top left to bottom right are Rocco, Josephine, Fidel, and Connie. Taken in 1919, this served as their passport photo for their return to Italy. Sadly, a photo of Maria Giorgio and Lena does not exist. She lay the drooping roses in front of the grave and said, “My sister’s name’s not here.” I’d forgotten that my mother’s five-year-old sister had also died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. We searched the surrounding graves in the hope of finding her sister’s name, Lena, but found nothing. My father said, “They probably buried the little girl in the same grave as her mother.” “But her name’s not here,” my mother repeated. In the silent cemetery, the afternoon heat sat on our shoulders until my father put his hand on my mother’s back and we trudged back up the hill. As soon as we settled back in the hot, stuffy car, my mother took her handkerchief from her purse, wiped
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My mother was searching for Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, where she’d been baptized. She hoped that the priest would be able to tell her something about her mother, but the chances that the same parish priest would still be living 42 years later seemed pretty unlikely. On a triangular patch of land, where Tremont Avenue met Highland Street, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church stood looking small and shabby. We didn’t have an appointment—no one knew we were coming. But my mother just walked up the cement steps and pulled open the door. Inside, the familiar scent of incense and mildew greeted us. I’d barely dipped my fingers in the holy water to bless myself with the sign of the cross before my mother hustled past the Stations of the Cross, toward the front of the church. We caught up to her as she genuflected before the altar, and then she was off again, leading the way down a narrow hall to the church office as if she’d been here many times before.
eyes that made you stand up straight the minute he looked your way. He beckoned us into his office as if he’d been expecting us and ushered us toward the waiting wooden chairs. My mother hadn’t packed her Sunday hat but wore instead a cotton kerchief over her dark hair. She tugged at the knot of the kerchief that rested beneath her chin before she recited her story. “My parents, Antonio and Maria Giorgio, and my older brother, Rocco—he was just a baby—emigrated from Italy to America in 1912,” she told him. “They settled here in Greensburg. They belonged to this parish. The rest of us—four more— were all born here. You baptized Lena and Connie Giorgio in 1916, and Fidele and myself in 1918. Then the influenza epidemic hit. My mother died in October 1918.” Father Albanese nodded and nodded as he tapped his fingers together. “I wonder, Father,” my mother continued rather hesitantly. “Do you
A woman sat at a desk. Both the woman and the desk looked like they’d been there a long time. “Is Father Albanese in?” my mother asked. Before the woman could answer, out stepped an old, frail priest with
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, where Father Albanese uncovered the records of Maria Giorgio and Lena.
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remember her? Do you remember Maria Giorgio?” So many unanswered questions hung in that moment. In my mother’s dark eyes were longing and sorrow. All her life she’d missed a mother she didn’t remember, having been only two years old when her mother died. There was no photo of Maria Giorgio (née Cavallo)—neither in my grandfather’s steerage trunk, nor among his belongings—and my mother could not remember her mother’s face. In the silence I could hear the ticking of the mantle clock, and I wished we could stay suspended in this moment, just before the priest would tell my mother that he didn’t remember Maria Giorgio, and I would have to hear my mother swallow her tears. Father Albanese pulled out a large record book from his bookshelves and began to riffle through. “So many deaths that month,” he said. “It’s hard to remember them all.” He flipped through pages yellowed with age and stained with black ink. My mother leaned forward in her chair. She straightened her slim shoulders as if to bear the weight of his words. “Here it is,” he said, “the death record for Maria. The only information that I have is that she resided in Greensburg and died at the age of 27. Cause of death is listed as influenza. OSIA members benefit from a 10% discount on all our services!
The cemetery is listed as Holy Sacrament but it’s been renamed Greensburg Catholic Cemetery. She was buried there on October 31, 1918.” “There’s also a listing for the child,” he continued. “Lena Cavallo Giorgio. She died the following day, also from influenza, and was buried on November 4, 1918, also at Holy Sacrament Cemetery. Her full name according to the baptism records was Donata Elena (Lena) Giorgio. She was five years old.” He opened his hands toward my mother, as if he was offering a blessing, “She was tall and slim like you,” he said. “Same dark hair. Kind. A lovely smile. She loved her family very much—you could see it on her face.” He leaned back in his chair and became silent. Perhaps the act of remembering particular parishioners and deaths had tired him out. When he finally spoke again, his voice had faded back 42 years into the fall of 1918 when he’d buried more parishioners in a month than most priests buried in a lifetime. “In October,” he said, “the influenza spread so fast that the Archbishop ordered us to close the churches. Hundreds got sick. They died so quickly. The death cart collected dozens of bodies every day. Families had to wrap their loved one’s bodies in sheets and pile them in the cart.
Drivers took the bodies directly to the cemetery. There weren’t enough gravediggers. The men of the parish dug graves, sometimes for their own wives and children. I walked the streets of Hilltop with the death cart so I could administer the last rites.” In the ensuing silence, I heard my father sniff and pull his handkerchief from his pocket. I saw my mother suck in her lower lip as if she couldn’t bear the words bed sheet, death cart. “I’m sure that your sister Lena was buried with your mother,” said the priest. “Or nearby.” Forty more years would pass before I returned to the Greensburg Catholic Cemetery to research the burials recorded during the influenza epidemic. The records book was ancient, the pages yellowed, the ink smudged. In November 1918, a five-year old girl named Lena was buried the day after Maria Cavallo Giorgio. She was not buried with her mother, but her grave was just a few steps away. A tiny tombstone made of sandstone that bore no name. I left roses for her, too. Maria Coletta McLean (maria.colettamclean@gmail.com) is the author of the best-selling memoirs, My Father Came From Italy and Summers in Supino: Becoming Italian. She teaches Creative Writing at Seneca College.
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ITALIAN AMERICA
FROM THE NATIONAL
WHAT NATIONAL DOES FOR YOU
From the President’s Desk
By Nancy DiFiore Quinn
The 2020 holidays are over, and I miss all the hustle and bustle and seeing my friends and family, even if it was on a limited basis. We have all been waiting for 2020 to be over and to enter 2021—and we are finally HERE! Looking back, I can’t believe that COVID has been with us for ten months. Hopefully, the vaccine will help drive back this infection, and we can see our way to some kind of normalcy in the next few months. Usually the National President has information to share in regards to places visited, but this is not the case in my presidency. I don’t have any pictures to share with you, but I am hoping that before my term is over, I will have the opportunity to plan some short visits. I hope you took the opportunity to watch our Wednesday evening OSDIA Live Interview Series organized by National 1st VP Bob Bianchi and the Technology Committee. We had two seasons of interviews with some interesting Italian American celebrities, like Joe Mantegna, Deana Martin, Astronaut Mike Massimino, and many others. Season 3 will begin on Wednesday, January 27, and a kickoff interview regarding Alzheimer’s will air on Wednesday, January 20. Our staff at the National Office is working diligently, and I can honestly say that in my 40+ years in the Order, never has there been a better group of employees working for OSDIA. They are one of the main reasons why we are in such good shape during this terrible time in history. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to COO Joseph DiTrapani, Miles Fisher, Justin Smith, Adam Jacobs, and Emily Knoche!!
I would also like to thank our amazing National Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) President Robert Ferrito and his CSJ team. They have been working nonstop on the Columbus Day and Columbus statue issues. Just when you think things might have quieted down, somewhere in the country there is a city or state knocking down our statues. Please consider making a donation to the CSJ because they are in need of funding to fight for our cause. Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) President Joseph Sciame is working attentively on all SIF programs, which have been doing remarkably well through the pandemic. The 2021 NELA Gala is already in the planning process—either “virtual” or “in-person.” This is not an easy event to coordinate so I thank him for his expertise and many years of dedication to our Order. Also, our National Scholarship applications are posted on our website at www.osia.org. Please access the website and see if someone you know qualifies for these scholarships. Lastly, I would like to thank all of our National Officers and State Presidents who have kept “The Lion on the Move”! The lion is a symbol of personal strength, courage, and leadership. It is so important to keep our membership strong and our financial status even stronger. Until we are completely out of COVID, it is up to each and every one of us to keep OSDIA alive and well across the country. First Gent John and I hope that you had a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here’s hoping that the 2021 holidays will find us all well and in a position to get back to our “normal” lives. Here’s to a healthy and successful 2021!!
OSDIA Email Policy Protecting Your Privacy During the Plenary Session held last August, the OSDIA Supreme Council adopted a policy that member email address will never be sold and will only be used for official OSDIA communications and member benefits. Any member may opt out of receiving emails from OSDIA by simply unsubscribing.
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ITALIAN WINTERAMERICA 2021 31
THE SONS OF ITALY FOUNDATION ®
HELPING THOSE IN NEED
The Foundation Focus By Joseph Sciame, President
As you will see throughout this issue, the Sons of Italy Foundation has had quite a busy and productive year in spite of facing the difficulties brought on by the pandemic. First and foremost, I would like to recognize the late Louis and Rose Franzone, who bequeathed an extraordinary amount to our SIF Scholarship Program. This amount will last long into the future and allow us to help numerous Italian-American students afford higher education. This year will be no different, as we are set to award several scholarships at our National Education & Awards Leadership (NELA) Gala. Please see page 13 for more information about our scholarship program. The NELA Gala will be taking place this year, and we are excited to honor some extraordinary honorees and award our handsome scholarships. While we have not decided whether it will be virtual or in-person, the date is set for Friday, May 28, 2021. Please stay tuned for more information. In this past year, there has been a terrible amount of hardship thrust upon all of us. But through it all, the SIF has been able to accomplish some wonderful things. Most recently, as you will see on page 15, we donated $10,000 to the Ronald McDonald House of New York. That our funds will help children and their families who, together,
battle pediatric cancer is something we should all be proud of. We also donated $15,000 to The V Foundation for Cancer Research. In addition to this, we gave our seventh modified van to a wounded veteran through Help Our Military Heroes. This year, we have pledged to give our eighth van! Please consider donating to this effort using the donation slip below. 100% of every dollar that is donated using this donation slip will go straight toward providing a van to a veteran in need. I am happy to report that our Direct Mail Program performed remarkably well this past year. It is clear that in face of hardship, many have opened their hearts and given what they could. Once again, our Sons of Italy Foundation calendars did really well. Don’t go through 2021 without one. See page 13 for details on how you can get your calendar today! As you can see, from scholarships to vans to children fighting cancer, the SIF supports a wide variety of causes, something that speaks highly of the kind of Foundation that we are. We help others in need in many different areas—all of them worthy, all of them in honor of our Italian heritage. Please join us in our mission to undertake such charitable work!
YES! I would like 100% of my donation to help injured veterans. Please accept my tax-deductible donation towards the Sons of Italy Foundation’s 2021 Help Our Military Heroes Van To donate online, visit www.osia.org/sif 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 “Sons of Italy Foundation”)
Mail to:
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Sons of Italy Foundation Attn: HOMH Van 219 E Street NE Washington, DC 20002 ITALIAN AMERICA
THE COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE ®
FIGHTING DEFAMATION
The CSJ Perspective
By Robert M. Ferrito, President
With the winter upon us, things have finally quieted in regard to Columbus. However, there will be individual towns and counties in which our holiday will face pressure, and we are staying vigilant so that we can fight any attempt to quietly remove or diminish Columbus Day. This past year, we endured an assault on Columbus Day and our Columbus statues unlike any other year. Undoubtedly, the pandemic contributed to this—and particularly to the destruction, defacement, and removal of our statues. I want to thank every reader and OSDIA member who took the time to aid us in our fight to preserve our holiday and our statues. Whether it was through a letter or a phone call or a donation, every ounce of effort helped us fight a fierce battle together. While we continue to monitor the Columbus situation, let us not ignore the other areas in which Italian Americans face discrimination and stereotyping—namely, anything that links Italian-American culture to the mob. Recently, General Mills aired a despicable commercial for Honey Nut Cheerios that exploited this stereotype. I find it infuriating that in our society, stereotyping Italian Americans is deemed acceptable. General Mills would certainly never air such a commercial that stereotypes other ethnicities in
such a fashion. So let me ask you, why is it okay for them to do so when it involves Italian Americans? In addition to this, an issue has arisen with regard to the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. The Bills organization is attempting to trademark the name of their most committed group of fans: the “Bills Mafia.” Meanwhile, teams like the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians are removing their names because they are offensive to Native Americans. So let me ask you, once again, why is it okay to stereotype when it involves Italian Americans? This is clearly a rhetorical question. However, it seems that our society either does not see it that way or simply ignores Italian Americans as an ethnicity. This is when it is up to us to raise our voices and stand against offenses committed against Italian Americans! It is clear that nobody will do it for us. It is up to us to do it ourselves. I hope that it is with this sentiment—nobody will do it for us, we have to do it ourselves—that you will continue supporting the Commission for Social Justice and our fight against the stereotyping that Italian Americans face on a regular basis. Sempre Avanti!
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:
WINTERAMERICA 2021 33 ITALIAN
Commission for Social Justice 219 E Street NE Washington, DC 20002 ITALIAN WINTERAMERICA 2021 33
The Perfect Gift Looking for a unique present for family or friends? Give the gift of Italian-American heritage with a oneyear subscription to Italian America magazine, the most widely read publication in the U.S. for people of Italian descent. We will contact your gift recipient to tell him/her of your present and also send them a complimentary copy of the most recent issue.
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Letters to the Editor This is just a short note to let you know what an excellent issue of the Italian America Magazine I received yesterday. I have read it from cover to cover and find the articles interesting and informative. Most particularly, I loved the feature about Dr. Fauci and the article about Columbus. Thank you for doing such a good job with this issue. It is among the very best. Dr. Barbara S. Ferg-Carter Buona Fortuna Lodge #2835 Pensacola, Florida I just wanted to congratulate you on the Fall issue of Italian America magazine. I really enjoyed the article on Christopher Columbus by Robert Ferrito. It reminds us that human beings can persist and accomplish great things, even with their flaws. I wonder how many icons that are worshipped today would hold up under that same degree of scrutiny 500 years from now. David Millit Uguaglianza Lodge #754 Bellaire, Ohio WINTER 2021
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Members Save More
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.
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. WINTERAMERICA 2021 35 ITALIAN
BY MILES RYAN FISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ITALIAN AMERICA MAGAZINE
“Well that’s a stupid title,” a lady said as she looked at an article that was standing upright in a hard plastic holder on a table. Like me, the lady was at the Blood Donor Center in Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., to donate a pint of blood. The article she began reading was about how much that pint could be worth—as much as $1,200. It also described the process behind the buying and selling of donated blood. At Children’s Hospital, donated blood goes directly to the children. When they experience a shortage, they have to purchase pints from outside suppliers. I let the lady read the article without telling her that I, too, didn’t care for the title. I didn’t care for the article’s ending, either. The publication’s editor had changed the article, which I had written, in ways I’d wished he hadn’t, but I shrugged it off because I knew the information in it was more important than the title or the ending. After the article was published, I received an email that is one of the most rewarding responses I’ve ever received to something I’ve written. It simply said, “Thank you for your article. I don’t live in D.C. but visit frequently and have spent much time at Children’s. Sadly, my baby granddaughter has needed to be there often. You have given me a way that I can directly return the favor.” With such a response as this, I understood exactly why Peter Prudente— our High Profile for this issue—was so enthusiastic about sharing his story. It isn’t for personal recognition. It’s to spur positive action. Reading stories like his naturally inspires us all to be just a little bit better by doing just a little bit more. And like he said, it doesn’t require a donating kidney to do so. As I wrote Peter’s story, I told my wife, Evelyn, about it, and we started discussing ways in which we could do more. Together, we came up with an idea—instead of giving each other Christmas gifts, we would donate the money we would’ve spent on them to others in dire need. So we started formulating our Christmas plans. We bought a few used records (The Grass Roots, Herman’s Hermits, The Stranglers). We bought ingredients to make mulled wine (Merlot, cloves, cinnamon sticks, oranges). And, while listening to records and drinking warm wine, we searched online for others in need of help. This was how we spent our first Christmas as a married couple. By sharing his story, Peter inspired us to spend our Christmas evening giving to others. It didn’t require us to donate a kidney—or even compromise the title of an article. And in return, we created a Christmas memory that will give back to us for the rest of our lives.
ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2021 35
PIACERE! PLEASED TO MEET YOU, ROBERT
Robert Davi Robert Davi is an actor, singer, writer, and director, and has performed in over 130 films. He is best known for his roles as Jake Fratelli in The Goonies (1985) and James Bond villain, Franz Sanchez, in License to Kill (1989). He has also appeared in notable roles in Die Hard (1988), Predator 2 (1990), and Showgirls (1995). Robert is also a classically trained singer, whose first album—Davi Sings Sinatra – On the Road to Romance—reached #6 on the Billboard jazz charts. Robert’s father was from Torretta in the region of Sicily, and his mother’s family was from Nusco in the region of Campania. How has your Italian heritage shaped you, particularly in regard to your love for singing? My Italian heritage is at the heart of who I am while sharing my soul with America. My grandparents were from Naples and Sicily, so right from the start I was influenced by their deep ties to Italy and love for America and the opportunity it provided them. It was speaka da English in the house—then speak Italian. Primary in my home was music and film. Always opera, classical music, jazz, and, of course, Caruso, whom my grandfather from Naples knew and was friends with. My grandmother sang with the San Carlo Opera as a young girl in the choir and my parents were always singing. As a little boy, I would spend hours listening to the shellac records of Caruso. I was mesmerized and would try to imitate what I was listening to. So, there is this first impulse along with songs my mother taught me. She loved music and singing. You were raised in a bilingual household, speaking both Italian and English. In what important ways has that impacted your life? Well, the purity of the Italian language and the vowel sounds lend itself to have an open throat when singing, and being bilingual was great for developing an ear as the Italian language is also very musical. Add the Neapolitan and Sicilian dialects, which were both part of my upbringing, and that provided me with an ability to feel the subtle differences in communication, attention, and focus. I remember I used to mimic the broken English of my grandparents and my wanting to speak Italian led me to develop a skill where I am able to do many accents as an actor. The combination of speaking English and Italian helped me develop this and I have played Irish, Welsh, WINTER 2021
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Arab, Hispanic, Mexican, French, Albanian, Columbian, Southern, and Russian characters. Without the bilingual household, I do not think I would have had this skill. You’ve worked with numerous Italians and Italian Americans in the movie industry—Marlon Brando, Chazz Palminteri, Roberto Benigni, Frank Sinatra. How do you bond with these actors and actresses over your shared Italian heritage? Well, while many think Brando was Italian—he was not. He was German, Dutch, English, and Irish, but he loved Italian culture. As for the others you mentioned, there is an immediate sense of being family when you work with a paisan, an immediate shared sense of values. Remember, the Italian-American immigrant did not have it so easy, so there is something in our DNA that watches out for each other and connects us. Tell us a little about what it’s like to play villains, especially in a movie such as a James Bond film. I never comment on my character. I do not judge him, I just interpret and let the audience decide who the villain is. I research very extensively. Like a detective solving a case, analysis is a huge part of playing a character. It is fun creating a role. In the Bond film, Producer Albert R (Cubby) Broccoli was an amazing person. He was so proud of his Italian heritage. There was a time when many actors were vying for my role and a lot of big agents pushing their client. A discussion began and Cubby was telling Sinatra that the studio was giving some pressure. They both said, “Give it to the Italian kid!” The funny thing is that my character is Franz Sanchez—it was a tip of the hat to Frank Sinatra. Leave us with some words to live by. Assaggia l’esca ma non ingoiare il gancio. (Taste the bait but do not swallow the hook.) Robert Davi’s “Meraviglioso” music project helps The Saint Pio Foundation, a national charitable organization that promotes the teachings and legacy of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. For more information about it and to download the “Meraviglioso” recording, please visit www.saintpiofoundation.org/meraviglioso
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