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. …

The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii in Chicago was filled to capacity on June 3 for the ninth annual Festa della Repubblica hosted by Comitato Tricolore Italiani nel Mondo. After the Mass, a parade featuring the flags of Italy’s regions and the banners of local organizations made its way through the Taylor Street neighborhood to the Christopher Columbus Monument in Arrigo Park, where speeches were made, and a petition was signed to preserve the names of Balbo Street and the Balbo Monument. Participants returned to the shrine for a street festival featuring Italian music, sandwiches for purchase and a …

The Italian American Women’s Club of Lake County, Indiana, is seeking women of “Italian heritage or espousal, from ages 16 to 116” to join their organization. The group hosts a dinner meeting on the second Thursday of the month at the Villa Cesare Lodge, 900 Eagle Ridge Dr., Schererville. “The club’s goals are to have a positive impact in the community, keep alive Italian customs, and to contribute to worthy causes,” says President Leslie Poplon. “Last year, we were able to help the victims of the devastating earthquakes that struck central Italy.” (lpoplon@gmail.com)  

On June 3, friends and family gathered at Lamplighter Inn in Palatine to raise funds, inspire hope and celebrate an amazing young woman. It was almost two years ago to the day that Taylor D’Agostino was thrown from a horse and suffered several injuries to her spine, leaving her paralyzed. Now 18, D’Agostino continues her fight to walk again as she prepares to travel to Panama to undergo a stem cell replacement and bone marrow transplant. An ongoing fund-raising campaign is helping with expenses, with all contributions directly benefiting D’Agostino. To learn more or to donate, call 847-991-3100.    

  Retired Cook County Circuit Court Judge Gloria Coco performed the world premiere of her one-woman show, “Finding Uncle Alfio,” in June at the Center at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Garden, New York. Now a writer and actor, Coco began the search for an uncle no one had seen since 1921 in response to her mother’s death-bed plea, “Gloria, find my little brother, Alfio.” The 4-year-old had died on Ellis Island while the family waited for their papers to begin their new lives as Americans, but Coco’s grandmother never knew what happened to her baby. “I knew my mother’s …