Community

The Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization hosted another spectacularly successful Thanksgiving food drive. Dubbed “Baskets of Love,” the annual charitable campaign rallies the assistance of countless volunteers, donors and financial contributors. More than 225 volunteers converged on Buona Beef’s commissary in Berwyn on Nov. 18 to assemble 500 Thanksgiving baskets containing more than 50 pounds of groceries, including whole turkeys. Lending a hand was CIACO stalwart Dennis McKinnon of the 1985 Super Bowl-champion Chicago Bears. The completed baskets were whisked off to needy families across the Chicago area. Special thanks go out to the following companies for their generous contributions …

CIACO will host its dinner dance on April 27 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. Dennis Pietrini will be honored as Humanitarian of the Year at the event, Marine Lance Cp. Joseph Singer will receive an Honor and Hope Grant, and 15 students will receive scholarships at the event. For details, call 630-400-9908. So you’ve had a successful 42-year career as a dentist. Think of all the people you helped, and how many smiles you were a part of. For CIACO, where bringing smiles to those less fortunate is our greatest motivation, making Dr. Dennis Pietrini our 2013 Dominic Saverino …

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 …