IL PENSIERO “THE THOUGHT”
Office: 10001 Stonell Drive
Member of FUSIE (Federazione Italiana Stampa Unitaria all’Estero)
Gennaio 2021 THE ONLY ITALIAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI
NUMERO 1
An Italian-American Publication
Cav. Dante Marconi: Teacher and Community Leader
Department a job he held for 30 years. For more than 20 years, he taught courses in Italian grammar and conversation in the adult education program at Shaw Community School and Saint Louis Community College at both the Forest Park and Florissant campuses. He was also one of the pioneers who taught the Italian language under the program created by Guy and Lee Gagliardi in the early 1970s. Acting as liaison between St. Louis and the Italian Studies Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Marconi organized and promoted an Italian language theater in St. Louis. It was the first program of its kind here with both student and teacher participation. The group performed to standing room only capacity. Because of a federal funds cut, the program was canceled after four years. Marconi has been very active in the Italian-American community. He is a past owner and publisher of Il Pensiero, the only Italian-American publication in the State of Missouri and Southern Illinois. He was the treasurer for nine years for the Italian Club of St. Louis and is a former board member. A soft-spoken individual, Marconi is well known for the precise manner which he executes all of his undertakings. In recognition of his work, he was awarded the Order of Cavaliere Della Republica (equivalent to knighthood) by the Italian government. He also received the Italian Heritage Award from the Italian Club in 1995.
By Marianne Peri-Sack
Cav. Dante Marconi passed away on November 29, 2020. He was born in Rome to Luciano and Teresa Marconi and came to this country in 1957 as part of a special Marshall Plan program. He met his wife, Onelia, that very year and the couple were married in Italy in 1958. The couple were blessed with a daughter, Manuela. Marconi was always a diligent student enabling him to win a scholarship as an exchange student to Washington University which was part of this special Marshall Plan. In 1960, the couple moved to the United States permanently. After a career of 33 years, Marconi retired in 1993 from Prince Gardiner Company where he started in the stock room and shortly after became a junior accountant. He was quickly promoted to supervisor of the Cost Accounting
St. Louis, Missouri 63123
CONTINUOUS SERVICE AND ACTIVITY SINCE 1904
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Cav. Armando Passetti: Business Man and Community Leader By Marianne Peri-Sack
Cav. Armando Pasetti passed away on December 24 at the age of 96. He was born in San Martino Dall’Argine, Italy, on June 20, 1924. His Uncle John Volpi owned the John Volpi Company in St. Louis. Mr. Volpi called his nephew from Italy to come and assist him. Another uncle, Gino Pasetti, was already here working in the family business. Even at that time, the Volpi Company was well-known for its highquality Italian specialty meats. Thus, in 1938 the young boy of merely 14 years of age immigrated to the United States to learn a new business in a new country. He also furthered his education by attending high school at night until he received his diploma and later, he continued his schooling with Continued on page 3