Onori

On June 23, members of the Norridge-Harwood Heights and Montclare Elmwood Park Kiwanis Clubs came together to celebrate a living legend: Ross Pontarelli, who has been a proud and active member of Kiwanis for 54 year s— and counting. Ross’s journey began in Rocchetta al Volturno, Italy, where he was born Rosinto Antonio Pontarelli on March 3, 1931. As a young boy, he witnessed the rumble of World War II firsthand — bombs falling not far from his village near Monte Cassino. At 20, he left Italy for North America, eventually settling in Chicago in 1955 with determination, a drive to serve, and only basic English. He made …

The COVID-19 pandemic is over, but a Facebook group co-created by Theresa “Terri” Sarro during that difficult time continues to thrive as a resource for residents of North Riverside. Sarro, who serves as trustee in the suburban Chicago municipality, started the group North Riverside Neighbors Helping Neighbors with her good friend and fellow resident Kathy Ranieri. The two had a long history of working together for the good of the community. Nine years ago, they started “Christmas for a Cause” to raise funds for families in need and have held additional fundraisers to assist people in need during difficult times. …

Jeffrey Wittmus has no doubt about his purpose: to improve other people’s lives with his gift for dentistry. “What I do is heal people, and I’ve never stopped trying to master that healing ability,” the Chicago dentist says. “I love being able to take someone and heal their mouth or their body, or their general self-esteem, or health in general, because a lot of general health comes from oral health. That’s why I am on this planet — and I’ll do it as long as I can.” Wittmus, who has a doctorate in dental surgery from Northwestern University, has run …

  Get Carol Valentino-Barry chatting about the Socratic and case study methods of teaching, and you will soon fall prey to her infectious enthusiasm. Valentino-Barry is the executive director of Mentoring Mission, a nonprofit based in Chicago that works to bring mentors into high school classrooms across the country. Most of their mentors are graduates of Harvard Business School. The mentoring program consists of using Harvard Business School’s case study method, so students can learn dynamically, as a group, by reading and analyzing real-life case studies on topics ranging from Patagonia’s sustainability strategy to disaster recovery in Bangladesh. The exercise …

Dawn Marie Galtieri has devoted most of her professional career to nurturing Voice of the City, a small multi-arts nonprofit she founded 24 years ago in Chicago. “Our mission is to build community through making art and teaching art,” she explains. The nonprofit has a staff of two — Galtieri, who serves as executive and artistic director, and Christopher Ellis, executive producer and associate artistic director — along with about 20 associate artists. They currently focus their efforts on Chicago’s Logan Square and Roseland/Pullman neighborhoods, offering a variety of programming, including Design.Build.Grow.Eat. and UNITED Voices, both for teens. The nonprofit …

The Republic of France has promoted Chicagoan Dr. Carla Knorowski to the rank of officer in its National Order of Merit (L’Ordre National Du Mérite). The award was bestowed upon Knorowski by Yannick Tagand, French consul general of the Midwest in Chicago, in early October. Knorowski, who is of Italian descent on her mother’s side, distinguished herself in the wake of the catastrophic fire that swept through Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2019. She organized a global virtual fundraising event that rallied the support of cellist and one-time Paris resident Yo-Yo Ma, actress Glenn Close, filmmaker Ken Burns and …

The Flowers of Italy Club honored Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero at its annual dinner dance on March 30 at Villa Brunetti in Franklin Park. (630-688-3153) The following profile was provided by the organization. Having resided in Berwyn for fifty-eight years, Robert J. (Bob) Lovero has made public service an integral part of his life. Throughout this time he has had the support of his family, including father Thomas (deceased), mother Alba, brother Scott, sister-in-law Lisa, wife Gail, son Thomas, daughter-in-law Ashley, daughters Danielle and Gabrielle, and grandsons Robert and Matthew. Bob began graduated from St. Mary of Celle Grammar School, …

  As the senator representing North and Central America in the Italian Parliament for seven of the last 12 years, Renato Turano fought fiercely for his constituents and made great strides on their behalf. As Renato Turano’s illustrious career as an Italian senator comes to close, he returns to his life in America with a suitcase full of memories and accomplishments. First elected in 2006 to represent North and Central America in the Italian Senate, he joined an elite band of six senators and 12 deputies voted in by 5 million Italian citizens scattered across six continents. That monumental task …

by Ryan Calabretta-Sajder The American Association of Teachers of Italian recently bestowed its Honorary Membership Award (Socio Onorario) upon longtime Fra Noi Associate Editor Fred Gardaphè. A pioneering voice in the field of Italian-American studies, Gardaphè recently gave a keynote lecture at AATI’s 2016 International Conference in Naples. A Distinguished Professor of English and Italian American Studies at Queens College/CUNY and the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Gardaphè directs the Italian/American Studies Program at Queens College and formerly directed the programs in Italian American and American studies at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Gardaphè is …

  by Nancy Donohoe My dad, Leno Santacaterina, turned 90 in June. His life has been pretty full so far – married for 66 years to my mom, five children, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren, with another on the way. He was born in Turin, Italy, and came to the US – to Chicago – when he was a child. Just as his family arrived, the Depression hit. He grew up speaking Italian and English, and watched as his parents developed their careers while they still managing to reach out to the many friends and relatives who arrived from …