2021 Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Award Honorees: Vera Ferrara Girolami and Vincent Sarno

dr. vIncenzO SellarO award - 2021 hOnOreeS

Vera Ferrara Girolami

Vera Ferrara Girolami has been a member of the Modesto Lodge #2021 in California for over 35 years and, on August 19, 2017, she was sworn in as the Order’s 36th National President, becoming the second woman in OSDIA history to serve in that position. During her term, the Order’s name officially changed from the Order Sons of Italy in America to the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. Prior to serving as National President, she served in many positions, including Local Lodge President for three terms and Grand Lodge of California Convention Chair for two years. She founded and, for 22 years, chaired the Central Valley OSDIA Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that has raised more than $350,000 for communities and charities. In 2005, Vera became the first woman to be elected President of the Grand Lodge of California. Vera also served in multiple positions at the National Level, including National Delegate, Supreme Council, Youth Summit, Future Good of The Order, and Ritual and Protocol Handbook. She served as Fifth, Fourth, and First National Vice President. Vera’s parents, Salvatore and Palma Ferrara, met in Ohio after each having emigrated from the same village in Sicily (Rodì Milici). There, Salvatore worked as a shoemaker, and it was in Ohio that Vera was born. Her parents then moved the family to California. Vera graduated from Notre Dame High School and attended O’Connor Hospital School of Nursing. She was then one of the fourteen first women to attend Santa Clara University, where she met her husband, Judge Al Girolami. Vera worked as a nurse, retiring from Emergency Room Nursing in 1989. She began a new career as Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Modesto Community Bank until she retired in 2007. Vera and Al have been married for 61 years and live in San Jose, California. They have two daughters—Catherine and Carol—and five grandchildren—Foster, Gavin, Amelia, Nella, and Eva.

Vincent Sarno

In 1970, Vincent Sarno joined the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s (OSDIA) Enrico Fermi Lodge #2229 in Medford, New Jersey. He currently belongs to the Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge #1658 in Hammonton, New Jersey. On August 19, 2005, Vince was elected as the Order’s 31st National President at the 49th Biennial National Convention, which was held in New York City and celebrated the Order’s 100th Anniversary. Prior to being elected National President, he served in many leadership positions including Local Lodge President, NJ State Trustee, and NJ State President, and also served as NJ Membership Chair from 1980 until he was elected State President in 1987. While he was State President, he successfully formed and received a charter for its non-profit foundation and paid off the mortgage of the Grand Lodge building. In 1995, Vince was elected as OSDIA National 5th Vice President and continued through the chairs until he became National President. Following his presidency, he served as Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) President for two terms and was then named SIF President Emeritus. In addition to his supreme council office, he successfully served as chairman of committees overseeing membership, fundraising, and education. He also served as Education Chair for the committee that planned and conducted OSDIA’s first-ever National Youth Summit in Washington, D.C. Vince was born on May 4, 1933, to James Sarno and Rose Mauriello Sarno in Newark, New Jersey. He has one sister, Sally Barton. He graduated from Newark Central High School as a business major. He is a veteran of U.S. Navy (1952-1956), discharged with the rank of Machinist’s Mate Refrigeration Mechanic, and spent one year in the special course division at Newark College of Engineering. After beginning his government career with the U.S. Department of Defense in 1962, he received the Air Force Civilian Commendation Medal for fighting a forest fire which threatened a $26 million radar tower. During his 37-year career in government, Vince supervised seven subordinate foreman and several hundred technicians and managed a budget of 1 million dollars. In 1954, he married Philip and Mary De Stefano’s daughter, Paula. They have two children—Vincent and Rosemary—three grandchildren—Nicholas Vincenzo Sarno, Christine Paula Knox, and Michelle Elizabeth Rapp—and one great-grandson—Samual Knox.