Community News

On Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, the Comboni Missionaries will hold their 47th annual Dinner Dance at Via Bella Banquets in Countryside, and the venerable group will mark the special occasion by honoring Francis Cardinal George. Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Ph.D., S.T.D., was born on Jan. 16, 1937, in Chicago to Francis J. and Julia R. (McCarthy) George. After attending St. Pascal Elementary School in Chicago, he attended St. Henry Preparatory Seminary in Belleville. He entered the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on Aug. 14, 1957, studying theology at the University of Ottawa in Canada, and was ordained a priest by …

The Flowers of Italy Club will honor Bellwood Mayor Frank A. Pasquale as Man of the Year on March 9 at Villa Brunetti in Franklin Park. Frank A. Pasquale is mayor of the Village of Bellwood, having been elected to office in 2001, and re-elected in 2004 and 2009. Prior to serving as mayor, the four-decade resident served as a village trustee and as a commissioner of Memorial Park District. He also served as coach and president of the Bellwood Little League, chairman of the Italo American National Union Youth Activities, and board member of Oak/Leyden Development Services. Mayor Pasquale’s …

On November 26, 2011, the Italian American Civic Organization of Berwyn held its annual Dinner Dance and Cash Raffle at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. This year, more than 420 people attended the event, which honored Renato Turano as the IACOB 2011 Man of the Year. Senatore Turano is one of the founding fathers of IACOB, and a past president who remains a pillar of the Berwyn community. With Turano Baking Co. headquartered in its original location on Roosevelt Road, Ron has remained an active advisor and supporter in the organization. During Ron’s acceptance speech, members were reminded of why …

by Mario Manfredini Louis Stillo grew up on the Polk and California on the city’s West Side. His family moved to Berwyn in 1953, and he graduated from Piper Grade School that following year. As a teen, Louis was always involved in area sports, and as an adult, he took on the role of coaching, earning the nickname “Uncle Lou” to all the children he had come to mentor. Louis was involved in the St. Mary of Celle Little League and Berwyn Recreation Pony League Baseball, Basketball and Softball. Throughout the years, many a Berwyn youth was coached by Uncle …

Michael Cimaglia was recently elected president of the Italian American Civic Organization of Berwyn. Born and raised in Berwyn, he attended grammar, middle and high school in his hometown, graduating from Morton West High School. When he turned 21, he began his career in law enforcement. Currently a division commander of the Berwyn Police Department, Cimaglia has been a police officer in Berwyn since 1987, working his way up through the ranks from auxiliary police officer, full time patrol officer, detective, sergeant, watch commander and finally division commander. Cimaglia has been a member of IACOB for three decades, joining the …

by Amy Fulmer The place to be on Sunday, March 25, was Alta Villa Banquets for the third annual IAET Spring Fashion Show. This annual event benefits the Center for Independent Futures (CIF) and the IAET Charitable Foundation. The latest trends in women, children and canine styles were modeled with precision, style and class. Before the attendees witnessed the many models strut down the aisle, flocks of well-dressed guests sipped cocktails and mingled with others. There was something for everyone at the show: scintillating styles, a fabulous garden auction, a wide variety of vendors, a delectable luncheon, and even a …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation will honor leaders in the fields of business, religion and public service at their annual dinner dance. The event will take place on Nov. 17 at Alta Villa Banquets. Several scholarships will be bestowed at the event, and entertainment will be provided by the SOS Children’s Villages Marimba Ensemble, this year’s IAET vocal scholarship award winner, and PHASE4. (630-825-9816) Man of the Year — John Trotta John Trotta was born in Chicago on September 8, 1959, to Dominic and Antoinette (Dispensa) Trotta. His grandparents emigrated from the city of Sassano in the province of …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation held their annual Dinner Dance at Alta Villa Banquets on Nov. 17, 2012. With more than 600 in attendance, it was once again one of the largest dinner dances of the year. The Honorable Anthony Calderone, Mayor of Forest Park, served as the Master of Ceremonies. The IAET honored John Trotta, Senior Vice President and Regional Business Manager for Central US, Parsons Brinckerhoff, as their 2012 Man of the Year. John joined Parsons Brinckerhoff in 2006 and oversees 16 Midwest states. The firm provides a full range of engineering, architectural, planning, construction management and …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation will honor attorney Louis Cairo as Man of the Year at their annual dinner dance on Nov. 16 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. Rick Gunderson and Dennis Fiedler will be honored as Humanitarians of the Year at the event, and a Special Recognition Award for Government Service will be presented to State Rep. Lou Lang. (708-212-1051) Louis C. Cairo Louis Cairo is a senior partner at the GWC law firm: Chicago’s largest personal injury and workers’ compensation law firm. Growing up as the son of an Italian immigrant who owned a union construction …

The Italian American Labor Council of Greater Chicago will honor one of the state’s top labor leaders as Man of the Year at its October dinner dance. The event will take place on Oct. 12 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. For details, call 312-485-3100, e-mail ialc2009@aol.com or visit www.chicagoialc.com. Michael T. Carrigan was elected President of the Illinois AFL-CIO on Feb. 28, 2007, by unanimous decision of the State Federation Executive Board, to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term of retired president Margaret Blackshere. In October of 2008, he was elected to serve a four-year term as …