Community

The Comboni Mission Center honored Jo Ann Serpico on Nov. 26 at Porretta’s Banquets in Chicago. (708-354-1999) Jo Ann’s prominence in the Chicago-area Italian-American community is a testament to her late father, Joseph R. Salerno. One of the founders of the Rosario D. Salerno Sons Funeral Homes, he was an early organizer of the Chicago-area Italian American community, a member of the Selective Service Board, the founder of the Roosevelt Loan Company and candidate for the Illinois Senate. Jo Ann’s father was one of the founders of the Italian Welfare Council, the precursor of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian …

  The Italian Catholic Federation Branch 392 presented Giovanna and Antonio Gerardi with its Mother Cabrini Award on Nov. 13. The award is bestowed each year upon a couple that represents the Italian values of community, family and faith. The event will feature a Mass at St. Francis Borgia Church in Chicago and a dinner dance at Porretta’s. Giovanna Cacciapaglia Gerardi was born in Mola di Bari in the beautiful southern Italian region of Puglia. At the age of 13, she left Italy along with her parents and sisters to join her older sister, who had moved years earlier and …

  James Scalzitti, deputy communications director for the Cook County Clerk’s Office, recently won four writing awards at the National Association of County Information Officers’ 2016 Awards of Excellence. NACIO received hundreds of entries for their annual contest, which honors the work of county and state public information officers across the country. Scalzitti won “Best of Class” in Writing and “Superior” in News Writing for “One Year of Marriage Equality in Cook County,” as well as awards for excellence in the News Release and Speech categories.  

  The Italian American Political Coalition held its 17th annual bocce tournament on Aug. 26 at Casa Italia. Dubbed the Fred Serpe Memorial Tournament in honor of recently deceased IAPC stalwart Ferdinand Serpe, the event attracted 26 teams. Taking first place were Andrea Sinacola, Tim Turner and Nick Standiford of the Schain Banks law firm. Coming in second were Teresa Gianini, Mike Fazio, Joe Viverito and Diane Viverito. With Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri at the helm, the IAPC recently announced its endorsements for the November election. For the full list, turn to page 23.  

  Vince Morreale (from left), Carmen Forte, Gabe Caporale and John Ferrentino presented Sr. Rosemary Connelly of Misericordia Heart of Mercy with a check from the Columbian Club Charitable Foundation for $30,000. The donation represents the proceeds from the second annual brunch that the foundation hosted for the benefit of Misericordia. The event raised crucial funds to support the more than 700 residents with developmental disabilities. The Columbian Club has pledged to continue this event annually, as promised to those in attendance by incoming president Tony Ambrose.  

The Order Sons of Italy in America’s Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin honored State Rep. John D’Amico as Humanitarian of the Year and Retired U.S. Army Colonel Renato (Ron) Bacci as Columbus Patriot at their 92nd annual Columbus Banquet on Oct. 8 at the Villa Brunetti in Franklin Park. (708-403-7822) John D’Amico was born June 12, 1962. As a lifelong resident of Chicago’s northwest side, he graduated from St. Edward Catholic Elementary School, Weber High School, and he attended Northeastern Illinois University. John currently resides in Chicago’s Edgebrook neighborhood with his wife, Christine, and three children, whom are now in …

The Cegliesi Italo American Association will honor two men of the cloth at their 42nd annual dinner dance on Oct. 16 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. Both are priests of the Oblate Fathers of St. Joseph and both are natives of Ceglie del Campo, the town in Bari to which the organization traces its roots. (708-278-8004) The Rev. Michael Piscopo is Superior General of the Order and the Rev. Joseph Sibiliano is the Rector of the Order’s Seminary in Pittston, Penn. Fr. Joseph has celebrated the Mass at our dinner dance virtually since its inception, and we have also …

The Italian American Labor Council of Greater Chicago will honor Archbishop Blase Joseph Cupich with its Man of the Year Award at the organization’s 2016 gala on Oct. 22 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. “Archbishop Cupich is a man of deep humility and faith,” says IALC President Tony Guida. “It’s a true privilege to be able to celebrate his life and accomplishments.” Blase Joseph Cupich was born on March 19, 1949, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Blase and Mary (Mayhan) Cupich. He is one of nine children, with five sisters and three brothers. Archbishop Cupich was ordained to the priesthood …

  The Casa Italia film series continues to roll along, with films scheduled through November. “One Year Later” will be screened on Friday, Sept. 30. The film represents the feature-length debut of local director Lucia Mauro, who thoroughly engaged the Casa film series audience with her presentation of her award-winning short “In My Brother’s Shoes” in July. This uplifting narrative film – shot in Chicago, and in Milan, Turin and Aosta, Italy in Fall 2015 — tells the story of an American woman who takes a cathartic trip to the Italian Alps one year after completing cancer treatment. Looking ahead, …

  The Italian Catholic Federation’s Our Lady Mother of the Church Branch #439 will host its fifth annual dinner dance on Oct. 30 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. (847-341-1847) The event will raise funds for the residential treatment program sponsored by Lydia and honor Mel Gonzales, the organization’s program developer and volunteer/mentor coordinator. LYDIA’s Residential Treatment Program provides a structured, therapeutic environment for children and adolescents with serious behavioral issues, many of whom have been traumatized by abuse or neglect. The program provides healing while teaching its residents practical life skills. Gonzales has been with the program since 1991, …