News

Esteemed University of Chicago professor Paolo Cherchi donated a trove of books to Casa Italia in Stone Park before he passed away in April. Thanks to the donation, the shelves at the Florence Roselli Library in the Italian Cultural Center at the Casa now contain the 21-volume “Grande Dizionario della lingua italiana,” four volumes of the “Dizionario critico della letteratura italiana” and one volume of “Elementi di storia della lingua italiana.” Published in Torino from 1961 to 2002, the GDLI exceeds the volume count of the Oxford English Dictionary and almost equals the 600,000 words in the OED. It is …

Many business owners dream of their children following in their footsteps. That dream became a reality for veteran property loss adjuster Ben Tedesco when his daughter Renee Tedesco-Ohr earned her public adjuster’s license in 2020. Tedesco-Ohr had been working at Ben Tedesco Inc. in a variety of capacities since 2014. “Renee is the best associate I’ve even had,” says Tedesco, who launched his firm in 1982. “It’s a comfort to know that the company will be in capable hands for decades to come.” Born in Elmwood Park and raised in Shiller Park, Tedesco-Ohr graduated from Mother Guerin High School then …

The Women’s Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans held its 2026  Festa della Donna on March 10 at the Des Plaines Theatre. Carmela Capriati and Sharon DePrizio chaired the event, which was hosted by Onesti Entertainment. This year’s theme was “Italian American Women Business Owners,” with 17 standout entrepreneurs sharing the spotlight. Around 150 guests turned out to hear stories about how they all got started. The honorees represented a diverse range of businesses, including consulting, retail, fashion design, bridal couture, Italian product development and distribution, real estate, financial and insurance, floral design, marketing and branding, food industry, …

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Melrose Park will celebrate the Feast of St. Rita, Patroness of the Impossible, on May 22 and 30. A bus will depart from the parish for the Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia in Chicago at 4:30 p.m. on May 22. The pilgrimage will include a Mass, tour of the relics and reception. The cost is $22. A 9 a.m. Mass on May 30 at the parish will be followed by a breakfast in the gym. The cost of the breakfast is $10. Reservations are required for the pilgrimage and breakfast. (312-860-2530)  

The Italian American Executives of Transportation has gotten a running start on its 54th annual Awards Dinner and Celebration, naming its honorees as the calendar flipped from 2025 to 2026. Accepting this year’s Man of the Year accolade will be John Donato, who has held the position of chief of staff for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority since 2023. For a decade before that, Donato served as chief of procurement, overseeing contracts for the multibillion-dollar Move Illinois capital program. Efficient tollway operations and vendor outreach have been hallmarks of Donato’s career. The IAET’s 2026 Humanitarian of the Year will …

Joe Donnelly, a former U.S. senator from Indiana and past U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, was the guest of honor at the annual Columbus Day/Italian Heritage Celebration held in Mishawaka, Indiana, in October. Joking that he was “Joe Donnelli” for the day, Donnelly spoke about the importance of Christopher Columbus and the numerous contributions of Italian Americans both nationally and locally. He also talked about the wonderful time he had in Rome as ambassador and of his meetings with Pope Francis. While he was ambassador, he was able to tour many parts of Italy and welcome countless visitors from …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation hosted their third annual Augustus Caesar Awards on for Feb. 28 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. The event will honor 12 young professionals who are excelling in their fields and exhibit potential for future success. The honorees were Frank Battaglia (dining), Anthony Greco (law enforcement), Bianca Ferreri Maldonado (clinical mental health therapist), Brady Niemiec (firefighter and paramedic), Anthony Pasquini (attorney), Jason Quaglia (commercial risk management insurance), Ramon Ruiz (electrical supply and distribution), Nick Schullo (sales and consulting), Matteo Serritella (private detective), Katelyn Smith (elementary education), Mario Tenuta (financial advisor) and Chris Trzeciak (financial services …

In Section 18 at the Queen of Heaven cemetery there is a statue of another iteration of the Virgin Mary. It stands with the arms extended downward with the palms up toward the flat gravestones that are before and behind. The inscription reads, “Our Lady of the Angels Pray for Us.” The 42 gravestones have various birthdates in 1947, ’48 and ’49 but they all have one ending date: December 1, 1958. On one of the gravestones viewed on a crisp fall day, there were pictures of the lost daughter, and bright miniature Christmas trees, lovingly arranged 67 years later. …

The mission of the Sister Cities movement reflects the belief in the power of personal connections. Since its inception in 1956, the goal of Sister Cities International has been “peace through citizen diplomacy.” As members of Sister Cities International and five time “Best Overall Program” winner, the Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation has embraced this mission. Through cultural, educational and business exchanges and programs to provide humanitarian relief, the Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation has connected people in our community with people in our sister cities: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Modena, Italy; and Yerucham, Israel. The results have transformed lives and …

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas welcomed a delegation from Sicily to her office on Oct. 10. The entourage was in town to celebrate Italian American Heritage Month as representatives of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans’ Parade Region of Honor. Pappas and other elected officials took part in the JCCIA’s Oct. 10 flag-raising ceremony in Daley Plaza. At a reception at her office afterward, she presented certificates of excellence to Palermo Vice Mayor Giampiero Cannella, the delegation, and civic and religious leaders from Italy and the Chicago area. “More than 600,000 Italian Americans in Chicagoland have helped make Cook …