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SONS OF ITALY NEWS
MAY / JUNE 2012
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS New England’s Largest Italian-American Newspaper Email: newspaper@osiama.org • Website: www.osiama.org
VOL. LXXXVII - NO. 3
MAY / JUNE 2012
(ISSN 0038-1446)
57th Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon by Dorothy Berlandi The 57 Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the Charitable and Educational Trust and the Scholarship Commission, was held on Sunday, May 20, 2012, at the Braintree Sons of Italy. One of the most significant contributions we make as an organization to our community is through our Scholarship awards program. Each year our Charitable & Educational Trust, filial lodges, and individual donors provide over $40,000 to high school seniors who are continuing their education. This year there were a total of 39 scholarships awarded, 27 given in the name of State Past Presidents and Ex-Venerables, and 12 donated by individuals and filial lodges. th
Schola rship Commission Chairman Donna Giuliani welcomed everyone and introduced State First Vice President Carmelita Bello as the Toastmaster for the afternoon, who in turn acknowledged the recipients as they filed into the hall and introduced the head table guests. Sister Carmelita introduced State President James DiStefano, who addressed the recipients and guests and thanking ever yone who helped make the 57th Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon a success. Sister Mary Ann Bello offered the invocation and lunch was served. Thank you to Fasano’s Catering for a delightful luncheon, and to the Braintree (Continued on Page 6)
2012 Scholarship Recipients
29th Annual Law and Justice Day Breakfast by Dorothy Berlandi T he 2 9 A n nu a l L aw & Justice Day Breakfast, hosted by the Commission for Social Justice of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, was held on May 6, 2012 at The Crestview in Woburn, Massachusetts. E xec ut ive D i rector Pau l Guida welcomed everyone who was in attendance and introduced the head table honorary guests and recipients into the hall. Members of the Woburn Police Department posted the colors. Ja mes Gea ney sa ng t he American and Italian national anthems and State Chaplain Gregory Mercurio delivered the invocation. Commission for Social Justice Chairman Albert DeNapoli, Esq. welcomed everyone and thanked the many people who had worked so hard to make the breakfast a success. He then introduced State President James DiStefano who welcomed everyone and noted the importance of this program and the Commission for Social Justice. The Toastmaster was Gail Huff-Brown, former general reporter for WCVB-TV Channel 5 in Boston, and current reporter for WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C. Ms. Huff-Brown also brought the greetings of her husband, U.S. Senator Scott Brown. We all remember her delightful reports on Channel 5, especially in stormy weather. She was always out on location, regardless of the weather, giving Massachusetts residents all of the latest news. There are many of us who still miss her here in Boston. Carmine N. Rullo, a member of the Commission for th
Seated L-R: Deputy Consul General Luigi Munno, ADA Michael Fabbri, Dr. Karen Panetta, Hon. Edward M. Viola, Officer Robert DeNapoli, Jr. Standing L-R: State Chaplain Gregory Mercurio, Donald McGowan, State President James DiStefano, Gail Huff-Brown, Al DeNapoli, Esq., Marie Jackson, Marilyn Petitto Devaney and Carmine Rullo.
98th Annual Convention GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS
June 16, 2012 — Holiday Inn, Mansfield, MA
JAMES DiSTEFANO State President Honorary Convention Chairman
CARMELITA BELLO State 1st Vice President Convention Chairman
ANTONIO SESTITO State 2nd Vice President Convention Coordinator
Social Justice, presented the Distinguished Service Award to Robert C. DeNapoli. Officer DeNapoli became a reserve police officer in the Woburn Police Department in October 1994, and was appointed as a full time officer in the patrol department in June 1997. Officer DeNapoli served in this role until September 2011, when he was wounded in the line of duty. Since that time, despite suffering serious injuries and being offered retirement, he has worked toward returning to full duty in the department. Officer DeNapoli was known in the department for organizing charity softball tournaments, i ncludi ng one i n honor of Officer John B. “Jack” Maguire, a fellow officer killed in the line of duty in December 2010. State Treasurer and Commission member Marie A. Jackson presented the Public Service Award to Dr. Karen Panetta. Dr. Panetta is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University, and serves as Director of the university’s Simulation Research Laboratory. She is the Co-Founder and Chief Research Scientist at BA Logix, Inc. Dr. Panetta’s dedication to involving youth in engineering and the sciences inspired her to found the Nerd Girls Foundation, which enables young girls to pursue their interest in math, science, and engineering, while working to break down the negative stereotypes of women in these fields. She has served as the Women in Engineering Committee Chair as part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), (Continued on Page 4)