Calello has worked for several Italian ambassadors

Elisabetta Calello

2023 Lifetime Achievement

Elisabetta Calello was born in Italy in a small Calabrian town.

In July of 1955, her parents, Michele and Cesarina Calello, left their beloved Italy in search of a better economic life for their children in the United States. Since their arrival, Elisabetta, together with her brother, Giuseppe and sister, Rosa Maria, have lived in New Jersey.

Elisabetta started her civil service employment with the Consulate General of Italy in New York on Feb. 1, 1973 and after having worked in various departments under H.E. Ambassador Vieri Traxler, H.E. Ambassador. Alessandro Cortese de Bosis and H.E. Ambassador Giulio di Lorenzo, H.E. Ambassador Francesco Corrias requested that she be part of his office.

Calello subsequently continued as assistant to the Consul General with H.E. Ambassador Alberto Boniver, H.E. Ambassador Franco Mistretta, H.E.Ambassador Giorgio Radicati, H.E.

Ambassador Antonio Bandini, H.E Ambassador Francesco Talò, and H.E. Ambassador Natalia Quintavalle, until her retirement on Nov. 1, 2015.

In her almost 43 years of public service, she counts her service to the Italian American community as her greatest achievement. Elisabetta’s respect and admiration for all that Italian Americans have achieved in the face of adversity, while securing a better future for the next generation, was eloquently stated by H.E. Ambassador Antonio Bandini. “Lisa not only embodies the best model of a public servant, but she possesses those ethical and moral virtues of love of one's own family, community and country which unite our two nations and all those who draw from both Italy and the United States their heritage and culture: the Italians of America.”

Elisabetta is also a board member of the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee, vice president of the Association of Italian American Educators and Vice President of the Associazione Della Madonna Della Fontana.