Community News

Michael Spilotro ascended to the presidency of the Columbian Club of Chicago at the organization’s 74th annual installation and dinner dance on Jan. 26 at the Medinah Country Club. Joining him as officers are First Vice President Peter A. Volpe, Second Vice President John L. Ferrentino, Third Vice President Jonathan L. Zivojnovic, Secretary Anthony L. Ambrose, Treasurer Jack P. Cannata and Sergeant-at-Arms Vincent A. Maietta. Two-year directors for the Columbian Club are Alan Comella, John F. Curry, George J. DePalma, Robert S. DiFiglio and John Ambrogi, and one-year directors are Mario M. Ricchio, Stuart J. Caravello, Frank Cerrone, Dr. Frank …

The Columbian Club of Chicago installed its 2014 officers at a black-tie-optional gala on Jan. 25 at the Oak Park Country Club River Grove. Incoming president Peter A. Volpe offered the following comments: Columbian Club members, fellow officers, friends and distinguished guests, I am honored to serve as the president of the Columbian Club of Chicago in 2014. Michael Spilotro, I want to thank you for your dedication in 2013 and for all your hard work. I surely have big shoes to fill. As I step into this role, I am humbled by those in whose footsteps I follow. As …

by Joseph F. Locallo Jr. On March 28, the Columbian Club of Chicago proved once again that we are not just a bunch of pretty faces and that, if these were prehistoric times, we would have been hunters, not gatherers! We assembled at the Medinah Country Club’s Lodge, where skeet and trap shooting is enjoyed by sharp-eyed sportsmen with steady trigger fingers. On this particular occasion, we shot trap. Each participant was given 25 rounds of 12- or 20-gage shot gun shells and their personal armories of single-barreled, side-by-side and over-under shotguns were on display. One thousand rounds were shot …

by Terry Quilico On Saturday evening, Nov. 19, supporters of the Comboni Missionaries were greeted by two FIAT 500s flanking the entrance to Abbington Banquets in Glen Ellyn. The occasion was the 45th annual Comboni dinner dance and the Cinquecento’s were there to highlight John Fields of Fields FIAT of Highland Park, who would receive the Comboni Benefactor Award at the event. The cars were also positioned to promote the raffle drawing for a new 2012 FIAT that evening. One hundred and eighty people were in attendance as Nino Folino and then Enzo and Iliana Incandela provided a grand night …

On Nov. 3, 2012, at their annual dinner dance to be held at the Mazzini-Verdi Club, the Comboni Missionaries will honor one of their own, Fr. Angelo Biancalana. Fr. Angelo, a Comboni missionary for more than 54 years, has influenced the lives of many, not only in the Chicago area, but throughout the world. He has officiated at many marriages, funerals, anniversaries, etc. in the United States but most memorably he did great missionary work in Uganda for 14 years with many of those years under the reign of Idi Amin. He is currently assigned to the Comboni Mission Center …

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 …