Local News

Western Springs attorney Umberto Davi has been installed as president of the Illinois State Bar Association. Davi was elected to the ISBA Board of Governors in 1998 and re-elected in 2004, 2008 and 2011. He has served on the ISBA’s 201-member assembly and has been active on numerous committees. A past president of the Justinian Society of Lawyers and founder of the Sicilian American Cultural Association, Davi is a member of the board of trustees of The John Marshall Law School. A Willowbrook village trustee, he has served as president of the Willowbrook Police Pension Board for more than 10 …

The Giants Awards dinner sponsored annually by the Ed Kelly Sports Program could have doubled as a special meeting of the Arcolian Dental Arts Society. Dr. Samuel J. Cascio was presented with the Marshall H. Smulson Humanitarian Award, and a host of Italian-American dentists turned out in force. On hand were (from left) Drs. Anthony Spina, Michael Biasello, Samuel Cascio, Paul Smulson, Joseph Discipio, Lou Imburgia, and Michael Cascio, son of Dr. Sam and a fellow DDS.

Corporate leader Lisa Emerson and Loyola administrator Rev. Michael J. Garanzini shared the spotlight when the Justinian Society of Lawyers hosted its annual installation and awards dinner on Sept. 16 at the Palmer House Hilton. (708-338-0760) The following officers were formally installed at the event: Jessica DePinto (president), Frank A. Sommario (first vice president), Michael Bonamarte (second vice president), Vincent Vidmer (third vice president), Natalie M. Petric (treasurer) and Judge Regina A. Scannicchio (secretary). Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. Award of Excellence The Reverend Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., was the 23rd President of Loyola University Chicago from June 2001 until June …

The Sicilian American Cultural Association will present Gloria Coco with its Medal of merit on Sept. 27 at Monastero’s Banquets in Chicago. Tickets for the event are $40 for adults (cash bar) and $18 for children 2 to 12 years of age. Entertainment will be provided by past winners of the Bel Canto Foundation Opera Contest. (773-588–2515) The Sicilian American Cultural Association is proud to present jurist and thespian Gloria G. Coco with its coveted Medal of Merit. A retired Supervising Judge of the Domestic Violence Section of the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Judge …

The Friends of Radio Maria and the Poor will raise funds for both causes at their third annual Family Night on Sept. 25 at Villa Brunetti in Franklin Park. A Catholic radio program broadcast around the world in several different languages, Radio Maria is spearheaded locally in Italian by the Rev. August Feccia. Fr. Feccia recently expanded his efforts to include raising funds to assist the impoverished local ethnic communities. Friends of Radio Maria and the Poor sponsors a raffle and a pilgrimage annually in addition to the banquet. The Sept. 25 event will feature a live auction and entertainment by Loris …

Fifteen worthy Italian American’s were honored with a da Vinci Award of Excellence at the 14th Annual Gala on May 3 at BeauJolie by Victoria in Schiller Park. The event is hosted annually by the Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin, Order Sons of Italy in America. Chairman and Master of Ceremony Richard R. Della Croce welcomed the honorees and guests and introduced Grand Lodge President Marie Marsalli. Beautiful renditions of the American and Italian national anthems was sung by Della Croce. In the spirit of da Vinci, the order recognized the outstanding accomplishments of honorees in their various paths …

A group from the Our Lady Mother of the Church Branch of the Italian Catholic Federation went on a pilgrimage to Europe that took in the Fatima Shrine in Portugal and the Lourdes Shrine in France. In attendance were Anna Tamburello, Nancy Anello, Yolanda Treni, Luisa Bertagna, Josephine Bax, Sylvia Lacorte, Sarah Gullo, Dina Santucci, Maria Giannini, Florina Dilollo, Maria Carmella Giannini, Yolanda Izzi, Silvia Izzi-Neri, Gerarda Rio, Vittoria Spada, Pasqua and Sebastiano Bellisario, Vito Marinelli, Margherita Negron, and Vito and Petronilla Ranieri.

The Italian American Veterans Museum in Stone Park has welcomed another hero into its ranks. Family and friends of the late Leon E. Roggi brought in photos and documents to be scanned and archived at the museum. Marine Pfc. Roggi earned a Silver Star during the battle to take the Marianas Islands during World War II. The first to take the high ground along the objective ridge, he captured a hostile machine-gun nest, directing fire against the enemy while severely wounded. “Leon never looked for recognition, but I felt it was important to honor his memory,” his wife Marina explained.

On behalf of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Italy’s Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero bestowed the prestigious Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana upon Joseph V. Del Raso, chairman of the National Italian American Foundation and Frank Giordano, member of the Foundation’s board of directors. At the Ambassador’s residence, Del Raso received the Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica for fostering greater relationships and partnerships between Italy and the United States. Giordano received the Cavaliere Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana for his tireless work within Philadelphia’s Italian-American community and his leadership with the Italian language initiative in that city.

Joseph Sciame received the Order Sons of Italy in America’s Guglielmo Marconi Award at the organization’s biennial convention in August. The award is presented to an Italian American who has made significant contributions to the United States. Sciame is the vice president for community relations at St. John’s University, the president of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations and the past chair of the National Association of Student Aid Administrators. An active member of OSIA since 1968, he has served as the past national president of OSIA and the past president of OSIA’s Grand Lodge of New …