Community News

The Greater Rockford Italian American Association held its annual Hall of Fame banquet on Oct. 9 at the Venetian Club. Inductees to Rockford’s Italian Hall of Fame are nominated by the community and selected annually by GRIAA’s Hall of Fame and Special Recognition Committee. Mike Doyle was the 2021 Italian Hall of Fame inductee. A longtime author, Rockford Register Star sportswriter and high school journalism teacher, Doyle has written two books on the deadly Belvidere tornado of 1967 and has edited and co-authored many other books and publications. He is the editor of GRIAA’s publication, Pappagallo, and is a principal …

Eugene Giudice will be available to sign copies of “Reflections During a Pandemic: Thoughts While Sheltering in Place” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Wilwood Tavern, 6850 W. Touhy Ave., Niles; from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 8 at City’s Edge, 5310 W. Devon Ave., Chicago; and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 12 at Edgebrook Coffee Shop, 6322 N. Central Ave., Chicago. The book contains a series of daily emails Giudice penned while riding out the pandemic at home. A senior research services training specialist with the Chicago office of Dentons US LLP, …

The Women’s Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans honored eight accomplished women at the 2021 Impresa Awards. Scholarships were presented to several deserving female high school seniors at the event. “We’re always so proud to host the Impresa Awards,” JCCIA Women’s Division President Rosemary Ranallo says. “It’s our opportunity to shine the spotlight on Italian-American women of accomplishment and to encourage young Italian-American women to follow in their footsteps.” This year’s honorees were: Catherine M. Adduci, president, village of River Forest Gia Biagi, commissioner, Department of Transportation, city of Chicago Nicole A. Cipriani, M.D., medical directory, Department …

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans marked the 700th anniversary of the passing of Dante Alighieri with a standout media luncheon on Sept. 14. Galleria Marchetti in Chicago was bursting at the seams with journalists, elected officials and community leaders who had come to honor CBS President and General Manager Jennifer Lyons and Chicago attorney Antonio Romanucci. Lyons was the recipient of the divine poet’s namesake award, while Romanucci accepted the inaugural Dominic DiFrisco Lifetime Achievement Award. Seated at the dais along with the honorees were past Dante Award recipients Dina Bair, Greg Caputo, Janet Davies, Mary Laney, Vince …

Addison Trail High School language teacher Judie Vitiritti-Lynch has been appointed a national advocate lead by the AP College Board, having previously served in a similar capacity on the state and regional levels. AP advocates rally support for Advanced Placement programs, lobbying for funding and favorable legislation at all levels of government. The founder of the Italian language program at Addison Trail, Vitiritti-Lynch was the first recipient of the Midwest Award for Leadership in the Teaching of the Italian Language and Culture, in November 2016. The award is given annually by the Observatory of the Italian Language in Chicago, under …

The enormous positive impact of Italian immigrants on America has never garnered much attention in grade and high school classrooms across the state. But when longtime Illinois educator Diana Hartmann, Ed. S., noticed that books on the subject were disappearing from the shelves of school libraries, she decided to take action. “I wanted to make sure that Italian-American contributions and experiences received the credit they were due,” says Hartmann, an educational administrator of Italian descent. “But I wanted to make sure we weren’t reinventing the wheel.” A nationwide search led her to the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission, which was …

(The following was provided by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans) The extraordinary Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington served as the venue for this year’s Columbus Day Queen Pageant. Held on Aug. 1, it was a joyous occasion for the more than 70 attendees. The day began with a reception in the hospitality room of the palatial abode. JCCIA President Ron Onesti provided guests with mimosas along with a delicious spread of dolci and finger sandwiches, free of charge. The pageant itself was hosted by the Avanti Club with its president, Pasquale Gianni, serving as emcee. First Vice President Anthony …

(The following was provided by the Grand Lodge of IL/WI, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America) Eight distinguished professional Italian Americans were presented with Leonardo da Vinci Awards of Excellence at the 20th annual Reception and Ceremony on July 18, 2021, at White Eagle Banquets in Niles. The Grand Lodge of IL/WI, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, hosted the event. Paul Loparco, President of the Grand Lodge, welcomed the honorees and guests and thanked them for their participation. He then introduced Marie Marsalli, Immediate Past President of the Grand Lodge and Chair of the event, …

(The following story was provided by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans) July 25 was the one-year-and-one-day anniversary of the removal of the Christopher Columbus statues by the City of Chicago. It was also the day Chicago’s Italian-American community turned out in droves to show unity and strength at the JCCIA’s “Pack the Park Italian Unity Day Rally.” “After all that has been going on with the Columbus issue and the disrespect our community has been shown, we thought a day where the politicians and the press could see just how numerous and strong our community really is would …

When it became apparent to Eugene Giudice that he and most of the country would be riding out the pandemic at home, he took it upon himself to pen daily reflections and distribute them via email to 300 friends, colleagues and acquaintances. A senior research services training specialist with the Chicago office of Dentons US LLP, Giudice was inspired to do so by a call from firm management “to find ways to stay connected with each other,” the veteran law librarian explains. Those emails have made their way into a self-published volume titled “Reflections During a Pandemic: Thoughts While Sheltering …