The Stolen Bucket Modena’s Prized Pail
Preserving Italy The Flavors That Keep Us Connected
To The Rescue
Nonna Saves a Stranded Italian Crew
A Love That Will Never Look Away
Sons of Italy Member Honors Late Wife
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ITALIAN AMERICA
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ITALIAN AMERICA
WINTER 2017
VOL. XXII 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 o f I t a l y i n A m e r i c a ® dba Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America
Features
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Modena’s Prized Pail By Eric Dregni
PRESERVING ITALY The Flavors That Keep Us Connected By Domenica Marchetti
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THE STOLEN BUCKET
TO THE RESCUE
Nonna Saves a Stranded Italian Crew By Kevin M. Walsh
A LOVE THAT WILL NEVER LOOK AWAY Sons of Italy Member Honors Late Wife By Miles Ryan Fisher
D e pa r t m e n t s 4 High Profile 5 National News 6 Oggi in Italia 7 Regions of Italy 8 Pagina Italiana 9 Mangia
13 Book Reviews
14 Our Story 20 Bulletin Board 21 Speakers Bureau 26 OSIA Nation 31 From the National
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 of Italy in America® dba 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: Bill Abruzzo, Giosué Bochicchio, Eric Dregni, Miles Ryan Fisher, Domenica Marchetti, Anna Marsh, Kevin M. Walsh Translator: Maria Goffman Proofreaders: Peggy Daino, Marlene Palazzo Graphic Designer: Diane Vincent To advertise: Contact Pat Rosso (215) 206-4678 pieassociates3@gmail.com
Italian America Magazine® is a publication of the Order Sons of Italy in America® (OSIA) dba Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the nation’s biggest and oldest organization for people of Italian heritage. To subscribe, see www.osia.org or call 1-800-552-6742. WINTER 2017 1 ITALIAN AMERICA
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High Profile
Italian Americans making an impact
The Words He Lives By Dick Marconi Shapes His Own Destiny Learn. Earn. Return. Those were the three words that Dick Marconi’s father emphasized to him when he was young. They were words he was raised on. Words that he lived by. Words that would help him shape his own path. His father knew the meaning of those words as well as anyone, for his parents (Dick’s grandparents) had immigrated in the early 1900s, passing through Ellis Island and landing in Pittsburgh, where his grandfather worked in the coal mines. Years later, they moved to Gary, Indiana, where his father left school after eleventh grade to work in the steel mill to help support the family. He worked, as Dick put it, “for an honest day’s pay,” making seven dollars an hour. The hard work paid off as he climbed the ladder and became a General Superintendent of U.S. Steel, the only superintendent who didn’t have a college education. Dick heeded his father’s words, earning a PreMed degree at Indiana University before getting a Masters in Business Administration. He moved west to California to make his own way marketing pharmaceuticals. Though he earned a good salary doing so, it wasn’t until he met Mark Hughes that he took everything he learned and used it to earn. With Mark raising the start-up capital, Dick applied his science background, developing products that offered preventative care at a time when preventative care was still an unknown. Their company became known as HerbalLife. HerbalLife burgeoned into a $300-$400 million company and was at one time the biggest manufacturer of food supplements in the world. With his earnings, Dick began collecting cars. Ferraris. Lamborghinis. And old muscle cars. It was his love for automobiles that would help him fulfill his father’s third word: Return. And he would return what he’d earned to kids. He donated all of his automobiles—$50 million worth of cars—along with land and a building to create the Marconi museum. With the help of his wife, Priscilla (“Bo”), he formed the Marconi Foundation for Kids, a non-profit that seeks to raise one million dollars annually for children’s charities. The museum houses everything from a twenty milliondollar Ferrari to an old Model T. When kids come in to see these cars, that’s when Dick will impart words of his own. “I’ll show them around the museum and ask them if they WINTER 2017
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Dick Marconi beside a banner of his Color Fusion art. want one of those cars or all of them,” he said. “Then I hold up my keys.” Four things, he tells them. Stay in school. Stay off drugs. Have a dream. Work your butt off. The kids, he says, laugh when he puts it that way. “The harder you work,” he said, “the better chance you have of your dream coming true.” Even with all that he has accomplished in life, Dick still lives each day by these words. With a lifelong interest in art, he immersed himself in it, developing a technique called “Color Fusion.” The technique involves using several different solvents to help various paints—from car paint to aircraft paint to house paint—flow together and form visual art. “Color was always important to me,” said Dick, who lost sight in one eye when he was twelve. “It always will be.” So far, Dick has had his art exhibited throughout the country and even in Italy. But he doesn’t want to stop there. “I want to be the icon of the 21st century.” As he strives to make this dream come true, he puts into practice a saying of his own. On his way to learning, earning, and returning, Dick Marconi has developed his own message to pass along. “Shoot for the stars,” he says. “And if you don’t hit them, you’ll land on the moon.”
Dick Marconi will be having an exhibition showcasing his Color Fusion Art at the Italian American Museum in Los Angeles. The public showing starts January 31. For more information go to www.italianhall.org ITALIAN AMERICA
National News
Italian American issues and events
USPS Introduces Florentine Madonna and Child Stamp
Italy Honored at Final State Dinner
On October 18, the United States Postal Service introduced a Christmas stamp featuring the Florentine Madonna and Child, a 15th century piece of Italian Renaissance art whose artist is unknown. The dedication ceremony was hosted at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum and among its speakers was OSIA’s Italian America Editor-in-Chief Miles Ryan Fisher.
In his final state dinner at the White House last October, President Obama honored Italy, one of the United States’ closest allies. Guest-chef Mario Batali aided the White House kitchen crew, preparing a menu that consisted of sweet potato ravioli with browned butter and Sweet Potato Agnolotti. sage, warm butternut (White House) squash salad, and beef pinwheels served with broccoli rabe. Dessert was green apple crostata served with buttermilk gelato. Pop singer Gwen Stefani performed following dinner. The guest list included those of Italian descent such as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, former race car driver Mario Andretti, fashion designer Giorgio Armani, and actor John Turturro. The state dinner was hosted for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who has since resigned from his position.
“The Florentine Madonna and Child represents not only the Italian Renaissance, but also the importance of the arts in all of western civilization,” Fisher said. “This emphasis was later brought to the United States by many immigrant groups—including Italians—each in their own way.”
Pompeo Nominated as CIA Director In November, PresidentElect Donald Trump tapped Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS) to become the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Representative Pompeo assumed office in 2011 and was re-elected last November to serve a fourth consecutive term. Pompeo is a current member of the Italian American Congressional Delegation, a bi-cameral and bi-partisan delegation composed of about two hundred members of Congress, twenty-nine of whom have Italian ancestry.
DeNiro, Springsteen Awarded Medals of Freedom A year after posthumously awarding Yogi Berra the Medal of Freedom—the highest civilian honor—President Obama presented medals to both Robert DeNiro and Bruce Springsteen.While everyone knows that DeNiro is Italian, many may not know that Springsteen is as well. His mother, born Adele Zerilli, has roots going back to Vico Equense, a town near Naples. WINTER 2017 5 ITALIAN AMERICA
Reinforcing this starstudded dinner was the clear message that the U.S. and Italy share a particularly close relationship, partnering on international security and humanitarian efforts such as the Counter-ISIL Coalition, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. The U.S. and Italy also share close economic Beef Braciole Pinwheel. and commercial ties, with (White House) annual trade that exceeds $80 billion. The U.S. is Italy’s largest non-European exporter. In addition to its products, the U.S. also sends five to six million tourists to visit Italy every year. +
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Oggi in Italia
Italy’s news, politics and culture
Renzi Resigns, Gentiloni Becomes New Premier With the failure of his constitutional referendum that would have made massive reforms to Italy’s government, Matteo Renzi resigned as Prime Minister. He was the youngest to serve as Prime Minister, taking the position in February 2014 at the age of 39. President Sergio Mattarella called on Paolo Gentiloni, a 62-year-old journalist turned politician who has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for the past two years, to be the next Prime Minister and to assemble Italy’s new government. Known for a moderate stance, Gentiloni emphasized Italy’s banking troubles and the migrant crisis as the government’s top priorities. The banking system has more than $200 billion in bad loans, while more than 180,000 migrants landed in Italy in 2016.
Italy’s new Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni.
Gentiloni’s influence is tenuous, however, as he does not have overwhelming support from the government. He won the confidence vote of Italy’s lower house, getting 368 votes in favor and 105 against, and the confidence vote of Italy’s senate, getting 169 votes in favor and 99 against.
Italy’s anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which does not ascribe itself to the left-right political spectrum, has criticized Gentiloni’s new government as a “photocopy” of Renzi’s, many of the cabinet members remaining in place.
Will Turin be the First Vegetarian City in Italy? The new mayor of Turin, Chiara Appendino of the populist Five Star Movement (M5S), has announced a five-year plan to make Turin the first vegetarian city in Italy. The plans include educating students about nutrition and animal welfare, creating a vegetarian map of the city for tourists, and introducing a weekly meat-free day. “The promotion of vegan and vegetarian diets is a fundamental act in safeguarding our environment, the health of our citizens, and the welfare of our animals,” the programme said. The plan has been met with staunch adversity, especially from those in the meat industry. In a region (Piedmont) that has a rich culinary history that incorporates meat into many of its dishes, many have an economic dependence on it. Though it would be difficult to see meat completely vanish from menus, Italy has experienced a rise in veganism. This change in diet has been attributed to various reasons among different age groups—younger individuals tending to alter their diet for environmental reasons and older individuals doing it for health reasons. WINTER 2017
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A Bridge to Sicily? Recently, the long-standing plan to build a bridge connecting Italy’s mainland with Sicily was revived. The project is estimated to cost the euro equivalent of $9.5 billion. The Strait of Messina bridge, named for the body of water it crosses, would be two miles long and start in the Calabria region, located in the toe of Italy’s boot. Detailed plans for the bridge were first produced in the 1990s and were championed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who eventually had to scrap the project. While proponents of the bridge claim that it would economically benefit both areas (especially through tourism) and its construction would create more than 100,000 jobs, opponents point to concerns over cost and the high earthquake risk in southern Italy that could hinder construction. The bridge, if built, would almost double the length of the longest suspension bridge in the world, which connects Japan’s mainland with Awaji Island.
ITALIAN AMERICA
Regions of Italy
Italy’s Twenty Regions
Le Marche
The Boundary of Italy Le Marche—or The Marches—is named for the March of Ancona, Camerino, and Fermo. Marches, which are border regions, serve as areas formed to defend boundaries, which makes it no surprise that Marche borders water, its entire eastern border running along the Adriatic Sea. Marche’s capital city, Ancona, is a walled-city that dates back to medieval times. Marche also borders Emilia-Romagna to the north, Tuscany to the northwest, Umbria to the west, and Abruzzo to the south. Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Umbria are referred to as the Italian “Red Quadrilateral,” an area known for its left-wing fervor. Like other regions in Italy, Marche is composed of very contrasting landscapes. Two-thirds of Marche is composed of rolling hills, which are bound to the east by the coastline and to the Le Marche Capital: Ancona Population: 1.55 million (13th of the 20 regions) Size: 9,366 square miles (15th of the 20 regions) Provinces: Ancona Ascoli Piceno Fermo Macerata Pesaro and Urbino
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Marche’s hills roll from the Adriatic Sea into the Apennine Mountains. west by mountains that are part of the Apennine chain. Much of Marche’s tourism revolves around its wide, clear-water beaches that are good for leisure as well as marine sports like sailing and surfing. The mountainous areas are very cavernous and contain rushing rivers that have formed fantastic gorges. Marche also contains ski areas. In spite of these attractions, Marche remains one of the few regions in Italy that does not host many tourists, which helps it maintain its natural state. Marche’s land is suitable for food, the coastline offering an abundance of seafood and the mountains—because they are not that high—offering an abundance of produce. The rolling hills in between are excellent for agriculture. The people of Marche have a tendency to stuff their foods, whether that means large olives stuffed with ground meat (olive ascolane), fish stuffed with vegetables, or meat stuffed with cheese. FUN FACT: In 2010, AARP The Magazine listed Le Marche as one of the top five places to retire in the world.
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Pagina Italiana
Per chi studia la nostra lingua
Written by Anna Marsh Translated by Maria Goffman
culturale presso l’ambasciata americana. Aveva ordinato immediatamente, cappotto di lana verde oliva su misura e un cappello da vicino dotato di una piuma che si alza in una curva.
Walt rotolò la pagina dalla sua macchina da scrivere manuale Underwood e la mise, girando il lato verso il basso, sulla pila di pagine alla sua sinistra. Inserì un pezzo di carta e riprese a scrivere.
Dopo un anno e mezzo a Parigi, avevano risparmiato abbastanza denaro per trasferirsi a Positano, dove Walt poteva lavorare al suo romanzo. Poi Rita era rimasta incinta, e tutto era sembrato cosi promettente, ma ora ….
Attraverso una finestra aperta, il Mediterraneo scintillava al di là di una spiaggia di ciottoli. La luce del sole si riversava nello studio, una brezza salmastra del mare mescolato con odori di nastro della macchina da scrivere e il caffe della stanza. Walt bevve l’ultimo sorso dalla sua tazza.
Guardai Rita, gli occhi serrati. Mai la casa prima di allora era sembrata così lontana.
“Grace”
“Signore.” La cameriera, Angelina, bussò forte alla porta dello studio. “La signora ha bisogno di lei. Venga subito.” Walt corse giù per le scale fino al salotto, dove Rita giaceva sul divano, toccando il suo ventre rotondo e facendo dei respiri d’aria. “E’ tempo,” disse. “Le contrazioni sono iniziate.” “Ma tu non avresti dovuto per altri due mesi!” “Devi portarmi in ospedale.” Walt guidò la Fiat in prestito dentro e fuori di ogni tornante sulla strada costiera da Positano all’ospedale di Napoli, con apprensione crescente ad ogni torsione della ruota. Quando la guerra e il servizio di Walt erano finiti tre anni prima, lui e Rita avevano imballato i loro vestiti in un baule e navigato col primo transatlantico che potevano prenotare da New MUSICA ITALIANA York a Le Havre. ogni DOMENICA Hitler e Mussolini erano morti, e il dollaro era forte. Music from the Sunny Shores of Italy SUNDAYS 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Worldwide on the Internet. Google: WMUH Allentown, PA.
Enjoy Italian music with Raffaele & Jeff.
A Parigi, Walt avava trovato lavoro come corrispondente francese per una casa editrice di New York, e Rita come assistente addetto
Walt gridò alla fermata all’ingresso del pronto soccorso dell’ospedale di Napoli. Il personale si precipitò con Rita in sala parto, e poche ore dopo, Grace era nata. Rita si addormentò per la stanchezza, e un infermiere in uniforme bianca inamidata portò Grace via nell’infermeria dei bambini. Walt la seguì. Al di là delle vetrate dell’infermeria posti fila dopo fila di fascette, i capelli neri dei bambini italiani. Lontano, in un angolo, impacchettata in una culla, circondata da lampade di calore perché l’ospedale non aveva un’ incubatrice, posta in una piccola pallida federa c’era la bambina. Era Grace. “Cervelli di vitello,” disse Rita a Walt quando lui arrivò la mattina seguente. Lei agitò la forchetta in aria. “Riesci a immaginare? Si suppone per fortificare il mio latte. Il cuoco ha fatto un viaggio speciale fino al macellaio per loro. In un primo momento erano deliziosi, ma….” L’infermiera portò Grace per la sua alimentazione e la mise tra le braccia di Rita. “La posso tenere?” disse Walt quando Grace ebbe finito di mangiare. Rita annuì. Prese Grace tra le sue mani. Walt si sedette sul letto, il calore delle gambe distese di Rita accanto a lui. La dolce morbidezza che era sua figlia posata nelle sue mani a coppa, sminuito dalle dimensioni delle sue mani e le dita, il suo respiro un sussurro lieve e costante. “Eccola,” disse. Anna Marsh is a writer in Brookeville, Maryland. She has a Ph.D. in psychology from Yale University and is earning an M.A. in writing from Johns Hopkins University. Maria Goffman is a retired teacher and the daughter of Italian immigrants from Calabria. She enjoys traveling to Italy and spending time with her family.
To read the English version, visit www.osia.org and sign in to access the digital copy of Italian America. WINTER 2017
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Pagina Italiana
Per chi studia la nostra lingua
“Grace” by Anna Marsh
Walt rolled the page out of his Underwood manual typewriter and placed it, typed side down, on the stack of pages to his left. He inserted a blank piece of paper and resumed typing. Through an open window, the Mediterranean sparkled beyond a pebble beach. Sunlight poured into the study, and a salty sea breeze mingled with the room’s smells of typewriter ribbon and coffee. Walt drank the last sip from his cup.
In Paris, Walt found work as French correspondent for a New York publishing company, and Rita as assistant cultural attaché at the American embassy. She ordered a swooping, custom-made olive green wool coat and a closely fitted hat with a feather that stood up in a curve. After a year and a half in Paris, they had saved enough money to move to Positano, where Walt could work on his novel. Then Rita got pregnant, and everything had seemed so promising, but now . . . .
“Signore.” The maid, Angelina, rapped loudly on the study door. “Signora needs you. Come quick.”
He glanced at Rita, her eyes clenched. Never before had home seemed so far away.
Walt raced down the stairs to the living room, where Rita lay on the sofa, touching her round belly and gulping shallow breaths of air.
Walt screeched to a stop at the emergency entrance of the Naples hospital. The staff rushed Rita into the delivery room, and a few hours later, Grace was born. Rita fell asleep from exhaustion, and a nurse in a starched white uniform whisked Grace away to the nursery. Walt followed her.
“It’s time,” she said. “The contractions have started.” “But you’re not due for two months.” “You need to take me to the hospital.” Walt wove the borrowed Fiat in and out of each hairpin turn on the coastal road from Positano to the hospital in Naples, misgivings mounting with each twist of the wheel.
Beyond the glass windows of the nursery lay row after row of strapping, black-haired Italian babies. Far off in a corner, bundled into a bassinette, surrounded by heat lamps because the hospital lacked an incubator, lay a pale little slip of a baby. That was Grace.
When the war and Walt’s service in it had ended three years earlier, he and Rita had packed up their clothes in a steamer trunk and sailed on the first ocean liner they could book from New York to Le Havre. Hitler and Mussolini were dead, and the dollar was strong.
“Calves’ brains,” Rita said to Walt when he arrived the next morning. She waved her fork in the air. “Can you imagine? They’re supposed to fortify my milk. The cook made a special trip to the butcher for them. At first they were delicious, but . . . .”
MUSICA ITALIANA ogni DOMENICA
The nurse carried Grace in for her feeding and laid her in Rita’s arms. “May I hold her?” Walt said when Grace had finished eating. Rita nodded. He scooped Grace up in his hands.
Music from the Sunny Shores of Italy SUNDAYS 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Worldwide on the Internet. Google: WMUH Allentown, PA.
Enjoy Italian music with Raffaele & Jeff.
Walt sat on the bed, the warmth of Rita’s outstretched legs beside him. The sweet softness that was his daughter rested in his cupped hands, dwarfed by the size of his palms and fingers, her breath a faint and steady whisper. “There,” he said.
Mangia!
from the italian cookbook
Melanzane Ripieni alla Paola Baked Eggplant Halves Stuffed with Ground Beef and Pork By Bill Abruzzo
The town of Paola sits on a slope above the Tyrrhenian Sea. The medieval quarter is full of Southern Italian charm with narrow streets that meander between baroque buildings, pastel houses with wrought iron covered windows, and a church dome adorned with colorful Majolica tiles that rises above the terracotta rooftops. It is quite an atmospheric place! Here, you will also find the sanctuary of San Francesco. It is said that a miracle took place here during World War II, when the townspeople took refuge in the sanctuary during an air raid. A bomb struck the sanctuary but failed to detonate, and the townspeople were saved. Today, people from all over Italy come to the sanctuary of San Francesco to pray for a miracle. Ingredients 1 lb. ground beef (90% lean) ½ lb. ground pork Olive oil, for sautéing Salt and black pepper to taste 5 small Italian eggplants (6 to 8 inches long) ½ Spanish or Vidalia onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped ½ cup red wine Crushed red pepper flakes to taste 1 can (28 oz.) crushed San Marzano tomatoes 1 tbsp. dried oregano 1 ½ tbsp. finely chopped, firmly packed basil ¾ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese ½ lb. mozzarella cheese, shredded
Combine the ground beef and ground pork in a bowl. Brush the bottom of a frying pan with olive oil and set it over medium-low heat. Add the ground meat and season with salt and black pepper. Brown the meat, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon, and set it aside. Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise, and use a spoon to scoop out most of the flesh. Set the eggplant shells to the side and chop the flesh of the eggplants. Coat the bottom of the frying pan with olive oil, set it back over medium-low heat, and sauté the onion and garlic until soft. Add the wine and flesh of the eggplants. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper and continue sautéing for 7 minutes or until the eggplant is soft. Then add the crushed tomatoes. Slosh 2/3 cup of water in the tomato can and add it to the frying pan. Stir in the dried oregano and the basil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the browned meat and continue simmering for another 10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened. Remove the frying pan from the heat, allow the mixture to cool for 3 minutes, and then stir in the grated cheese. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rub the bottom of a baking dish with olive oil. Season the insides of the eggplant shells with salt and black pepper. Pile the meat filling high inside the eggplant shells and place them in the baking dish. Add a thin layer of water to the bottom of the baking dish, which will allow the eggplants to steam. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake for 40 minutes or until the eggplant shells are tender. If you wish, top them with shredded mozzarella and set the baking dish back in the oven, uncovered, for another 3 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
For more Italian recipes, be sure to WINTER 2017 9 ITALIAN AMERICA
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By Eric Dregni
When I stepped out of the train station in Modena for the first time, I was greeted by graffiti six-feet tall sprayed along an entire brick wall declaring: GRAZIE A DIO NON SONO BOLOGNESE! (Thank God I’m not from Bologna!). Obviously, Modena had some problems with its neighbor. I assumed, as with many issues in Italy, that this rivalry came down to cooking. My neighbor across the alley, Franco, told me, “The Bolognesi were lucky to have the good people from Modena next to them to teach them how to cook properly. If it weren’t for us, they’d still be wearing animal skins and beating on drums.” I pointed out to Franco that in English, baloney—often spelled “bologna”—is synonymous with “nonsense.”
“See? Even your language recognizes how ridiculous these Bolognesi are!” Town pride runs deep in Italy and even has a name: campanilismo, or loyalty to your campanile, or church bell tower. Long ago, the steeple would always ring out the time for everyone working in the fields. Today, when I would ask for directions, whether my destination was north, south, east, or west, many Italians had to rely on the campanile, the highest structure in town, to indicate the way. Mostly, this allegiance to your campanile means boosting your own town at the expense of your neighbors. Since medieval times, Modena and Bologna (Emilia-Romagna region) have had a rivalry, as depicted in a mock heroic
The faux Stolen Bucket hangs in the Ghirlandina. WINTER 2017
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poem written back in the 1600s by a Modenese writer about “La secchia rapita,” or the stolen bucket. The poem tells of how Modenesi stole the bucket from a well in Bologna in 1325 after a “glorious victory” (words of my presentday friends from Modena).
In other words, both sides felt they had divine right to ransack each other.
During the Middle Ages, Modena was the home of the Este dukes. It was located in the northern part of the region called “Emilia,” after the Roman road Via Emilia. Bologna, however, was controlled (and looted) by the popes in Rome, who controlled the southern part of the whole Protected by plexiglass, the real Secchia Rapita sits in Modena’s region, hence its name “Romagna.” City Hall. The Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, had set the border between the two cities, so Modena laid its loyalties in the Emperor while Bologna pledged
Bologna’s militias, supported by Florence and the other Guelph cities in the Papal States, didn’t respect the border and continually attacked and often occupied castles and outposts in Modena’s territory. As Modena started to retaliate, Bologna raised an army of 32,000 soldiers and knights to put the Ghibellines in their place. Modena, together with the cities of Mantua and Ferrara, put together a much smaller army of just 7,000 cavalieri and other well-trained fighters, and had the Bolognesi on the run by nightfall.
The Middle Ages began with the fall of Rome in 476 A.D. and lasted until the rise of the Renaissance in the 15th century.
The Ghibellines from Modena and their allies pushed the Guelphs all the way to the gates of Bologna. Rather than lay siege to the city, which could have been disastrous since the other papal armies would surely have come to the rescue, the army from Modena and Ferrara staged a horse race outside Bologna’s walls to thumb their collective noses. Horse races in Ferrara were already an annual tradition dating back to 1259 and predate the famous Palio di Siena by nearly four hundred years. While the Modenesi forces occupied the smaller towns outside of Bologna, soldiers snatched an oak pail used at •
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The first edition of Alessandro Tassoni’s mock heroic poem was printed in 1624, three hundred years after the War of the Bucket.
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allegiance to the decadent popes in Rome. These were the same rivalries between the Guelphs (who supported the Pope), and the Ghibellines (who supported the Holy Roman Emperor) that rocked northern Italy for centuries. WINTER 2017 11 ITALIAN AMERICA
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Marina told me that a few years ago, some university students from Bologna played a prank by sneaking into the city hall and stealing back the bucket. In its place, they left an enormous mortadella (baloney), one of the symbols of Bologna. Even though the bucket was eventually returned, people in Modena admonished me for chuckling. “It’s just not funny,” they said. “This is a very serious crime.” Others, however, were able to see the humor in substituting the secchia rapita bucket with a mortadella. Nevertheless, the Modenesi never balked at the chance to heckle their neighbors in Bologna, “Obviously they don’t respect their food. We couldn’t imagine leaving a leg of prosciutto for the Bolognesi!”
The Torre della Ghirlandina (Tower of Ghirlandina) stands 282 feet tall and is visible from all directions outside of Modena. (Leonid Andronov)
Eric Dregni lived in Modena for three years and wrote Never Trust a Thin Cook about his experiences there. His memoir about running an Italian summer camp You’re Sending Me Where? will be published in March 2017. Contact him at dregni@cord.edu
one of the town wells. The secchia rapita, or stolen bucket, became symbolic of Modena’s famous victory over its much larger rival. My Modenese friend, Marina, explained to me that they make fun of people from Bologna for being “papi,” or little popes, because they were under the Pope’s rule for so long whereas Modena was allowed to flourish. She took it upon herself to prove Modena’s superiority over Bologna and pointed to Modena’s campanile, nicknamed the Ghirlandina. The 290-foot tower stands next to a statue of Modena’s most famous poet, Alessandro Tassoni, who wrote the mock heroic story of the town’s battle with Bologna and the secchia rapita. Marina’s husband, Enrico, works at Modena’s comune, or city hall, and was entrusted with a key to the Ghirlandina. Enrico opened the creaky old wooden door to the medieval bell tower, which has a healthy lean and seemed like it could crumble at any time. No building in Modena can be built higher than this eight-story marble campanile since its height serves as a beacon to the locals to navigate Modena’s tangly streets where old canals used to run. But mostly, the Ghirlandina rings out the time and is a call to gather to anyone not already in the piazza. We entered the musty stairwell and Enrico pointed out the stolen bucket, la secchia rapita, dangling from a chain far out of reach. I stood in awe, but then he confided that this is a clever decoy placed on display in case any pranksters from Bologna want to steal it. The real bucket stands proudly in the Modena city hall under a plexiglass protector. WINTER 2017
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ITALIAN AMERICA
The Sons of Italy®
Book Club
THE POPE OF PHYSICS: Enrico Fermi and the Birth of the Atomic Age By Gino Segré and Bettina Hoerlin
One of the most influential physicists the world has ever known, Enrico Fermi was born in Rome in 1901 to parents (a railroad worker and a teacher) who urged education. However, it was his father’s co-worker, an engineer for the railroad, who began lending Fermi math books at a young age. As Fermi displayed an innate precociousness, he quickly moved on to highly advanced material—teaching himself physics at a time when physics was not highly regarded in Italy. By age twenty-five, he’d become Italy’s first elite physicist. The Pope of Physics traces Fermi’s life, an existence immersed in science and discovery, through a pivotal time in history with the rise of Fascism and World War II. While Fermi tried to distance himself from politics, it was the one separation that was impossible as Mussolini’s repressive regime drove him—and his Italian Jewish wife, Laura—to the United States in 1938. Three years later, the United States commenced its Manhattan Project, and though Robert Oppenheimer was placed at the helm, it was Fermi who was indispensable. Authors Segré and Hoerlin will take you from Fermi’s rise in Italy—and his Nobel Prize in 1938—to the leading role he played in development of the first primitive nuclear reactor (built in a squash court at the University of Chicago) and the detonation of the first atomic bomb in the deserts of New Mexico.
WINTER 2017 Selections
DOLCE VITA CONFIDENTIAL: Fellini, Loren, Pucci, Paparazzi, and the Swinging High Life of 1950s Rome By Shawn Levy
The story of how Italy— and Rome, in particular—was dubbed “the sweet life,” Dolce Vita Confidential brings to life the glamour that sprung from the rubble of World War II. In its initial steps toward rebuilding, Italy developed strong ties with the United States that would prove crucial to the rise of 1950s Rome. Recovery efforts saw the emergence of three industries whose influence would be felt in America: auto, fashion, and film. The auto industry exploded with the growth of Fiat, Ferrari, and the Vespa, while Italian fashion grew to be so chic that it even eclipsed that of Paris. But it was the comeback of Cinecittá—a 73-building, 145-acre movie city outside of Rome built in 1937—that brought the sweet life to Italy when it pierced the walls of Hollywood. Dolce Vita Confidential takes you on a ride into the makings of Roman Holiday, the film that put Rome back on the map (and popularized the Vespa). It continues with the emergence of Sophia Loren, who was the first to win an Oscar while playing a foreign language role, and the development of the paparazzi, who populated the sidewalks when Via Veneto became the hot spot for celebrities to frequent. You’ll make your way to famed Director Frederico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, a film that created much controversy and gained such immediate popularity that its tickets were being resold at a premium.
While The Pope of Physics may test your limitations with science, it will bring to light the role Fermi plays in history, a role that—with the discovery of fission and the introduction of the nuclear age—forever altered the world in which we live.
This journey reaches its culmination with the making of Ben-Hur, Cinecittá’s most heralded film that won a record eleven Oscars, a total that has never been surpassed. And once Dolce Vita Confidential gets you there, it’ll feel as if you rode a Vespa through the streets of Italy when everything was sweet and life was good.
DID YOU KNOW? While Fermi and his fellow physicists were driven by the threat of Germany building the first atomic bomb, German physicists were stumped and as a result, thought atomic energy was not possible.
DID YOU KNOW? Paul Newman was originally offered the title character in Ben-Hur, and had he accepted the part, Charlton Heston (who ended up playing the title character) would have been cast as his nemesis.
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Our Story
Italian American history and culture
Saving San Filippino In every Italian town, there are churches and statues and fountains that have stood for centuries, giving us a window into times long ago. However, much of it is in danger of succumbing to time’s tendency to erode all that man makes. The Oratorio San Filippino is one of those sites—and Rita Richardson has decided to do something about it. Located in Castiglion Fiorentino—a Tuscan hill town—San Filippino is a 17th century baroque chapel that was named for Saint Philip Neri, a 16th century priest known as the Apostle of Rome. His works The history and craftsmanship that exists inside San Filippino. started with helping the poor and the sick who suffered on the streets of Rome. In doing so, he gradually developed a following and created his So when Rita returned to the United States, she started own religious order called the Oratorians. Many Oratorian the Friends of San Filippino, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit orgachurches exist throughout Italy (and the world as well), nization dedicated to restoring the church and preserving one of them being San Filippino. history. She reached out to the surrounding community Rita, whose mother was born in Naples, stumbled to aid her mission, many of them answering the call. With across the Oratorio San Filippino while she was visiting the support of locals and donors from the States, Rita her college-age son, who was studying abroad at the time. hopes to not only preserve the church and its historical With boards covering its windows and plaster peeling off Italian art, but also create a blueprint by which others can its outside walls, San Filippino looked like an abandoned do the same. building that had little to offer. However, when Rita entered the church, she discovered 400-year-old art, sculptures, and architecture—history that was fading away.
Through this mission, she has become a part of the community, so much so that she’s begun teaching English classes to the community’s children. One of her lessons involved the story of Saint Philip Neri’s life and how his charitable works gave common people hope (he even taught them music in addition to providing food and shelter). Rita talked about a church that honored him, one in a beautiful little Tuscan town. Before long, the children began to realize that the town she was talking about was their town. “Dov’è? Dov’è?” they asked. Where is it? Where is it? Rita took the children outside and pointed just a few yards away from their school at a piece of history they didn’t know was there—and if it weren’t for Rita, would vanish forever.
San Filippino’s deteriorating walls that face the street. WINTER 2017
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Find out more about San Filippino and how you can help. Visit http://friendsofsanfilippino.org/ and travel with Rita on her journey on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ FriendsofSanFilippino/ ITALIAN AMERICA
Our Story
Italian American history and culture
Founding OSIA’s First University Chapter
The Sons & Daughters of Italy-Susquehanna University #2993 By Giosué Bochicchio
After studying abroad in Macao, China last spring, I came back to the United States with a completely different perspective regarding who I was and where my family was from. Though drilled into my mind at a young age that I was an Italian American, my peers insisted that I was just simply “white.” Although I have white skin, I am far beyond “white” at all. I am truly an Italian American, and there is plenty that comes with that identity. I grew up in a half-Calabrese, half-Napolitano household, going to my Nonno and Nonna’s every Sunday for my entire life. And when I came back to the United States from my trip abroad, it was extremely hard for me to have to go to a hospital to see my Nonna instead of going to her house for a bowl of pasta and meatballs as I normally would. Each time I visited my Nonna this past summer, my brothers and I would practice speaking Italian with her and listen to all of the different Italian songs she loves most. She would smile like never before, and her smile sparked in me a deeper interest in my heritage and what it means for me to be an Italian American. When I returned to Susquehanna University for the fall semester, I thought more and more about my heritage and previous conversations I’d had with my father about it. I remembered the time that he sent me the speech of Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) Founder Vincenzo Sellaro. This inspired me to contact OSIA, and after doing so, I began talking to several friends who were of Italian descent. And with no surprise, each of them was passionate about my plan. I was put into contact with OSIA National Membership Chairman Dr. Mark DeNunzio and President of the State
Back Row (L to R): James Panzarino (Trustee), Aj Failace (Trustee), and Neil Caruso (Treasurer), Giosué Bochicchio (President), Jude DiGiacomo (Vice President), Andrew Russel (Trustee), and Aj Willard (Guard). Front Row (L to R): Alex Wojtowicz (Trustee), Nicholas Crusco (Trustee) , Isabella Ferrari (Corresponding Secretary), Vienna Aulisi (Orator/PR), Daniel Portillo (Events Director), Anthony Senese (Historian), Madison Rasua (Events Director/PR). Lodge of Pennsylvania John Oliano, who aided me in the process of forming what is now OSIA’s first university chapter. After holding several organizational meetings, our membership began to grow. More and more students on campus gravitated toward our passion, and we now operate as a chapter of forty students. For me, starting the first university chapter of OSIA is a way of giving back to my Nonno—Giosué—the great man I am named after, the man who was the first in his family to start a life in the United States. If it was not for him, I would not have the privileges that I am fortunate to have today. With that in mind, I pledge to do my best to lead the first university chapter of OSIA at Susquehanna University (Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania) so that it may serve as a model for Italian Americans for generations to come.
The Sons & Daughters of Italy-Susquehanna University #2993 WINTER 2017 15 ITALIAN AMERICA
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The Flavors That Keep Us Connected
By Domenica Marchetti
Carrots and Fennel in Agrodolce. (Lauren Volo/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) WINTER WINTER 2017 2017
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When my grandmother passed away in 1971, she left behind four grieving daughters and a large jar of her liquorsoaked cherries. The amber glass vessel was filled with tiny sour amarene cherries that had been dried in the sun and then submerged in a sweet and potent syrup of sugar, alcohol, and spices. It was kept in a dark, cool pantry in the family apartment in Rome, and the cherries were doled out very parsimoniously by my mom and aunts. Even though we were pretty young, my sister and I loved those tiny flavor bombs and their boozy syrup. I can’t tell you how many times we feigned mal di pancia (stomach cramps) to get a spoonful. We savored each one until the last was finally consumed four or five years later. Yes, they lasted that long. But when they were gone, they were gone. My grandmother never wrote down the recipe. For years I dreamed of the intense, winey flavor of those tiny cherries and their sweet, spiked syrup. Finally, with help from my mom—who recalled her mother making them but had never done it herself—I began working on recreating the recipe until I finally came up with a version of which my grandmother would have approved (at least I like to think so). I have always enjoyed home preserving. My mother, born and raised in the central-south region of Abruzzo, made a variety of Italian pickles and preserves when I was growing up, from classic giardiniera (mixed vegetable pickle) to sparkling russet quince jelly from fruit that grew on the tree in our New Jersey backyard. I myself was hooked on canning as a hobby from my first attempt at making blueberry jam in my tiny apartment in Michigan. Technically the jam was a failure—it never set. But the jars “pinged,” signaling a successful seal, and I ended up with several half-pints of delicious blueberry syrup. For years my specialty was bread and butter pickles, which I still put up every August. Over time, my interest naturally gravitated towards the sorts of preserves I had enjoyed growing up in an Italian-American family—my mother’s colorful giardiniera, marinated eggplant packed in oil, and vinegary peppers. The art and craft of preserving is an ancient one, born of necessity and essential to all the world’s cuisines. As with so many culinary endeavors, Italians are masters at it. This is not surprising, given the variety of fruits and vegetables that thrive in the country’s Mediterranean climate and within its many microclimates, and also given the Italian tendency—or compulsion—toward resourcefulness. As WINTER 2017 17 ITALIAN AMERICA
many of us can attest, where there is a strip of fertile soil, whether in Italy or in the backyard of an Italian-American home, there is likely something edible growing in it. Italian cooks put up everything from artichokes to zucchini, in vinegar and in oil. They turn summer’s berries into jams, and fall’s apples and quince into russet-hued pastes. They make marmalade from citrus and liqueur out of roots and nuts. In August and September, out come the heavy-duty tomato milling machines as families get together to can tomatoes every which way. In October, during the vendemmia (grape harvest), the Abruzzesi turn their beloved Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes not only into wine, but also into mosto cotto, a cooked grape must that is a fruity syrup used in place of sugar to sweeten cakes and cookies. Beyond the typical preserves in jars, there are the more specialized forms of preservation: the curing of meat; the transformation of milk into cheese; the fermentation of grapes into wine; the process of turning olives from bitter, inedible fruit into tasty antipasto, not to mention that indispensable ingredient, oil. We may think of these foods as gourmet treats, even luxuries. But for many families, especially those in remote mountain villages facing harsh winters, stocking la dispensa (the larder) was a matter of survival. Preserved foods kept families nourished all year long in the days before refrigeration and supermarkets, and over the centuries they have earned a central place at the Italian table. Now it’s hard
EXPERT ITALIAN VACATION PLANNING, CUSTOMIZED FOR YOU. myitaliandestination.com
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to imagine a meal that doesn’t include preserves in some form, from salumi and pickled antipasti to condiments such as hot peppers in oil (indispensable in Abruzzo, Calabria, and elsewhere) to those boozy cherries or a homemade liqueur to bring a celebratory meal to a close. What’s more, preserves have played an essential part in defining the regional character of Italian cuisine. In Umbria, cured sausages and salami might be flavored with local truffles. In Calabria, they are tinged red from hot pepper. Only in Lombardy and parts of its neighboring Emilia-Romagna and Veneto regions will you find that alluring, ultra-spicy condiment known as mostarda, made from whole pieces of fruit suspended in nose-tingling hot mustard syrup. In Abruzzo, there is scrucchiata, a thick, coarse grape jam made from Montepulciano grapes that is used as a filling for traditional Christmas cookies. It is true that life has changed in Italy, as it has everywhere. Fewer people have time to make homemade pasta
Oil-Preserved Butternut Squash with Mint Makes 1 1/2 to 2 pints Ingredients: 1 butternut squash, 1 1/2 to 2 pounds 2 cups white wine vinegar 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 fresh or dried chile pepper, sliced crosswise or crushed 1 teaspoon dried mint 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt Sunflower oil Equipment: 3 to 4 sterilized half-pint jars and their lids 1. Slice the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and any stringy pulp and discard (or reserve the seeds for another use). Peel off the rind with a sharp paring knife and cut the squash halves in half again lengthwise, to yield four pieces. Slice each quarter crosswise into wedges about 1/4-inch thick. Place the slices in a large heatproof bowl.
Oil-Preserved Butternut Squash with Mint.
(Lauren Volo/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
or put up the preserves that their parents and nonni did. Supermarket shelves are stacked with jars of commercially produced sott’oli and sott’aceti. But, while traveling throughout Italy as I researched my book about preserves, I found that, far from disappearing, the art of preserving continues to thrive in restaurants, in countryside agriturismi, in people’s homes, and through the Slow Food movement. And it’s not just about nostalgia for the past. All across Italy there are passionate food artisans doing wonderful work. Individuals like Paolo Anselmini and Noemi Lora, who hail from the Piedmont region, produce high-quality preserves and pickles using only in-season ingredients from the surrounding Langhe and Roero hills. They both gave up entirely different careers (he worked in technology; she managed a bowling arcade) to focus on their small food business. WINTER 2017
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2. Combine the vinegar, sugar, chile, mint, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir once or twice to dissolve the sugar. Pour the boiling brine over the squash. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let steep overnight. 3. Drain the squash, reserving the brine. Return the brine to the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil vigorously for 2 minutes, then carefully add the squash. Return to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, or until the squash is just beginning to soften—it should still be a little crunchy. 4. Pack the pieces tightly in the jars, leaving about 1 inch of headspace. Pour enough oil over the squash to cover the pieces completely. Cover tightly with a lid and let stand at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours. Store in the refrigerator for up to three months. Remove from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving.
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Peaches in Grappa-Spiked Syrup Makes 3 quarts
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for one year from our groves in Calabria, Italy and we will send you the extra virgin olive oil from your tree after harvest. You will also receive photos of your tree, an adoption certificate and your tree is tagged with your name for the year!
The Perfect Italian Gift!
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Outside of Naples, Sabatino Abagnale has spent the last fifteen years working with the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity and local farmers to cultivate an heirloom variety of San Marzano tomatoes, which he cans and sells (you can find his products at Gustiamo.com). He started his business using seeds from his grandfather’s garden. “Agriculture was what our grandparents did,” Sabatino told me. “It was the economic foundation of this area until forty years ago, when industrialization took hold and people began to abandon the countryside. We want to revive the agricultural economy and traditions as a way of building a future for our children. Sometimes we have to go back to go forward.” Here in the United States, I’ve spoken with people who continue to cultivate peppers or tomatoes that were originally started from seeds brought over by ancestors or relatives. Almost all of us continue to pass along our Italian preserving traditions in one way or another. My tomato canning ambitions are modest, just twenty to forty pounds. But I make them every year, along with my mother’s giardiniera and my grandmother’s boozy cherries. For me, and for many of us, preserving is still a matter of necessity, and not because we need to stock our larders for winter. We can and cure and dry and bottle because these rituals keep us connected to Italy and to the flavors and traditions we hold so dear. Domenica Marchetti is the author of seven books on Italian home cooking, most recently “Preserving Italy: Canning, Curing, Infusing, and Bottling Italian Flavors and Traditions.” Her other books include the bestselling “The Glorious Pasta of Italy” and “Williams-Sonoma Rustic Italian.” Contact her at domenica@domenicacooks.com WINTER 2017 19 ITALIAN AMERICA
Ingredients: 2 cups sugar
Peaches in Grappa.
(Lauren Volo/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
3 cups water 2-inch piece vanilla bean 6 pounds ripe but firm yellow freestone peaches Freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon 1 1/2 cups grappa Equipment: 3 sterilized quart-size jars with their lids Basic water-bath canning equipment 1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. 2. Combine the sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and set over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the sugar water and toss in the pod. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and let simmer gently for about 5 minutes, until the syrup is slightly thickened. 3. Fill a large bowl with ice water and stir the lemon juice into it. Cut a small “x” into the bottom of each peach. When the water is boiling, gently drop the peaches, a few at a time, and blanch for 60 to 90 seconds to loosen the skins. Transfer them with a slotted spoon or skimmer to the bowl of ice water to cool slightly. 4. Peel the peaches—the skins should slip off easily— and cut them in half or quarters. Pack them into the jars, fitting them as closely and tightly as possible without squishing them. Use the bubble remover or chopstick to help position them snugly against one another. Leave about 1 1/2 inches headspace. 5. Pour 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the syrup into each jar so that the jar is about 2/3 full of liquid. Use the bubble remover or clean chopstick to gently jostle the peaches to make sure the liquid sinks to the bottom. Top off with about 1/2 cup of grappa, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Screw the lids on tightly and process for 25 minutes in the boiling water bath. The peaches will keep, properly sealed, for 6 months; after that they begin to lose their color and texture. Once opened, store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2017 19
Bulletin Board
What’s new: discounts, services and events
Sons of Italy Scholarships Don’t Forget: The Deadline is February 29! The deadline for the Sons of Italy Foundation ® (SIF) National Leadership Grants is fast approaching! Applications must be postmarked by February 29, 2017. Every year, the SIF awards 10 to 12 scholarships that assist outstanding Italian- State President Carolyn American students with their Reres presents the OSIA Grand Lodge of New college and graduate studies. York Scholarship to Julia The grants include Study in Amato at the 2016 NELA Gala. Italy awards. They range from $4,000 to $25,000. Scholarship information and application can be downloaded on http://www.osia.org/students/scholarships.php. Contact Laura Kelly at the Sons of Italy’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C. with any questions. Phone: (202) 547-2900 Email: scholarships@osia.org
The Sons of Italy Foundation American University of Rome $20,000 Joint-Scholarship This year, the Sons of Italy Foundation and the American University of Rome will offer joint-scholarship that awards $20,000 over four years ($5,000 per year) to a full-time student who will be pursuing his or her undergraduate studies at the American University in Rome. The scholarship is open to U.S. citizens of Italian descent who are enrolled in their undergraduate study or graduate program at a four-year, accredited academic institution for the Fall 2017 term. The deadline for the application is February 28, 2017. For program details, applications, and requirements, contact the American University of Rome at admissions@ aur.edu or call 1-888-791-8327.
Save Columbus Day Petition Campaign
Find the online petition at www.change.org and search “Save Columbus Day”. For electronic or hard copies, email csj@ osia.org or call the National Office at (202) 547-2900. WINTER 2017
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Looking for Travel Options for 2017? Check out these 2017 hosted by Incentus Global! Banff, Canada Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise June 13 – June 19, 2017 You and a guest will enjoy accommodations at the lovely Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. https://www.regonline.com/ordersonsofitalyinamericalakelouise
New Orleans, Louisiana Mississippi River Boat Cruise Dec. 9, 2017- Dec. 16, 2017 You and a guest will enjoy accommodations on the luxurious American Queen Steamboat—the largest, most opulent riverboat in the world! https://www.regonline.com/ordersonsofitalyinamericariverboatcruise
For more information, contact Breana J. Daniels, Project Coordinator: breana@incentusglobal.com
Massa Wins SIF 2017 T-Shirt Design for Third-Peat Two-time defending champion Anthony Massa of Addison, Texas submitted the winning artwork for the 2017 Sons of Italy Foundation® Tshirt Contest. This marks the third straight year that Massa has submitted the winning design. For winning the contest, he will receive two dozen free t-shirts along with a copy of Mauro Marinell’s Under Old Stars: Wanderings in Italian Hill Towns, a collection of captivating black-and-white photographs taken in Italy. The contest runs from October to January, but it’s never too late to start thinking of the design that will win in 2018! ITALIAN AMERICA
Speakers Bureau
learn more about your culture & history
Need a speaker for your club meeting or a special event? Contact these experts directly. Some may require travel expenses and/or honorariums. For more speakers see: www.osia.org at “Culture & History.” To apply as a speaker, contact Miles Fisher at mfisher@osia.org • ANYWHERE USA/ITALY Author Sharon E. Valenti (pen name S. E. Valenti) speaks on Sicilian history, culture, traditions, and customs. Her debut novel—Deliver us from Honor—was published through Koehler Publisher. Book signings. Contact: (586) 549-1905 (Michigan) Email: svalenti01@comcast. net Website: sharonvalenti.com • ANYWHERE USA/CANADA Author and Poet Gilda Morina Syverson speaks on the importance of family legacy, heritage, and how capturing our stories is essential for ourselves and future generations. Her novel—My Father’s Daughter, From Rome to Sicily— has been nominated for several awards. Book signings and writing workshops. Contact: (704) 896-7774 (North Carolina) Email: gildasyverson@gmail. com Website: www.gildasyverson.com • ANYWHERE USA Calabrian-born Singer Natalie
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Pinto performs Italian songs and has been recorded in both Italian and English. She has toured Europe and appeared on Italian pop’s Top 100 chart with her song “Sogno Di Primavera” (Spring Dream). Contact: (732) 606-2387 (New Jersey) Email: nataliepinto7@yahoo.com Website: www.nataliepinto.com • MID-ATLANTIC AND NEW YORK Author Guy Graybill speaks on the Italian and Italian-American contribution to music. His book—Bravo—was published through Dante University of America Press. It traces Italian contributions through history and provides statistical information to prove the Italian place in music history. Book signings. Contact: (570) 374-1524 (Pennsylvania) Email: guyoldt@gmail.com
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By Kevin M. Walsh In March of 1956, a vicious late winter blizzard hit the northeastern United States with little warning. The night of the blizzard, the winds blew with hurricane-force and temperatures plunged well below freezing. Just south of Boston, violent waves tossed the Etrusco—a 7,000 ton, 441-foot Italian freighter heading to Boston to pick up a load of grain. Not permitted to enter Boston Harbor due to the storm, the Etrusco’s captain decided to wait out the storm in waters off the nearby Scituate coast in Massachusetts. But a series of problems caused the ship to lose power, rendering it helpless in the turbulent storm. Winds and waves carried the Etrusco near the shore, toward an area filled with submerged boulders. The ship got caught in the boulders, causing the freighter to flood and list. Damage to the ship’s hull caused oil tanks to leak oil into the ocean and onto the nearby beach. The crew was stranded on the helpless vessel.
The Etrusco sits at low tide, stuck on the rocks. (United States Coast Guard) WINTER WINTER 2017 2017
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The Etrusco’s captain, Gaetano Triani, later described the tense experience the ship’s crew endured. Gaetano wrote: The control of the ship is gone and it takes a position with the bow at 130 degrees. The anchor does not hold, and the ship, ever more crossed by sea and wind, continues to ride towards the coast. At 8 p.m. the blow of the keel hitting the rocks is heard. I order the engine to reverse speed at full force, but the violence of the wind and sea surpass the strength of the engines and ship continues to head toward the coast. I call for a state of emergency.
were nine feet deep, the crew and the Coast Guard were trapped. So they looked to a nearby cottage for sanctuary. In a small beach house directly across from the disabled ship lived Lena Russo, a 69-year-old nonna of limited means who lived in this house with her seven-year-old granddaughter. Born in a small town near Naples, Nonna Russo became the most unlikely rescuer of the stranded Coast Guard and the thirty Italian sailors, none of whom spoke English. For Nonna Russo not only took them in, she also happened to speak Genovese—the very dialect of the crew.
The Etrusco grounded close to Nonna Russo’s house, which is the first house in the row of beach front houses. (United States Coast Guard)
The frozen and frightened crew was trapped in the damaged ship all night with no power in sub-freezing temperatures and howling winds. Finally, the Coast Guard made it through the storm and arrived at daybreak. They used the daylight hours to execute a breeches buoy rescue, a rescue method that involved sewing a pair of pants onto a life ring, which was then attached to a system of ropes and pulleys. The life ring was shot onto the ship with a cannon-type gun, after which the crew was able to attach it to the ship and allow men to swing down the long ropes, one at a time, to the beach. It took about two hours to get the crew off the boat. Once that was done, another problem arose. With no easy way out of the area due to the storm and snow drifts that ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2017 23
Etrusco crewman being rescued via the breeches buoy rescue system. (United States Coast Guard)
According to a Coast Guard report dated March 16, 1956, after the rescue, “the Etrusco crew members and their Coast Guard rescuers were treated to food and shelter in the home of Mrs. Lina (sic) Russo, a nearby resident.” (Note: Official sources spell Mrs. Russo’s name as both Lina and Lena). Nonna Russo kept her stove busy, brewing pots of fresh coffee and cooking dishes of hot food to warm the crew while they dried off. Her ability to communicate with the sailors in their own language helped calm them. Even her little granddaughter gave a hand by playing with the crew and showing them how a television worked. “She did not have much money, but she shared whatever she had to help the crew,” reflects David Ball, her young neighbor in 1958 and now President of the Scituate Historical Society. WINTER 2017 23 ITALIAN AMERICA
Nonna Russo’s small house soon became a hubbub of activity, as the crew and rescue officials spread out wherever there was space. Constant foot traffic in and out of the house spread a messy combination of slush, beach sand, and oil all over the place. Even Nonna Russo’s kitchen—the part not used for preparing coffee and food, of course—became a radio communications room. Area civil defense officials called her house their temporary home base. As the storm subsided, the activity swelled with the arrival of newspaper reporters, photographers, police and fire personnel, Red Cross aides, and others—about
Coast Guard officers present Lena Russo with a plaque to thank her for helping rescue the Etrusco crew. (United States Coast Guard)
480 people in total. Nonna Russo’s small beach cottage burst at its seams.
Several days after the rescue, the Coast Guard presented a plaque to her, honoring her efforts and extreme generosity. The plaque stated: First Coast Guard District Award of Appreciation…Mrs. Lina (sic) Russo…through whose thoughtful kindness food and shelter were provided coastguardsmen during the rescue of the SS Etrusco at Scituate, Mass., March 17, 1956.
Members of the Etrusco crew are now warm and dry in Nonna Russo’s house. (United States Coast Guard)
Before returning to Italy, the ship’s crew also honored Nonna Russo with the gift of one of the ship’s life-saving rings, the same type used in their breeches buoy rescue.
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Months later, Nonna Russo reported that she continued to regularly hear from some crew members. “(I) shall never forget the (time) the Italian sailors were here,” Nonna Russo said in an undated newspaper article. “We cried together and we laughed together, and we became good friends.”
cue, citizens formed a charitable group called the Scituate Etrusco Associates just a year after the rescue. Organized to loan expensive medical and nursing equipment to needy people, the group still operates today in honor of those who gave help to others in a time of great need. Those like Nonna Russo.
Decades after the Etrusco ran aground, Scituate historians David Ball and Tom Hall managed to locate some of the surviving crew members in Italy and corresponded with two of them for several years. Hall even traveled to Italy to meet and interview one of them: Giovanni Belfiore.
Ironically, this group returned years later to help her when another huge blizzard hit the area in 1978. The storm nearly destroyed Nonna Russo’s house and required that she be rescued. Upon learning of her plight, officials with Scituate Etrusco Associates gave her assistance. After
An award ceremony where Coast Guard officials and Etrusco crew members honor Nonna Russo for her rescue efforts. (United States Coast Guard)
Belfiore remarked on how grateful the crew was to Nonna Russo for taking them in, providing them with food and coffee, and giving them warm shelter after the cold crew’s frightening rescue. He had even kept a decades-old newspaper clipping containing a photo of Nonna Russo pouring a cup of coffee for him since it best represented what he remembered about his time spent taking refuge in her home. To commemorate the extraordinary help provided by Nonna Russo and other Scituate residents during the res-
WINTER 2017 25 ITALIAN AMERICA
A current shot of Scituate Lighthouse, which provided a beacon of light to help the Etrusco crew determine their location during the storm. A greatly renovated version of Mrs. Russo’s beach house is the first house on the row along the front of the ocean. It sits fifty yards from the boulder-filled ocean waters where the Etrusco ran aground. (Kevin M. Walsh)
the rescue, the 92-year-old nonna mused to the Boston Herald American about the return payment. “I never got a nickel (in 1956). I just wanted to make them happy,” she said. “Now I feel happy myself.” A Boston area native and Notre Dame graduate, Kevin M. Walsh is a trial lawyer, as well as a freelance writer and photographer specializing in travel and history topics. Contact him at kwalsh@alumni.nd.edu
ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2017 25
OSIA Nation
OSIA LODGES AT WORK
ohio
illinois/wisconsin
This year, the Ben V. Marconi Lodge #505 of Canton has celebrated Cent’ Anni with a variety of events. On April 15, just one day prior to their actual 100th Anniversary, they hosted a dinner dance gala that had four hundred in attendance. The yearlong festivities continued with a picnic in July, a corn roast in August, a pasta dinner in October, a memorial Mass and luncheon in November, and a Christmas party in December. Through these events, the lodge saw its membership rise 25% to well over one hundred members.
The Grand Lodge of Illinois/ Wisconsin participated in a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii in Chicago in honor of Columbus Day. The wreath was carried into church for the Columbus Day Mass, and afterward it was marched to Arrigo Park where it was placed at the Statue of Columbus.
Lodge members celebrate Cent’ Anni at their dinner dance gala.
new york In November, the Duca Degli Abruzzi Lodge #443 of Endicott honored the 2016 Little League World Series Champion MaineEndwell team. The players—many of whom are related to lodge members— were awarded a certificate of Honorary Membership in the lodge and were presented with lodge centennial pins. In return, the players presented the lodge with a team-autographed Little League World Series baseball and signed poster. From the Order Sons of Italy in America, thank you Maine-Endwell for representing our country in Williamsport and giving us such a great group of players to root for!
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(L to R) Bert Jacobson, President of Americo Vespucci Lodge; Richard R. Della Croce, Immediate past Grand Lodge President and National Orator; Marie Marsalli, Grand Lodge of IL/ WI President; and Margurite Rowley, Grand Lodge Trustee.
GOT A GOOD STORY? Have you or your lodge done something remarkable that makes a difference to your community or promotes our heritage and Italian studies? With the Little League World Series Champions are (L to R) Bob Grannis, Centennial Committee Chair; Pat Iandoli, NYS District 7 Trustee; Pat Cerra, President; and Matt Coletta, First Vice President.
If so, send details including your lodge’s name/number, a brief writeup, and digital photos of 300 dpi to Editor Miles Fisher at mfisher@ osia.org.
ITALIAN AMERICA
OSIA Nation
MAKING A DIFFERENCE massachusetts
Guided by the belief that “the fastest way to kill a culture is to kill its language,” Alan Amaral, Orator of OSIA Vittorio Veneto Lodge #1035 in Fall River, invested matching funds to create a scholarship for Italian language studies at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy. Amaral, who is fluent in Italian through his own studies at Sant’Anna, worked with the Institute’s administration to secure a partial scholarship for one student. The inaugural recipient was Lori Sousa, who has been active in the lodge as a young adult and who became a full member upon returning
from service in the U.S. Peace Corps (Ukraine). For Sousa, the scholarship was an opportunity to finally learn and share the language of her ancestors. Sousa took a professional leave of absence to invest four weeks at Sant’Anna, where she enjoyed two hours of intensive classroom instruction per day and lived with a host family just outside of Sorrento’s historical center. “I feel more connected to my family and its traditions more than ever before,” Sousa shared in her online journal about the experience. Read more about her journey at www.FallRiverSOI.org
Lori Sousa (center) with instructor Nunzia (right) and classmate Margareth (left) holds up her certificate.
pennsylvania In November, the State Lodge C&E Foundation—the philanthropic arm of the State Lodge of Pennsylvania—hosted A Tribute to Frank Sinatra: 100 Years of Sinatra at Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Levittown. The concert featured the twenty-member Monday Blues Jazz Orchestra with soloist tenor Greg Farnese under the direction of Jerry W. Zucker and the fifty-member Saint Michael the Archangel Ministry of Music Choir under the direction of Frank D. Cuda.
Consul General of Italy in Philadelphia Andrea Canepari addresses the concert audience and reviews ‘Italian Heritage Month’ Ciao Philadelphia 2016.
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The concert raised funds for a considerable donation to Saint Michael’s and provided for two scholarships from the Robert A. Messa Memorium Scholarship Fund. The scholarships will be awarded to children and grandchildren of Pennsylvania Sons of Italy members; one to a high school student who will attend college in Fall 2017,
and one to an eighth grade student of a private or parochial grammar school who will graduate in 2017. To find out more about these scholarships and how to apply, email Marylouise DeNicola at mdenicol@gmail.com. In addition to the concert, the State Lodge presented Mrs. Elizabeth Messa, Robert Messa’s widow, with a floral arrangement of red roses. An 80-Page Collection of Grandma’s Italian Recipes and Cultural Anecdotes
$10.00 plus $2.00 shipping Mail to: DaVinci Center 470 Charles Street Providence, RI 02904 ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2017 27
By Miles Ryan Fisher
Eighty-seven-year-old Joe Mulholland visits his wife’s grave three times a week. After sixty-five years of marriage and two years since Jane’s passing, he still makes the drive from Ocean City, Maryland—where they had retired—to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, a Catholic Cemetery in Dagsboro, Delaware. He brings her flowers and lays them on her grave to let her know that she is, and will always be, in the front of his mind. When he initially made these trips two years ago, Joe stood at her grave, picturing the wife he had lost, reflecting on all the qualities that made her the love of his life. When he did so, he couldn’t help thinking about how much she loved being around babies and children—and how much they loved being around her. “I’ve seen times,” he said, “where we’d be walking into a store and a mother would be holding a baby, and my wife WINTER WINTER 2017 2017
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would walk in and the baby would put his or her arms out. There was just something about her that attracted babies.” With this in mind, he decided to see if the cemetery had a place reserved for infants. He asked a worker, who gave him a map of the cemetery and pointed him in the direction of a little area called Holy Innocents that was reserved for the burials of infants and young children. When Joe got there, he noticed that even though the area was marked on the map, there was no visible indicator in the actual area itself. He stared at the flimsy plastic grave markers, some without the names of the very young ones they memorialized, others covered by dirt and overgrown grass. As he looked upon the neglected area, he thought of his wife, of her love for young life. “My God,” he said. “I have to do something about this.” ITALIAN ITALIAN AMERICA AMERICA
It wasn’t the first time Joe had expressed that sentiment with Jane in mind. He’d said almost those exact words more than seventy years ago when he was just sixteen years old and growing up in North Philadelphia. He’d arrived at a friend’s birthday party with a girlfriend beside him. It wasn’t long before he looked across the room and saw another girl, one from West Philadelphia. He saw her blue eyes. He saw her light hair. “Wait a minute,” he said. “I got to think about this.” Her name was Jane Lucci, and Joe came to discover that like him, she was half-Italian and half-Irish. Her father, Savario Lucci, had died when she was just two days old. He’d contracted peritonitis, a condition that developed from appendicitis in which the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen becomes inflamed and can lead to infection. After he died, her widowed mother remarried and left Jane to be raised by her Calabrese grandparents. Meanwhile, Joe eagerly described his Italian half, which came from his mother’s side. Both of his grandparents had been born in Italy—Giuseppe in Naples, Campania; Giuseppina in Lucca, Tuscany—and immigrated to Philadelphia, where they met. Giuseppe worked as a barber, Giuseppina as a seamstress. Giuseppe’s original last name was Guglielmotti, but was shortened to simply Motti. They had a daughter—Joe’s mother—who grew up Lucy Motti. Upon sharing their family histories whose halves seemed to fit perfectly together, Joe and Jane started seeing more of each other. A year after their serendipitous encounter, Joe enlisted in the Navy, finally old enough to join the war effort. He served in 1946 and 1947, guarding Japanese POWs in Guam and the Marianas Islands. He also gained experience in aerial photography, which
Bishop William F. Malooly blesses the Holy Innocents memorials.
would serve him well after his discharge. All the while he was overseas, he spent time writing Jane one letter after another. They never lost touch. Just ten months after Joe returned from the Pacific, he and Jane married. They embarked on their new life in Philadelphia, where Joe took a job as a cartographer, mapping different countries and requiring frequent travel to Central America. They had a daughter named Kelly and moved to Takoma Park, Maryland—a town just outside of Washington, D.C.—where Joe took a job with the Army Map Service, at that time the premier map making agency of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 1988, after forty years in the workforce, he and Jane retired to Ocean City, where they resided until she passed away on September 22, 2014, just three days before their sixty-sixth anniversary. She was eighty-five.
“I’m
Sons of Italy lodges. I’ll tell you, I love the Sons of Italy. God Bless them, they are wonderful people.” so proud of the
Soon after her passing, Joe found himself in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery’s office, speaking with Deacon Don Lydick about the Holy Innocents area. He found that many parents of the young ones buried in that area were poor couples or single mothers in abusive situations who had difficulty affording permanent graves. This, Joe decided, was going to change.
The renewed Holy Innocents area at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Dagsboro, Delaware. WINTER 2017 29 ITALIAN AMERICA
With the help of Deacon Lydick, he contacted the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington asking what it would take to provide permanent graves as well as a monument that identified the Holy Innocents area. They told him the project would take at least $4,000. ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2017 29
Joe launched a fundraising campaign that would last for more than a year. “It was its own blessing,” he said. “Because it kept me busy while I was still grieving.” With the help of his grandson and his grandson’s wife, he started a website to raise funds. He also received support from his Sons of Italy Ocean City Lodge #2474, of which he’s been a member for twenty-six years. The lodge raised funds, and as word spread to surrounding lodges, many of them initiated their own drives as well. After thirteen months, Joe had raised a total of $8,672—almost a quarter of which came from efforts made by Sons of Italy lodges. “I’m so proud of the Sons of Italy lodges,” Joe remarked. “I’ll tell you, I love the Sons of Italy. God Bless them, they are wonderful people.” On September 11, 2016—almost two years after Jane’s passing—more than two hundred people accompanied Joe to the Holy Innocents area following the 9/11 Memorial Mass at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. When they got there, they saw a granite memorial monument resting in the burial section with “Holy Innocents” engraved along the top. Below the engraving were the names of those buried. In front of the monument lay thirty-one granite plaques, one for each infant and young child. Bishop William F. Malooly, who presided over the 9/11 Memorial Mass, consecrated the renewed Holy Innocents area. Now when Joe visits this area, he looks upon the work that he has done—work in the memory of his wife and in the memory of all the young ones who didn’t have the opportunity to live the life that he’d been blessed with. A
Joe and Bishop Malooly after the ceremony commemorating Joe’s work in honor of his late wife, Jane.
life with the woman he loved, the woman whose blue eyes he’d looked into sixty-eight years ago. And even though she’s been gone for two years, he still can’t look away. “I still have my bad days and good days,” he says. “But God Bless me, I had a wonderful wife.” Miles Ryan Fisher is the Editor-in-Chief of Italian America magazine. Contact him at mfisher@osia.org
The Sons of Italy At Work The following lodges contributed to Joe’s wonderful cause: Grand Lodge of Delaware Prince of Piedmont Lodge #475 (Wilmington, DE) Giuseppe Verdi Lodge #2457 (Wilmington, DE) St. Gabriel Lodge #2035 (New Castle, DE) Caesar Rodney Lodge #2359 (Dover, DE) Ocean City Lodge #2474 (Ocean City, MD) Joe would like to thank the following individuals: Joseph Facciolo, State President, Grand Lodge of Delaware Vito Potenza, Lodge President, Ocean City Lodge #2474 Sal Castorina, Past Lodge President, Ocean City Lodge #2474
Joe with Grand Lodge of Delaware State President Joseph Facciolo (left) and Caesar Rodney #2359 Lodge President Michael Roca (right). WINTER 2017
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ITALIAN AMERICA
From the National
WHAT NATIONAL DOES FOR YOU
From the President’s Desk By Daniel J. Longo, President of the Order Sons of Italy in America® During this time of the year we are spending time with family, friends, and colleagues sharing the stories of the past and our hopes for our future. As we reflect on the past, we can ask ourselves why we joined the Order Sons of Italy in America. The answer is probably in the center of a story of family and friends. It’s good that we revisit those reasons that brought us to this renowned Italian-American organization. I am sure it will bring a smile to your face and the remembrance of those people that preceded us. I encourage all to share those experiences with people who are like-minded and have the desire to preserve our culture and heritage. Just imagine your story of commitment might encourage them to join us. The restructure of the National Office is proving to be a significant step in improving the services of our programs and projects. Our staff has been phenomenal in addressing the earthquake relief technology and 2017 NELA projects. The increase in email communications emanating from the National Office has opened the lines of communication dramatically. Now, as issues occur, we are able to keep
everyone up to date. We want our membership to be informed and cognizant of the progress we are making. From February 9 to February 12, we will be meeting in Dallas, Texas for a combined Executive and Plenary session. We will be presenting up-to-date information on the development of our new web site and ancillary automated systems. I am looking forward to seeing everyone from the Supreme Council. We will be communicating the latest progress on the initiatives we started in August 2015. We have made substantial progress in bringing OSIA into the 21st century. Based on the progress already achieved, it is my opinion that there is a renewed energy by all to make OSIA stronger and a more vital ItalianAmerican organization. There still remains a lot to be done. As Robert Frost wrote, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.” I am committed to the success of OSIA and will do everything in my power to see it succeed.
Congratulazioni, Michael! Congratulations to Michael Robert Carta, winner of the Sons of Italy Do You Know Your Roots contest that was held in honor of Italian American Heritage Month. Michael was randomly selected from all the at-large members (ALM) who joined, gifted, or renewed their Sons of Italy membership in October. He receives a My Italian Family Genealogy Research Project (valued at $1,500), which will research his family up to five generations back. Look for Michael’s results in Italian America’s Summer 2017 issue. Special thanks to Bianca Ottone from My Italian Family for donating the research package. To find out more about your own roots, visit www. myitalianfamily.com. Remember that all OSIA members can receive a 10% discount from My Italian Family.
WINTER 2017 31 ITALIAN AMERICA
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®
The Sons of Italy Foundation
®
HELPING THOSE IN NEED
The 2017 NELA Gala – Mark Your Calendars!
By Joseph DiTrapani, President
The 29 th Annual 2017 National Education and Awards Gala promises to be, as always, a spectacular night. I would like to bring to your attention a few positive changes we will be making that will open it up into a fun celebration for all who attend. In addition to honoring distinguished Italian Americans and awarding scholarships to a group of gifted students, we will be incorporating a Silent Auction and a Venetian Hour accompanied by music and dancing. The Silent Auction will include many enticing items to bid on, ones that generous donors have provided. The Venetian Hour will have a wonderful display of Italian pastries and sweets with coffee and liqueurs. This year, the gala returns to the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., the same place where President Franklin D. Roosevelt held his first inaugural ball (and The Beatles once booked the entire seventh floor). Six years ago, we had a very memorable NELA Gala at the Omni with President William Clinton, Italy’s
then-President Giorgio Napolitano, and legendary music producer Quincy Jones in attendance. For the fifteenth consecutive year, actor Joe Mantegna will be the emcee. This is a night to embrace our heritage and support SIF charity. Over the years, the NELA Gala has enabled the SIF to make substantial donations to many worthy causes. It should fill each and every one of us with pride to see the broad list of SIF contributions that spans sixty-seven years and includes causes ranging from supporting medical research and our military heroes to funding earthquake relief and cultural preservation. This night—and especially the charity that comes out of it—is certainly something that has our ancestors smiling down on us. Please join us for another memorable night that will surely go by too fast. Reserve your rooms now, as space is limited. If you have any questions about the 2017 NELA Gala, contact our National Office at (202) 547-2900.
Save the Date May 25, 2017
Join us for a spectacular evening with Joe Mantegna featuring a Silent Auction, Cocktail Reception, Dinner, Venetian Hour, Dancing and Music. An evening you will not want to miss!
The Sons of Italy Foundation 29th Annual National Education & Leadership Awards Gala Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C Thursday, May 25, 2017 A night of recognizing Heritage, Culture, and Education To book a room call: call 1-800-THE OMNI and refer to the “29th Annual NELA Gala Room Block” Be sure to visit OSIA.org for updates on Honorees in the new year WINTER 2017
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ITALIAN AMERICA
®
The Commission for Social Justice
fighting defamation
The CSJ Perspective By Kevin Caira, President
In a huge victor y for both our Maryland members and the CSJ, the Baltimore City Council recently rejected a proposal to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. Following this decision, the Baltimore Sun launched a poll asking its readers: “Did the Baltimore City Council make the right decision by not renaming Columbus Day for indigenous people and Italian Americans?” The CSJ immediately alerted Sons of Italy members, and our members certainly responded. As of December 15, an overwhelming majority of 95% responded that YES, the Baltimore City Council made the right decision. I would also like to share two letters. Upon listening to Ohio Representative Tim Ryan’s use of the word “dago,” the CSJ took action. Though Rep. Ryan is, himself, half-Italian, it is important that he—and every public
official—understand that there are certain words that are inappropriate to use in public regardless of the context. As you will read below, we sent him a very respectful letter requesting an apology, and he responded with one. For the CSJ, it was not about blaming someone for their misstep. Rather, it was about encouraging them to do the right thing. Representative Ryan did the right thing. Thank you for your continued support as we stand up for Columbus Day and for Italian Americans. To help our cause, please consider making a monetary contribution to: Commission for Social Justice 219 E Street NE Washington, DC 20002 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE® Order Sons of Italy in America®
1421 LONGWORTH BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 202-225-5261 202-225-3719 FAX
219 E Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-2900 (202) 546-8168 (FAX) www.osia.org
TIM RYAN
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS DEFENSE SUBCOMMITTEE TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET
CONGRESS OF THE
December 2, 2016
UNITED STATES
The Honorable Tim Ryan U.S. House of Representatives – Ohio Washington, D.C. Office 1421 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515
13TH DISTRICT, OHIO
Dear Mr. Ryan:
December 5, 2016
On behalf of the Commission for Social Justice, the anti-defamation arm of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA)—the largest and oldest organization representing Italian-American men and women—I am requesting that you offer a public apology for your recent comments on Hardball with Chris Matthews in reference to “dago red wine.” Frankly, I was surprised that you—or any public official for that matter—would find it reasonable to use this derogatory word. I do not doubt that you did not intend to offend and that “table wine” would have been a far more appropriate choice of words. Nonetheless, it is important for you to recognize and acknowledge that this word originated out of a prejudice against Italian immigrants (particularly day laborers, who were referred to as day-goers) and was used as a means to disparage the very hard-working people who helped build our country. I hope that you do the right thing and offer a public apology, not only to show that you meant no offense but to also bring awareness to the painful, regrettable history embedded in this word.
Sincerely,
Mr. Kevin A. Caira President Commission for Social Justice, Order Sons of Italy in America 219 E St NE Washington, DC 20002-4922 Dear Mr. Caira: Thank you very much for contacting me with your concerns about comments I made on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews. I appreciate your taking the time to share your views with me and I am grateful for the opportunity to respond. I sincerely apologize for my remarks. I am a proud Italian American, raised by an Italian mother and Italian grandparents. Growing up our Italian neighbors and my family made homemade wine, which was - and still commonly is - affectionately referred to by that name. Rest assured I meant no offense by my comments and have the deepest pride and respect for my Italian heritage. The Italian culture and values have significantly shaped who I am, and I would never intentionally demean or degrade the very culture that has been so integral to my life. I know from the stories of my grandparents and great-grandparents the real struggles and discrimination that Italian Americans faced when they first immigrated to America. It pains me to think I may have somehow hurt my fellow Italians by my remark. Please accept my deepest apology and know that I will always try to best reflect the values of our heritage. Thank you again for your correspondence. Sincerely,
Kevin A. Caira President, Commission for Social Justice Order Sons of Italy in America CC:
Daniel J. Longo, National President, Order Sons of Italy in America Order Sons of Italy in America Supreme Council Commission for Social Justice Board of Directors, Voting Members, and Resource Persons
Tim Ryan Member of Congress MH:sf 197 West Market Street Warren, OH 44481 330-373-0074 330-373-0098 FAX
WINTER 2017 33 ITALIAN AMERICA
241 Federal Plaza West Youngstown, OH 44503 330-740-0193 330-740-0182 FAX
1030 East Tallmadge Ave. Akron, OH 44310 330-630-7311 330-630-7314 FAX
ITALIAN AMERICA WINTER 2017 33
The Perfect Gift Looking for a unique gift for family or friends? Give the gift of your rich 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 telling him or her of your gift. Fill out the form below and return to us ASAP.
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WINTER 2017
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OSIA members receive a special discount of 15%! Repeat advertisers also receive a discount. For more information, contact Pat Rosso at (215) 206 4678 or pieassociates3@gmail.com Corrections for Fall 2016 issue OSIA Nation (page 27) Frances Catherine Codispoti was Sostene Codispoti’s sister.
ITALIAN AMERICA
Italian America® Italian America Magazine is produced by the national headquarters of the Order Sons of Italy in America®, 219 E Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 202/547-2900. Email: nationaloffice@osia.org Office Manager Andrea Beach Editor-in-Chief Miles Ryan Fisher Social Media/Communications Coordinator Carly Jerome Program Coordinator Laura Kelly Executive Assistant Katie Vivian Italian America® is the official publication of the Order Sons of Italy in America® (OSIA), the largest and longestestablished organization of American men and women of Italian heritage. Italian America provides timely information about OSIA, 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 OSIA, 219 E St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. ©2015 Order Sons 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 OSIA. Mention of a product or service in advertisements or text does not mean that it has been tested, approved or endorsed by OSIA, 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 OSIA members. Single copies are $4.95 each. OSIA MEMBERS: Please send address changes to your local lodge. Do not contact the OSIA National Office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Italian America, 219 E St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Subscriptions are available through the OSIA National Office, 219 E Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. OSIA membership information is available at (800) 552-OSIA or at www.osia. 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: Call Pat Rosso at 215/206-4678 or email her at pieassociates3@gmail.com. Also see www.osia.org for advertising rates, specs, demographics, etc. WINTER 2017 35 ITALIAN AMERICA
By Miles Ryan Fisher Editor-in-Chief, Italian America Magazine
The story about Lena Russo, the nonna who came to a shipwrecked crew’s rescue, made me think of the many times I’d been stranded (by a broken-down car, not a shipwreck). And I’m sure that many readers know the feeling of car failure at a time before cell phones existed. Her story reminded me of one time in particular while I was driving on an early frigid February morning in upstate New York. I had dropped off a bus rental check in Elmira and was returning to Ithaca, where I was a sophomore at Cornell. At the start of the trip, the clutch began slipping, and I knew right away that I was in trouble. I felt the shifter give way but I had enough speed to coast down a side road that had a mere handful of houses on it. I spotted a house a hundred yards away with smoke rising from its chimney, so I walked to it and knocked on the door. A man answered the door who looked rugged, with unshorn hair and calloused hands, wearing stonewash jeans and a flannel shirt—the type who worked hard for a living. I asked if I could use the phone to call my grandparents, who lived in Ithaca. Of course, he said. I walked in and saw another man sitting at the kitchen table who looked every bit as rugged. Two open beer cans sat on the kitchen table. I dialed my grandparents and, sure enough, my grandfather said he was on his way. While I waited, I chatted with the two men (half-expecting they’d offer me a beer—they didn’t). What they offered me instead was a lesson. When my grandfather arrived, I thanked the men, saying I didn’t know what I would’ve done if they hadn’t helped me. “It was nothin’ to us,” the man who’d answered the door said and shrugged. “It’s what anyone should do.” I never saw those men again, and they probably never realized that this lesson, conveyed by those simple words, would have a lasting impact on me. They understood that helping me cost them very little—an inconvenience at most—while for me, it meant a great deal. Because had they turned me away, I would have been cast into the cold with nowhere to go. Since that day, I’ve changed several flat tires and jump-started countless cars—even gone on excursions for gas and pushed vehicles off the highway. Every time I help someone who is stranded just as I was, I think of those simple words. I think of the lesson those men taught me. And I think about how they’ll never know just how many times it’s been paid forward.
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Piacere!
PLEASED TO MEET YOU, STREGA NONA!
Strega Nona Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) hails from Calabria, the Southern Italy region situated in the “toe” of the boot. Long ago, she developed a close friendship with Tomie dePaola and regaled him with her life stories. Tomie wrote down her tales and passed them on to readers in the form of children’s stories, accompanying her words with illustrations that bring them to life. When he released her first tale—the eponymous Strega Nona—in 1975, it was awarded a Caldecott Honor.
that is LOVE. It is the same with all my magic. Always LOVE!
Strega Nona and her stories continue to be a favorite among children and adults, her collection totaling thirteen books (with two more on the way!).
Aside from spell books, what other books do you read? I enjoy reading books other than my magic book. I read fables, old tales, poems and songs, histories of people, and I even like to read cookbooks. (I’ve also been known to read romantic stories, but that’s my secret.)
Tell us about your hometown in Calabria and what makes it such a wonderful place to visit. First of all, to tell you anything you might want to know about me, including where I live, you must close your eyes and say to yourself, c’era una volta. Once upon a time, there was a tiny village in the part of Italy called Calabria. In this village, there lived an old lady named Strega Nona.
What do you think is the most important lesson to teach a child? For me, the most important lesson to teach young people is to help them recognize the spirit and kindness that comes from their hearts. That is something that all children are born with. It must be encouraged and taken care of so they become fine, loving, and strong grown-ups.
I’ve read that you can find husbands for Then your imagination can take you to this women. What does that search entail? lovely part of Italy where mountains fall right to ! y a You’re trying so hard to find out my seM this the sea, with little villages secretly hiding everyComing crets. (I’m only joking.) I have been known where. And if you’re really lucky, you’ll find me. to make a potion that helps young people who How did you learn the art of magic? are in love with each other open their eyes and see I learned the art of magic from my Grandma exactly who they’re looking at. Then they can get Concetta. I tell all about it in the book Tomie deto know one another (that’s the tricky part), and Paola wrote for me called Strega Nona: Her Story. who knows, I may be invited to a wedding and The day I was born, Grandma Concetta came to eventually a baptism. help. The minute I appeared on Earth she looked How long did it take Big Anthony to eat his at me and said, “Her name will be Nona, and she way through the overcooked pasta from the magic will become a Strega.” Grandma Concetta was the best pasta pot? Strega in our village. So, from my childhood onward, First, my pasta is NEVER overcooked! I’ll tell you this. Grandma Concetta took me under her wing and taught It took Big Anthony such a long time that he didn’t want me all of her wonderful white magic. to look at a bowl of pasta for weeks and weeks. Did you know that there are white Stregas and dark Stregas? Dark Stregas use dark magic, but we won’t get into that. Grandma Concetta came from a long line of white Stregas who only use good and happy white magic just like the witches in the Wizard of Oz. There are good witches and bad witches—good Stregas and bad Stregas. What is your favorite magical spell? I cannot tell you. It is my secret. But all my spells have the same ingrediente segreto—the secret ingredient—and WINTER 2017
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How does Big Anthony still have a job with you? Oh, don’t be silly. Big Anthony will always have a job with me. He’s a good boy, and a hard worker. He isn’t naughty. He certainly isn’t dumb. He’s always cheerful. He is loyal to me. His biggest problem (and it’s a problem many of us have) is that he often doesn’t listen carefully, and he often doesn’t pay attention. But, every day, he gets better and better. I don’t know what I would do without him. ITALIAN AMERICA
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Love . Faith . Family. new
available now from york times bestselling author
ADRIANA TRIGIANI "Trigiani is a master of palpable and visual detail." —washington Post "One of the reigning queens of women's fiction." —Usa today
For 2017 tour details, visit AdrianaTrigiani.com
@AdrianaTrigiani www.AdrianaTrigiani.com WINTER 2017
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