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IL PENSIERO

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Antonino Lombardo & Carina Marino

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Courtney Kamm editorial art

MANAGING EDITOR Anthony Gandolfo

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Anthony Gandolfo

ENGLISH EDITOR Marianne Peri-Sack

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Gus Torregrossa office

BUSINESS MANAGER Linda Marino

Torregrossa OFFICE

COPY EDITOR Amanda Coyne

ENGLISH EDITOR Marianne Peri-Sack

COPY EDITOR Courtney Kamm-Finn

ITALIA

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2025 Article/Ad Deadlines

July: June 13

August: July 11

September: August 15

October: September 12

November: October 10

December: November 14

Degli articoli firmati che appaiono sul giomale sono responsabili i singoli autori, i quali non rappresentano necessariamente il punto di vista generale, ne’ esprimono la politica de “Il Pensiero.” Operando conforme alle nostre vedute democratiche, si accetta la collaborazione di persone esprimenti il piu’ largo arco di opinioni, senza pregiudiziale di sorta.

The signed articles appearing in Il Pensiero “The Thought” are the opinions of the individual authors, who do not represent the general point of view, nor do they express the views of Il Pensiero. We accept the collaboration of people expressing the most wide range of opinions. Opinions expressed in Il Pensiero “The Thought” are not necessarily those of Il Pensiero and Il Pensiero does not accept responsibility for advertising content. Any images supplied are at the owner’s risk.

PENSIERO

Official Photographer

Tony Giamanco, Gus Torregrossa and Tony Vitale

Chris and Toni Pagano

John Indelicato and Joe Vitale

Sue Vollmer and Annie Stika

Chris Pagano, Gus Torregrossa and Paul DiRaimondo

Wrapped in Words

By Courtney Kamm-Finn

There’s something undeniably charming about fresh flowers—and even more so when they’re wrapped in something unexpected. That’s why we’re so thrilled to see bouquets from one of our favorite local florists, City House Country Mouse, wrapped in pages from our newspaper! It’s a beautiful blend of local storytelling and blooming creativity.

Each bouquet not only brings color and fragrance into your space but also a piece of our shared community. We love seeing our words used to spread a little extra joy. So next time you grab a bundle of blooms from City House Country Mouse, send us a photo of it wrapped in Il Pensiero to feature in our next issue! Email photos to courtney@ilpensiero.net.

Italian Students Tour The Hill

Submitted by Angelo Sita April 10, 2025, was a beautiful day in St. Louis. The weather was perfect for The Hill to welcome 14 students from Italy. The students were 14–15 years of age from Lorenzo Rocci High School, which is in the town of Fara Sabina, which is about 30 minutes from Rome. The students were exchange students and were paired with students from Chaminade and St. Joseph’s and stayed with local families. Jack Wilson shepherded the boys, and Katie Richardson did the same with the girls.

Derio Gambaro made arrangements

for the students to visit DiGregorio’s. Jack Wilson thought it would be good for the students to see an Italian American grocery store so they could compare it with stores in Italy. Frank and John DiGregorio welcomed them and responded to questions from the students. They were surprised to see the big chocolate Italian Easter egg that was on display.

The second stop was The Hill Neighborhood Center, where Carolyn Cassani Ring and Paula Fassi explained how The Hill was settled by immigrants from Italy. They showed some of the artifacts and presented them with gifts that they could take back to Italy.

Derio led them to Piazza Imo and explained how it was designed to replicate the piazzas that are the centerpieces of many Italian towns. It has become a destination for many in St. Louis and attracts visitors from all over the USA.

Next, Fr. Jack Siefert welcomed them at St. Ambrose. Fr. Jack explained that St. Ambrose was the heart and soul of The Hill. He gave a brief history of St. Ambrose. Fr. Jack was very generous with his time and spent about 45 minutes with the students.

After they left church, they walked to the Italia America Bocce Club. The bocce club president arranged for the students to eat lunch at the club, even though he couldn’t attend. Naturally, the students had to have St. Louis-style Imo’s pizzas. Sue Zona volunteered to staff the bar so the students could have sodas with their pizzas.

After lunch the students took to the bocce courts and played there for over an hour. They were impressed with the courts, and they said they had never seen courts like those at the Bocce Club. In Italy, the only time they got to play bocce was at beaches in southern Italy.

The students were impressed with The Hill, and they commented that it was pleasing to see the neighborhood has kept its Italian heritage. They were surprised to see both houses and businesses on the same block, as well as people walking alone or with their dogs on the sidewalks. They all enjoyed their day on The Hill.

2025 Misericordia Scholarship

The Misericordia Society awarded its 2025 scholarship to Elise Ruggeri, an eighth grader graduating from St. Ambrose School on The Hill. Elise will be attending Notre Dame High School in the fall. The Misericordia Society offers a $1,000 scholarship to a St. Ambrose student, preferably of Italian heritage, who will attend a Catholic high school. The applicants are asked to write an essay on the theme of “What being part of the Italian community in St. Louis means to me.” The principal and teachers of St. Ambrose select the recipient. The scholarship recipient is asked to attend the June or July meeting of Misericordia to be presented with the check. Here is Elise’s winning essay:

My name is Elise Ruggeri, and I am

Continued on page 7

un annuncio

by Carina Marino

Submit content to info@ilpensiero.net before June 13, 2025 to be featured in the July issue. We look forward to receiving your announcements! Thank you

BIRTHDAYS

Il Pensiero

A Special Note: Happy Father’s Day to my dad, Jim Marino who makes this publication possible.

Carina Marino

and the Il Pensiero staff

Continued from page 5

writing to explain how being a part of an Italian Community in St. Louis is important to me. I come from an Italian family. My dad’s parents were both Italian. My grandpa Ruggeri’s family came from Buscate, and my grandma’s came from Terrasini both in Italy. My dad’s family immigrated from Italy in 1929, and has lived on the same street on The Hill for 96 years. I live in the same house he grew up in! As you can see, my Italian roots run very deep.

I am an 8th grade student at Saint Ambrose on The Hill. I have attended Saint Ambrose since Pre-K. I have taken lessons in the Italian language since I was 5 years old at St. Ambrose. Although we do not speak Italian in our house, this opportunity has helped me feel very close to my Italian heritage. I have learned Italian prayers and songs that we use weekly at Mass. I feel very fortunate to have had this experience, as I know other children are not as fortunate to learn a language that is part of their heritage.

The Hill is a very unique and special place to live. There are Italian bakeries and stores where I can purchase items I would be able to also get in Italy. My school and church are both in the neighborhood as well. I have participated in many events on The Hill over the past 10 years. I have had the opportunity to help serve others in the community by helping at The Sick and Elderly Ravioli Dinner. I have also volunteered at the St. Joseph celebration at church. I have had the chance to enjoy The Hill during the Italian Heritage celebration at Berra Park, and La Festa at St. Ambrose. I am very lucky to have had these experiences that have helped me learn more about my Italian heritage.

I am planning on attending Notre Dame High School in the fall. I am looking forward to taking what I have learned about my Catholic faith with me to a new Catholic school. Serving others has been an important part of my time at St. Ambrose, and I plan to continue serving others and growing in my Catholic faith in high school.

Read With Alexandra (RWA)

By Alexandra Marino Durmišević “In the Garden of Monsters” by Crystal King

Set in the Sacro Bosco in Bomarzo, Italy Crystal King’s take on the story of Persephone and Hades is an eerie, romantic fairy tale. Julia Lombardi is a young model who is offered a once-in-alifetime opportunity to work with Salvador Dalí in Vicino Orsini’s Garden of Monsters. She is to be Dalí’s muse of Proserpina (Persephone), and he insists she is the goddess incarnate. At first she thinks it is a tactic to get her into character, but a series of strange events take place that has Julia thinking that she very well might be the Goddess of the Underworld.

Throughout the novel, King boldens all Italian words or phrases, making it easy

for the reader to look up translations and make connections via context clues. I had never heard of Sacro Bosco before. I refrained from looking at pictures of it on Google until I finished the book. It is incredible how descriptive King is. It was very close to what I had envisioned in my mind’s eye. Fans of mythology will love this book!

June Soccer

June 8

June 14

June 25

June 28

My Father’s Mediterranean Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

2 cans of artichokes

1 cup of mayonnaise

1 cup of Parmesan cheese

Instructions: Chop up artichokes and add the ingredients and mix together. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with your choice of cracker.

Make this for Dad on June 15!

The National Italian American Foundation Hails the Election of the First Italian American Pope Attribute

to NIAF Chairman

John Calvelli

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) extends its warmest congratulations and blessings to Robert Francis Prevost, who has been elected as the 267th Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and will take the name Leo XIV.

As the leading organization for Italian Americans, NIAF recognizes the profound significance this moment holds for Catholics worldwide and particularly for those in the United States, as Pope Leo XIV becomes the first American to ascend to the papacy.

He also becomes the first Italian American Pope as his father’s familial roots can be traced to Italy as well as France.

Continued on page 12

GENERALE

D’ITALIA

Mario Alberto Bartoli CONSOLE GENERALE

500 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1850 Chicago, IL 60611 phone: 312-467-1550

certified email (PEC): con.chicago@cert.esteri.it italcons.chicago@esteri.it Hours: (open to public) Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Onorario D’Italia/Honorary Vice Consul Joseph Colagiovanni

Honorary Vice Consul of Italy ITALIANCONSULSTL@GMAIL.COM 314-705-2413

VISTI/VISAS visti.chicago@esteri.it 312-995-5487

PASSAPORTI/DOCUMENTI VIAGGIO/ NAVIGAZIONE/ PASSPORTS/ EMERGENCY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS passaporti.chicago@esteri.it 312-995-5485

AIRE anagrafe.chicago@esteri.it 312-995-5485

ELETTORALE/ ELECTORAL elettorale.chicago@esteri.it 312-995-5485

STATO CIVILE/VITAL RECORDS chicago.statciv@esteri.it (312) 995 5485

CITTADINANZA/CITIZENSHIP cittadinanza.chicago@esteri.it (312) 995 5484

UFFICIO STUDENTI/CODICI FISCALI/ EQUIPOLLENZA TITOLI DI STUDIO/ COMMERCIALE/ STUDENT OFFICE/ FISCAL I.D./EQUIVALENCY OF DEGREES AND PROFESSIONAL TITLES/ COMMERCIAL commerciale.chicago@esteri.it 312-995-5486

NOTARILE/NOTARY legale.chicago@esteri.it 312-995-5483

UFFICIO SCUOLA/ EDUCATION OFFICE scuola.chicago@esteri.it 312-995-5489

Italian Trade Agency 401 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1720 Chicago, Illinois 60611 chicago@ice.it 312-670-4360 website:ice.it/it

Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo/ Italian Government Tourist Office

500 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2240, Chicago, IL 60611 312-644-0990 italiantourism.com

ONLY FOR ITALIAN CITIZENS WITH TRUE EMERGENCIES (accidents, arrests, etc.):

Available from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. CST Monday –Friday, and from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays – Call +1(312) 909-0304

Emergencies between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. CT, contact the MAECI at 011 39 06 36912666

Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago 500 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1450 Chicago, IL 60611 phone: 312-822-9545 fax: 312-822-9622 email:iicchicago@esteri.it website:iicchicago.esteri.it

Things To Do

From June to July

Visit the City Foundry for an art market every Wednesday Attend “Urban Legend” at Circus Flora

Watch the Independence Day Fireworks Show at Sublette Park

Attend the Grand Pride Parade

Continued from page 8

The election of Pope Leo XIV marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Catholic Church and its global community of believers. We are honored to witness this historic occasion and look forward to His Holiness’s spiritual leadership in the years to come.

The Foundation acknowledges Cardinal Prevost’s distinguished service as the former superior general of the Order of Saint Augustine and his Chicago roots, which reflect the rich tapestry of faith and heritage that connects many Italian Americans to their Catholic traditions.

NIAF extends its prayers and support to Pope Leo XIV as he assumes the tremendous responsibilities of his new role as shepherd to the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.

About NIAF

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes the Italian culture and heritage. Founded in 1975, NIAF has been a leading advocate for Italian Americans, preserving their legacy and promoting their contributions to the United States.

NIAF Announces Italian Business Leader John Elkann to Receive Special Achievement Award

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is pleased to announce that John Elkann, Chief Executive Officer of Exor N.V., Chairman of Ferrari N.V., and Chairman of Stellantis N.V. will be honored at NIAF’s 50th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Elkann joins world-renowned tenor maestro Andrea Bocelli, who was previously announced as the recipient of NIAF’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Entertainment.

“We are delighted to recognize John Elkann’s extraordinary contributions to global business and his role in promoting Italian excellence around the world,” said NIAF President Robert Allegrini. “As the grandson of Gianni Agnelli and the steward of one of Italy’s most iconic business legacies, John represents the innovative spirit and excellence that defines Italian entrepreneurship on the world stage.”

The black-tie gala, marking NIAF’s return to the historic Washington Hilton, will showcase the Italian region of Lazio as the Region of Honor, bringing the distinctive culture and traditions of Rome’s home region to the nation’s capital. Invitations have been extended to President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, highlighting the gala’s importance in strengthening U.S.-Italian relations.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award from such a storied institution. For half a century, NIAF has represented the strong bond of two countries close to my heart: Italy and the U.S.A,” said Mr. Elkann. “Exor and our companies are committed to our activities and our people working in these important nations as we continue to

invest in their future.”

The evening will begin with an elegant cocktail reception, followed by a dinner featuring regional specialties from Lazio paired with premium Italian wines. Throughout the celebration, guests will enjoy special performances, participate in auctions, and continue the celebration at the After-Hours Party.

Earlier in the day, NIAF will host the NIAF Forum, featuring lectures and talks exploring Italian and Italian American culture and heritage. The Forum will include screenings of the five NIAF/De Laurentiis Film Prize finalists, with the winner to be announced during the Gala dinner.

A portion of the proceeds will support NIAF’s educational and cultural programs, ensuring the foundation’s continued impact for future generations.

For sponsorship opportunities, tickets, or additional information about the NIAF 50th Anniversary Gala, visit NIAF.org.

About NIAF

Italian American Dignitaries and Scholars Honored

by the Sons of Italy Foundation at 36th Annual NELA Gala

Leaders in government, medicine, public service, the arts, and cinema were honored at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 22 by the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) at its 36th Annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala, celebrating the region of Lombardy.

The SIF awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships to 18 students, ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 each, to undergraduate and graduate students of proud Italian descent for exemplary academic performance, school leadership, and community service. Nine of the scholarship recipients attended the 2025 NELA Gala and were presented with their awards on stage.

The 2025 NELA Honorees included Attilio Fontana (President of Lombardy), Cristiana Dell’Anna (Stage and Film Actress, Lead Actress in Cabrini); Francesca Zambello (Artistic Director, Washington National Opera); the Honorable Nick LaLota (U.S. State Representative for New York’s 1st Congressional District), and Dr. Pierpaolo Sileri (Renowned Surgeon, Former Senator and Deputy Minister of Health for the Italian Republic).

Accepting the award on behalf of President Fontana was Vice President

Marco Alparone, who spoke during the event about the close relationship between the United States and Lombardy. “This award is a tribute to the strong connection between Lombardy and the United States, a connection made of history, culture, and shared values with the Italian American community,” he said.

Also present at the event was Alessandro Gonzales, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Italy, who delivered remarks on behalf of Honorary Chair Mariangela Zappia, Ambassador of Italy to the U.S. In his speech, he said that OSDIA “continues to be a primary point of reference for the Italian-American community, which plays a vital role in American society and is the engine of the vital relationship between Italy and the United States,” adding that the relationship is “a transatlantic bond, built on shared values.”

Another highlight of the evening was “celebrating the important accomplishments of our talented scholarship students,” said Joseph Sciame, President of the Sons of Italy Foundation.

“This evening was not only a celebration of Italian American excellence through our honorees and scholarship students but is also a testament to the important relationship between the United States and the Region of Lombardy,” he added.

The Sons of Italy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA). Founded in 1905, OSDIA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., near Capitol Hill and has more than 400 lodges nationwide.

The SIF has donated tens of millions of dollars to date, benefiting its ongoing fundraising campaigns for its four national charities—the Alzheimer’s Association, the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, and the Garibaldi Meucci Museum.

The Family Tree (La Famiglia Albero)

Submitted by Biagio Pietroburgo

Each family should delegate a member to create and maintain their family tree and, of course, pass it on. My social studies class in high school gave me this assignment, and I have kept it for nearly 50 years, accumulating about a dozen pages. Here is my simple system, and try starting with your grandparents.They like to be questioned!

The following example shows a family where the father dies, and the mother remarries and has children by both husbands.

Pietro Roma (DOB/DOD) | Maria Napoli (DOB/DOD

Thomas Roma

Angela Roma

Paolo Genoa (DOB/DOD) | Filippo Genoa

Anna Genoa

So get started now to save future generations the frustration of going through city and church records.