Community

The Italian American Veterans Museum took a quantum leap forward on Sept. 28, celebrating its grand reopening with the dedication of a new exhibit celebrating Italian-American Medal of Honor recipients. State Senator Don Harmon and Melrose Park Mayor Ben Mazzulla were among the dignitaries who took part in the noon dedication ceremony, which was attended by nearly 200 well-wishers, including more than four dozen veterans. The United States Navy Band from the Great Lakes Naval Station and the Marine Color Guard from the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment from Foster Avenue in Chicago graced the event with their presence. Joe …

By day, Frank De Vincentis works as a financial advisor. But De Vincentis also has a hobby — and a passion — he hopes to share with others through charity: opera singing. De Vincentis credits his High School best friend for his love for opera and introducing him to the Golden Age of singing. De Vincentis recalls performing from a young age in musical theatre and was later introduced to his best friend’s father and vocal coach: Carl Lawrenz. “I owe a lot of my love of classical musical to Carl.” states De Vincentis, who graduated from DePaul University in …

When Joy Loverde was just 14 years old, she volunteered to help out at a nursing home on Thanksgiving morning. Coming as she did from a loving Italian family, she was shocked by what she saw. “I couldn’t understand why seven people were sitting in the dark with no one around them, when I was going home to a large, wonderful Italian fest,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘Something is terribly wrong here. How could this happen?’” Many years later, Loverde would keep that moment in mind and heart when she wrote “The Complete Eldercare Planner: Where to Start, Questions to …

by Rich Caifano Over the past 46 years, the Chicago West Suburban Chapter of UNICO has been the consummate host of one of the area’s most popular charitable golf events. One of the most successful in the chapter’s history was held at Bloomingdale Golf Club on August 18, 2014. It’s a history that has seen the tournament hosted by members Jack Cerone, Joe Rovetto, Ed Gesualdo and current co-chairs Mario Veltri, Joe Mollica, Donato Ancona and Paul Domico. Chicago West Suburban UNICO’s outing is famous for its gastronomic delights from a sausage-and-egg breakfast before the golfer’s shotgun start to a …

The 20-year-old entity, the Sicilian American Cultural Association (SACA), announces its 2015-2016 officers, elected at its regular meeting of its Board of Directors on August 14, 2014. Succeeding the wonderful year prominent family law attorney Samuel Cannizzaro had as president, beginning in January 2015, is long time member and director, Katherine (Amari) O’Dell. Other officers include Ro Pagano, 1st V.P. and retired Circuit Court judge, Gloria Coco, 2nd V.P. Continuing on as treasurer is Dino Porto, founding member, and as secretary, Martha Monastero. All were elected by unanimous vote. O’Dell, the new president, will assume her responsibilities after the first …

The Italian Catholic Federation, Branch 392, will present Giovanni and Antonia Favuzzi with their 2014 Mother Cabrini Award. The award will be presented at a dinner dance on Nov. 9 at Porretta’s Banquets in Chicago. For details, call 773-763-0507. Giovanni and Antonia are being recognized for their apostolic and charitable works in the community, dedication to family and unyielding faith. The couple has been part of Chicago’s Italian community for many years. They regularly partake in the many feste, religious functions, benefits and cultural events. They come from southern Italy’s Puglia region, a region filled with fun-loving people, where old …

The Italian American Police Association will honor John Carpino at their 51st Annual Dinner Dance. The event will take place on Nov. 8 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. For details, call 708-268-1495. As police chief of Westchester, John comes from successful stints helming law enforcement departments in Oakbrook Terrace, Worth and Willow Springs. Yet he’s by no means a stereotypical law enforcement officer. How many officers can claim they foiled a robbery while off duty? Or started a successful website long before high-tech was in vogue? Chief Carpino has done both, and much more. He also teaches in the …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation will honor Terrence J. Hancock as Man of the Year and LeeAnn Cali as Humanitarian of the Year at their 43rd Annual Dinner Dance. The event will take place on Nov. 22 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. For details, call 708-212-1051. Terrence J. Hancock Terrence J. Hancock joined the ranks of Teamsters Local Union No. 731 in 1979 as a rank-and-file semi-dump tractor-trailer chauffeur. In 1989, he was appointed as a Business Representative of Teamsters Local 731 and was later appointed Recording Secretary. In 1997 Terry rose to the position of Secretary-Treasurer. International …

On Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, The Comboni Missionaries will honor Dominic DiFrisco at their 48th annual dinner dance. The event will take place on Nov. 22 at Via Bella in Countryside. For details, call 708-354-1999. Dominic DiFrisco has emerged over the decades as the voice of the Chicago-area Italian-American community, lending his considerable oratorical talents to major events throughout the year while sounding the alarm whenever our good name has been besmirched. Born to Leoluca and Antonina, immigrants from Corleone, Sicily, Dominic began his career in public relations with Alitalia, eventually transferring to the city of Chicago as a public …

When the ultra-picky Michelin Guide passed judgment on Tocco in funky Wicker Park, they began with a flattering question: “Are we in Milan or Wicker Park?” And just a year prior, Tocco won an OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award in 2013. But for all the bragging he could do about his restaurant, owner/chef Bruno Abate has something else he wants to discuss. Just before the dinner rush — in a mod dining room with white, ski-slope chairs — Abate projects a video on the wall that shows him talking to nearly 40 inmates at Cook County Jail. Rather than prison blues …