Community News

Community leaders turned out in force on Dec. 13 at Venuti’s in Addison to ring in the holidays and oversee the changing of the guard at the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. Outgoing president Enza Raineri passed the gavel to Sergio Giangrande at a festive event filled with camaraderie, acknowledgements and honors. Cook County Circuit Court Judges Elizabeth Ciacci-Lezza and Lisa Marino presided over the induction of President Giangrande along with First Vice President Lisa Ryan, Second Vice President Ron Onesti, Third Vice President John Galluzzi, Secretary Joseph Rago, Treasurer Christine Caliendo-Cerami and Sergeant-at-Arms Pasquale Gianni, the grandson of President …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation held its 47th annual dinner dance on Nov. 17 at Alta Villa Banquets. With almost 500 in attendance, the event continues to deliver quality, enjoyment and many surprises. Mario Giuseppe Weber was honored as Man of the Year. Mario is general manager for Midway Dodge, vice president of American Finance, and senior portfolio manager for JB Real Estate Management. He proposed to Hana Koussa from the podium, making the evening truly magical. The pressure was on, but she said yes! Dr. Samuel Cascio and Dr. Joseph Discipio, two legends in the dental industry, were …

Sergio Giangrande was installed as president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans at the organization’s annual Christmas party on Dec. 13. He steps up to the presidency after a banner year as chairman of the 2017 Columbus Day Parade. Joining Giangrande as 2019-2020 officers are First Vice President Lisa Ryan, Second Vice President Ron Onesti, Third Vice President John Galluzzi, Secretary Joseph Rago, Treasurer Christine Caliendo-Cerami and Sergeant-at-Arms Pasquale Gianni. The following profiles were provided by the organization. PRESIDENT The son of Vito and Rosalia (Zummo) Giangrande, Sergio Giangrande was born in Chicago but moved with his parents …

Three Midwestern luminaries were knighted by Italian Consul General Giuseppe Finocchiaro at a special ceremony on Dec. 12. Chicago-area activist Lissa Druss and Milwaukee stalwart Pietro Tarantino earned the rank of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia and longtime Loyola University language instructor Anna Clara Ionta ascended to the higher rank of Ufficiale dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia. Lissa Druss Lissa Druss is founder and CEO of Strategia Consulting, a government relations, U.S. and international business relations, and crisis communication firm based in Chicago, DuPage County and Washington, D.C. Strategia relationships are spread throughout the U.S. and Europe. Lissa spent 21 years …

The Flowers of Italy Club honored Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero at its annual dinner dance on March 30 at Villa Brunetti in Franklin Park. (630-688-3153) The following profile was provided by the organization. Having resided in Berwyn for fifty-eight years, Robert J. (Bob) Lovero has made public service an integral part of his life. Throughout this time he has had the support of his family, including father Thomas (deceased), mother Alba, brother Scott, sister-in-law Lisa, wife Gail, son Thomas, daughter-in-law Ashley, daughters Danielle and Gabrielle, and grandsons Robert and Matthew. Bob began graduated from St. Mary of Celle Grammar School, …

Casa Italia honored Albert Belmonte as Man of the Year on Feb. 9 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. The following profile was provided by the sponsoring organization. ALBERT BELMONTE If you listen to Al Belmonte, you’d think that Casa Italia chose the wrong guy for their 2019 Man of the Year. “When they asked me, I thought they were joking,” Belmonte says. “I feel honored and a little floored.” But if you talk to anyone else in the community, you’ll know that the Casa got it exactly right. “He’s a man who knows where he’s needed and steps up …

Bringing more than 30 years of experience in dentistry to the post, Dr. Michael Biasiello stepped up as a director of the Chicago Dental Society’s Northwest Side Branch effective Jan. 1. A past president of the branch, Biasiello will focus his efforts as director on increasing membership and getting young dentists involved in the Chicago Dental Society and in organized dentistry. This past year, Biasiello was the general chairman for the 2018 CDS Midwinter Meeting, one of the largest exhibitions of dental products and continuing dental education in North America. A general dentist with a practice in Park Ridge, Biasiello …

Richard Orlando Biondi was born in Endicott, New York, in 1932 to Rose and Michael Biondi, a homemaker and a fireman. Growing up in the Italian neighborhood known as The Nob, Dick described himself as a kid who was always yakking. A devout Catholic, he intended to enter the priesthood. But things changed when 8-year-old Dick discovered a local radio station while spending the summer at his grandparents’ home in Auburn, New York. He stood and watched the announcer until he was invited into the studio one day to read a commercial. When he returned home, his family announced, “We …

A major piece of local military history is now on display at the Italian American Veterans Museum in Stone Park thanks to the dedication and generosity of the Far South Side Italian-American community. A massive bronze plaque honoring scores of World War II veterans was donated to the museum at a ceremony in late October at Carlo Lorenzetti’s in Chicago hosted by the Spaghetti-Os. There to accept the donation were IAVM board members Paul Basile, Steve Corbo and Mark DiSanto. The plaque was commissioned by Società Filarmonica Bella Italia and contains the names of 125 mostly Italian-American veterans. It had …

Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Fiorentino was named Police Magazine Hero of the Month for October 2018. A 21-year veteran of law enforcement, Fiorentino is a martial arts expert who promotes health and education in the community, volunteering to help fellow law enforcement officers, children, adults and seniors learn to defend themselves. Teaching that self-defense is not just about punching and kicking, Fiorentino stresses verbal skills, confidence and self-awareness in his classes. A champion grappler, he was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2009. He has been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the …