Community

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 …

The Italian American Labor Council will honor International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers lynchpin Robert W. Pierson at its 2013 Man of the Year Gala on Oct. 5 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. Robert W. Pierson has served as Business Manager of IBEW Local 9 since July 1997 and as Chairman of the International Executive Council of the IBEW since Nov. 1, 2005. Bob was initiated into Local 9 on Dec. 1, 1966. As a direct result of his dedication and loyalty to Local 9, to the Brotherhood and for the betterment of the IBEW, Bob was appointed a business …

The Italian American Police Association is proud to celebrate its 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance by honoring James J. Morici Jr., Founder and Managing Partner of Morici, Figlioli & Associates as its 2013 Man of the Year. The event will take place on Nov. 2 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. Tickets are $75 per person. To make reservations, contact IAPA President Phil Tenerelli at 708-268-1495. It’s fitting that the IAPA has chosen to honor Jim. As an Assistant State’s Attorney, he earned a reputation as a hard-nosed First Chair Prosecutor at 26th and California. Working with Chicago and suburban police …

An open letter from the new president of the IAPC Hello to all Italian Americans: My name is Dominic M. Sergi, and I am the new president of the Italian American Political Coalition. For those of you who do not know why we exist, I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with a short history of our organization. The IAPC was established in 1994 after two Italian-American congressmen were redistricted out of office. Community leaders like Leonard Amari, Anthony Fornelli, Fred Serpe, Len DeFranco and Jack LaBrasca, to name a few, have led the crusade to ensure …

The Italian American Veterans Museum marked the 70th anniversary of D-Day with a stirring commemoration on June 6. Nearly two-dozen veterans attended the event, including three who participated in the D-Day invasion. The commemoration drew a capacity crowd and attracted the attention of CBS News. CBS reporter Mike Parker and cameraman Chris McKnight arrived two hours before the presentation to film the museum and interview veterans. Their coverage appeared on the 10 p.m. news. Click here to view the coverage: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/video/10243698-d-day-vets-honored-in-stone-park/ All the veterans in attendance were acknowledge by name at the start of the commemoration, after which they led …

On Nov. 10, the Italian-American Veterans Museum hosted an opening night event for a new temporary exhibit titled “Sacrifice, Courage and Art Unite Generations of Veterans.” Curated by Joe Fornelli, an acclaimed artist and Vietnam veteran, the show is a collaboration of works on loan from the National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago. Featuring the works of 10 artists who are veterans of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, the exhibit is free and open to the public through the holidays. Artist Ronald Mann served in Vietnam as a door gunner from 1966 to 1967. His four original works on display are …

by Jennifer Saverino The ‘Tis the Season to be Jazzy Fashion Show was a huge success, with a turnout of more than 675 guests at Drury Lane in Oak Brook on November 4, 2011, to support the Italian American Women’s Organization annual fundraiser. The tremendous support of our wonderful community of members, advertisers and guests once again benefited One Step At A Time, a camp operated by Children’s Oncology Services and dedicated to children facing cancer. The evening fundraising event is a culmination not only of our members’ ideas and talents, but the perseverance of our small group of women …

by Aurora Pensa The Italian Catholic Federation, St. Francis Borgia Branch 392, will present Vince and Anna Raimondi with its Mother Cabrini Award on Nov. 10. A 3 p.m. Mass at St. Francis Borgia Church in Chicago will be followed by a dinner dance at Porretta’s Banquets in Chicago. Tickets are $60 for adults and $30 for children under 12. For details, call Teresa Helfand at 773-763-0507, Aurora Pensa at 773-589-9734, Teresa Romeo at 773-622-6532 or Maria Perna at 708-307-7180. Vince and Anna Raimondi are a couple known for their hard work and dedication to family, church and community. This …