Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America®
56th Biennial National Convention & Guglielmo Marconi Award Gala Commemorative Journal
August 12-18, 2019 Hyatt Regency San Antonio, Texas
CONGRATULATIONS to
2019 Guglielmo Marconi Award Recipient
THOMAS RICHARD SUOZZI
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America National Past Presidents Joseph A. Russo Joseph J. DiTrapani Vincent Sarno Joseph Sciame Philip R. Boncore, Esq. Frank J. DeSantis Paul S. Polo Joanne L. Strollo Peter R. Zuzolo
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
56th Biennial National Convention & Guglielmo Marconi Award Gala Commemorative Journal Inaugural Address by OSDIA Founder Vincenzo Sellaro, M.D...................................................... 2 Welcome: Convention and Marconi Gala Chair................................................................................. 3 The Guglielmo Marconi Award: History and Recipients.................................................................. 4 2019 Marconi Award Honoree: Hon. Thomas Richard Suozzi....................................................... 5 Marconi Gala Menu................................................................................................................................ 6 Marconi Gala Program........................................................................................................................... 7 2019 Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Award Honorees: John A. Saladino and Joanne L. Strollo................ 8 2019 Sports Award Honoree: Mike Sielski.......................................................................................... 9 OSDIA National Officers..................................................................................................................... 10 OSDIA National Past Presidents......................................................................................................... 12 The Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®......................................................................... 14 The Sons of Italy Foundation®............................................................................................................ 18 The Commission for Social Justice®.................................................................................................... 22 OSDIA Gold Membership Program................................................................................................... 24 Marconi Gala Sponsors.......................................................................................................................... 25
The Founding of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America Inaugural Address by OSDIA Founder Vincenzo Sellaro, M.D. Today is the 22nd of June 1905! Today we are blessed with such a magnificent day of sunshine. Today the Almighty has brought us all together for a purpose. With all of you, and with my most intimate compatriots, let’s say our brothers and their wives, our sisters, who represent every corner of Italy. All of us are Italians! No matter what part of Italy we came from, we are first and foremost Italians. I, Vincenzo Sellaro, happen to be from Sicily; our pharmacist, Ludovico Ferrari is from Piedmont; our attorney, Antonio Marzullo is from Campania; Giuseppe Carlino, sculptor, from Lazio; and our barbers, Pietro Viscardi from Calabria, and Roberto Merlo from Tuscany. We cannot continue to see each other and treat each other as sub-nationalities of the Italian peninsula. By continuing this way we will not only remain weak as a nationality within the larger American society, but will also continue to find it ever difficult to achieve our rightful place of influence and respect in the role we must take in making this country greater than ever before. This wonderful country can only become the richer and more cultured as a result of it. Today we are gathered together for one main purpose, that I want to believe someday will become a very important part of American history. We are the newest of the immigrants to this great country, and because of the fierce and undeserved prejudice and discrimination that we have had to suffer for nearly two decades, we must begin to work together, for our common good. We must educate ourselves, and insist that our children receive the best and highest education possible. Only through this education will we understand the ways and beliefs of this marvelous adopted country of ours, and be treated as equal and worthy American citizens. We left our native land for a new life, in order to survive. Our former country with its government demonstrated after so many years of trying, that it was simply not capable of providing for us the life we deserved—a decent life, a respectable life. The majority of us have come to these shores as the poorest of all Italians, and the least educated of most of Europe. But today I must also share with you that we are also the most courageous for having made the decision to come here, to have left behind our motherland and our families, in the hope, not to find a new life, but to earn a better one. Where only a few of us, before leaving Italy were fortunate enough to have received an education, many of you-us, have reached these shores as common laborers, tenant farmers, field workers and shepherds, gardeners, fishermen, but just as many as artisans, such as masons, carpenters, stonecutters, bakers, tailors and miners. Second to none has been our contribution of tradesmen, lawyers, teachers, accountants, entrepreneurs, pharmacists, and yes, doctors as well. One of our most important objectives should be to reclaim the rest of our family members left behind, and as soon as possible. The other objective that all of us must keep in mind at all times is that our presence in this great country, who has received so many of us, in whatever we do and say, must enhance its greatness at all times. We ask only for the opportunity to earn a living! We are not here to be a burden. By staying united and helping one another we will realize everything and anything we wish to achieve. Some say that history has dealt us a lousy hand, being that we are the last to come to America. After all, wasn’t it one of our own who discovered America? I say to them that the others, for the most part, came here with masters, came as slaves in many cases. We, on the other hand, have come of our own accord. We are a free people. It is because of this that today I have a dream, and hope that someday, even if it takes a hundred more years before we are fully accepted, our children and their children’s children, even if they carry a single drop of Italian blood will be able and proud to continue to carry on our traditions, our culture and our language. It is up to us, and what we do today! This is an English translation of the inaugural address, which was given in Italian by Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro. Lost since 1935, the Sellaro speech was discovered by Professor Frank P. Oliveri of Rochester, New York, after a three-year search. Professor Oliveri also translated the speech. 2
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Guglielmo Marconi Award & Biennial National Convention Chairs
Welcome Frank J. Panessa
Trustee Emeritus Co-Chair, Guglielmo Marconi Award Committee
Joanne L. Strollo
National Past President Co-Chair, Guglielmo Marconi Award Committee
Welcome to the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America’s 56th Biennial National Convention and the Guglielmo Marconi Award Gala. In keeping with a long-standing tradition, we gather here in convention as leaders and delegates to call upon the principles of our beloved Order—Liberty, Equality, Fraternity—to guide us in making decisions that will steer the course of the organization over the next two years. We are a national organization, our members and supporters stretching coast to coast and north to south. Although we are unified through our common Italian ancestry, our experiences with our heritage and OSDIA vary. This convention provides the opportunity to share stories, exchange ideas, and forge new friendships that will facilitate working together as brothers and sisters. Tonight we conclude our convention with a wonderful banquet—the Guglielmo Marconi Award Gala—during which we proudly present OSDIA’s highest honor. Named for the Italian inventor of wireless telegraphy, the Guglielmo Marconi Award is given to an individual who has made important contributions to the United States, exemplifying the ideals of the Order. This year we honor Representative Thomas Richard Suozzi, an Italian American who not only holds public office in representing New York’s 3rd District but has also been a member of the Order’s Loggia Glen Cove #1016 for 28 years - having joined back in 1991! Prior to being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Suozzi served as Mayor of Glen Cove, New York, his hometown, from 1994 to 2001. He then served as Nassau County Executive from 2002 to 2009 during which Governing magazine named him “Public Official of the Year.” We are proud of Tom’s past accomplishments, look forward to his future accomplishments, and are pleased to honor him tonight at this dinner which formally ends our 56th Biennial Convention. Enjoy the evening!
56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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Guglielmo Marconi Award
Previous Recipients The Guglielmo Marconi Award is named for the Nobel Prize-winning Italian physicist who invented wireless telegraphy. It is the Sons & Daughters of Italy’s highest honor, presented biennially to a person who has made significant contributions to the United States. 2017 2015 2013 2011 2009 2007 2005 2003 2001 1999 1997 1995 1993 1991 1989 1985 1983 1981 1977 1975 1973 1971 1967 1965 1963 1961 1959 1955 4
Hon. Maria Lorts Sachs, Florida State Senator Joseph Sciame, National Past President, OSDIA; Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations Hon. Tom Marino, U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania Frank J. DeSantis, National Past President, OSDIA Joe Mantegna, Award-winning Actor Paul S. Polo, Sr., President Emeritus, Sons of Italy Foundation; National Past President, OSDIA Michael Massimino, U.S. Astronaut, NASA Gen. Anthony Zinni, USMC (Ret.) Hon. Argeo Paul Cellucci, U.S. Ambassador to Canada George L. Graziadio, Chairman, Imperial Bank Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia Jeno F. Paulucci, Chairman, Paulucci Enterprises Joseph Cicippio, American Hero Mariapia Fanfani, President, Together For Peace Foundation Hon. Peter Secchia, U.S. Ambassador to Italy Hon. Frank J. Montemuro, Jr., National Past President, OSDIA Dr. Augustine Verrengia, Deputy Manager, Program Planning, Space Shuttle Program, NASA Hon. Pete Domenici, U.S. Senator from New Mexico Hon. Frank Annunzio, U.S. Congressman from Illinois Hon. John Scali, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Hon. Ella T. Grasso, Governor of Connecticut Hon. Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States Hon. Peter W. Rodino, U.S. Congressman from New Jersey Hon. Anthony J. Celebrezze, Judge of U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Hon. John O. Pastore, U.S. Senator from Rhode Island Hon. John A. Volpe, Governor of Massachusetts Judge Eugene V. Alessandroni, Grand Venerable, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Brig. Gen. David S. Sarnoff, President and Chairman of the Board, R.C.A. Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Guglielmo Marconi Award - 2019 Honoree
Hon. Thomas Richard Suozzi Representative - New York 3rd District (2017 - Present)
Representative Thomas Suozzi, trained as an attorney and CPA, is the Congressman representing the Third Congressional District in New York. He is a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the chief tax-writing committee of the House of Representatives; serving on both the Oversight and Tax Policy subcommittees. Congressman Suozzi is also the Vice-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Prior to his assignment on Ways and Means, the Congressman was a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Armed Services Committee, CoChair of the bipartisan Long Island Sound Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus. Congressman Suozzi previously served as Mayor of his hometown, Glen Cove, New York, from 1994 to 2001, and as Nassau County Executive from 2002 to 2009. As a reformer and a problem solver, in 2004 Suozzi created FixAlbany.com, exposing and rooting out corruption in New York state politics. In 2005, he was honored as Governing magazine’s “Public Official of the Year.” In 2007, he was appointed by the Governor to lead a state commission that proposed the first property tax cap, which has now become law. In 2008, the New York State League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) named him “Environmentalist of the Year.” In 2010, Suozzi returned to the private sector as a senior advisor to investment banking firm Lazard and as of counsel at Harris Beach law firm. Prior to his time in elected office, Suozzi worked as a litigator for Shearman & Sterling, law clerk to the Chief Judge of the Eastern District, and an auditor for Arthur Andersen & Co. Congressman Suozzi has been a member of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America’s Loggia Glen Cove #1016 since 1991. He resides in Glen Cove with his wife, Helene, and their three children, Caroline, Joseph, and Michael. 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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Guglielmo Marconi Award Gala
Menu Hors d’Oeuvres Passed Caprese Skewer Potato Cake Mushroom Arancini Stations Cured Meats and Cheese Salami, Spanish Chorizo, Serrano Ham, Manchego, Boursin, and Gorgonzola Dolce Marinated Artichoke Hearts, Cipollini Onions, and Roasted Peppers Dried Fruit and Nuts Greek Olives, Crostini, Grilled Breads, and Olive Oil Torta Hasta La Pasta Buffalo Mozzarella with Summer Squash and Black Olive Vinaigrette Penne Pasta tossed with Pesto, Artichoke, Black Olive and Sun-dried Tomatoes Gemeli Pasta with Spicy Pomodoro Sauce, Pecan Smoke Sausage and Basil
Dinner Salad Arugula, Cucumber, Radishes, Pickeled Onions, and Heirloom Tomatoes Entrée Spiced Crusted Filet Mignon w/ Scallion Spiked Potato Puree, Broccolini, Pickled Mushrooms, and Sweet Onion Sauce
Dessert Red Velvet Marquise with Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cream
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Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Guglielmo Marconi Award Gala
Program Welcome
Paul S. Polo Chairman, 56th Biennial National Convention
Singing of the National Anthems
Maria Fassio Pignati National Trustee, CA
Invocation
The Rev. R. Adam Forno National Chaplain, OSDIA
Dinner
Introduction of Dais
Paul S. Polo
Introduction of 2019 Guglielmo Marconi Award Honoree
Frank J. Panessa SIF Trustee Emeritus Co-Chair, 2019 Marconi Award Committee
&
Joanne L. Strollo National Past President Co-Chair, 2019 Marconi Award Committee
Presentation to 2019 Guglielmo Marconi Vera Ferrara Girolami Award Honoree National President, OSDIA & Frank J. Panessa & Joanne L. Strollo Remarks, 2019 Guglielmo Marconi Award Honoree
Thomas Richard Suozzi Representative - New York 3rd District
Dancing
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Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Award - 2019 Honorees
John A. Saladino John A. Saladino joined the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America in 1964, becoming a member of the Medford Lodge #1359 in Massachusetts. He quickly rose in the ranks, being elected Lodge President in 1966 and serving two terms. In the early 1970s, Mr. Saladino transferred to the Winchester Lodge #1580 in Massachusetts and served as Lodge President for three terms. Mr. Saladino has served as National Delegate for Massachusetts for exactly half a century, having been appointed to the position back in 1969. He has since held many positions on the national level, including two terms as National Recording Secretary. Mr. Saladino also has the distinction of being the Order’s first Executive Director, working in the position from 1981 to 1982. He also served as National Deputy to the Grand Lodge of Maryland for 15 years. Today, he serves as National Trustee, a position he has held since 2015. Mr. Saladino has received several honors during his time with the Order. In 1969, his local lodge named him “Man of the Year.” In 2004, the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts honored him with the Golden Lion Award. In addition to his membership with the Order, Mr. Saladino has been a member of other esteemed organizations, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, and the Loyal Order of Moose. In 1995, Mr. Saladino retired from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having worked as a Tax Supervisor with the Department of Revenue. He enjoys spending time with his two sons (John R. Saladino and US Army Colonel Gary M. Saladino), three grandchildren, and, of course, his significant other, Elizabeth “Betty” Sandquist.
Joanne L. Strollo
Joanne L. Strollo, daughter of Ernest and Nicoletta Strollo, has the distinction of being the first woman to serve as National President of the Order Sons of Italy in America. During her term, which lasted from 1993 to 1995, the Grand Lodge of Colorado was organized and installed (the first Grand Lodge installation since the 1970s), Alzheimer’s Association was approved as a national charity, and the national by-laws were changed from being gender specific. She is a member of the Ernest M. Strollo Lodge #683 named after the lodge founder, her father. She held many positions in the lodge. In 1971, she was elected President of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania’s Woman’s Division and served for five terms. In 1981, Joanne became the first woman to be elected as National Financial Secretary of the Supreme Council. She served two terms before being elected as National 4th Vice President, National 3rd Vice President, National 2nd Vice President and National 1st Vice President. Joanne Strollo was then unanimously elected the Order’s first Woman National President. Along with her Sons of Italy activities, she was the Office Manager of John Hancock Insurance Company retiring in 1995. Sister Strollo has been honored by the Chaplain of Four Chaplains, Tri-State Italian-American Congress, various Grand Lodges, and the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania as Woman of the Year. In 2006, she was listed in Who’s Who American Woman. Following her term as National President, Sister Strollo has continued to serve in various positions including presently as Sons of Italy Foundation Trustee and co-chair of the Marconi Award Committee. 8
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Sports Award - 2019 Honoree
Mike Sielski
A star in the sports journalism world, Mike Sielski is a columnist at The Philadelphia Inquirer and the author of two books. The first, Fading Echoes: A True Story of Rivalry and Brotherhood from the Football Field to the Fields of Honor, was released in 2009 and received starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. Booklist called it “an emotionally charged book that offers a profound understanding of American life in the first years of the twenty-first century.” Sielski’s first book—How to Be like Jackie Robinson: Life Lessons from Baseball’s Greatest Hero, which he co-authored with longtime NBA executive Pat Williams—was published in 2005. Forty four years old, an alumnus of La Salle University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Sielski is one of the most literate and insightful journalists in the nation, and his writing stretches beyond sports into the realms of culture, politics, and American history. The Associated Press Sports Editors voted him the country’s best sports columnist in 2015 and has selected him as one of the country’s 10 best in four of the last five years, and since joining The Inquirer in 2013, he has established himself as the most recognized and respected voice in a city and a region where sports is not a pastime but a civic religion. Over the past decade, Sielski’s work has been anthologized twice in the annual Best American Sports Writing series, and he has received more than forty other national and state awards from organizations such as the United States Basketball Writers Association, the American Association of Sunday & Features Editors, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Before The Inquirer hired him, Sielski spent more than three years as a reporter with The Wall Street Journal, covering the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the National Hockey League as part of the paper’s push to change the nature of daily sports journalism. He also has written for ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports, and Deadspin—three of the most read sports websites in the United States—and has established a recognizable presence on national television and radio, including on ESPN, The NFL Network, The NBC Sports Network, and National Public Radio. While working in the Philadelphia market, he has appeared regularly on the region’s two top-rated sportstalk stations, 94.1 FM WIP and 97.5 FM The Fanatic, and he is a contributor to NBC Sports Philadelphia, the region’s only 24-hour all-sports TV network. Sielski lives in Bucks County, Pa., with his wife, Kate, and their sons, Evan and Gabe. His paternal grandmother, Antoinette (Bello) Sielski, was a second-generation Italian American. 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
2017-2019 National Officers
Kevin A. Caira President, Commission for Social Justice®
Daniel J. Longo
National Immediate Past President
Michael G. Polo
National 4th Vice President
Tony Bisceglia Anderson National Financial Secretary
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Vera Ferrara Girolami President, Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Nancy DiFiore Quinn National 1st Vice President
Joseph Sciame President, Sons of Italy Foundation®
Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. National 2nd Vice President
Richard R. Della Croce, Esq. Michael P. Creedon, Esq. National 5th Vice President
Thom A. Lupo
National Treasurer
National Orator
Carolyn Reres
National Historian
Joseph A. Boncore, Esq. National 3rd Vice President
Philip J. Privitera, Esq.
National Recording Secretary
The Rev. R. Adam Forno National Chaplain
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
2017-2019 National Trustees & State Presidents National Trustees Lynn Lawrence-Murphy, CA Neil A. Velleca, Sr., CT Gregory Bianchini, FL John A. Saladino, MA Vincent A. Zaccaria, MD Ralph M. Capaccio, NJ Joanne Spino Marchese, NW Joseph F. Rondinelli, NY Terry Lattavo, OH Nancy Timperio Porcelli, PA
State Presidents John J. Costa, CA John Carochi, CO Neil A. Velleca, Jr., CT Joseph Facciolo, DE Carolyn Cianciotta, FL Marie Marsalli, IL/WI Antonio Sestito, MA Anita Lombardi Riley, MD Dr. Thomas Pruse, NE Nick Burzichelli, NJ Rosetta Stella Beyersdorf, NW Robert M. Ferrito, NY Brian Andzik, OH Catena Marie Spiritosanto, PA Donald H. Angelo, RI Robert Amante, VA Richard Viglianco, WV
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Order Sons of Italy in America®
National Past Presidents PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
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Vincenzo Sellaro 1905-1908
Antonio Rubino 1908-1909
Achille Sabatino 1909-1912
Francis Mezzatesta 1912-1914
Vincent Buffa 1914-1916
Francesco Palleria 1916-1917
Stefano Miele 1917-1921 & 1935-1940
Giovanni M. Di Silvestro 1921-1935
Felix Forte 1940-1947
George J. Spatuzza 1947-1957
Frank J. Gimino 1957-1957
Joseph Gorrasi 1957-1961
John Ottaviano, Jr. 1961-1965
Peter J. Bertoglio 1965-1969
Americo V. Cortese 1969-1973
Peter B. Gay 1973-1975
John G. Spatuzza 1975-1977
Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. 1977-1981
Aldo A. Caira 1981-1985
Bruno S. Giuffrida 1985-1987 Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Order Sons of Italy in America®
National Past Presidents
S. Joseph Avara 1987-1989
Albert J. Riccelli, Sr. 1989-1991
Peter R. Zuzolo 1991-1993
Joanne L. Strollo 1993-1995
Paul S. Polo, Sr. 1995-1997
Frank J. DeSantis 1997-1999
Philip R. Boncore 1999-2001
Robert A. Messa 2001-2003
Joseph Sciame 2003-2005
Vincent Sarno 2005-2007
Alfred A. Affinito 2007-2009
Joseph J. DiTrapani 2009-2013
Anthony J. Baratta 2013-2015
Joseph A. Russo 2015
Daniel J. Longo 2015-2017
Vera Ferrara Girolami
56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
2017-2019
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Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
114 Years of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity OSDIA is the oldest (established 1905) and largest organization representing Americans of Italian heritage in the United States, with hundreds of thousands of family members located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Our mission is to serve as the leading organizational voice on behalf of the cultural, social, political and economic issues of importance to Americans of Italian heritage. Celebrating Our Culture and Preserving Our History The backbone of OSDIA is Italian heritage. The celebration and record of that heritage is found in the historical Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, OSDIA’s archives at the Immigration History Research Center, the beautiful Italian America magazine, and lodge members across the country, like those who gathered to honor OSDIA’s centennial in 2005 when Grand Street in New York City was renamed Sons of Italy Way .
NATIONAL OFFICE Joseph J. DiTrapani Chief Operating Officer
Carly Jerome Director of Programming & Operations
Miles Ryan Fisher Editor-in-Chief, Italian America® magazine 14
Emily Heinrich Administrative Director
Adam Jacobs Bookkeeper Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
114 Years of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Government and International Relations As the largest group representing Italian Americans, OSDIA’s role in keeping close relationships with government leaders is important, whether it’s OSDIA’s national president meeting with the president of the United States or maintaining a close bond with the Embassy of Italy and Italy’s Ambassador to the United States.
Innovative Fundraising Beyond Dues Recognizing the need to create revenue beyond dues, OSDIA leaders are always evaluating projects that have the potential to derive income, as well as provide a cultural, historical or educational benefit. OSDIA’s official cookbook was especially successful, as was an at-large member drive which included a drawing for a free genealogy research package from My Italian Family.
Member and Public Communications for Today’s World OSDIA keeps in touch with members and supporters through a variety of communications, including OSIA.org and social media like Facebook and Twitter. “Questo Mese,” the monthly OSDIA National email newsletter, is a member favorite.
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Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Historical Timeline 1905 June 22 OSIA founded as “Figli d’Italia” at 203 Grand Street in New York City at the office and residence
of Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro. (Later renamed “L’Ordine Figli d’Italia in America.”) A week later, Dr. Sellaro is elected first “Supreme Venerable” or president. 1911 The Grand Lodge of New York becomes first state chapter; puts a representative on Ellis Island to help new Italian immigrants. 1913 OSIA encourages members to join unions and support labor protests such as the Paterson textile workers strike in New Jersey. 1914 OSIA holds first convention in Paterson, N.J. Beginning in 1917 in Cleveland, OSIA begins holding conventions every two years. 1915 OSIA publishes the weekly “Bollettino Ufficiale.” In 1946, the Bollettino is replaced with OSIA News, a monthly newspaper. In 1996, the newspaper is replaced with Italian America, a full-color quarterly magazine free to all members. 1917 President Woodrow Wilson receives OSIA leaders at the White House. Since then, every U.S. president has publicly acknowledged the contributions of OSIA, including Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. 1918 An estimated 28,000 OSIA members serve in the U.S. armed forces during WWI. Of these 1,278 are wounded and 975 killed. OSIA gives subsidies to servicemen’s families. OSIA lodges contribute $2 million and 3.5 million lire for war victims, Liberty Loans (war bonds), the Red Cross and post-war loans to Italian government. OSIA establishes free English language and citizenship classes for members. 1919 OSIA takes over administration of Antonio Meucci’s home on Staten Island, N.Y. In 1956, OSIA turns the home into the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, a center for Italian culture and language learning. Today it is one of only two 2 ethnic museums in the U.S. with landmark status. [Ed. Note: the actual date of the OSIA takeover is disputed. It may have been in 1913 or 1914.] 1922 The government of Italy designates OSIA its official representative of Italians in the United States. OSIA sponsors student exchanges and annual pilgrimages to Italy where OSIA leaders meet with the Pope, the king of Italy and government leaders. 1927 OSIA protests the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti. 1930 OSIA membership peaks at 350,000 in more than 1,000 lodges coast to coast. 1931 Louise Porreca becomes first woman to serve on Supreme Council when she is elected a Supreme trustee. 1932 OSIA founder, Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro dies on November 28 of diabetes and heart disease at age 64. OSIA enrolls 1,500 young Italian Americans in 12 youth lodges during a mass meeting in New York City. Eventually 366 youth lodges were created, 132 of them in Massachusetts. 1942 OSIA hires Leonard Pasqualicchio as its first national deputy to lobby in Washington, D.C. He served until 1957. Among his achievements, he convinces government to drop wartime “enemy alien” designation of non-naturalized Italians living in America and presses successfully for federal government to include Italy in the Marshall Plan to rebuild post-war Italy. 1947 OSIA launches letter-writing campaign urging members’ relatives in Italy not to vote Communist in the first democratic election in Italy’s history. 1954 OSIA steps up campaign to make Columbus Day a federal holiday. In 1932 the Order began lobbying Congress and the White House for this holiday. 1959 OSIA establishes Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF), its philanthropic arm. 1965 Grace Grenco is elected president of the Grand Lodge of Florida, becoming the first woman to hold the office of grand lodge president. OSIA supports passage of the 1965 Immigration Act which abolishes the 1924 McCarran-Walter Act that discriminated against southern Europeans by establishing unfairly low quotas. 1968 President Lyndon B. Johnson signs law designating the second Monday in October as “Columbus Day” and a federal holiday. 1971 President Richard Nixon receives the OSIA Marconi Award during a ceremony at the White House. 1973 OSIA helps create the Italian American Congressional Caucus, uniting for the first time all the Italian-Americans serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. OSIA helps found the National Italian American Coordinating 16
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Historical Timeline Association, a federation of national Italia- American organizations now known as the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations. 1979 President Jimmy Carter addresses OSIA’S 36th Biennial Convention in Baltimore. 1980 OSIA celebrates 75th anniversary; Congress proclaims June 22 “National Italian American Day” President Jimmy Carter awards OSIA member & WWII veteran Anthony Casamento the Medal of Honor, following OSIA’s three-year campaign. 1981 OSIA purchases a building for its national headquarters and hires a full-time national executive director in Washington, D.C. From 1905 to 1955, the headquarters was in New York City and, later, Philadelphia. OSIA establishes the Commission for Social Justice (CSJ), its anti-defamation arm. 1984 SIF approves $100,000 project to record and preserve OSIA archives at the University of Minnesota’s Immigration History Research Center (IHRC). 1989 SIF holds first National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala in Washington, D.C. to honor outstanding Italian American students and leaders. OSIA archives at the University of Minnesota’s IHRC opens. Its 1,200-plus linear feet make it the largest Italian American resource materials collection in the United States. 1993 Joanne L. Strollo is elected OSIA’s first, and presently the only, woman national president. 1998 President Bill Clinton becomes the first U.S. president to attend the NELA Gala and attends again in 1999 and 2000, and post-presidency in 2006 and 2010. 2002 OSIA delegation makes first official visit of 21st century to Italy to meet with Italian government, business and culture leaders including the president of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. 2004 President George W. Bush and Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi attend the NELA Gala. It was the first time a sitting U.S. president and a prime minister of Italy attended a major nonprofit event in America together. OSIA holds pilgrimage to Italy to kick off upcoming centennial year celebrations. Delegation meets with then-Pope John Paul II, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, and other government officials and holds gala dinner in Rome. Grand Street in New York City is re-named “Sons of Italy Way.” 2005 OSIA celebrates its 100th anniversary. Since its founding it has established more than 2,800 lodges in 43 states and the District of Columbia. 2010 Former President Bill Clinton accepts the second SIF Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service at the NELA Gala. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano travels to the United States to attend the NELA. The College Board reinstates the Advanced Placement (AP) Italian Language and Culture Program, thanks to $3 million raised by the Sons of Italy and other organizations. 2011 SIF presents a $10,000 scholarship to SSgt. Salvatore Giunta, the first living American serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor since Vietnam. Four-star Army General Raymond Odierno introduces the staff sergeant. 2012 Then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace, USMC (Ret.) are honored by the SIF at the NELA Gala. 2013 The Sons of Italy® attracts the attention of global auto powerhouse Chrysler and Italian automaker Fiat, and their CEO Sergio Marchionne accepts the SIF’s Award for Excellence in Global Business at the NELA Gala. Also recognized at the Gala are former Secretary of State and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell, USA (Ret.), and actor/veteran’s activist Gary Sinise. 2015 OSIA celebrates 110th anniversary of its founding. The State Lodge of Pennsylvania is re-established. 2016 Establishes the first university chapter (Susquehanna University Lodge #2933). 2017 OSIA officially changes name to Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA). 2019 OSDIA hires National Past President Joseph DiTrapani to be Chief Operating Officer of its National Headquarters. OSDIA attends Andrea Bocelli Foundation ceremony for school in Muccia, which SIF donated $200,000 towards. OSDIA sits on committee for the Annual Ambassador’s Ball, honoring Italy’s Ambassador Armando Varricchio. 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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The Sons of Italy Foundation®
Making A Difference & Seizing the Future The Sons of Italy Foundation® (SIF) is the philanthropic arm of OSDIA. The SIF was founded in 1959 as a private, grant-making institution with the purpose of preserving Italian American culture, encouraging educational excellence among Italian Americans and improving lives in other areas. To date, the SIF has given $165 million to these efforts.
Medical Research, Support and Social Services Members work hard raising money to help OSDIA/ SIF national charities find cures for the most devastating diseases like Cooley’s anemia, which affects the lives of little Gabriella and her family.
Special Projects The SIF supports the establishment and restoration of U.S. monuments and memorials, including the National 9/11 Memorial. [Photo © Amy Dreher]
Photo Courtesy of Giacomo Moresi
Photo © David Keith Photography
Scholarships, Educational Opportunities, and Support The SIF and OSDIA lodges give thousands of scholarships each year to bright Italian-American students. The 2019 SIF National Leadership Grant recipients are an outstanding group! 18
Disaster Relief The SIF donates generously to disaster relief in the U.S. and abroad. With the help of State Grand Lodges, Local Filial Lodges, and individual donors, the SIF raised $200,000 to aid relief efforts for the Central Italy earthquake that struck in August 2016. This past year, the SIF donated those funds to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, who is heading a project to rebuild a kindergarten and elementary school in Muccia, a town located in the Marche region. Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
The Sons of Italy Foundation®
Making A Difference & Seizing the Future Recognizing Extraordinary Achievement and Supporting the Mission The SIF’s NELA Gala annually attracts leaders in government, business, and philanthropy, as well as corporate sponsors. At the 2019 NELA Gala, Bruno Ciacciarelli, President of Roadtex Transportation, offered some heartfelt words about his experience immigrating to the United States and achieving the American Dream.
Honoring and Assisting Those Who Protect and Serve The SIF helped fund the creation of the National World War II Memorial and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. In recent years, the SIF has given more than $100,000 to various groups that support wounded service members like USArmy CPT Gavin White (ret.), who was presented with a customized van made possible in part by an SIF contribution to Help Our Military Heroes. Photo © David Keith Photography
Sustaining the SIF’s Important Philanthropic Efforts The SIF relies on individual fundraising programs to sustain its efforts, including legacy giving, matching gifts, memorial & tribute giving and recurring giving – The Sustaining Patrons Circle. SIF Sustaining Patrons Circle Honor Roll As of August 1, 2019
Richard Caliendo Joseph Castiglia Anthony & Carolyn Cianciotta Alexander Contini Joseph & Carol DiTrapani Judge Al Girolami & Vera Girolami Fredric Licata Paul S. Polo, Sr. Maria Fassio Pignati Nancy DiFiore Quinn & John Quinn Rose Carolyn Rizza 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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The Sons of Italy Foundation®
History of Philanthropy 1959 Sons of Italy Foundation® (SIF) established as the philanthropic arm of the Order Sons &
Daughters of Italy in America®, the nation’s oldest and largest organization for people of Italian heritage. 1964 Donates $25,000 for flood victims in Belluno, Italy 1966 Donates $200,000 for flood victims in Florence and Venice 1967 Designates March of Dimes as one of its official charities and donates more than $14 million over the next two decades 1968 Raises more than $127,000 for earthquake victims in Sicily 1974 Names Cooley’s Anemia Foundation as an official charity; donations to date equal more than $3 million. 1976 Raises $217,000 for earthquake victims in Friuli, Italy 1981 Donates $3 million in funds and sends medicine and clothing to 97 southern Italian towns devastated by 1980 earthquake 1985 Contributes to restoration of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty 1987 Donates $30,000 to earthquake victims in Mexico 1989 Holds first National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala in Washington, D.C. 1990 Contributes $50,000 to establish the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. 1993 Names the Alzheimer’s Association one of its official charities and donates $1 million over the next 10 years 1998 Donates $50,000 to Barbara Sinatra Hospital for Abused Children 2003 Contributes $66,000 to help establish an Advanced Placement program in Italian 2004 Donates $100,000 to help build the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. 2005 Donates $15,000 to the Tsunami emergency relief effort in Indonesia 2006 Donates $35,000 for Hurricane Katrina Relief 2007 Pledges $100,000 to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. Donates $100,000 to Coaches vs. Cancer 2008 Donates $100,000 between 2004-2008 to the Rienzi Foundation to cure deafness through cochlear implants 2009 Collects an estimated $300,000 in relief funds to aid victims of Abruzzo earthquake 2010 Selected by The Charles Evans Foundation, formed by Evan-Picone fashion house co-founder Charles Evans, to receive a quarter-million-dollar endowment to establish the perpetual Charles Evans Scholarship, presented by the SIF annually at the NELA Gala. Fulfills its pledge, giving $100,000 to build the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Gives a special $10,000 scholarship to Medal of Honor recipient SSgt. Salvatore Giunta. Raises additional $50,000 to re-instate the Advanced Placement Program in Italian Language and Culture 2011 Donates $235,000 to help rebuild the Fondazione Il Cireneo Onlus per L’Autismo, a center for children with autism, destroyed by the 2009 earthquake that struck L’Aquila. Makes first gift of $24,600 to newly-selected official charity, the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. Pledges a second $1 million contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association 2012 Answers the call of natural disaster victims in Italy and the United States, launching fund-raising campaigns for Emilia-Romagna earthquake relief and Hurricane Sandy relief 2013 Donates $25,000 to Super Storm Sandy relief. Makes a $15,000 gift to The Gary Sinise Foundation. 2014 Donates $20,000 to Help Our Military Heroes 2015 SIF/OSIA gives more than $300,000 to Alzheimer’s Association; Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.; and Cooley’s Anemia Foundation 2016 Donates $150,000 to relief efforts for the Central Italy earthquake in the Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, and Marche regions; $20,000 to Help Our Military Heroes; $10,000 to the Gary Sinise Foundation; $10,000 to K9 Partners for Patriots, Inc. 2017 Donates $20,000 to Help Our Military Heroes 2018 Donates $100,000 in Central Italy earthquake relief to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation; $25,000 to Help Our Military Heroes 2019 Donates second $100,000 in Central Italy earthquake relief to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation; Donates $20,000 to Help Our Military Heroes 20
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
The Sons of Italy Foundation®
Snapshot of Philanthropic Giving The list below represents the broad scope of charities, causes, and programs to which the Sons of Italy Foundation has given its support. It is not all-inclusive.
MEDICAL RESEARCH, SUPPORT & SOCIAL SERVICES
Alzheimer’s Association American Fund for Dental Health American Italian Cancer Foundation The American Foundation for St. George Hospital, Inc. Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders Arthritis Foundation Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Boys Town of Italy CES Foundation Children’s Inn at NIH Coaches vs. Cancer Cooley’s Anemia Foundation Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America The Daniel Pitino Children’s Health Foundation The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism The Fondazione Il Cireneo Onlus per l’Autismo Fox Chase Cancer Center The Italian Hospital Society Lombardi Cancer Center Lupis Foundation & Elizabeth Fund March of Dimes Michael Bolton Charities for Battered Women Multiple Sclerosis Smile Train Special Olympics St. Jude Research Hospital for Children The V Foundation
CULTURAL PRESERVATION & THE ARTS American Italian Historical Association Center for Migration Studies Columbus Citizens Foundation Commission for Social Justice Concordia Language Villages Italian Program Council for the Promotion of Italian Language FIERI National Garibaldi-Meucci Museum In Italiano language program Istituto Italiano di Cultura Italian Americana Italian American Cultural Center Italian American Welfare League Italian Cultural Society Italian Musicale John D. Calandra Italian-American Institute U.S. State Department/American Embassy in Rome
56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
EDUCATION
AIFS & Academic Year in America exchange programs American University of Rome Bard College College Board Advanced Placement Program in Italian Dante School for Children Italian Studies Chair at California State University John Cabot University OSDIA National Student Summit Pepperdine University The SIF National Leadership Grant Competition
DISASTER RELIEF
9/11 disaster relief American Red Cross (Hurricane Andrew relief) Assisi earthquake relief Cassino Memorial Orphanage Rebuilding Catholic Relief Services Central Italy earthquake relief Ethiopian famine relief Florentine flood relief Haiti Earthquake Relief Katrina Relief Fund Mexican earthquake relief Naples earthquake relief Oklahoma City bombing relief Tsunami relief (Indonesia) L’Aquila earthquake relief Emilia-Romagna earthquake relief
OTHER SPECIAL PROJECTS
Arab American Institute Foundation The Business Council for International Understanding Christopher Columbus Catholic Center Don Orione Home & Madonna Queen National Shrine Ellis Island Foundation The Gary Sinise Foundation Help Our Military Heroes Immigration History Research Center Luke’s Wings National Football League Players Association National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial National Policy Association The National September 11 Memorial & Museum National World War II Memorial The PenFed Foundation The Statue of Liberty Restoration Project TF Peace Foundation The William J. Clinton Foundation The Wounded Warrior Project 21
The Commission for Social Justice®
Protecting Our Heritage The Commission for Social Justice® (CSJ) is the anti-defamation arm of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America® (OSDIA). It was established to fight the stereotyping of Italian Americans by the entertainment, advertising and news industries. It also collaborates with other groups to ensure that people of all races, religions and cultures are treated fairly. A precursor to the CSJ was established as early as 1970, evolving into the CSJ, as it exists in its current form, in 1981. The CSJ monitors the entertainment, advertising and news industries, contacts offending parties and encourages other Italian-American organizations, e-mail networks and concerned individuals to take action. The CSJ’s Positive Image Program was established to counter the negative depictions that are pervasive in media, advertising and pop culture by promoting positive Italian American achievements and contributions to our history and culture. As part of its Positive Image Program, the CSJ conducts research, produces studies, teaching tools, pamphlets, exhibits and other materials on the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans. Some reports and studies that the CSJ has conducted or commissioned and are available to the public include: • Italian Americans in Law Enforcement • Columbus: Fact vs. Fiction • With Justice for All: Italian Americans & Civil Rights • Honoring Diversity: A Selection of Commemorative U.S. Postage Stamps • Italian American Stereotypes in U.S. Advertising • Public Image of Italian Americans: A Survey The CSJ conducts campaigns at both the community and the national level that support cultural and social issues of importance to Italian Americans (legislation, commemorative stamps, Columbus Day/Heritage Month, etc.). To achieve its objectives, the CSJ engages in community and government relations as well as in grassroots campaigns and fund-raising efforts. However, given its non-profit status, the CSJ cannot offer legal advice or assistance in lawsuits.
CSJ Sustaining Patrons Circle Honor Roll As of August 1, 2019
The CSJ extends its gratitude to these members of the Sustaining Patrons Circle: Maria Fassio Pignati 22
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
The Commission for Social Justice®
Historical Timeline 1970 OSIA establishes its national Anti-Defamation Committee under Judge P. Vincent Landi, president of the Grand Lodge of New York. 1971 The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania establishes a Commission on Anti-Defamation under its state president, Justice Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. 1978
OSIA renames its national Anti-Defamation Committee “the Institute for Liberty and Justice.” Justice Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. becomes its first chairman. 1980 The Grand Lodge of New York’s Institute for Liberty and Justice is renamed the Commission for Social Justice. 1981 OSIA renames its national Institute for Liberty and Justice to the Commission for Social Justice® (CSJ). Justice Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. becomes first CSJ national president. CSJ receives tax-exempt status. 1983 CSJ National co-sponsors national media conference with the National Italian American Foundation in New York City on Italian Americans and the Media. 1984 The CSJ hosts reception in Washington, D.C., for Italian- American members of Congress. 1999 Under CSJ National President John Dabbene, the CSJ launches its Positive Image Campaign to research and publish information about Italian-American history, achievements and contributions. 2004 OSIA/CSJ cofound the Coalition Against Racial, Religious and Ethnic Stereotyping (CARRES), an alliance of more than 30 Italian-American organizations, that marks the first time so many Italian American organizations united to fight stereotyping. 2009 The CSJ successfully campaigns CSJ and OSDIA leaders with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who issued a public apology on April 12, 2019, for to remove three offensive national ad campaigns by the 1891 lynching of 11 Italian immigrants. Verizon, Denny’s, and Miller/Coors Beer. 2010 CSJ officials meet with MTV producers to discuss negative stereotypes in the television show “Jersey Shore.” Thanks to the efforts of National CSJ President Santina Haemmerle, President Emeritus John Dabbene and NY CSJ President Stella Grillo MTV executives agree to remove Italian imagery from the house. 2011 On Sept. 20, CSJ National urged New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to veto a $420,000 proposed tax credit to the company that produces “Jersey Shore.” Governor Christie responds and vetoes the tax credit. 2013 In February the Grand Lodge of California and CSJ National successfully lobby California Assemblyman Roger Hernandez to amend his proposed bill that would replace Columbus Day with Native American Day. 2016 Launched the “Save Columbus Day” Petition Campaign in September with the goal of getting 100,000 signatures by April 30, 2017. Opposed renaming of Columbus Day in citites (Baltimore, Los Angeles, Seattle, Spokane), states (Colorado, Montana), and universities (Brown University, University of Utah), and National Education Association. 2017 Rallied against National Geographic, NBC, and other organizations for defamation against Italians and Italian-Americans. Opposed renaming of Columbus Day in Nebraska and Los Angeles. 2018 Successfully opposed the renaming of Columbus Day in California and Colorado. 2019 Successfully lobbied the Mayor of New Orleans to issue an official proclamation, apologizing on behalf of the city for the 1891 New Orleans lynching of 11 Italians the largest lynching in U.S. History. 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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OSDIA Gold Membership Program As of August 1, 2019
(C) denotes Charter Member Linda Anderson (C) Tony J. Bisceglia Anderson (C) Victor Baldi John C. Barbo Pete Barletto Anthony Beshara Ronnie Beyersdorf Rosetta Beyersdorf Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. (C) Gregory A. Bianchini Mary Bianchini Joseph A. Boncore, Esq. Philip R. Boncore, Esq. Robert Bongo John J. Burzichelli Nick Burzichelli Ken Carani John Carochi Anthony Cianciotta Carolyn Cianciotta Frances A. Cipriotti (C) Sos Codispoti Peter Comer Susan Comer Anthony Corbo Gregory D. DeCola Gregory J. DeCola Richard R. Della Croce Dr. Mark S. DeNunzio (C) Frank J. DeSantis (C) Joseph J. DiTrapani (C) Carmelina Ferrito Robert Ferrito Lorraine Fitzgerald Rev. R. Adam Forno (C) Verne Foss (C) Karen Gallo
Michael Gallo Gloria Garibaldi Frank Gattuso Bob Giannuzzi Hon. Al Girolami (C) Vera Ferrara Girolami (C) Thomas Herrera Biagio Isgro (C) Eleanor Jobbagy Elia R. Kress Annette Lankewish Salvatore Lanzilotta Lynn Lawrence-Murphy (C) Tom LiPuma Frank LoCicero III Thom A. Lupo (C) Ernest Magliato Joseph Marino Marie Marsalli Louis Marzullo Saverio “Sam” Mastandrea Carlo Matteucci (C) Michele Ment Anthony J. Montcalmo William Murphy Dominic Muscella Anthony Naccarato Arlene M. Nunziati (C) Arline Panaggio Frank J. Panessa (C) Robert Paniccia Anthony J. Perfilio (C) Eldora B. Perfilio (C) Maria Fassio Pignati (C) Charles Pisano Michael G. Polo (C) Paul S. Polo (C)
Marianne Principe-O’Neil (C) Francis D. Privitera Dr. Thomas S. Pruse (C) Dominic Pucci (C) Nancy A. DiFiore Quinn (C) Anita Lombardi Riley (C) Walter Sonny Robak Dominic A. Rossi Joseph A. Russo (C) Pauline Russo Frank Sammartano Cristina Santoro Louis Santoro Maria Sanvenero Richard Sanvenero Vincent Sarno (C) Joseph Sciame (C) Antonio Sestito Marieanne Sestito Catena M. Spiritosanto Joanne L. Strollo (C) Sadie Koehler Tamburine Dan Titi Joe Traina Steven Trent Joseph A. Vallone Amelia Jean Varni Nella Bianca Varni Kurt W. Weis, Jr. Keith Wilson Thomas Zaccaria Vincent Anthony Zaccaria, Sr. Paul Zanobelli
If you are interested in becoming a Gold Member, please call (202) 547-2900 or email noffice@osia.org 24
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Congratulations to the 2019 Guglielmo Marconi Award Recipient
Representative Thomas Suozzi Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile. (Vince Lombardi)
National OSDIA Vice Presidents Nancy DiFiore Quinn – National 1st Vice President Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. – National 2nd Vice President Joseph A. Boncore, Esq. – National 3rd Vice President Michael G. Polo – National 4th Vice President Richard R. Della Croce, Esq. – National 5th Vice President
56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Delegation Congratulates
U. S. Representative Thomas Richard Suozzi 2019 Guglielmo Marconi Award Honoree
National Delegates State President Denise Furnari James DiStefano Florence Ferullo Guidara Marisa Ranalli Angelo Rossi Antonio Sestito Ellen Whittaker Kathi Young National Officers National Third Vice President – Joseph Boncore, Esq. National Recording Secretary – Philip Privitera, Esq. National Trustee – John Saladino National Past President – Philip R. Boncore, Esq. National Past President – Joseph Russo National Commission for Social Justice President – Kevin A. Caira National Foundation Trustee – Anthony J. Panaggio Jr. 26
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
The Grand Lodge of New Jersey Congratulates
Representative Thomas Richard Suozzi 2019 Guglielmo Marconi Award Recipient
We celebrate your many accomplishments & thank you for your service to the Italian American community. Dominick Burzichelli - State President Diane Santoro - State 1st Vice President Stephen Camiscioli - State 2nd Vice President Anthony Cipriano - State 3rd Vice President Ralph Capaccio - National Trustee Dominic Pucci - Foundation Trustee Vincent Sarno - Past National President & Past SIF President Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. - National 2nd Vice President Angelo R. Bianchi, Esq. - National SIF Trustee Emeritus Frank Guttuso, Esq. - National CSJ Vice President Louis R. Santoro - National CSJ Treasurer 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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The New York State Grand Lodge Foundation, Inc. Order Sons of Italy in America
Congratulates
Congressman Thomas R. Suozzi Your many years of dedication and commitment to public service and the Italian-American community is an inspiration to us all.
You are truly an exceptional and respected leader!
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Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
CELLINI LODGE #2206
ORDER SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ITALY IN AMERICA OF NEW HYDE PARK, NEW YORK
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF ITS CELLINI CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, INC. WITH ITS LODGE PRESIDENT ANTHONY CALABRO AND ALL MEMBERS
CONGRATULATES HON. THOMAS R. SUOZZI 2019 MARCONI AWARD RECIPIENT AND
JOHN SALADINO AND JOANNE L. STROLLO 2019 SELLARO AWARD RECIPIENTS AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO
VERA FERRARA GIROLAMI NATIONAL PRESIDENT 2017-19 AND
NANCY DIFIORE QUINN NATIONAL PRESIDENT 2019-21 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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The SonS of ITaly foundaTIon TruSTeeS dr. Mark S. denunzIo SalvaTore lanzIloTTa Carlo MaTTeuCCI MarIanne PrInCIPe-o’neIl MarIa faSSIo PIgnaTI frank J. PaneSSa, TruSTee eMerITuS
CongraTulaTe The 2019 honoreeS Marconi Award Recipient
Representative Thomas R. Suozzi Sellaro Award Recipients
John A. Saladino and Joanne L. Strollo Sports Award Recipient
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Mike Sielski
Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Warmest Congratulations to our good friend
Congressman Thomas R. Suozzi In appreciation of his many contributions to the Italian American Community
Carolyn Reres
National Historian, OSDIA State Past President, NY OSDIA
Michele Ment
State 1st Vice President, NY OSDIA 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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CONGRATULATIONS TO REPRESENTATIVE SUOZZI
In loving memory of Our Pop Francesco Pardo
Proud member of Loggia Glen Cove #1016 fond family memories
Betty Pardo Cappelleri Barbara Pardo Gordon Marian Pardo Toonkel President of Columbus Citizens Foundation
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Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Congratulations to the
2019 GuGlielmo marconi award recipient
representative
thomas riChard suozzi Vera Ferrara Girolami national president &
JudGe al Girolami
national First Gent & state Judiciary chair
Congratulations to the
2019 Vincenzo Sellaro award recipientS national Past President
Joanne l. strollo &
national trustee
John a. saladino Vera Ferrara Girolami national preSident &
JudGe al Girolami national FirSt Gent & State Judiciary chair 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
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Congratulations
to the
2019 honorees
Representative Thomas R. Suozzi Marconi Award Recipient
John A. Saladino
Joanne L. Strollo
Sellaro Award Recipient
Sellaro Award Recipient
Mike Sielski
Sports Award Recipient
Dr. Mark s. Denunzio
sons of italy founDation trustee
Grand Lodge Order Sons of Italy
Congratulations and Best Wishes to our Washington, Oregon and Idaho
2019 Guglielmo Marconi Award Recipient
Congratulations to Thomas R Souzzi, US Representative 3rd District of New York who is receiving the Guglielmo Marconi award for 2019 at the National Convention in San Antonio Texas.
Congressman Thomas Richard Suozzi
From the officers and members of the Grand Lodge of the Northwest.
National Trustee John A. Saladino
State President Rosetta Stella Beyersdorf National Financial Secretary Tony Bisceglia Anderson National Trustee Joanne Spino Machese Delegate Dorothy Miori Whitney Delegate Diane Scillo Delegate Linda Buccini Anderson
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2019 Vincenzo Sellaro Award Recipients Past National President Joanne L. Strollo
2019 Sports Award Recipient Mike Sielski Auguri!
Comm. Maria Fassio Pignati Sons of Italy Foundation Trustee Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
Congratulations Congressman Thomas R. Suozzi From Susan Schwartz, a Congratulations on a Productive Convention Supreme Lodge Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Sam Fumosa President Emeritus Grand Lodge of New Jersey And Daughter, Barbara Fumosa Wisniewski First Vice-President Grand Lodge of California
The Grand Lodge of California Home of National President Vera F. Girolami
grateful Commonpoint Queens Deepdale CARES NORC member
Congratulates
Thomas Richard Suozzi
2019 Guglielmo Marconi Award Recipient
2019 Guglielmo Marconi Award Recipient
Congressman Thomas Richard Suozzi 2019 Vincenzo Sellaro Award Recipients
Your Italian friends from
Past National President Joanne L. Strollo
Long Island, NY are proud to join
National Trustee John A. Saladino
the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy
2019 Sports Award Recipient
in America to congratulate you on
Mike Sielski
a truly well-deserved tribute. Dolores Sedacca &
John Costa State President 56th Biennial National Convention & Marconi Gala Commemorative Journal
Gaspare Tumminello
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Grand Lodge
Ciao Down
of
Illinois & Wisconsin
Italian Cookies
Four generations of homemade Italian cookies
Paul R. Loparco Grand Lodge President
CiaoDownItalianCookies@gmail.com
The
Commission for soCial JusTiCe CongraTulaTes The 2019 honorees Representative Thomas R. Suozzi Marconi Award Recipient
John A. Saladino
Sellaro Award Recipient
Joanne L. Strollo
Sellaro Award Recipient
Mike Sielski
Sports Award Recipient
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Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America®
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