Bob Masullo

A third-generation Italian American, Bob Masullo is a retired newspaper reporter, editor and critic. The bulk of his career was with The Sacramento Bee but he also worked for several other major papers. A co-founder of the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento, he hosted its Festa Italiana radio program for 20 years and currently runs its Italian Film Festival. He spent his first year of retirement in Italy and wrote monthly columns for Fra Noi about it. Masullo lives with his wife, Eileen, in Sacramento; they have two daughters, both of whom are teachers, and a son, who owns Masullo Pizzeria, cited as one of the 10 best in the United States by pizza authority Chris Bianco.

Their songs ended too soon

Bob Masullo July 9, 2026 0

Suffering from maledizioni that tragically shortened their lives, Russo Columbo, Mario Lanza and Bobby Darin captured the imagination of a nation during their brief times in the spotlight. Frank Sinatra lived to 82, Connie Francis to 87 and Tony Bennett to 96. Like many other Italian American singers, they were blessed with longevity. At least three, however, were not. They apparently were living under a maledizione, or curse. Mega-stars Russ Columbo, Mario Lanza and Bobby Darin enjoyed great fame … but only briefly. Each could have had “Tragedy” for a middle name as none lived to 40 and Columbo didn’t …

America’s shrine to Columbus

Bob Masullo September 11, 2019 0

As paesani of the most notable sailor of all times, many Italian Americans want to shout “Basta!” to the annual assaults upon the reputation of our great hero, Cristoforo Colombo. Isn’t it time to hear something positive about ol’ Chris? Well you can if you go to Boalsburg, a picturesque town in central Pennsylvania. Little Boalsburg — population 3,700 (some 570 miles southeast of Chicago) — is home to the Columbus Chapel, which the Philadelphia Inquirer has called one of our country’s “most meaningful monuments to Christopher Columbus.” Part of the home in which Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, in …