THE 33RD NELA GALA

The Honorees

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THE HONORABLE ROSA DELAURO

Congresswoman U.S. House of Representatives

THE 2022 SIF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE

Rosa DeLauro is the Congresswoman from Connecticut’s Third Congressional District, which she has represented since 1991. She serves as the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and sits on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and she is the Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, where she oversees our nation’s investments in education, health, and employment.

At the core of Rosa’s work is her fight for America’s working families. Rosa believes that we must raise the nation’s minimum wage, give all employees access to paid sick days, allow employees to take paid family and medical leave, and ensure equal pay for equal work. Rosa has also fought to stop trade agreements that lower wages and ship jobs overseas, while also protecting the rights of employees and unions.

Rosa is a leader in fighting to improve and expand federal support for child nutrition and for modernizing our food safety system. As the Chair dealing with appropriations for Labor, Health, Human Services, and

SIF President, Joe Sciame (center) with scholarship recipients (left to right): Diana Moschetti, Matteo Marshall, Michaela Gaffney, Alexander Johnson. MC Joe Mantegna with Honorees Laurie Serricchio Hollander, Lidia Bastianich, Hon. Rosa DeLauro, Angelo Vivolo.

Education, Rosa is determined to increase support for education and make college more affordable for more American students and their families. She is also fighting to protect the Affordable Care Act so that all Americans have access to affordable care. Rosa believes that we have a moral obligation to our nation’s veterans and their families, and her concern for these heroes extends to both their physical and mental well-being.

ANGELO VIVOLO

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Philanthropist and Entrepreneur

THE 2022 SIF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN ITALIAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP

Angelo Vivolo is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and lifelong advocate for educational opportunity and promoting and supporting his Italian Heritage and Culture. Angelo presently serves as the President of the Columbus Heritage Coalition, dedicated to preserving the legacy of Christopher Columbus. He was elected as the President of the National Columbus Education Foundation which is funded by the five most influential Italian American organizations in the country. He has served as past President and the Chairman of the Board of the Columbus Citizens Foundation and the Columbus Day Parade in NYC. His focus is on preserving Italian Heritage and Culture and supporting Columbus Day and Statues.

Recently he was nominated and elected as a member of the City University of New York Board of Trustees. CUNY and its 25 schools are the largest group of higher education institutions in the country. Mr.

Vivolo serves on the Board of Directors of John Cabot University in Rome. As president of the Francesco and Mary Giambelli Foundation he leads a philanthropic organization that supports cultural programs in New York City schools which has funded more than $3 million in scholarships. In 2019 he was appointed to co-chair the Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini Statue Commission. Angelo is a 2005 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the Ufficiale dell’ Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, conferred by President Sergio Mattarella of Italy in 2018. 1

LIDIA MATTICCHIO BASTIANICH

Chef, Author, Television Host, and Restaurateur

THE 2022 SIF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN THE INTERNATIONAL CULINARY ARTS

Lidia Matticchio Bastianich is an Emmy award-winning public television host, best-selling cookbook author, successful restaurateur, and owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business. Most importantly, she has accomplished all of this by marrying her two passions in life—her family and food—to create multiple culinary endeavors alongside her two children, Joseph and Tanya.

Lidia has published numerous cookbooks, co-authored with her daughter Tanya, and companion books to her Emmy-winning television series Lidia’s Kitchen, Lidia’s Italy in America, and Lidia’s Italy. Her most recent book is Lidia’s A Pot, A Pan, and a Bowl, a companion to her new 26-part public television series, Lidia’s Kitchen: Home Cooking. She is also the author of the English and Italian version of her memoir: My American Dream: A Life of Love, Family, and Food.

Guests at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC for the 2022 NELA Gala. OSDIA President, Robert (Bob) Bianchi, Esq., address the audience at the NELA Gala.

Lidia is a member of Les Dames D’Escoffier and founding member of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, two non-profit organizations of women leaders in the food and hospitality industries. She is also a champion for the United Nations Association of the United States of America’s Adopt-A-Future program, in support of refugee education.

Among the numerous awards and accolades Lidia has earned are seven James Beard Awards (Outstanding Chef, Television Food Show, Best Chefs in America, Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America, Specials 2016, Special 2017 and 2018) and two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Culinary Host (2013 and 2018). 1

LAURIE SERRICCHIO HOLLANDER

President & Co-Founder Help Our Military Heroes

THE 2022 SIF AWARD FOR COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM

Laurie Serricchio Hollander is President and CoFounder of Help Our Military Heroes (HOMH), a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to provide fully equipped, adapted minivans and SUVs to our country’s most severely wounded, injured, and ill service members who sustained their injuries while on active duty.

With her husband, Ted, and their friend, Marybeth Vandergrift, Laurie founded HOMH in 2009 as an all-volunteer donation-driven nonprofit organization. HOMH pays no salaries, and all non-program expenses are paid by its Co-Founders and board members, which means 100% of all donations go toward the purchase of modified vehicles for veterans. Since 2009, HOMH has provided grants for 186 modified vehicles for veterans across the country, and as far away as Pohnpei, Micronesia.

Laurie got the inspiration for HOMH in 2006, when her eldest son, Robert Wilkinson, left college during his junior year to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, and her younger son, Matthew, received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was there, at a West Point football game in Michie Stadium, that Laurie witnessed a combat-wounded soldier, who was in a wheelchair as the result of an IED blast, being presented with a ramp-entry minivan during halftime. While she had been fundraising for several years for local organizations, she decided to switch gears and turn her efforts towards providing adapted vehicles for veterans in need.

SIF President, Joe Sciame (center), with OSDIA National Office staff (left to right): Harrison Brown, Michael Howard, Joana Bala, Shayla Kaestle, Justin Smith. SIF President, Joe Sciame; Honoree Laurie Serricchio Hollander; SIF Trustee Emeritus, Frank Panessa; OSDIA President, Bob Bianchi.

SIF President, Joe Sciame; Honoree Angelo Vivolo; Past Honoree Vivian Cardia; OSDIA President, Bob Bianchi. SIF President, Joe Sciame; Anne Evans, CEO Universal Strategies Limited; Honoree Hon. Rosa DeLauro; Paul S. Polo, Past National OSDIA President and SIF President Emeritus; OSDIA President, Bob Bianchi.

SIF President, Joe Sciame; Honoree Lidia Bastianich; OSDIA President, Bob Bianchi.

OSDIA National 4th Vice President, Mark DeNunzio; SIF Trustee, Mary Kovach; OSDIA President, Bob Bianchi. Takoma Park MD Police Department acting as Honor Guard; SIF Trustee, Maria Fassio Pignati.

NELA Gala attendees stand in salute to the National Anthem.

SIF Trustee, Maria Fassio Pignati and the Sicilian Tenors end the program with a rendition of "God Bless America."

MICHAELA GAFFNEY

The Frank D. Privitera Family Scholarship Hometown: Boise, IA School: Boise State University • Recipient of a President’s Writing Award for an article, informed by personal experiences, on the unhoused community in Boise. • Intern for the 3rd District Court District

CASA guardian ad litem advocating for the rights of children in foster care. • A local advocate for social justice regarding accessibility issues on a systematic level.

ALEXANDER A. JOHNSON

The Nancy DiFiore Quinn Scholarship Hometown: Long Beach, CA • School: Columbia • Will graduate in 2023 from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and

Surgeons with a dual degree (MD & MS in biomedical research), with plans to complete an Internal Medicine/Pediatrics combined residency. • Completing a nine-month Fulbright research grant at Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy, studying the intersection of urban health and architecture. • Hopes to continue working as an ocean lifeguard in his hometown of Long Beach, California.

PAULINE RENDA

The Franzone Family Scholarship Hometown: Wantagh, NY • School: Columbia • Currently studying for a Masters in Nurse

Anesthesiology at Columbia University. • Worked front line during COVID in an ICU and was awarded the Heart of Gold Award for patient advocacy. • Awarded University of Delaware’s Promising Woman Award for volunteer work in a nursing community as well as research in the improvement of the health of older Americans in assisted living centers.

LAUREN APPEL

The National Italian American Bar Association & Sons of Italy Foundation Scholarship Hometown: Ithaca, NY • School: Cornell • Graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta

Kappa from Vanderbilt University, majoring in Classical and Mediterranean Studies, Economics, and History of Art. • Served as Notes Editor on the Cornell Law

Review. • Received Frederic H. Weisberg Prize for Constitutional Law.

DIANA MOSCHETTI

The Franzone Family Scholarship

Hometown: Rye, NY School: Univ. of Miami/American University of Rome • AP Scholar with Distinction. • National Honors Society. • Tri-M Music Honors Society.

REESE NOVESS

The Sons of Italy Foundation’s American University of Rome Scholarship Hometown: Albion, MI School: The American University of Rome – Rome, Italy • Founded a club in Rome that connects and supports students studying abroad. • Co-President of the International Relations

Club at the American University of Rome. • Student assistant to the IR degree program at the American University of Rome.

GRACE EVA RICHARDSON

The Anthony J. & Eldora B. Perfilio Scholarship for Italian Language Hometown: Schereville, IN School: Indiana University • Studied at the Complutense University of

Madrid in Spring 2022. • Phi Beta Kappa, honors fraternity and Sigma

Delta Pi, Spanish honors fraternity. • Member of Pol-IU-Glot multilingual student recognition group.

MATTEO MARSHALL

The DeNunzio Family Scholarship Hometown: Pfafftown, NC School: University of North Carolina, Greensboro • Immigrated from Italy in 2007 to join the US military’s war on terror. • Highly-decorated combat disabled veteran. • Attending the School of Nursing at UNC

Greensboro.

RALPH CURRA

The Signor Forcellini Scholarship Hometown: Parkland, FL School: University of Alabama Honors College • Recipient of the National Merit Finalist package from the University of Alabama. • Served as president of the Patriotic Raiders club. • Vice president of his school’s National Italian

Honor Society chapter.

HEATHER DAMIA

The Franzone Family Scholarship Hometown: Chatham, NY School: Dartmouth • Performed in the Treble Choir at the 2019

New York State School Music Association

All-State Conference in Rochester, NY • Awarded the Albert I. Dickerson 1930 Freshman Writing Prize at Dartmouth College. • Served as Company Manager for Dartmouth

College’s student-run Shakespeare troupe.

CHARLES HARMON

The Henry F. Salvatori Memorial Scholarship Hometown: West Linn, OR School: Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Will graduate with a 4.62 GPA as Valedictorian. • Quarterback and Team Captain of the 6A (top division) state semifinal football team. • Co-founder and President of Young Men’s

Service League (Oregon Chapter).

LAUREN G. BARTEL

The Charles Evans Foundation Scholarship Hometown: Dallas, TX • School: Harvard College • Literary work, essays, artwork, and photography have appeared in national literary magazines, academic journals, and podcasts. • Independent work in history won the national academic and research prize presented by the

Nobel family. • Two-time recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award and has won the Congressional Award Silver Medal (the highest honor Congress can bestow on a youth civilian).

RACHEL GULCZINSKI

The Lido Club of Washington, DC Scholarship Hometown: Springboro, OH School: University of South Carolina • Academic All-American recipient for the 20212022 swim season. • Over 150 hours of volunteer service directed at improving my community. • Secretary of the Leora Locke Chapter of the

National Honor Society.

MATTHEW NAWN

The Lucia & Antonio De Vico Family Scholarship Hometown: Hanover, PA School: Villanova University • Earned Eagle Scout in 2021 after completing a streetcar restoration in Baltimore, MD. • Medaled with a 13th place finish at the 2021

PIAA State Cross Country Meet. • Awarded the Servant Leadership Award by the Sisters of Sts. Cyril and Methodius.

NOLAN KAPUTA

The Raynier institute Scholarship Hometown: Princeton, NJ School: Yale University • Accepted and attending Yale University in the fall of 2022. • Four year varsity member of Mercer Club

Rowing, placed 3rd in the nation in 2021. • Received AP Scholar award for a score of 4 or 5 on seven or more AP exams.

TOBIA RUTH

The Peter & Jeri DeJana Foundation Scholarship Hometown: Montclair, NJ School: University of Pennsylvania • Will pursue a dual degree in Physics and

Chemical/Biomolecular Engineering. • Competed at regional level for Liguria, Italy in the Giochi di Archimede math and logic competition 2018–2019. • Continues to conduct year-long research with Dr. Rodica Martin (Physics and Astronomy Department, College of Science and

Mathematics, Montclair State University).

JOHN SOSCIA

The Boncore Family Scholarship Hometown: Cranston, RI School: Brown University • Will study Applied Mathematics and

International & Public Affairs at Brown

University. • Raised over $40,000 for the Leukemia and

Lymphoma Society. • Class president of my high school for the past four years.

JULIETTE JEROME

The Carlo Carlone Scholarship Hometown: Wilmington, DE School: Franklin and Marshall University • Winner of the ensemble gold medal at the

World Ballet Competition. • Science Olympiad winner of two gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal. • Several paintings have been featured in art galleries across Delaware.

FRANCESCO BONVINI

The Italian American Baseball Foundation & Sons of Italy Foundation Scholarship Hometown: Parma, Italy School: Kingsborough Community College • Plays baseball at Kingsborough Community

College in Brooklyn. • Selected as the CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year in the CUNYAC. • CUNYAC Championship Most Valuable Player.

SOPHIA PALUMBO

The Pietro Secchia Scholarship Hometown: Lockport, IL School: John Cabot University - Rome, Italy • On track to graduate with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree within four years. • Placed on the Dean’s list for all college semesters with a 3.97 overall GPA. • Has held a leadership role in three clubs as well as active participation in eight different clubs throughout high school and college.

OHIO WASHINGTON

On Palm Sunday, April 10, Cincinnatus Lodge #1191 resumed “The Original Italian Dinner” after a twoyear pandemic hiatus. Since 1911, this celebratory dinner has been one of Cincinnati’s oldest and largest traditions. The lodge partnered, once again, with Sacred Heart Church, but for the first time, the event was a “take out” rather than the customary sit-down dinner. The church kitchen was utilized to prepare massive quantities of Italian food, including exactly 90,000 ravioli, 12,000 meatballs and 300 gallons of sauce. All Items, except the grated cheese, were frozen and sold over the course of three + hours. All proceeds went to Sacred Heart Church.

It was truly a team effort of Lodge #1191. Special thanks go to Ron Panioto, Jr. (Immediate Past President), Ryan Lehan, and Ed Rubeo (Treasurer) for organizing the tremendous event as well as the many volunteers from the lodge.

These two photos are from Seattle Fedele Lodge #1390. Separated by five years, the photos feature vests presented to young ancestors of the lodge. Aydan Anthony Harvey, on the left, is the grandson of Seattle Fedele #1390 members Rod and Diana Sciola Warczak. The family of Danny Croce Volpone, on the right, has been members of the lodge for over 50 years.

The “SpecialRecognition” vests were the idea of Tony “Bisceglia” Anderson, Immediate Past Grand Lodge President & National Financial Secretary at the time of the original photo, and now OSDIA 5th National Vice President. Tony is pictured in both photos, along with Linda Buccini Anderson, President of the GLNW, and National Trustee, Rosetta Stella Beyersdorf, in the original presentation.

“Five years ago, I recognized the potential in both of these boys. They attend every meeting and event, always wanting to learn and help,” Tony said. “In a time when we want to push for increased membership, especially among younger members, I wanted to let them know that they we were watching and recognized their potential not just as members but future leaders as well. At that time, they were boys. Now, five years later, they are young men. Looking into the future, I can’t wait to see what they accomplish. We love you Danny and Aydan!!”

Danny just joined the Seattle Fedele #1390 Lodge. Aydan will join next year.

OSDIA Releases New Logos!

From the President’s Desk

By Robert A. Bianchi, Esq.

Dear Sisters and Brothers: It has been a continuing honor to serve as the National President of this amazing organization! Firstly, I want to thank the many of you who have shown your support for all that we are doing, and to the many members who have worked so diligently on committees to make our projects and mission a reality.

My team and I have been working to deliver new, innovative, and interesting projects so we can attract new members and provide value to our existing membership. I look forward to your continued participation.

With looking forward in mind, I dedicate this message to our amazing staff at the National office. I believe a positive mindset in addition to impeccable skills are vital to advance any organization; therefore, those whom we employ have a direct correlation to our success.

We have worked for months analyzing finances, best practices, policies and procedures—all in an effort to maximize productivity while minimizing costs. In this time, we have made up our budget shortfall, a direct result of this team effort. We are also now stronger as an organization.

I am proud to announce that Justin Smith (our Managing Director) is now the point person of the National office. Justin continues to do an amazing job at coordinating with the officials of OSDIA and implementing our vision. He has also significantly contributed to the discussions regarding this vision. Justin’s leadership skills and commitment are assets to the entire organization. His tireless efforts, passion, and love for the Order are greatly appreciated.

I am also elated to have Andrew Cotto as our new Editor-in-Chief of this very magazine. Andrew is an award-winning novelist and a regular contributor to the New York Times as well as other reputable publications. He brings not only an impressive level of accomplishment but also many useful contacts for OSDIA. Andrew loves Italian culture and has assisted us previously on projects on the media/production side of OSDIA. It is an honor to have such a credentialed person on board.

Shayla Kaestle, CPA, is now OSDIA’s very first Director of Finance and Accounting! We were advised to establish such a position to manage our bookkeeper and work with our accountants. Shayla is extremely accomplished, and her dedication has already put OSDIA on the cutting edge of fiscal management and cost reduction, while she has also worked on many committee projects. Shayla’s services are invaluable, and we are thrilled to have her as part of our team.

Michael Howard, our new bookkeeper, comes from a strong academic background. He works with Shayla to ensure that our bookkeeping practices are efficient and accurate. Michael is a very accomplished person who wants to be involved in other projects in addition to his bookkeeping responsibilities. I love that mindset, and we are happy to oblige.

I am very excited about where we are heading and with the team that will make it happen.

Finally, I must mention our incredible NELA Gala in May. So many in the organization worked tirelessly to ensure the event’s success. I believe it was the best NELA to date. This joyous event will continue to be a reminder of our mission and serve as a catalyst for the money raised on behalf of the Foundation which supports of our charitable causes.

Congratulations to our inspirational honorees: Hon. Rosa DeLauro - Congresswoman Lidia Matticchio Bastianich - Chef and Restaurateur

Angelo Vivolo - Philanthropist and Entrepreneur Laurie Serricchio Hollander - President & Co-Founder, Help Our Military Heroes

My special thanks to Foundation President, Joseph Sciame. He had the vision for the in-person event and worked for months making our Gala such an incredible success. Congratulations Joe, and to your entire team, for making us so proud of OSDIA!

In all, we are on the right path!

Have a happy, safe, and healthy summer!

Fraternally,

The CSJ Perspective

By Robert M. Ferrito, President

I would like to begin this issue with a renewed focus on our constant battle in the education of the Italian American community, specifically our youth. We are all too familiar with the false narratives prevalent in our education system that malign Christopher Columbus. We must continue to combat those narratives. I think, however, we cannot forget that we have so many positive things to say about our culture and heritage. We must be proud of it. We must present this positive image when we speak about our ancestors and the many cultural, social and political contributions that the Italian American community has provided this great country.

We at CSJ have made available a resource page available that can be used by our members to find information regarding that positive image while combating the false narratives that exist in our education system. Our educational programs can be used from kindergarten to 12th grade. Please take advantage of this resource page. As I said in the last issue: It is important that we continue to fight through education. The resource page can be found online at www.osia.org/csj.

CSJ continues to play a part nationally as a major component of The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO). It was a historic week in Rome and within Vatican City in May as a delegation of Italian American leaders from COPOMIAO met with government officials and Pope Francis to advance cultural and religious initiatives.

Judge Basil M. Russo, President of COPOMIAO, also conducted a panel discussion with Italian Supreme Court justices, met with the Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and sat down with the Vatican’s Secretary of State to pinpoint issues of mutual concern.

The landmark visit to the Eternal City is a first-ofits-kind event and one of many new summits that are designed to preserve and promote Italian American history, traditions, institutions, and financial and cultural connectivity to Italy.

CSJ is constantly looking to form partnerships and alliances throughout our nation. We are working with these partners to promote public policy, advocacy initiatives, and the Italian language in the United States.

It is all of us working together as one, projecting a positive image and educating our youth, that will allow the Italian American community to remain strong as we continue our battle to preserve Columbus Day and Columbus statues that are symbols of our proud heritage.

Sempre Avanti!

YES! I would like to contribute to the New Orleans Memorial that will recognize the 11 Italian Immigrants who were lynched on March 14, 1891.

Please accept my tax-deductible donation to support the Commission for Social Justice’s mission.

To donate online, visit www.osia.org/csj

$10 $25 $50 $100 $

My check for the total amount of $ is enclosed. (Please make check payable to the “Commission for Social Justice”)

Mail to: Commission for Social Justice 219 E Street NE Washington, DC 20002

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Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor can be sent to Editor-in-Chief Andrew Cotto at Italianamerica@osia.org or mailed to the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Attn: Editor 219 E Street NE Washington, DC 20002

Have You Checked Out Your OSDIA Member Benefits?

The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America offers its members a range of special discounts on Italian products, genealogy research, travel, healthcare, specialty items and other services. To view your member benefits, log on to osia.org and click on “member benefits” listed on the left. If you are a Lodge Member and do not have a Username/Password, please contact your Grand Lodge or Subordinate Lodge about setting one up. If you are an At-Large Member and do not have a Username/Password, please contact nationaloffice@osia.org about setting one up.

Italian America Magazine is produced by the national headquarters of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America® , 219 E Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 202/547-2900. Email: nationaloffice@osia.org Andrew Cotto Editor-in-Chief, Italian America magazine Justin Smith Managing Director Shayla Kaestle, CPA Director of Finance and Accounting Joana Bala Program Coordinator Michael Howard Bookkeeper

Italian America® is the official publication of the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America® (OSDIA), the largest and longest-established organization of American men and women of Italian heritage. Italian Americaprovides timely information about OSDIA, while reporting on individuals, institutions, issues, and events of current or historical significance in the Italian-American community nationwide. Italian America (ISSN: 1089-5043, USPS: 015-735) is published quarterly in the winter, spring, summer and fall by OSDIA, 219 E Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. ©2022 Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any method without permission of the editor is prohibited. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily imply an opinion on the part of the officers, employees, or members of OSDIA. Mention of a product or service in advertisements or text does not mean that it has been tested, approved or endorsed by OSDIA, the Commission for Social Justice, or the Sons of Italy Foundation. Italian America accepts query letters and letters to the editor. Please do not send unsolicited manuscripts. Italian America assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Annual subscriptions are $20, which are included in dues for OSDIA members. Single copies are $4.95 each.OSDIA MEMBERS: Please

send address changes to your local lodge. Do not contact the OSDIA National Office.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Italian America, 219 E Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Subscriptions are available through the OSDIA National Office, 219 E Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. OSDIA membership information is available at (800) 552-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: Contact ItalianAmerica@osia.org (202) 547-2900. Also see www.osia.org for advertising rates, specs, demographics, etc.

BY ANDREW COTTO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ITALIAN AMERICA MAGAZINE

I’m thrilled to be the Editor-in-Chief of Italian America Magazine! I come to this position as an awardwinning author and a seasoned journalist. My work is inspired in many ways by the experiences of Italian Americans and Americans in Italy. I am 100% Italian American. My life has been very much informed by my heritage. I am also an avid Italophile who has visited Italy regularly over the past 25 years and has lived there twice: first, for a year in Florence writing my first novel, and then for a summer in Rome teaching Travel Writing at John Cabot University.

It is this duality of identities, that so many of us share, and their interconnection that will inspire much of the content of the magazine while it is under my editorial direction. I want to, first and foremost, celebrate notable, contemporary Italian Americans and learn about the role of our shared heritage in their lives. I’d also like to bring some attention to many from our community, across generations, past and present, who may not be known but are worthy of recognition. I’m eager to champion our active artisans and artists who pay homage to our heritage through the traditions that inspire their work. We will be sharing news of the good deeds done by our members and fellow Italian Americans on behalf of our community and country. We will continue to hear in each issue from the leadership of OSDIA, as well as updates from lodges and news from our members.

We are Italian Americans, after all, so food will be a regular feature. The new “Mangia” section will be a carefully curated, thoroughly explained, and beautifully photographed seasonal menu courtesy of renowned Italian food blogger and cookbook author Michele Di Pietro of the “Mangia with Michele” platform. Purveyors of fine Italian food from around the country will be introduced. A nostalgic ode to food and tradition will appear in a new column called “Sunday Lunch” which will chronicle memories of OSDIA members from those halcyon days when lunch with la famiglia was a weekly routine.

Creating a bridge to Italy will continue to be an important focus of the magazine. There will be a travel section in each issue written by an expert. The emphasis will be on understanding a specific area through local knowledge that, hopefully, inspires a visit but educates nonetheless. Narratives of interest, contemporary and historic, from Il Bel Paese will also be featured.

I look forward to providing the members of OSDIA and subscribers to the magazine with a publication that will inform, inspire and promote the beauty of the Italian experience. I consider all of our readers collaborators, so please be in touch with your comments and suggestions. Or simply to say Ciao!

Ray Romano

INTERVIEW BY ANTHONY SCIARRATTA

Ray Romano is an actor and comedian best known for his role as Ray Barone on CBS‘s Everybody Loves Raymond (19962005). He created and starred in Men of a Certain Age, had a recurring role on Parenthood, and voiced Manny in the Ice Age films. Romano recently starred in The Big Sick and Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. Romano made his directorial debut at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival where he showcased Somewhere in Queens, a film inspired, in part, by the Italian American family.

Three of Romano’s four grandparents were born in Rome or Palermo before immigrating to the United States. His paternal grandfather fought in the Italian army during World War I.

What was it like being raised in a predominantly Italian neighborhood in New York City as opposed to where you currently live in Los Angeles? Do you miss your old neighborhood?

Yes, I do miss the old neighborhood. I still consider myself a New Yorker. I came out to Los Angeles when I booked Everybody Loves Raymond. My family stayed at home for the first year. We were waiting to see if the show was going to stick around. When the show got picked up for a second season, I moved my wife and kids out to Los Angeles. We’ve been there ever since. I still consider Forest Hills and New York my home. It’s different than Los Angeles, there’s not the same feeling of a community as there was in Queens. In Forest Hills, you know everybody on the block. In Los Angeles, people have houses with gates, and you don’t even get to see your neighbors. I like California, but I miss the overall sense of community in Forest Hills.

How would you say your Italian heritage influenced you?

My brothers and I were raised as American Italians, but it was my wife’s family who had the old school traditions. My wife’s parents were off the boat Italians and didn’t immigrate to America until their 40s. At their house, every occasion was a big catered event like somebody had a mini wedding. I went to a ton of communion, confirmation, and sweet 16 parties. I recently wrote and directed a movie about an Italian family using that same world.

Can you talk more about your new film, Somewhere in Queens?

Somewhere in Queens is a new film that I wrote and directed. It’s kind of loosely based on things that I experienced in my life, but through the world of this Italian family in Queens. It’s about a guy and his son who is a basketball star. His son is about to graduate high school with expectations to work in the family business. The father wants to see if his son can continue to play basketball instead of coming in the family business, which causes friction. I would label it a Dramedy. It’s funny, real, and emotional. I wanted to write about this type of environment, especially one that I lived in, for a long time.

Did you always know you wanted to be in entertainment?

I wasn’t initially sure about stand-up comedy, but I was attracted to performing. When I was a teenager in Forest Hills, Our Lady of Mercy started a teen club to keep kids off the street and out of trouble. They allowed us to go into the church basement and use the space. My friends and I were inspired by Saturday Night Live, which just came out around that time. We wrote sketches for the kids in the neighborhood and called it the No Talent Show going by the name, No Talent Incorporated. It was there that I caught the bug and realized performing was something I really had a passion for. I was always a fan of stand up, but it wasn’t until I heard about an audition night at a club in Manhattan called The Improv that everything changed. I did a few minutes of horrible stand-up material, but those one or two laughs in the crowd got me hooked.

What advice would you give to an up-and-coming entertainer who wants to model their career after yours?

The only thing I know from my own experience is that nothing is a better teacher than getting on stage. Whether it’s successful or the worst experience of your life, it’s still a learning experience. You get better at the most horrible and best nights that you have. There is no shortcut to success. The comedy scene is a little different now, and I’m not sure how things exactly work. What I do know is that you only get better by getting on stage. You quickly learn what works and doesn’t work and you master those experiences over time. I quit my regular job when I started to make a decent amount of money. From there it’s all word of mouth. Each time you go on stage, you’re getting exposure. What you must hope for is that you’re experienced enough when you’re able to get paid.