TIZIANO DOSSENA
ART CRITIC, AUTHOR, AND OSDIA MEMBER ON RECENT BOOK, “THE DANCE OF COLOR”
VANESSA RACCI
ITALIAN AMERICANS IN MUSIC: VANESSA RACCI’S NEW NONPROFIT
OSDIA MENTORSHIP
MEMBER-LED INITIATIVE TO FOSTER FUTURE LEADERS
GEMS OF GENEALOGY
HISTORIC MEUCCI PHOTO FINDS ITS WAY HOME
By Frances R. Curcio, Ph.D
IN THIS ISSUE
By Samuel Weinmann
By Nicole D’Arcangelo
41 FROM THE PRESIDENT 42 SIF FOUNDATION
43 FIGHTING STEREOTYPES
44 THE PERFECT GIFT
Official Publication of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America®
Italian America magazine is a publication of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), the nation’s biggest and oldest organization for people of Italian heritage. To subscribe, visit www.osdia.org or call (202) 547-2900.
ITALIAN AMERICA is published by the ORDER SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ITALY IN AMERICA 219 E Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Editor-in-Chief: Samuel Weinmann
Writers: Frances R. Curcio, Ph.D, Brian D’Ambrosio, Nicole D'Arcangelo, Michele Di Pietro, Tony Francomano, Mark Hehl, Mary Beth Lavin, Samuel Weinmann
Proofreader: Mark DeNunzio
Graphic Designer: Diane Vincent
To advertise: Contact italianamerica@osia.org (202) 547-2900
Tiziano Thomas Dossena
Photo: Tiziano Dossena
It is both a pleasure and an honor to introduce you to the Spring Issue of Italian America. While my last name may not be the clearest indicator of my Italian heritage, I am proud to have family hailing from the Italian region of Le Marche.
In the early 20th century, my great-grandmother Eva Dellasanta’s family immigrated to the United States from a town called Fano. My Italian heritage and the Italian language have always played an important role in my life, and I am honored to be leading such an esteemed publication.
Nearly a year ago, I began working for the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), and in addition to my current position as Editor-in-Chief, I also coordinate OSDIA’s communication efforts. In both roles, my goal is to highlight the great work that OSDIA lodges and members are doing in their communities.
As an international grassroots organization with more than 30,000 members, our strengths lie not only in numbers, but in our passion for our heritage and our commitment to our community. I am privileged to have the opportunity to highlight those efforts in this magazine.
Next month, the Sons of Italy Foundation will be hosting its 36th Annual National Education and Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala in Washington, D.C., during which we will be honoring Lombardy as our official Region of Celebration.
As such, I am pleased that the cover of this issue is featuring the story of Milan-born Tiziano Dossena, and the work of his father, famed Italian painter Emilio Giuseppe Dossena. I would like to congratulate the talented Dr. Frances Curcio on bringing this story to life so wonderfully.
In this issue, you will find other stories highlighting Italian American history, and the important work OSDIA members are doing for this organization and for the Italian American community. If you have story pitches or are interested in advertising in Italian America, please reach out to italianamerica@osia.org
Alla prossima!
Samuel Weinmann Editor-in-Chief
A photo of the Italian social club in Winchendon, Massachusetts, where my great grandmother, Eva Dellasanta, lived.
OSDIA Delegation Strengthens Ties with Italian Regional Government
BY: SAMUEL WEINMANN
From January 12-17, OSDIA National President Michael G. Polo and SIF President Joseph Sciame traveled to Milan, Italy for a series of meetings with government and business leaders to strengthen organizational ties to the region, and to confirm Lombardy as the official Region of Celebration during this year’s NELA Gala in Washington, D.C.
One such meeting was with Lombardy President Attilio Fontana and Undersecretary to the Presidency Raffaele Cattaneo on January 15th. The meeting, held at Palazzo Lombardia in Milan, covered ways to bolster Lombardy’s presence during this year’s NELA Gala and to connect OSDIA membership with the rich cultural history of the region.
President Fontana will be present and among the honorees at this year's NELA Gala and will be given the SIF Lifetime Achievement Award in International Leadership. Presidents Polo and Sciame also met with a variety of other leaders in the region, including the corporate leadership of Pirelli, the Consul General of the U.S. in Milan, and Milano&Partners, the official Destination Marketing Organization of the City of Milan.
(From left to right) Undersecretary for the Presidency Raffaele Cattaneo, Lombardy President Attilio Fontana, OSDIA President Michael G. Polo, and SIF President Joseph Sciame pose for a photo at the Palazzo Lombardia in Milan.
SIF President Joseph Sciame speaks during a tour of Fondazione Pirelli in Milan, Italy.
(From left to right) OSDIA President Michael G. Polo, Pirelli SVP for Institutional and Regulatory Affairs Aimone di Savoia-Aosta, and SIF President Joseph Sciame pose for a photo at Fondazione Pirelli in Milan.
“These meetings underscore our broader efforts to strengthen our relationship with regional governments in Italy and to deepen the connection between our membership in the U.S. and their Italian roots,” said President Polo of the meetings, adding that the trip “also reinforced our commitment to members of our Italian chapters and to eventually include all regions of Italy.”
“By meeting directly with leadership in the region, we are able to more authentically celebrate and represent the region of Lombardy during this year’s NELA Gala,” added President Sciame.
2025 NELA Gala: A Celebration of Italian American Excellence— Lombardy Style
On Thursday, May 22, the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) will be hosting its 36th Annual National Education and Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala in Washington D.C. Held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, this year’s NELA will be honoring Lombardy as its official Region of Celebration. Among those that will be honored at this year’s event is Attilio Fontana, Lombardy’s president.
In addition to honoring the achievements of Italian and Italian-American honorees, the SIF will also be recognizing this year’s scholarship recipients. Since the SIF’s founding in 1959, it has given tens of millions of dollars in scholarships to deserving Italian-American students.
Join us for a night of traditional Lombardy cuisine, live entertainment, and networking with prominent individuals in the Italian American community.To purchase your tickets, please scan the QR code below, or visit: nelagala.org.
(From left to right) SIF President Joseph Sciame, U.S. Consul General in Milan Douglass Benning, and OSDIA President Michael G. Polo pose for a photo.
A banner reading “Regione Lombardia,” or “Region of Lombardy” atop the Palazzo Lombardia in Milan, Italy.
Le Onde Del Passato
Il Patriarca 2
Verissimo
An Interview with Tiziano Thomas Dossena
BY FRANCES R. CURCIO, PH.D.
Tiziano was 16 years old when he and his parents emigrated from Milan and established residence in Brooklyn. In 1978, after completing high school and earning three college degrees, he and his parents moved back to Milan. Following the death of his father in 1987, Tiziano returned to New York, establishing residence first in The Bronx, and then in Westchester. He has devoted his professional life to making numerous contributions to support and assist Italian Americans.
As a founding member of the “Celebrated Authors of the New York State Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy” (NYS OSDIA) committee, Tiziano is no stranger to the Italian American community, and his personal and professional contributions reach well beyond our borders. Since 2005, he has been a member of the Garibaldi Lodge #2583 in Eastchester, serving as recording secretary and trustee. A recipient of many awards over the years,Tiziano cites his proudest honor in 2019, when the NYS OSDIA Grand Lodge bestowed the Literary Award upon him.Throughout the years, he has lectured at the Garibaldi Meucci Museum where he recently had an art exhibition of his father’s work. In the following interview related to the publication of his recent book, The Dance of Color (Idea Press, 2023), he provides insights into his devotion to his family, art, literature, and the broader Italian American community.
Over the years, Tiziano has returned to Italy many times and he has always felt that “colpo al cuore” when visiting his native city. He describes a feeling of being at home even though many years have gone by and “his city” has changed a lot, on the surface. “After all,” he says, “there are still so many buildings, so many streets, and so many people that bring back fond memories of those early years of my life.”
Tiziano Dossena giving a presentation about L’Idea Magazine at the Garibaldi Meucci Museum in Staten Island, New York. Photo courtesy of Tiziano Dossena.
The cover image of Tiziano Dossena’s book, “The Dance of Color.” Photo courtesy of Tiziano Thomas Dossena.
What was your purpose for writing the book, The Dance of Color?
In one of my lectures, I discuss the necessity for everyone in their later years of life to retrace their roots and write a memoir, whether it be about themselves and their experiences or those of their families. It doesn’t have to be published, but it is essential that we leave the history of our family behind for our successors. It is the greatest gift we can give to the younger generations.
I stood by that belief and wrote the book for my family, for the many collectors who own one or more of my father’s paintings, for art historians, and for the public to discover this great artist’s marvelous story.
What do you hope readers and art historians will get from reading the book?
My father, Emilio Giuseppe Dossena, was a Renaissance Man. He followed the teachings of our great artists of that period by getting involved in different aspects of the artistic world. He created stunning paintings in his sixty-year artistic career, decorated churches and castles with classical paintings and frescoes, and restored paintings of Renoir, Rembrandt, Picasso, and other Masters. He knew how to paint frescoes, but also how to remove them from crumbling walls to save them from destruction, and to restore them. The book allows the world to discover the lesser-known traits of this artist.
You carefully set the stage for readers by organizing periods of your father’s artwork into chapters with some helpful commentary. What were some of the challenges you encountered as you created the structure for the book?
As for any biography of a deceased artist, I discovered there were some years in which little documentation was left. World War II was one culprit, and the destruction of his studio in 1968 was another. I had to reconstruct some of these events by recalling my conversations with my father. From that point on, I had to research with family, friends, and institutions to find the documentation verifying the facts. It was not an easy challenge.
Describe your father and his family’s journey to the USA. What motivated him to return to Italy? When he returned to Italy, was he an American citizen? Did he return to the USA at some point?
In 1968, my father lost his studio in Milan, Italy, due to an explosion in an adjacent store. Several works of restoration he had been commissioned to complete were within it. Their destruction meant a dreadful loss of income and plenty of stress. My mother contacted our friends in Brooklyn and suggested a possible relocation to my father.
Tiziano Dossena poses with members of the Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge #2583 in Eastchester, New York, after the 2024 Columbus Day parade. Photo courtesy of Tiziano Dossena.
Tiziano Dossena lecturing at a Garibaldi Meucci Museum event in Staten Island, New York. Photo courtesy of Tiziano Dossena.
It was almost a desperate move to erase from his mind the catastrophe connected to the loss of the studio. The first months were a necessary evil, not only for him but also for me and my mother. On the one hand, coming from a metropolis like Milan, his problems with adaptation were mainly tied to his nostalgia for his city more than anything else. On the other hand, he felt the challenge of painting a different world, New York City; so, he painted what he saw, and soon thereafter, he created masterpieces of color and modified his style, experimenting with colors and form.
Although he was very successful in New York, loved the United States, and could have remained longer, the distance from his other children took a toll. He never became an American citizen and never returned to the USA. He spent his last few years painting the landscapes he loved in Lombardy and writing poetry. Incidentally, he was born in the small town of Cavenago d’Adda, in the province of Milan, and there is now a committee in that town that wants to place a plaque on the house where he was born and name a plaza after him. I am looking forward to that.
A photo of Tiziano Dossena’s father, Emilio Giuseppe Dossena. Photo courtesy of Tiziano Dosse
One of Emilio Giuseppe Dossena’s paintings, entitled “Regata.” Image courtesy of Tiziano Dossena.
Your father’s seminal work goes beyond his art. Please describe his poetry. Was it all in English?
His poetry reminds us of his paintings: direct, colorful, and sensitive. He wrote about his feelings, his art, and nature. He needed to express himself in another way, beyond the paintings. His poetry production also increased in his last year, while he was ailing with leukemia and could not paint anymore. He wrote poetry in Italian, and I translated it into English. He never concerned himself with properly learning English (let’s not forget he came to New York at 65) because I was always his voice in the USA, though sometimes he managed to get across in the conversations with Museums and art collectors.
It is amazing how you included your father’s many awards and how he was recognized for his contributions. How did you document his many awards and include them in the book?
His gold and silver medals and trophies, unfortunately, were stolen during a break-in in his apartment right after his death. The diplomas, though, remained, so I was able to reconstruct their history. There are still quite a few
awards and information missing from the years preceding the studio’s loss. I am, therefore, even now, searching for further documentation.
How long did it take you to create the book? How were you able to balance writing with your other professional and personal responsibilities?
It took me 14 years to collect and organize all the proper documentation. All the old photographs had to be restored by a professional. Facts had to be verified; people had to be contacted. It was a very challenging and time-consuming task. The love I felt for my father and his work, along with the patience of my family, allowed me to complete this enormous task. It wasn’t easy. I confess there were times when I feared that I would not be able to complete the work, but I never gave up, and here we are.
How did you develop your writing style? Did any books that you have read influence your writing style?
Being bilingual, I confess that most of the time my writing acquires a style of its own that is almost a fusion of the two languages. Although I read and admire a lot of writers, I believe that Mario Soldati and Cesare Pavese influenced me the most in the development and structure of my content.
Do you have any plans to write another book?
A new book of mine in Italian, Federico Tosti e la Montagna, has just been published. It is a collection of all the poetry about the mountains written in Roman dialect by Federico Tosti. A biography of that poet, also in Italian, will follow. He was an outstanding poet, alpine guide, and man. Just as for the book on my father, this book will be a labor of love.
Tiziano expressed his commitment to providing necessary information to the publishing world to create permanent traces of our Italian American presence, both as cultural contributors and as authors within and beyond NYSOSDIA.
For members of OSDIA, Tiziano Thomas Dossena is offering copies of the book at a 30% discount which is $120, plus shipping. Contact the author at editoreusa@gmail.com.
The interview was prepared by Frances R. Curcio, PhD (FRCurcio@aol.com), author of Mio Nonno Totore and the American Dream (Idea Press, 2024).
(From left to right) Tiziano Dossena poses with poet Robert Savino during the opening of the Emilio Giuseppe Dossena art exhibit at the Garibaldi Meucci Museum in Staten Island.
Photo courtesy of Tiziano Dossena.
MANGIA with MICHELE!
BY MICHELE DI PIETRO
Spring fever has sprung! And the best remedy for spring fever is to indulge in all the vibrant flavors, ingredients, and recipes that emerge as the days get longer and warmer, flowers start to bloom, and outdoor markets and street fairs come to life–nature’s way of saying “let’s party!”
There are so many great opportunities to party in spring: Easter, Mother’s Day, graduation parties, Memorial Day, Father’s Day and more. And what’s a party without eating? Besides togetherness and fellowship, holidays and gettogethers are all about the food in my humble opinion. There’s nothing more fun than planning out a menu to wow my guests!
As spring is traditionally for new beginnings, it’s a great time to include some new recipes in your party menus–classics with a twist! Perfect for Easter or any seasonal get together (as well as any random Wednesday night, quite honestly), here are three recipes to try out this season. Lemony Pasta with Peas and Ricotta can be whipped up in a jiffy, creamy and savory Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes (with a very unique ingredient!) will have you coming back for more, while juicy, baked Spiral Ham with a delicious, Sicilian-inspired Marsala Wine glaze will impress both you and your guests. Enjoy them together or a la carte Mangia bene!
GARLIC MASHED POTATOES
MARSALA GLAZED HAM
LEMONY PASTA
Pasta with Peas, Ricotta and Lemon
Serves 4-6
This is a delicious spring pasta dish that’s incredibly simple and quick to make, yet delivers big time on flavors, beauty and aroma! Creamy ricotta is combined with sweet green peas, sautéed shallots and lots of lemon to make the most delicious light and creamy sauce. Tossed with pasta, parmesan cheese and fresh mint, this recipe comes together in the time it takes to boil water and cook pasta. A great way to greet spring, warmer weather and longer days. Mangiamo!
YOU'll NEED:
4 Tbsp butter
1½ cups thinly sliced shallots (about 3 shallots)
4 Tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves, divided
2 Tbsp chopped garlic
1 pound peas, frozen or fresh (about 3 cups)
Zest of 2 lemons
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 pound pasta + salt for pasta water
1 pound ricotta cheese (about 2 cups)
Juice of 2 lemons
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese or Grana Padano
Freshly ground black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil, for serving
DIRECTIONS:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Then, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the shallots, fresh mint and garlic. Cook until the shallots are translucent, softened and caramelized a bit, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes or so.
2. Then, add the peas and lemon zest and cook until the peas are tender. Add a couple tablespoons water to the pan to deglaze it, if necessary, using a wooden spoon to scrape up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
3. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then turn off the heat.
4. Meanwhile, add the salt, then the pasta to the boiling water, stirring frequently. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package directions, or about 2 minutes before you think it is al dente. Be sure to reserve at least 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
5. After the pasta has been cooking for 5 minutes, turn the heat on the pan to medium and stir in the ricotta cheese along with ½ cup pasta water to finish the sauce.
6. Transfer the pasta to the pan, along with the lemon juice, and allow it to finish cooking in the wonderful flavors of the sauce. Add enough pasta water to bring the sauce together, about ½ cup at a time. Mix well.
7. Once the pasta is al dente, turn off the heat and fold in the grated cheese, a big pinch of freshly ground pepper and the remaining mint, if including. Drizzle lightly with some extra virgin olive oil. Stir well, then transfer to a serving platter.
You can find Michele's cookbook SOUPified! on Amazon! You can find Michele’s recipes at www.mangiawithmichele.com
Michele Di Pietro is an entrepreneur, chef, cookbook author, blogger, culinary consultant, food writer, and creator of Mangia With Michele, the expression of her lifelong passion for Italian ingredients, foods, recipes, culture, and traditions. Throughout her busy professional culinary life, Michele has also always been an avid home cook with strong ties to her Italian roots. She is most happy and satisfied when cooking for, and breaking bread with, family and friends. It is these ties and sentiments, along with her passion for sharing both food and travel experiences with others, that led her to create Mangia With Michele. In 2020, Michele released her first cookbook: SOUPified: Soups Inspired by Your Favorite Dishes , a whimsical collection of soup recipes inspired by familiar entrees.
Find our food editor at www.MangiaWithMichele.com and follow her at @mangiawithmichele on social channels. www.instagram.com/MangiaWithMichele www.facebook.com/MangiaWithMichele
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Serves 8
Creamy, dreamy, rich and comforting, not much can compare to a bowlful of these mouth-watering potatoes. My version has very amped-up savoriness and flavor factors from the addition of earthy, caramelized and slightly sweet roasted garlic and umami-rich miso. They are decadent, yet light, and the ultimate comfort food. Perfect for a special holiday meal, yet can (and should) be enjoyed year round! Buon Appetito!
YOU'll NEED:
3 heads garlic for roasting
Extra virgin olive oil, salt and black pepper for roasting the garlic
3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
¾ cup whole milk
1 stick unsalted butter (½ cup)
¼ tsp salt, plus 2 Tbsp for boiling potatoes
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup white miso
½ cup chopped chives (about 1 bunch)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Roast the garlic: Remove loose outer, papery skin from each garlic bulb. Slice about ¼-½” off the pointed top of each garlic bulb, revealing the raw cloves. Arrange the garlic heads, cut side up, on a large piece of aluminum foil placed inside a small roasting pan or dish and nestle them together tightly so that they hold each other up. Drizzle the cut side of each head lightly with some olive oil, then sprinkle each head with salt and freshlyground black pepper. Tent the aluminum foil over the heads of garlic and ensure that it is sealed well so that the garlic can steam. Roast in preheated 375°F for about 45-60 minutes or until the garlic cloves are tender and golden brown. Once the garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze out the roasted cloves, mash with a fork and set aside.
2. Prep the potatoes: They can be peeled or unpeeled, based on your preference. Cut them into roughly 1”-sized chunks. Hold the potatoes in cold water until cooking time to prevent browning.
3. Drain the potatoes, if being held in cold water, then place them in a large pot and add enough cold water to cover them 2”. Cover and place over high heat.
4. Meanwhile, heat the milk, butter, mashed roasted garlic, salt, and black pepper in a saucepan over low heat, stirring regularly. Once the butter has melted and the mixture is heated, add the miso and whisk until it is fully incorporated. Hold this mixture over low heat, stirring as needed to prevent burning.
5. Once the potatoes come to a boil, add about 2 Tbsp salt to the pot, partially remove the cover and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer the potatoes until tender, stirring occasionally. This can be tested by piercing a piece of potato with a knife–if it easily slides in, it is cooked (about 15 to 20 minutes).
6. Turn off the heat and drain the potatoes by carefully pouring them into a strainer and letting them sit in the strainer 3-5 minutes to release all liquid.
7. Return the potatoes to the warm pot and mash them with a potato masher. Then, pour the milk and butter mixture into the potatoes and stir well to incorporate all ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in chives. Transfer the potatoes to a serving bowl and serve warm.
Marsala-Glazed Spiral Ham
Serves 14
Making a baked ham is so incredibly easy! It’s a popular entrée on holidays like Easter for good reason–it’s a crowd-pleaser with robust flavor that feeds many with minimum effort. An easy, hands-off recipe that is perfect for beginner cooks! Plus, this recipe has some serious "la cucina Italiana” infused into it–a delicious, Sicilian-inspired Marsala wine glaze! Made with sweet Marsala wine, orange juice, brown sugar, butter, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard, this glaze is the veritable icing on the cake. It creates crispy caramelized edges with just the right amount of sweetness to complement the salty, smoky ham. I love how some of it seeps into the layers of the ham as well. Mangiamo!!
YOU'LL NEED:
1 (7-10 pound) precooked, bone-in spiral ham
Any neutral oil
1 large yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
4 Tbsp orange juice (can use marsala wine or water)
1 recipe Marsala Glaze (recipe below)
For the Marsala Glaze:
1 cup marsala wine (can be dry or sweet)
1 cup orange juice
5 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp soy sauce or tamari (low sodium if possible)
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 1/3 cups brown sugar, packed
2 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp cornstarch
DIRECTIONS:
1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325°F. Rub the bottom of a roasting pan or Dutch oven with oil, then scatter the sliced onions over the oil.
2. Place the ham flat/cut side down over the onions, then pour in the orange juice (or other liquid). Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
3. Bake about 12-18 minutes per pound. The ham is fully cooked, so, it’s just being baked to reheat slowly and be glazed properly. The ham should reach an internal temperature of 140°F.
4. While the ham is baking, make the Marsala Glaze. Use a large saucepot to prevent it boiling over. Add the marsala wine, orange juice, butter, soy sauce or tamari and Dijon mustard to a sauce pan and place it over medium heat. Whisk all the ingredients together and, once the butter has melted, add the sugar and continue whisking.
5. Adjust the heat so that the mixture is at a light simmer. Simmer for about 20 minutes and let it reduce. Whisk regularly and do not walk too far away from the stove during this process. Sometimes, sugar mixtures boil up very high, so you need to keep an eye on this. Make sure you use a large enough sauce pot to avoid this from happening and do not boil the mixture. Rather, keep it at a light simmer.
6. After about 20 minutes, mix the water and cornstarch together to make a slurry, then drizzle it into the glaze while whisking continuously for 1 to 2 minutes. The glaze should thicken and lightly coat the back of a spoon. Then, turn off the heat and let the glaze sit warm at room temperature on or near the stove until ready to use. (If the glaze doesn’t thicken enough, add additional slurry a little at a time–2 tsp water/1 tsp cornstarch.
7. After about 2 hours, uncover the ham and remove most of the braising liquid by either carefully tilting the pan over in the sink or using a baster to plunge it up. Leave a little bit of the liquid behind. Then, increase the oven temperature to 375°F.
8. Brush some glaze generously all over the surface of the ham, allowing it to seep into the layers. Return the ham to the oven, uncovered. Continue basting by brushing glaze on the ham every 20 minutes until the 140°F internal temperature has been reached. The glaze will caramelize and seep into some of the layers of the ham.
9. Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Serve any remaining glaze on the side.
A photo of Vanessa Racci.
BY: SAMUEL WEINMANN
For Vanessa Racci, the legacy of prominent Italian American artists has always played an important role in her life. The likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Louis Prima are only a few of the artists her grandfather played for her growing up—artists that would shape and inspire her to pursue a career in music.
“I started… my career as a musical theater performer, and then I got into jazz,” she said. “I didn’t realize what jazz was at first, and I learned it was the music my grandfather taught me.”
Noting the influence of her grandfather on her love for jazz music, Vanessa said she felt inspired after he passed away to “revive all of the Italian songs he taught me with jazz arrangements,” which led to her first album Italiana Fresca.
Vanessa, who has built her business from scratch, is now a touring jazz vocalist with two albums under her belt, a show producer, and a professional voice teacher. Last October, she expanded her passion for music and launched her first nonprofit, Italian Americans in Music (IAIM).
Launching this nonprofit, according to Vanessa, is the natural next step in continuing the work she has been doing for years to celebrate Italian Americans in jazz, through her sophomore album, Jazzy Italian, or the music of Connie Francis and Bobby Darin, with her mini-musical, Forbidden Love. She currently promotes her music to a social media following of more than 15,000, and tours in more than 50 locations throughout the United States every year.
A photo of a young Vanessa with her grandfather.
Vanessa Racci poses for a photo with her grandfather.
Upcoming Initiatives: What’s Next for IAIM?
“My goals for IAIM are to preserve the history of Italian American contributions to music in America, and promote the future of Italian Americans in music,” Vanessa said.
She added that the project was partially spurred by the fact that “people don’t realize how much Italian Americans contributed to music in the singing field,” noting that “Italians actually invented the study of voice.”
She emphasized that often, the promotion of Italian American culture is limited to cuisine. She was quick to say that Italians “have some of the best cuisine in the world,” but added that “music is a key cultural tenet, and we don’t speak about it much… [which] inspired me to start Italian Americans in Music.”
While the nonprofit is still new, Vanessa has big plans for it. Among the key initiatives she hopes to launch soon are a scholarship program, an Italian American music festival, and a documentary on Italian American musical history.
The documentary, Vanessa says, would focus on “the history of Italian Americans in music from Caruso all the way to Lady Gaga, and show that arc, and what makes us so unique in the music world. It would be a nice archival piece of work.”
Supporting the Future of Italian American Excellence
While among Vanessa’s goals are to promote the history of Italian Americans’ impact in the music industry, she is also particularly passionate about contributing to the future of Italian Americans in music – largely through scholarships and grants for aspiring artists.
Leading up to Vanessa’s success in the music industry, she has had to face some barriers herself, including pressure to pursue a more “traditional” career path. For much of her early career, Vanessa worked as a marketing director for a large company.
“I was really good at it, and I think that’s what makes me good at selling myself as an artist, because I’m a good businessperson, and I’m a good performer,” she said. Vanessa spoke about her own experience switching from a corporate environment to starting her own business, saying that “I found that a lot of Italian American parents are less likely to support their child in a career of music.”
She said that while she can only speak for herself, she thinks many people can relate to her story. “We have traditional Italian American parents who really push us into what’s perceived as more stable careers, such as law, right?”
A photo of Vanessa Racci performing.
Vanessa says she hopes that by providing scholarships and grants to aspiring artists, she can show the value of pursuing a career in music – which has the potential to be multifaceted and lucrative.
‘We’re Solopreneurs:’ Vanessa Racci’s Advice for Aspiring Artists
Vanessa is keen to dispel the notion that music and business are separate. “It’s called the music business for a reason,” she said, emphasizing that making it in the music industry requires a strong business sense.
When asked what advice she would give to an aspiring artist, Vanessa recommended formal training to hone one’s craft, to take private lessons, and to network with others in the field. “We’re ‘solopreneurs.’ We’re entrepreneurs,” she said.
She highlighted the importance of taking business courses as well.
Finally, Vanessa stressed the importance of being assertive, rather than complacent when seeking work. “You can do what you love if you know how to make it lucrative. You can’t just do what you love and lay back and expect people to call you,” she said. “You’ve got to be aggressive, and you’ve got to know how to make money out of it.”
How to Support IAIM’s Efforts
As IAIM continues to expand, Vanessa expressed appreciation for IAIM’s board members: jazz singer and daughter of Louis Prima, Lena Prima, and Executive Director of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, Lisa Ackerman.
To stay up to date on IAIM’s new projects, visit italianamericansinmusic.org, or follow @italianamericansinmusic on Instagram. To support the preservation of Italian American musical history, and the next generation of Italian American artists, donate to IAIM by scanning the QR code below in your banking app.
The cover of Vanessa Racci’s album, “Italiana Fresca.”
The cover of Vanessa Racci’s album, “Jazzy Italian.”
Vanessa Racci, an OSDIA member, will be performing at the upcoming National Education and Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala on May 22, 2025, hosted by the Sons of Italy Foundation in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.osdia.org
BROUGHT TO YOU BY FONDAZIONE ITALIA
LET’S make Pizza!
In Italian: Ciao bambini! Siete pronti per un'avventura gustosa? Oggi impariamo l'italiano con la regina della cucina italiana: la pizza! Scopriremo insieme i nomi degli ingredienti più buoni e impareremo come ordinare una pizza perfetta proprio come fanno i bambini in Italia. Preparate la vostra fantasia e... buona pizza!
In English: Hello kids! Are you ready for a tasty adventure? Today we’re learning Italian with the queen of Italian cuisine: pizza! Together we’ll discover the names of the most delicious ingredients and learn how to order your perfect pizza just like children do in Italy. Get your imagination ready and... enjoy your pizza!
Learn these fun phrases:
“Mi chiamo Pizza!” (Me KYAH-moh PEET-zah) = “My name is Pizza!”
“Sono buonissima!” (SOH-noh bwoh-nee-see-mah) = “I am delicious!”
“Buon appetito!” (BWOHN ah-peh-TEE-toh) = “Enjoy your meal!”
Fun Fact:
Did you know that in Italy, a classic Margherita pizza has just tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil? It represents the colors of the Italian flag: red, white, and green!
Challenge:
Learn the Italian words for three more toppings you like and draw them on your pizza!
Parents: Help younger children with pronunciation by reading the Italian words aloud together. For added fun, have a “pizza party” where everyone must order in Italian!
Practice ordering by saying:
“Vorrei una pizza con…” (vor-RAY oo-nah PEET-zah kon...) = “I would like a pizza with...”
ITALIAN LANGUAGE LESSONS
Mastering Idiomatic Expressions with “Avere”
Join us for an engaging lesson where you'll discover the fascinating world of Italian expressions built around the verb “avere” (to have). Unlike their English counterparts, these phrases follow unique patterns that reveal the distinctive character of Italian language and culture.
Here you’ll learn authentic expressions used daily by native speakers. We'll guide you through proper conju-
gation patterns for different subjects, helping you build natural-sounding sentences that go beyond literal translations. Perfect for travelers and Italian enthusiasts alike, this lesson offers practical language skills you can immediately apply in real conversations that will make you sound like a local during your next Italian adventure!
Espressioni idiomatiche con il verbo “avere” (Idiomatic expressions with the verb “to have”)
THE RULE: An idiomatic expression is a phrase that cannot be literally translated into another language.
In Italian the following expressions, using the verb TO HAVE (Avere) + NOUNS, correspond to the English verb TO BE (Essere) + ADJECTIVES
Io ho caldo
Tu hai freddo
Lui ha sonno
Lei ha fame
Noi abbiamo sete
Voi avete fretta
Loro hanno paura
I am warm/hot
You are cold
He is sleepy
She is hungry
We are thirsty
You are in a hurry
They are afraid
Let’s practice matching these Italian idiomatic expressions with their English equivalents.
1. Io ho caldo
2. Tu hai freddo
3. Lui ha sonno
4. Lei ha fame
5. Noi abbiamo sete
6. Voi avete fretta
7. Loro hanno paura
a. We are thirsty
b. She is hungry
c. You are cold
d. He is sleepy
e. They are afraid
f. You are in a hurry
g. I am warm/hot
SOLUTIONS
1. Io ho caldo
2. Tu hai freddo
3. Lui ha sonno
4. Lei ha fame
5. Noi abbiamo sete
6. Voi avete fretta
7. Loro hanno paura
g. I am warm/hot
c. You are cold
d. He is sleepy
b. She is hungry
a. We are thirsty
f. You are in a hurry
e. They are afraid
Now, let’s test your understanding with some questions. Choose the correct response for each situation:
Hai caldo?
1. Si, ho caldo
2. Si, sono caldo
3. Si, hai caldo I bambini (children) hanno fame?
1. No, non sono fame
2. No, non fame
3. No, non hanno fame
Avete paura dei topi (mice)?
1. Si, siamo paura
2. Si, abbiamo paura
3. Si, hanno paura
Mario ha sonno?
1. Si, lei ha sonno
2. Si, lui ha fame
3. Si, lui ha sonno
SOLUTIONS
Hai caldo? 1. Si, ho caldo
I bambini hanno fame? 3. No, non hanno fame
Avete paura dei topi? 2. Si, abbiamo paura
Mario ha sonno? 3. Sì, lui ha sonno
Ready to take your language learning journey to the next step? Fondazione Italia offers all OSDIA members a 10% discount on all of their group classes. Visit https://italianfoundation.org/ or scan the QR code below, and use the discount code OSDIA10 to book a class today!
Fondazione Italia is a California non-profit organization founded in 1998 for the purpose of promoting the teaching of the Italian language and culture. We work in close collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles and San Francisco in support of our mission.
BY: NICOLE D’ARCANGELO
Every day, I work hard to develop programs that will bring out the best in your OSDIA membership experience. Most recently I had the pleasure of collaborating with the National Women’s Leadership Committee to bring their Mentorship Program idea to life. Through their various roles within the organization, they saw a need for nurturing, training, and encouraging the future leaders of OSDIA.
The idea for this initiative spawned from their own personal experiences within the organization. The talented women of this committee have served in a variety of roles from committee chairs and members at the local, state, and national levels to state and national delegates and even vice president and president at the local and state level.
Committee Co-Chair Lynn Lawrence-Murphy states, “While working at the state level, it has become apparent that there are many lodges with officers that are in need of guidance and training in their respective roles. Unfortunately, many officers are dropped into their positions with little or no idea as to what their responsibilities are. Many of the previous officers are
burnt out and do not help these new officers. We all need a person to assist us as we move into new situations.”
This sentiment rang very true for current Grand Lodge of the Northwest President and Committee Co-Chair
Linda Buccini Anderson. “I started in lodge officer roles because that was what was expected. I knew nothing. I had no training. I did it because I was asked and moved up through all the officers’ positions. It was uncomfortable, I had no idea what was expected, how to find information, what a bylaw was or how to run a meeting.”
Most of these women were lucky and found someone they could rely on to guide them, but they realize that this is not always the case for others.
“When I was California Grand Lodge President, I was fortunate to know and be able to reach out to past California Presidents, Lynn Lawrence Murphy, Maria Fazio Pignati, and Supreme Past Presidents Joanne Strollo and Nancy Quinn for advice. I listened to their suggestions. I didn’t follow them exactly, but used them in my own way,” fellow committee member and Immediate Past President of the Grand Lodge of California Barbara Wisniewski said.
The idea of a mentorship program grew over months of these great minds getting together to discuss and devise a plan on how to help the future of OSDIA flourish. When asked why OSDIA needs a mentorship program, this is what they said.
train nurture encourage support
Anderson states, “OSDIA needs a mentor/mentee program because we need to build our leaders. Our future really does depend on how much help and preparation we give our members to take on leadership positions within our local lodges first.”
Committee member Patricia Polcuch notes, “Mentorship is important to help members feel comfortable as they navigate through meetings and discover an interest in leadership. It’s important that new members, as well as older members, see the opportunities in our organization.”
“Feeling supported and valued through mentorship can improve morale and motivation, leading to higher retention rates in membership. More members may be apt to step up to take on a committee chair position knowing there is someone to turn to for advice, guidance, and suggestions.”
Marjorie Focarazzo Committee CoChair added.
“The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America needs a mentorship program to address both the preservation of our Italian-American heritage and the growth of our members into strong, engaged leaders. As the first
female president of the largest lodge in New Jersey, which has grown significantly to include over 60 female members since 2012, I’ve seen firsthand how vital mentorship is in shaping the future of our organization,” said committee member and Local Lodge President Francesca Chila Maskulyak.
Maskulyak continues, “By pairing experienced members with newer ones, we can create a stronger sense of community, inspire greater participation, and help our members find their unique place within the lodge. A mentorship program would support members in feeling connected, valued, and equipped to take on active roles.”
Committee member Christina Chila said, “We need a mentorship program to assist in creating a more cohesive and engaged community. A mentorship program can deepen bonds within the organization, fostering a sense of family and support among members. For the long-term, a mentorship program can ensure continuity in the organization’s activities, traditions, and operations. By having a network of mentors to guide new members, the organization can maintain its core values and mission, even as leadership changes. I also hope this program will engage younger generations in the organization. The exchange of ideas between a mentor and mentee can help
the organization evolve by guiding and embracing modern tools and trends, such as social media, digital communication, and new event formats, while still honoring the organization’s roots. Additionally, the exchange will ensure that valuable lessons learned over time are not lost and continue to benefit future generations of the organization creating a legacy of knowledge.”
It was an honor to collaborate with this committee to bring the OSDIA Mentorship Program to life. As a group, they encourage each other and truly enjoy working together.
“Being part of this committee means working alongside incredible women who share the common goal of building a stronger, more inclusive OSDIA. It’s a space where we collaborate, learn from one another, and work to ensure that the future of our organization is just as bright and diverse as our heritage,” Francesca Chila Maskulyak commented.
On behalf of the National Women’s Leadership Committee, we implore you to sign up to be a mentor and/ or mentee and encourage your lodge members to do the same!
Nicole works at OSDIA’s National Office in Washington D.C. She manages national programs for members and organizes events such as the National Education and Leadership Awards Gala and OSDIA’s Biennial National Convention. In her spare time, she is a fantasy author novelist.
SCAN TO BECOME A MENTEE
SCAN TO BECOME A MENTOR
Carlottina Morelli-Milano, 1914
Historical Photo Finds its Way Home at the Garibaldi Meucci Museum
The Gems of Genealogy
BY: MARY BETH LAVIN
For an Italian American ancestry project at Florida Atlantic University, I officially “broke ground” on a genealogical dig in September of 2024. While sifting through family archives and piles of dusty memorabilia, I suddenly struck gold uncovering a precious artifact: A 7” x 10” photograph of a 19th century cottage featuring a Garibaldi Homestead plaque over a porch full of strangers. On the flip side appeared the inscription, “La Casa di Garibaldi a Staten Island, New York, 1885.” A quick internet search led to the fascinating story. Garibaldi had called the cottage home from 1851-1853 when his compatriot, Antonio Meucci, opened his doors to the General. Purchased in 1919 by the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the cottage stands today the renowned Garibaldi Meucci Museum-an historic, national landmark of Italian American culture. Seized with intrigue, I resumed my search on the photograph’s central figure: an elderly, white-bearded man seated by the cottage door. After confirming Garibaldi’s death in 1882, I searched “Meucci” anxiously and the next moment gaped in amazement. Indeed, the prominent figure with a distinct air of importance was none other than the famed telephone inventor, himself, Antonio Meucci. Thrilled with my discovery, I continued to study the picture, when at
last, a more familiar face caught my eye. Comparing a handsome headshot from 1881 confirmed it. There, on the porch, to the right of Meucci stood my great-great-grandfather, Polifonte Morelli.
As I continued to marvel at the photo, my excitement gave way to suspicion: who was that woman standing next to Polifonte? With piqued curiosity, I took to Ancestry.com and within minutes saw the unveiling of Polifonte’s first wife. Stunned by the revelation of this new hidden history, I proceeded to compile the story of a renowned “Adele Cornalba.” Scores of periodicals told her remarkable history including a biography in the Broadway Library at the University of South Carolina: (excerpts):
Adele Cornalba (1862-1936) “Adele Cornalba was known to Americans as the premiere danseuse of Stephen Seville’s Great English Ballet that toured the country’s major cities in the early 1880s. Trained at La Scala in Milan from the age of seven, she was eighteen when she appeared in her first leading role. As the most reputable classical dancer in the United States, Cornalba could pick her jobs… ‘Her poisings, her evolutions, her undulations were as dainty as the descent of a snowflake through unruffled ether.’ Technically masterful, she nonetheless came under increasing criticism in the 1890s for her lack of ‘personality’…” (David S. Shields/ALS).
Fascinated, I dug deeper… and soon struck another nugget in the New York Times , 1884. A feature article on The Assoluta unearthed yet another treasure: Polifonte’s exclusive restaurant in Manhattan’s theatre district. An interview with Adele
in “Polifonte Morelli’s gorgeously painted, Twenty-eighth Street restaurant,” sets the stage (excerpts): k
“There were sixty girls in my class in Milan who all wanted to be stars when they should arrive at the proper age… All these startling movements which astonish you (they do astonish you don’t they?) come to us gradually… of the sixty girls with whom I was instructed, only three became assolutas… the rest ignonimously beat a retreat into the corps de ballet. That, of course, is the refuge of the destitute.”
“Do you mean to say that all the assolutas in America are thus qualifed?”
“Oh dear, no!” said La Cornalba, with a superb smile.
“Everyone is an assoluta in America, or thinks she is. You see it is quite impossible to excel in the terpsichorean art without a long course of study. Americans have not the patience to study. They can’t afford the time. They would make delightful assolutas because they are so beautiful and have such excellent figures. Assolutas have to be imported like M. Morelli’s wine.”(New York Times, 1884) k
Both amused and amazed by this noted “personality,” I hastened my way along a sensational paper trail paved
with multiple media gems. High society dinners made regular news at Morelli’s restaurant including the top ticket, annual dinner of Cornell University. In the 1885 New York Times article, “Cornell Men Enjoy Themselves,” Cornell founders Andrew D. White and former Gov. Cornell top Morelli’s distinguished guest list with the acclaimed, Mark Twain!
While business was booming, however, trouble was looming on the home front. Polifonte and Adele’s marriage would soon come to an end. Newspapers highlight the dancer’s multiple-month tours performing in theaters across the U.S. with no shortage of drama. In the San Francisco Examiner story, “Max Freeman’s Fight,” fists come to fly over the allegedly flirtatious Adele. (San Francisco Examiner, 1887). Behind the scenes, then, Adele’s stage life took its toll likely leading to the final dissolution of the marriage.
A glittering gem appeared in The Sun of 1886 in a passionate letter to the Editor. With a generous $10 donation to Ireland’s Parliamentary fund, Polifonte praises the contributions of Italy and Ireland to the world (excerpts): k
“…as an Italian, I recall with pleasure the numerous episodes in which history presents Ireland and Italy linked together in the dignified pursuit of interests beneficial to literature and commerce and conducive to the welfare of the entire human family. Thus among the gallant crew that sailed from Palos with my illustrious countryman, Columbus, for the discovery of America, was an Irishman named William Eyre, from Eyre Court, Galway… Three centuries before Columbus, a still greater Italian, Dante Alighieri, had been
the friend and guest of the Irish scholars of Robbio in Lombardy, by whom the King of Poets was persuaded to abandon the pompous hexameter of Virgil for the more flexible terza rima, wedded for evermore to the greatest of poems, La Divina Commedia, in spite of the opposition of the sages of Bologna. I am of those who hold that the Bard of Florence took his idea of Purgatorio from that well known cave in Ulster, Lough Derg, commonly called St. Patrick’s Purgatory. It was at the court of Ferrara that another Italian poet, Ariosto, became acquainted with that popular place of pilgrimage. In the Orlando Furioso at canto X, stanza 91, 2, it is thus referred to:
“Quind Ruggier, poiché ‘di banda in banda Vede gl’Inglesi, andò verso d’Irlanda… Evide Ibernia fabuloso, dove Il santo vecchirel fece la Cava
In che tanta merce par che si ‘trove Che l’uoum vi punga ogni sua colpa parva!”
There is, in fact, a strong resemblance between the nation genius of Ireland and Italy. Both nations have ever been renowned for their music, their poesy, their oratory, and their tireless devotion to letters…”
My grandfather’s letter shone like a crowning jewel of confirmation marking a profoundly moving milestone in my Italian studies journey.
After Polifonte remarried the Irish Mary Ann Ford of Galway (ahem!), one date went down in history. On November 8th, 1892- the same night Grover Cleveland was re-elected President for a second term, Polifonte’s second wife gave birth to Carlottina “Clevelenda” Morelli- cleverly named by her proud and patriotic papà, Polifonte.
1910 saw a golden end through the premiere of a “Golden” opera. In early December, Polifonte reconnected with a childhood friend from Lucca- indeed, no less than the world-renowned, Giacomo Puccini. A handwritten note on legendary Hotel Knickerbocker stationery reads (translated): “Come at 6 in the evening or 10 in the morning, I will bring you willingly. Affectionately, G. Puccini.) Dated Dec. 4th, 1910, the invitation points to the world premiere of Girl of the Golden West (La Fanciulla del West) at the Metropolitan Opera starring the revered Enrico Caruso.
In 1912, Polifonte’s own “fanciulla” was in love with Basil Rocco Milano descending from southern Basilicata. Despite the objections of her proud, Lucchese father, Carlottina married Basil in June of 1912. Nine months later, Marie Josephine Milano entered the world.
On June 17th, 1914, at his home in Staten Island, Polifonte suffered a sudden heart attack and died. The Italian newspaper, Il Progresso, noted him as “uno dei pionieri della nostra immigrazione in America” (one of the pioneers of our immigration in America) “…era giunto negli Stati Uniti dalla nativa Lucca ancor giovine, risiedendo lungamente prima a New York, e poi a Filadelphia, ove godeva stima e simpatie vivissime…” (he had come to the United States from his native Lucca, still young, residing many years in New York and later Philadelphia where he enjoyed great esteem and affections). (Il Progresso, June 1914).
Polifonte’s granddaughter- my grandmother, Marie- would come to inspire my own life-defining, Italian journey. Fluent in Italian, she earned her English/Latin degree proceeding to teach the Latin building blocks of her beloved, ancestral language.
On Sep. 28th 1940, Marie J. Milano married Joseph G. McCaffrey uniting Italian and Irish hearts, again, in our “evergreen” family tree.
A treasure finds its way home…
140 years after Morelli met Meucci on the porch of the Garibaldi Homestead, his great-great-granddaughter made a phone call to the residence of the telephone inventor. Three months later, she flew to New York to make
an important donation. On Nov. 9th, 2024, at the 36th Annual Fundraiser of the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, Polifonte’s photograph with Antonio Meucci, at last, found its way home.
*To read the rest of “La Storia Morelli-Milano” with historical photos and video, visit FAU’s Italian American Memories (ITAMM) webpage: itamm.omeka.net/items/browse?collection=13
~Mary Beth Lavin, M.A. Italian Comparative Literature, Florida Atlantic University, Feb. 2025
Three generations of Italian: Polifonte Morelli with daughter Carlottina, her husband Basil and granddaughter, Marie J. Milano, April 1913.
Mary Beth Lavin with SIF Pres. Joseph Sciame and GMM’s Fran Cicero, Nov. 2024
A Different Story
BY: TONY FRANCOMANO
We’re on our way to Noepoli, a small hilltop town in southern Italy’s region of Basilicata. The seven-day voyage from New York to Naples on the Michelangelo was both smooth and exciting. Also exciting was that, as a twentyfive-year-old, I was going to meet all of my close relatives for the first time.
I knew about my grandfather’s tailoring and costumemaking skills at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Like many others, he left his family for America’s promise of economic opportunity. He later returned to his family in Noepoli and remained there.
We meet in Noepoli’s piazza with its spectacular panoramic views, where the Church of the Visitation stands prominently since the sixteenth century. I’m focused, however, on my mom and grandfather embracing after twenty-seven years. My uncles Nicola and Ernesto watch quietly as they, too, experience this touching moment.
Different cultures have had an interesting influence on Noepoli’s history. In the eighth century, Greek Basilian monks established a monastery there. A common surname in Noepoli is Carlomagno, Italian for Charlemagne. Another noteworthy name is Francomano. Both trace back to the Germanic Franks of the Middle Ages. The town’s patron saint is The Madonna of Constantinople, indicating historical and cultural ties to the Byzantine Empire.
On this first day, we gather at my Aunt Maddalena’s house and have an exquisite meal of homemade pasta, roasted goat, the area’s famous soppressata, and the fabulous crusty bread that families bake at the communal oven. The local wine is flowing, and there is familial joy all around the table.
A couple of wonderful days later, I’m strolling with my grandfather along the Via Nuova. Passersby affectionately greet him as “Zio Salvatore.” A stimulating aroma of tomato sauce simmering and peppers frying comes from nearby homes. We enter the friendly bar, and I proudly buy my grandpa a glass of fine wine.
Una Storia Diversa
Siamo in viaggio verso Noepoli, un piccolo paese collinare nella regione meridionale della Basilicata. Il viaggio di sette giorni da New York a Napoli sulla Michelangelo è stato tranquillo ed emozionante. Era anche emozionante che, a venticinque anni, avrei incontrato tutti i miei parenti più stretti per la prima volta.
Sapevo delle capacità sartoriali e di costumi di mio nonno al Metropolitan Opera di New York. Come molti altri, lasciò la sua famiglia per la promessa di opportunità economiche dell’America. In seguito, ritornò dalla sua famiglia a Noepoli e lì rimase.
Ci incontriamo nella piazza di Noepoli, con le sue spettacolari vedute panoramiche, dove dal XVI secolo spicca la Chiesa della Visitazione. Sono concentrato, tuttavia, sul fatto che mia madre e mio nonno si abbracciano dopo ventisette anni. I miei zii Nicola ed Ernesto guardano in silenzio mentre anche loro vivono questo momento toccante.
Diverse culture hanno avuto un’influenza interessante sulla storia di Noepoli. Nell’VIII secolo, i monaci greci basiliani vi stabilirono un monastero. Un cognome comune a Noepoli è Carlomagno, in italiano Carlo Magno. Un altro nome degno di nota è Francomano. Entrambi risalgono ai Franchi germanici del Medioevo. La patrona del paese è la Madonna di Costantinopoli, che indica legami storici e culturali con l’Impero Bizantino.
In questo primo giorno, ci riuniamo a casa di mia zia Maddalena, e ci godiamo uno squisito pasto a base di pasta fatta in casa, capra arrosto, la famosa soppressata della zona, e il favoloso pane croccante che le famiglie cuociano nel forno comune. Il vino locale scorre a fiumi, e c’è allegria familiare intorno al tavolo.
Un paio di giorni meravigliosi dopo, sto passeggiando con mio nonno lungo la Via Nuova. I passanti lo salutano affettuosamente come “Zio Salvatore”. Dalle case vicine proviene uno stimolante aroma di salsa di pomodoro che sobbolle e di peperoni che friggono. Entriamo nel accogliente bar, e offro con orgoglio a mio nonno un bicchiere di buon vino.
On the way back, we stop to join some of the oldtimers and Compare Ciccio, the town’s traffic officer. He dutifully carries a stop sign despite there being hardly any traffic here.
Coming from New York, I’m attracted to the area’s pristine surroundings and its happy way of life. I’m loving these mild days of late summer. At nightfall, my favorite thing to do is to retreat to the serene piazza. The gentle breezes and the flickering lights from distant towns as far away as Calabria create an enchanting light show and inspiring atmosphere.
Italy is blessed with natural beauty and unsurpassed monuments. They are for the world to enjoy. Very important to me was being able to bond with my grandfather and relatives and discover my roots.
In a way, I “returned” to Noepoli and felt complete.
Sulla via del ritorno, ci fermiamo per unirci ad alcuni dei veterani e a Compare Ciccio, il vigile urbano del paese. Porta diligentemente un segnale di stop, nonostante qui non ci sia quasi traffico.
Venendo da New York, sono attratto dai dintorni incontaminati della zona e dal suo modo di vivere felice. Adoro queste giornate miti di fine estate. Al calar della sera, la cosa che preferisco fare è ritirarmi nella tranquilla piazza. La brezza leggera e le luci tremolanti dai paesi lontani fino alla Calabria creano un incantevole spettacolo di luci e un’atmosfera stimolante.
L’Italia è benedetta da bellezze naturali e monumenti insuperabili. Sono per il mondo da godere. Molto importante per me è stato poter legare con mio nonno e i miei parenti e scoprire le mie radici.
In un certo senso, sono “tornato” a Noepoli e mi sono sentito completo.
After 35 happy years in New York, the author and his family enjoy the southwestern environment that New Mexico offers. His recent book Return to Yonkers is about life in Yonkers, New York in the 50’s and 60’s.
A photo of the Noepoli countryside. Photo courtesy of Tony Francomano
CALIFORNIA
On January 25th, the Sacramento Lodge #1352 celebrated their 100th anniversary, with more than 100 attendees present at their celebration event. During the anniversary celebration, Lodge #1352 also honored four members with 40-, 45-, and 50-year anniversary certificates. The honorees were: David Carboni for 50 years, Pam Tedesco for 50 years, Barbara Alfidi for 45 years, and Ed Smith for 40 years.
The lodge was initially founded in 1925 as the Giacomo Puccini Lodge, and in 1991, merged with the Regina Margherita Lodge #1423 to become the Sacramento Lodge. During the lodge’s 100th anniversary event, two pieces of memorabilia were on display: the lodges’s original charter, and a ledger dated 1926-1936.
WEST VIRGINIA
John Cangemi, President of the Dan di Mucci Lodge #2465 in Martinsburg, West Virginia built his own wood burning pizza oven, and hand mosaiced the exterior. On one side of the pizza oven is an image of the Roman Forum in Rome, Italy.
OHIO
On February 1, the Guardiani Italiani di Cleveland Lodge #217 hosted a prize presentation at its Accademia del Vino event. In attendance were 118 guests, who sampled various wines from Central and Southern Italy. Among the wines were tintilia rosé, Lacryma Christi, aglianico, negroamaro, and primitivo from Molise, Campania, and Puglia, paired with antipasti, shrimp, orecchiette-rapini, chicken, salad, arrosticini di agnello, and roasted vegetables.
Guests of honor included: National Orator, Anthony J. Perfilio, Esq.; Grand Lodge of Ohio Vice-President, Eldora Perfilio; Akron Lodge #685 Orator John Mancinelli; Highland Heights Mayor and Lodge #217 member Chuck Brunello, Jr.; and Sicilian Tenor Aaron Caruso.
Aaron entertained the crowd and sang traditional Sicilian songs like Finiculi, Finicula, and Italian songs like Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu
Have you or your lodge done something remarkable that makes a difference to your community or promotes our heritage and Italian studies? If so, send details including your lodge’s name/number, a brief write-up, and digital photos of 300 dpi to Editor Samuel Weinmann at italianamerica@osia.org.
John Cangemi cooking in front of his handmade pizza oven. Photo courtesy of Cosiamo Bavuso.
Sacramento Lodge members pose for a photo together at the 100th Anniversary event. Photo courtesy of Il Leone Newspaper.
Attendees of the Accademia del Vino event pose for a photo. Photo courtesy of Vera DiCianno.
A mosaic of the Roman Forum on the back of John Cangemi’s pizza oven. Photo courtesy of Cosiamo Bavuso.
The Annapolis Lodge #2225 took part in the annual Wreaths Across America event at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery on December 14, 2024. Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit dedicated to remembering, honoring, and teaching the importance of freedom. The organization’s efforts include placing wreaths on veterans’ graves, reciting the names of fallen soldiers, and educating the public about the sacrifices made by those who served. Every year, thousands of volunteers nationwide come together on this day to lay wreaths at veterans’ graves.
The Annapolis Lodge proudly donated 157 wreaths for placement at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery and had many volunteers join in to help with this meaningful tribute. The lodge extended a special thanks to the Maryland Grand Lodge for their generous donation of 5 wreaths, and deeply appreciate their continued support.
MARYLAND
of the Annapolis Lodge
for
On March 22, the Ocean City Lodge #2474 held its 13th Annual St. Joseph’s Day Festival in Maryland. The lodge, founded in 1980 with a membership of nearly 200, hosts this event each year, featuring homecooked food, live entertainment, and an array of games. The festival also featured various vendors throughout the day, selling Italian goods.
Fundraising events like this help spread Italian culture in the community, but also support the lodge’s various fundraising efforts, including many local charities and the lodge’s scholarship program to support Italian-American high school students who travel to Italy each summer.
On March 2nd, Little Italy Lodge #2286 in Baltimore, Maryland hosted a Carnevale celebration, attracting more than 130 people from the city to their lodge in the heart of Little Italy. The lodge hosted a “Nawlins” style buffet, and their annual March of the Saints around the block.
WASHINGTON
Volunteers pose in front of the donation bags of food and drink.
Volunteers from the Amerigo Vespucci Lodge #1814 in Aberdeen, Washington, packed 220 bags of food and rink to be distributed to food insecure students in the Grays Harbor Area.
Members
pose
a photo during the annual Wreaths Across America event.
Photo and text courtesy of Kimberly Scolaro.
Festival Co-Chair Vito Potenza (standing) at the final planning meeting for the festival. Photo and caption courtesy of Ed Pinto.
An Annapolis lodge member holding wreaths at the Wreaths Across America event. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Scolaro.
Members of Little Italy Lodge #2286 pose for a photo during a Carnevale celebration.
Photo courtesy of Connie Chicano.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Murrells Inlet Lodge #3006 of South Carolina, has been very active this winter. They are organizing their annual calendar of events, golf tournament, festivals, a trip to Italy, and hosting Italian classes, in addition to sponsoring the local Disabled American Veterans Chapter 30. This spring, the lodge collaborated with Rolling Thunder Chapter 3 in South Carolina to support local homeless veterans. Together, they collected 70 bicycles from community donations, which were distributed to four different veterans’ shelters. This initiative will help veterans find and commute to work more easily. Lodge President Robert Paniccia, Vice President Tina Smith and Treasurer Joel Smith found the experience of working with Rolling Thunder President Billy Riley, Secretary Kathy Plourde, and other organization members to deliver the bicycles personally to be incredibly rewarding. On February 28th and March 9th, the members of Murrells Inlet Lodge #3006 received a Certificate of Appreciation for their generous donation of 18 bicycles within just 48 hours. The certificate was presented by President Billy Riley, Secretary Kathy Plourde, and other members of Rolling Thunder who were present. *Rolling Thunder is a non-profit organization whose major function is to publicize POW/MIA and other veterans’ issues.
DELAWARE
During its annual Christmas fundraiser, the Grand Lodge of Delaware raised approximately $11,000 in donations. Every year since 1995, Delaware lodges have worked together to contribute toys and clothing to three local charities: The Nemours Children’s Hospital, the Latin American Community Center, and the Ronald McDonald House.
The annual charity event is made possible through the work of the four local Delaware lodges, and other community business partners who collect toy and clothing donations, as well as monetary donations through a GoFundMe page. Featured in the photo, from left to right, are Delaware State President Joseph Facciolo; Nemours Hospital Child Life Director Hilary Bruno; Prince of Piedmont Lodge #475 President James Lemmon; Lodge #475 Member Roger Fernandez; and State Treasurer Marie Malatesta.
Participants of the fundraising event pose for a photo with the 2024 Christmas donations.
Photo courtesy of Joseph Facciolo.
Crossing the Atlantic circa 1900
BY MARK HEHL
As part of his research for the book An Immigrant’s Dilemma, the author interviewed his great-aunt in Sicily. She provided this detailed description of her father’s voyage, in steerage class, across the Atlantic to the USA. Her father, Giuseppe Tardi, was Mark’s great- grandfather.
The Trojan Prince left Naples with the Tardis aboard. The single propeller allowed it to creep across the Atlantic Ocean at a maximum speed of 12 knots. The seven Tardi family members were among the 1,260 “human cargo” relegated to third class. The term “human cargo” is used here as one could hardly consider them passengers.
These unfortunate travelers occupied large compartments located in the bottom decks of the ship near the noisy engine and steering mechanisms. After boarding, most had difficulty locating their assigned bunks due to their inability to read. Confusion and arguments ensued. It took a full day to get things settled in the passengers’
assigned area. Narrow bunk beds were stacked three high with narrow aisles. These occupants were already malnourished and thin and easily fit. Due to poor ventilation and crowding, diseases and head lice rapidly spread. One of the Tardi children became ill but recovered in a few days. Some unfortunate others perished and were buried at sea during the voyage. Children became orphans and some parents suffered their greatest imaginable loss, the death of a child. To make the agony even worse, these children were interred at sea without last rites and a proper burial.
In spite of this, the entire Tardi family made it to America.
There were limits relative to the size and weight of personal possessions permitted per passenger. This was not a problem for Giuseppe and his family, as their minimal possessions were well below the threshold.
The food was barely edible and different from the typical Sicilian peasant diet they were accustomed to. The Tardi
A photo of the Trojan Prince under construction, 1896.
family was happy to have regular meals and consumed what was given to them. These meals sustained them during the journey, except during rough seas when seasickness set in. Most were unable to eat during rough weather.
Some were too seasick to venture topside and became sick in their bunks. This added to the already horrible stench caused by a high concentration of people, poor ventilation, lack of bathing facilities, no sanitation, vomit and the high consumption of raw garlic thought to ward off various sicknesses. Giuseppe’s oldest son on board was quoted as saying that he slept on deck most nights to avoid the “smell of death” below.
One severe winter, a North Atlantic storm was encountered with extreme high seas and wind. This storm came up rather fast, leaving the passengers and the crew being unprepared. With each perilous wave, passengers were thrown from their bunks. Some fell on the steel decks and others piled upon one another. These human heaps were tossed around as they cursed Christopher Columbus for discovering the New World. Many tried to rise to their feet and promptly slipped on the vomit-ridden deck. Most individuals just stayed on the cold and slimy deck until the seas calmed. Giuseppe kept his children close and used his body and a wall to protect them. The children and their mother were all unharmed, but Giuseppe sustained some cuts and bruises. One death in third class was attributed to the storm, while many others sustained broken bones and other injuries. As soon as the seas calmed, everyone ventured topside for fresh air and a muchneeded personal cleanup. These third-class compartments were even less habitable after this event. More individuals began sleeping on deck. Following this event, the Tardis braved the cold topside on most nights, sleeping huddled together to keep warm.
An illustration depicting typical third-class accommodations aboard a ship transporting immigrants.
Mark Hehl and his great-aunt Laura Tardi. Photo courtesy of Mark Hehl.
The Tardi family encountered difficulty in communicating with the passengers from mainland Italy due to language/dialect differences. At that time, standard (Tuscan) Italian was not spoken nor understood much in Sicily. They spoke Sicilian. On the many calm days, these steerage occupants passed the time trading stories about the village that was left behind, what to expect at Ellis Island, dancing and singing various verses. Many friendships ensued. A topic of special concern was what to do and not do to gain approval for entry to America and avoid being sent back. On every voyage there were always some unfortunate individuals who were refused entry and returned to their homeland. The stories were inconsistent, confusing and did little to reduce the high anxiety of the travelers. Giuseppe began experiencing sleepless nights worrying that not all in his family would be admitted. Keeping his family together was of prime importance to him.
As the ship neared the North American coast, passengers spent the days on deck desiring to view land that would be their new home. Early one sunny morning the
New Jersey coast came into view. The land glistened as the sun coming out of the east hit the shoreline. The crowd on deck began to cheer, dance and cry joyfully. The ship then entered New York harbor. These soon-to-be Americans inched closer to their destination. As the Statue of Liberty came into view, the ship erupted in another emotional outbreak. Cheering and hugging strangers were the activities. The skyline of Manhattan then came into view and steadily grew. This sight was more magnificent than they had ever imagined.
The first and second-class passengers quickly disembarked and were processed. The US Government did not screen upper-class passengers as they were not considered
to be potential liabilities. Immigration inspectors then came aboard to prescreen the remaining potential immigrants in third class. Only a few were prevented from continuing the immigration process. These poor individuals remained on board and made the return crossing to Italy, never setting foot in America. The others waited for up to two days aboard ship without proper meals for their turn to be processed on Ellis Island. A cruel New York Harbor winter wind blew as the Tardis disembarked on the island. Passengers were sprayed with cold salt water while crossing the gangplank. The Tardis were so close to America, but still had not been processed and hoped to be accepted to “L’America”.
Mark Hehl is an Italian American author and public speaker. He is the author of the books: An Immigrant’s Dilemma and Ameri Sicula: Sicilian Culture in America.
A photo of Mark Hehl with his newfound cousin, Peppino Tardi at the Santa Margherita de Belice Cemetery, 2006.
Photo courtesy of Mark Hehl.
An illustration depicting immigrants seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
AMEDEO OBICI: THE LIFE OF THE ‘ Peanut King’
The ‘peanut specialist’ leaves his mark in the American snack industry.
BY BRIAN D’AMBROSIO
Amedeo Obici founded a nationwide business and industrial empire on the peanut, making the origins of the Planters Peanut Company a narrative forever tied to one great immigrant’s destination and destiny, struggle and hope, passion and perseverance.
Before he was a teenager, his exhausting shipboard voyage across the Atlantic carried him to New York City. The fatherless boy had been sent to visit an uncle and after a two- or threeweek ocean passage from Europe, he touched land in America. Unaccompanied, unknown, and ignorant of its alien language and way of life, he had a handwritten note fastened to his clothing, specifying where and to whom he was to go.
Though displaced, leaving familiar customs and loved ones behind, he did not look back, and that trip—along with a botched train stop and fortuitous meeting on a platform—led to the establishment of an American snack icon.
Finding His Way in America
Obici was born in Oderzo, Italy, on July 15, 1877. His father Pietro Lodovico Obici died when he was 7 years old. His mother, Luigia Carolina Sartor Obici had four children, and Amedeo was the eldest.
At the age of 11, though unable to understand a word of English, he found himself on a steamer bound for America; Vittoria “Victor” Sartor, Amedeo’s maternal uncle, a tailor and later a police officer, waited for him in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
A portrait of Amedeo Obici.
Arriving in New York Harbor on March 17, 1889 after a long, jarring journey, Obici most likely heard the magical shouts of other Italians: “L‘America! L’America! Statua della Liberta!” Alone, he would have watched the passengers rush up to the deck, perhaps crowding to one
side so they could get a clear look at the Statue of Liberty unveiled in 1886. Ellis Island, an ammunition depot, didn’t open as a point of entry for immigrants until Jan. 1, 1892.
Obici, with Victor’s address in Scranton pinned to his clothes, found the correct train route to Pennsylvania.
However, he unintentionally exited the train in Wilkes-Barre, 20 miles southwest; seeing the boy lost and bewildered among the raucous hum and clang of the train cars, Enrico Musante, a local fruit store owner, came to his assistance. Enrico, accompanied by his daughter Louise, guided the boy in the right direction to Scranton.
American cities were expanding swiftly, and most Italian immigrants settled in urban areas close to places such as Scranton (population 75,215 in 1890), where unskilled labor was in high demand. Many of them found jobs in which speaking English was not required; their labor was cheap and grinding. They worked in construction: digging tunnels for subways, burying gas lines, laying cables or railroad tracks, or digging trenches, and working as stonemasons.
With virtually no money to his name, Obici “became a sweep and a shoeblack in a saloon,” a galvanizing experience that might have taught him that he needed to rely on more than just physical strength to attain better prospects.
Somewhere along the line, Obici ended up back in Wilkes-Barre, working in Musante’s fruit store. The courteous stranger was now his boss. Enrico roasted his own peanuts—and Obici was taken with the aromatic, earthy fragrance wafting from the machine. He was equally smitten with Louise, who would eventually become his wife.
Perhaps comprehending the fiscal and cultural plusses of assimilation, he enrolled in English classes in the evenings. Strange words and conversations began to make sense, and
Obici, in his late teens, equipped with a greater sense of determination and confidence, bought an outdoor pushcart. Others hawked assorted fruits and vegetables. Obici sold peanuts.
The preexisting peanut preference of the period was the small Spanishstyle nut covered with the papery red skin. Obici, however, discovered that folks might like them even more if they were separated from their shells, skinless and salted. He also learned that, no matter how taxing or daunting the times, people were willing to fork out a nickel for a bag of warmly roasted goodness. “I noticed that everyone in this country always has a nickel,” Obici said.
Mindful of good business principles, he enticed dealers to do business with him by agreeing to take back all of their unsold peanuts. Mindful of the curiosity of publicity, he hung a sign over his stand: “The Peanut Specialist.” Furthermore, Obici cleverly promoted his peanuts by inserting one of the letters in his name in each bag of nuts and awarding a free Ingersoll dollar watch to the customer who collected a complete set, spelling “AMEDEO OBICI.”
By 1895, the coins amassed in his pocket allowed him to buy larger loads of peanuts, as well as a better roaster, and he acquired a horse and wagon to spread out his delivery area in Pennsylvania.
In 1897, he met 22-year-old Mario Peruzzi (1875–1955), also Italianborn, and employed as a grocer. Close in age and ancestry, the two shared a mutual predilection for big-thinking and money-making.
A photo of Amedeo Obici holding a book.
The Formation of Planters and Mr. Peanut
In 1906, Obici and Peruzzi organized the Planters Peanut Company in Wilkes-Barre, with Obici serving as president and Peruzzi as secretary and head sales manager. Obici and Peruzzi set out to find a reliable market for their peanuts, and, to get their product in people’s hands and mouths, the two men canvassed door-to-door delivering samples.
Profits, at first, were minimal, and with the business on the brink of failure, the partners revised their model and reorganized as the Planters Nut and Chocolate Company, in 1908.
As Obici’s relied on Virginia peanuts, he decided to cut out the middlemen and reduce transportation costs and so moved production into Virginia, where he purchased his own buildings and farmlands.
The operation started in 1913 in Suffolk, Virginia, just three years after it became incorporated as a city. The original factory comprised of equipment and staff catalogued as: “2 mules, horse, 1 building, 5 girls and 1 man.”
The peanut specialist was always looking for newer, more efficient methods. The blanching, packaging, and transporting peanuts, and the manufacturing equipment that he employed at the time would have been considered cutting-edge ingenuities: an automatic shelling apparatus; an electric eye sorting machine; a tube that suctioned each individual nut off the conveyor belt; and a piece of equipment that formed, packed, and closed cellophane bags full of peanuts in a continuous cycle.
Obici understood the importance of not just meeting public demand but creating it with the use of alluring designs and innovative marketing, such as clear, visible packaging and mascot recognition.
The peanut vendor who came to America without a dollar to his name eventually eventually became a millionaire, prompting one publication to dub Obici the “world’s peanut king.”
When asked about the success of the company—the increasing number of plants and factories built, acres purchased, products offered, and sales made—Obici explained it as a simple mixture of good breaks and smart resolve. “I saw an opportunity and grasped it,” Obici said.
In 1916, Mr. Peanut, also known as Bartholomew Richard FitzgeraldSmythe, made its first appearance after a 14-year-old Suffolk boy Antonio Gentile won a contest for his drawing of an anthropomorphized nut. Later, Obici commissioned an artist to add Mr. Peanut’s dandy top hat, cane, monocle, and gloves.
Planters grew in both stature and sales after the company launched a national advertising campaign with hard-to-miss ads in the popular Saturday Evening Post and other magazines and newspapers. Indeed, an article in Fortune magazine in 1938 called Planters “the biggest peanut confectioner in the world” and placed the previous year’s sales of all products at “$6,600,000 worth of business.” “It isn’t likely that you’ve missed hearing something about Planters,” wrote Fortune.
By the time that Fortune extolled the success of Planters, millions of Ital-
ians had passed through Ellis Island. Italians settled throughout the United States in a multiplicity of occupations, from onion farming in Canastota, New York and mining in Colorado, to construction in Seattle, and sardine fishing in the waters around San Francisco. They were as far-flung as sugarcane workers in Louisiana and cowpokes and sharecroppers in Texas. Now one of these newcomers was an agricultural titan, growing his crop in fertile farmlands about 150 miles southeast of Monticello, where Thomas Jefferson once also grew peanuts.
“My success, like every other man’s, is due to luck,” once said Obici. “But then you must have what the people want or they won’t buy it.”
Obici was president of the corporation when he died May 22, 1947. Overseeing, according to his obituary, a $10 million business at the time, he had come a long way from earning of a few dollars here and there on a pushcart peddler’s earnings.
His death sparked a large outpouring of warm eulogies from his many friends, including former Chief Justice of the United States Fred Moore Vinson (1890–1953), who had this to say about him: “His life’s story and accomplishments will be ever classed among the greatest in American industrial history.”
The splendid former estate of Obici, bordering the Nansemond River, is owned by the city of Suffolk. Part of the Obici fortune was used to build a hospital there in 1951, and portions of the endowment funded the construction of a hospital in Amedeo’s ancestral homeland in Oderzo, Italy.
From the President’s Desk
By Michael G. Polo
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Welcome to spring! These past few months have been productive and exciting at the National Office, and there have been many developments at all levels of our organization. First and foremost, I am pleased to announce that this year, our Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) will be honoring Lombardy as our official Region of Celebration during this year’s National Education and Leadership Awards Gala, which will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
In January, I had the pleasure of meeting with regional leaders in Milan alongside SIF President Joseph Sciame. Our visit included a formal meeting with Lombardy President Attilio Fontana and his advisors, as well as engagements with other business and diplomatic leaders over the course of a week. These meetings allow us to develop a strong relationship with the Italian government and to confirm Lombardy as our Region of Celebration. As an ethnic organization, it is increasingly important to develop strong relationships with Italy, as it allows to not only advocate more effectively on issues pertinent to the Italian American community, but also more authentically celebrate the region during our flagship events, like NELA.
On an operational level, I am happy to say that our lodges are making great progress on integrating their members into our official membership management soft-
ware, iMembersDB (iMDB), as well as their app Ignite. As I write this letter, all of our Grand Lodges are in various phases of integration with the software, which allows our lodges to more seamlessly manage their members and lodge events, as well as streamline communications with members. These integrations have been further optimized by Ignite, which promotes iMDB’s official app, which allows lodges to invite prospective members via text messages, as well as manage all lodge functions and communications conveniently via a cell phone.
I would also like to highlight the important work our Women’s Leadership Committee has done to advance the future of this organization. I was pleased to see their newest initiative—OSDIA’s Mentorship Program—be highlighted in this magazine. This program, which will pair seasoned members in leadership positions with prospective replacements will facilitate a seamless transition of power in lodges when the time comes, and supports the future of our organization.
Overall, I am incredibly proud of the growth of this organization and of the great work our lodges and members have been doing throughout the U.S., and in Italy. Here’s to a great spring season!
As always, Sempre Avanti!
Michael G. Polo National President Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America
THE SONS OF ITALY FOUNDATION ® HELPING THOSE IN NEED
The Perfect Gift
By Comm. Joseph Sciame President, Sons of Italy Foundation
As we concluded the meetings of the Plenary Session of the Supreme Lodge on February 21-22, 2025, it was with a sense of pride that I/we all could come together and accomplish the work of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) under the leadership of Michael G. Polo, National President and Chair of our Sons of Italy Foundation. Indeed, much was accomplished! And in an age of technology, we were able to bring the country together from east to west and north to south.
One of the first observations by those in the national home on 219 E Street, NE, whether in person or on Zoom, was that the entire lower level of the building looked different, more professional, and more for future use in a way so that we could share our site perhaps even with other professional entities in the Washington, DC area. Managing with a rather conservative budget line in keeping with the year’s expenses and under the vigilant eye of Project Assistant Theresa Hess, and even with several visits by Treasurer Robert Ferrito, we probably have the best heating and lighting at present, not to mention the complete and very useful kitchen area. The conference room looks most professional.
Similarly, and as mentioned throughout the plenary sessions, was an acknowledgement of the team, that is the staff, headed by Shayla Kaestle with Nicole, Sam and Kate. There are few organizational national offices that can function without a knowledgeable crew, and for an organization founded in 1905, it is always a learning curve. That “learning curve” is involved each day with the operations of the Sons of Italy Foundation, as well, what with its work for the scholarship program that cculminates with our National Education and Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala this year on May 22 at the Ronald Reagan Building. In addition, there are all the coordinating pieces that will
hopefully lead once again to a great event at which time we will be celebrating the Region of Lombardy. Lombardia, as it is called in Italy, is one of the highest economic centers in the Motherland and centered about the famed city of Milan. We are pleased to announce that President Attilio Fontana of Lombardy will be present and among our honorees at this year’s NELA.
Other news that occurred during our session was the establishment of another endowed scholarship at the level of $100,000 by one of our former NELA honorees, Cav. Vivian Cardia, and to that end our scholarship endowment grows annually both in investment and new funds. It is our legacy; it is our scholarship fund, and we have come such a long way from our early days. But here again when members of the wider community ask about the OSDIA and how we have changed, yes, we have, indeed we have. For when we were founded 120 years ago the prime concern was for the widows and orphans. Deaths abounded then, owing to living conditions, and now fast forward, owing to improved care and medicine, our people are all living longer. And so now we move our resources and our activities where we help provide “opportunity” for a higher education. Our student recipients are of the best caliber and make us proud, and so the tradition and mission of assisting continues, perhaps with a different nuance.
In closing this message, I/we are all reminded of the principle of “synergy” for that is the sum of all our parts. We create it when we work together, and indeed we are working together to build a stronger and more proudly filled home in Washington, DC. And we build our OSDIA with all of its activities, and we do such through the generosity of our members and their belief in what our motto states clearly: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. May that motto sustain us always! Happy 120th Anniversary to the OSDIA!
The CSJ Perspective
By Robert M. Ferrito, President
On February 20th, the CSJ celebrated the World Day of Social Justice, an important global holiday that I hold close to my heart, as it serves as a reminder of the importance of the anti-defamation and positive imaging goals on which the CSJ was founded.
During this year’s World Day of Social Justice, and as we approach OSDIA’s 120th anniversary, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the words of our founder, Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro, during his inaugural speech on June 22, 1905:
“Today we are gathered together for one main purpose, that I want to believe someday will become a very important part of American history. We are the newest of the immigrants to this great country, and because of the fierce and undeserved prejudice and brutal discrimination that we have had to suffer for nearly two decades, we must begin to work together for our common good.”
While the prejudice and discrimination Dr. Sellaro spoke about are unfortunately still present today, I am proud of the way our members and lodges throughout the country have worked together to promote the mission of the CSJ and to combat anti-Italian discrimination.
In particular, I would like to extend my congratulations to the New York Grand Lodge Commission for Social Justice, which held their 42nd Anniversary Celebration on March 9th.
Events like these honor individuals and groups that have made a difference in the Italian American community and support the work of the CSJ. During the event, the following individuals were honored for their respective contributions to the Italian American community and support of the CSJ’s mission:
Andre DiMino, President of the Italian American One Voice Coalition; Vincent Marmorale, Chairman of the NYS CSJ Holocaust Memorial Committee; and the Native American Guardian’s Association. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of the well-deserving honorees.
As we enter the spring season, I am looking forward to continuing this important advocacy work with the support of our Board, and with you, our members and supporters.
YES!
I would like to help Save Columbus Day and keep Columbus Statues standing. Please accept my tax-deductible donation to support the Commission for Social Justice’s mission.
To donate online, visit www.osdia.org/csj
To donate by phone, call the National Office at (202) 547-2900 $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
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Italian America®
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
Samuel Weinmann Editor-in-Chief, Italian America magazine
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Shayla Kaestle, CPA National Executive Director
Kate Burbridge Administrative Assistant
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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 America provides 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 $30, which are included in dues for OSDIA members. Single copies are $7.50 each.OSDIA MEMBERS: Please send address changes to your local lodge. Do not contact the OSDIA National Office.
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