Community

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 …

by Amy Fulmer The place to be on Sunday, March 25, was Alta Villa Banquets for the third annual IAET Spring Fashion Show. This annual event benefits the Center for Independent Futures (CIF) and the IAET Charitable Foundation. The latest trends in women, children and canine styles were modeled with precision, style and class. Before the attendees witnessed the many models strut down the aisle, flocks of well-dressed guests sipped cocktails and mingled with others. There was something for everyone at the show: scintillating styles, a fabulous garden auction, a wide variety of vendors, a delectable luncheon, and even a …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation will honor leaders in the fields of business, religion and public service at their annual dinner dance. The event will take place on Nov. 17 at Alta Villa Banquets. Several scholarships will be bestowed at the event, and entertainment will be provided by the SOS Children’s Villages Marimba Ensemble, this year’s IAET vocal scholarship award winner, and PHASE4. (630-825-9816) Man of the Year — John Trotta John Trotta was born in Chicago on September 8, 1959, to Dominic and Antoinette (Dispensa) Trotta. His grandparents emigrated from the city of Sassano in the province of …

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 …