Profiles

Running a large, successful non-profit enterprise has its challenges, but Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization President Lou Scaramuzzo says his members make his job so much easier. “The membership is so cooperative and willing to do whatever it takes to help people,” Scaramuzzo says. “They are very giving people who do exceptional charitable work.” Scaramuzzo is on his second stint as president of CIACO, having previously led from 2007-14. A member of CIACO since 2003 and a board member since 2005, he has been with the group almost since its founding in 1998. One way to track the group’s growth …

Daniel Pizzoferrato says that the first time he heard someone play the zampogna, it felt like he was listening to the sound of his ancestry. That moment 10 years ago prompted Pizzoferrato to embark on a journey to master the ancient Italian instrument, which he now showcases at Italian-American Christmastime celebrations in the Chicago area. He also occasionally plays with La Tosca Italian Mambo Ensemble, based in Chicago. So why was hearing the sound of the zampogna so touching for him that first time? “I grew up with a lot of music and people who played the Italian accordion, the …

An Italian-language instructor at the University of Illinois Chicago for more than 24 years, Maria Iusco is the creator of the school’s longest-running study abroad program, which has brought hundreds of students to Siena and Salerno in Italy. Speaking two or more languages is an asset that helps students become citizens of the world and opens more professional opportunities for them, she says. “This is what I build on in all my classes every single day,” Iusco says. “This is a gift that was given to me, and this is what I give to my students.” Born and raised in …

Vito D’Ambrosio jokingly says he is involved in “too many” civic organizations and volunteer efforts. The list is, in fact, astonishingly long. A resident of Westchester, in suburban Chicago, D’Ambrosio is the longtime president of the Italian American Executives of Transportation. He serves on the executive board of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and on the board of directors for the Columbian Club of Chicago. He is a member of the Fr. August Feccia Charitable Foundation, Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization, Italian American Police Association, Italian American Labor Council and Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. He …

Not everyone can say they found their calling in life. Evelyn Belmonte is among the lucky ones. For nearly three decades, Belmonte has worked for the village of Hillside as special events coordinator and administrative assistant to Mayor Joseph Tamburino. “Working for the mayor has been such an amazing experience, with new ideas all the time and meeting our residents. He challenges me every day, and it is never boring,” says Belmonte, who has lived in Hillside since 1962. The daughter of William and Marie Terese (Zaccardi) Innocenti, Belmonte grew up in Chicago with two very different sides to her …

Although it started almost accidentally, John Crivellone’s path to the Cook County Public Defender’s Office has resulted in a successful and fulfilling 16-year career as an investigator. “The best part of my job is the people and staff that I work with. The Cook County Public Defender’s administration goes out of their way to make sure that I have everything that I need to do my job to its fullest,” he says. “They go above and beyond what I have expected of any organization. Even if I am having issues in my personal life, they are there for me and …

Opting to go to Vietnam as an enlisted man rather than an officer, Allan Zitella often chose the thornier path, emerging relatively unscathed despite the greatly increased risk. The youngest of three children, Allan Zitella was born in Chicago to Joseph and Christina (Zipparo) Barrile. His mother died when Zitella was 3 years old and he and his siblings, Richard and JoAnn, were eventually adopted by their maternal great-aunt and -uncle, Anna and James Zitella. Zitella grew up in the neighborhood around Harlem and North avenues, one block from his maternal grandmother. His adoptive father emigrated from Riano, Italy, and …

A driving force in the Cubs’ 2016 championship season, Anthony Rizzo returned to Wrigley Field for the first time since being traded to the Yankees in 2021 for a Sept. 6 matchup with his old team. Watching Anthony Rizzo’s rise to stardom in the Windy City was a Cubs fan’s dream come true. As the player and team reached unimagined heights together, America’s pastime became a religious experience in the home of deep-dish pizza and the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. Being a lifelong devotee of the Chicago Cubs, I endured the multi-season heartbreak that reached a new low in …

A dancer since early childhood, Mickela Mallozzi has parlayed her lifelong passion into a popular PBS series that travels the world to celebrate the joy of movement. Mickela Mallozzi is the four-time Emmy Award-winning host and executive producer of “Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi,” a PBS series that highlights the diversity of dance with episodes filmed around the world. Born and raised in Connecticut, Mallozzi tells Fra Noi about her Italian roots, the path that led her to create the show, and filming with her nonna in Italy. Elena Ferrarin: Did you grow up connected to your Italian heritage? Mickela …

After 39 years as a police officer, Philip Tenerelli continues to serve his community in an abundance of ways. Now happily retired and a proud grandfather, he looks back on his career with satisfaction. Growing up in the South Side of Chicago, Tenerelli knew a lot of police officers who lived in the area and, after deciding that he didn’t enjoy working in sheet metal like his father, chose to go into law enforcement. “I just thought it was a pretty cool job,” he explains. After graduating from Leo High School in Chicago, Tenerelli attended Moraine Valley Community College, where …