The Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization honored Joe Calafiore as Humanitarian of the Year at its Honor & Hope Gala on April 18 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. When you first see Joe, the words “Serve and Protect” seem so appropriate, and not just because he was a police officer. He’s an imposing figure; a big guy with slick black hair. When he’s serious, he’s very serious, but somehow you know he wouldn’t hurt a fly. And when he smiles you know everything is going to be okay. That’s why, when his name came up as a candidate for …

  Two longtime local leaders of the Italian American War Veterans’ Ladies Auxiliary have risen to positions of prominence. Angela Rinaldi (right, in photo above) was elected to the post of national president in August at the national convention in Las Vegas, and Mille DiGilio (left) was elected state president in September at the state convention in Harwood Heights. Rinaldi began her involvement in the organization in the early 1990s when she joined the Guido Belmonte Auxiliary #4. She was elected state auxiliary president in 1995, serving a two-year term. In this position, she received recognition from the Illinois Department …

by Tina Valentino West suburban pizza-making maestro Jack Curatolo earned top honors at a competition hosted by the St. John Vianney Knights of Columbus Cardinal Cody Council #8070 in Northlake. When Grand Knight John Ainsworth put out the call for local pizzerias to duke it out at a best pizza competition in January, 17 well-known parlor’s rose to the challenge. A fundraiser with serious bragging rights for the winner, the competition was judged by Northlake Mayor Jeff Sherwin, Police Chief Robert Crawford and Cuomo Catering owner Tom Cuomo. Nearly 100 guests paid a nominal fee to get in on the …

Easter is a joyous time for Christians around the world, an event that represents the triumph of life over death. Before that momentous Sunday, however, a brief but intense period of mourning commences, culminating on Good Friday, the day Christ was crucified, died and was buried. For centuries, towns and villages across Italy have expressed their collective sorrow with masses and processions that rival any other on the religious calendar. “The Good Friday celebration is the most spectacular in Italy, even more so than even Easter Sunday,” the Rev. August Feccia explains. “This memory is cherished very deeply by the …

Italian-American culture was on display in all its glory at the Orland Park Public Library through April. The Italians in Chicago’s traveling exhibit will be on display throughout the month along with memorabilia gathered from local Italian Americans. The exhibit and related events are being spearheaded by Casa Italia’s Dominic Candeloro and the Order Sons of Italy in America’s Richard Della Croce. http://www.orlandparklibrary.org/italians-chicago.htm    

  Fra Noi website columnist Ron Ricchio once again rallied family and friends to participate in the Kohl’s Step Up For Kids fundraiser at the AON building in Chicago. The event allows “steppers” to raise money for the hospital by climbing the stairs of one of the world’s tallest buildings. Proceeds benefit the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. The Ricchio Climbers have raised thousands of dollars annually for the last four years to celebrate the successful treatment of Ron’s son Francesco at Lurie’s.

Attorney Michael Monico was honored at St. Ignatius College Prep’s 34th annual Law Luncheon on Feb. 27 at the Union League Club. Recognized as one of the premier criminal defense attorneys in the country, Monico served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1973 through 1977 and has spent the last 35 years representing defendants in white collar, Medicare, antitrust, public corruption and securities fraud investigations and prosecutions throughout the United States. He co-authored a treatise on federal criminal law titled “Federal Criminal Practice: A Seventh Circuit Handbook,” now in its thirteenth edition, and has …

Past UNICO National President Tony Fornelli; the Rev. Thomas Regan, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Past UNICO National President Mike Veselka; local historian Dominic Candeloro; and Art Lurigio, associate dean for faculty at Loyola’s College of Arts and Sciences, celebrate the first installment of UNICO National’s $25,000 pledge toward the fundraising drive to create an endowed chair of Italian American Studies at Loyola University in Chicago. The drive is only $65,000 shy of its $500,000 goal. http://luc.edu/italianamerican/

Thomas Salvino has been named to Barron’s 2015 Top Advisors in America. The magazine’s annual state-by-state listing recognizes America’s top financial advisors and places Salvino in the Illinois ranking. Salvino; his father, Al; and his brother, John, are financial advisors with the Salvino Wealth Management Team at William Blair & Company. Ton joined the firm in 1993 and became a partner in 1998. Tom began his career at Paine Webber. He received his M.B.A. in finance from Loyola University Chicago and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

The Italian Cultural Center Vocal Scholarship began quietly in 1976 when Josephine LiPuma, an opera singer, music teacher and volunteer at the Italian Cultural Center, approached the Rev. August Feccia about starting a vocal competition under the name of the center. Ms. LiPuma wanted to start the scholarship as an encouragement to young students of opera. Fr. Feccia was in agreement that this would be a perfect event for the ICC. Two opera scholarships were offered to students of Italian Heritage and each year the scholarship honored a different Italian singer or composer. In 1987, Ms. LiPuma was terminally Ill …