The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame has a stellar crop of inductees and honorees on tap for its 41st annual gala on Nov. 3 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. (312-226-5566) The NIASHF Class of 2018 includes Gina Carano, Rocco B. Commisso, Joe Girardi and Gene Pingatore. Perry Mandera will be honored as the Sportsman of the Year. The program will be emceed by 2016 Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza and New York Mets Radio Announcer Wayne Randazzo. Carano is mixed martial arts competitor who compiled a dominating record of 12–1–1 in Muay Thai and a 7–1 …

  The Festa Italiana at Villa Cesare in Schererville grew by leaps and bounds in its second year, adding an additional day to the event and nearly doubling its attendence. Roughly 7,000 festival-goers were serenaded by traditional and non-traditional music as they sampled from an expanded array of food, craft and beer and wine vendors. They also enjoyed non-stop live entertainment, played bocce at their leisure and in tournaments, watched pasta-making demonstrations, participated in spaghetti-eating and grape-stomping competitions, and learned from the experts at a wine-and-food pairing. For more information about Villa Cesare, click here.  

Gemma B. Allen of the family law firm Allen & Glassman received Loyola University Chicago’s 2018 Felice Award from the school’s John Felice Rome Center at Loyola’s annual Founders’ Dinner. Named after the Rome Center’s founding director, the award is among the highest honors given by the university. Allen received her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in 1966 from Loyola and was a student at the Rome Center. Allen’s “commitment to the field of family law and her active participation on multiple councils and boards” were among the reasons noted by University President Jo Ann Rooney in her letter informing …

  The Chandelier Room at Casa Italia was transformed into a Milan runway for this year’s Columbus Day Queen Pageant, and event organizers couldn’t be more pleased. “It was like a Versace fashion show!” enthuses Jo Ann Serpico, executive director of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. “We had 22 contestants, the room looked absolutely beautiful and the event went off without a hitch!” Serpico is equally proud of the fact that no admission was charged, paving the way for a capacity crowd of nearly 200 family members and friends. Elizabeth Cavalieri Konopacki walked away with the crown, and …

  Chicago’s own Spacca Napoli was recently acknowledged by the Consorzio di Tutela Della Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP as the best Neapolitan Pizzeria outside of Italy at this year presentation of the Guida Top 50 in Naples. Earlier this year, the Chicago pizzeria was ranked among the top Italian restaurants in Chicago by Gambero Rosso. “(Owner) Jonathan Goldsmith trained under Enzo Coccia and other great pizza masters,” the Italian food and wine magazine notes. “In this way he managed to raise the palate of the Windy City to a higher level.” Non ce male, eh?

  This year’s Columbus Day parade chairperson is accomplished, committed to her heritage and tireless in her efforts to promote relations between America and Italy. The daughter of Giovanni and Maria, Mariann Gullo was born and raised in Elk Grove Village and graduated from St. Viator High School. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from DePaul University with a major in Marketing and Communications and a minor in Italian, and pursued an MBA at Loyola with a concentration in Finance. At the young age of 22, she began working at Gullo International Development Corporation. A commercial and industrial real estate and …

The Italian American Labor Council of Greater Chicago honored Ralph Affrunti on Oct. 13 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. (630-853-9052) The following bio is provided by the organization. Ralph Affrunti Ralph Affrunti was elected president of the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council in February 2016. He started his apprenticeship in the Terrazzo Trade in the fall of 1989 with the Carpenters International Union. After finishing his three-year apprenticeship and becoming a journeyman, he was elected to the finance committee of Local 89T. In 1992, Ralph was elected to the Executive Board of Local 89T. He …

The Cegliesi Italo American Association honored acclaimed conductor Maestro Raffaele Cardone at its 44th annual dinner dance on Oct. 21 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. (847-224-9324) A bio provided by the organization follows: Maestro Raffaele Cardone Maestro Raffaele Cardone is a native son of our beloved Ceglie who has traveled the world and performed with the greats in his career as a renowned tenor and opera director. Maestro Cardone has had an extensive career as a professional opera singer, voice teacher, opera coach, stage director and clinician. His work in the field over a period of 65 years has …

  Celebrating the 11th Annual Tommy Lasorda Golf Open, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame hosted a sell-out tournament on June 4 at the prestigious Royal Fox Country Club in St. Charles. The tournament’s namesake, Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda, was in attendance as well as many other celebrities and athletes, most of whom are inductees of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Guests included former MLB Player and Manager Bobby Valentine; WBA Lightweight Champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini; former boxer and current commentator Paulie Malignaggi; Blackhawks legend Denis Savard; former NFL stars Vince Ferragamo, Dan Pastorini, …

  Eleven distinguished Italian Americans were honored with Leonardo da Vinci Awards of Excellence at the 17th annual reception and ceremony on May 6, 2018, at the Roma Lodge in Racine, Wisconsin. The event is hosted annually by the Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. The Master of Ceremony and event Chairman was Frank Schiro, Grand Lodge First Vice President. Schiro introduced Richard R. Della Croce, national Fifth Vice President, who sang both the American and Italian national anthems. Grand Lodge President Marie Marsalli was introduced and welcomed the honorees and guests. …