Profiles

Arcolians honor standout dentist

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society honored Joseph F. Hagenbruch, D.M.D., as Arcolian of the Year at its Christmas party on Dec. 13 at Cafe la Cave in Des Plaines. The following profile was provided by the organization. Joseph F. Hagenbruch, D.M.D., a graduate of Washington University School of Dental Medicine in Saint Louis, Missouri, is a private practice general dentist in Harvard, Illinois.  Dr. Hagenbruch is a former American Dental Association Eighth District Trustee.  He is a former president of the Illinois State Dental Society (I.S.D.S.). He is a former president of the Illinois Academy of General Dentistry (I.A.G.D.) and …

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Battisti Lodge celebrates dynamic member

The Cesare Battisti Lodge #27 of the Italian Sons and Daughters in America honored Jon Biancardi as Member of the Year on Dec. 10 at the lodge’s clubhouse, Villa Cesare, in Schererville, Indiana. The grandson and son of lodge members, Biancardi serves on the board of directors and has spearheaded several new initiatives. In 2017, he launched an indoor bocce league that has grown from eight teams on one court to 24 teams on three courts. That same year, he created, marketed and executed the lodge’s first Festa Italiana. The annual three-day celebration of Italian culture and spirit features food …

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Airman First Class Paul Greico

As a radio intercept operator during the Korean War, Paul Greico and his team worked around the clock to snatch top-secret Chinese transmissions from the airwaves and pass them along for decryption. The middle of three children, Paul Greico was born in Chicago to Dominic and Carmella Rosso Greico. The family lived at 718 S. Aberdeen St. Greico’s paternal grandfather emigrated from Potenza and eventually bought two apartment buildings connected by a courtyard. “Most of the family lived there,” Greico says. “I was surrounded by aunts and uncles.” His mother’s family emigrated from Calabria and lived in Cicero. Greico’s mother …

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Artist Carlo Beninati

A commercial artist for Fortune 500 companies early in his career, Carlo Beninati emerged as the go-to portrait painter of the previous century’s sports legends. While some may experience an occasional “brush with greatness” in their lives, artist Carlo Beninati has spent a lifetime “brushing greatness,” creating portraits of the legendary sports figures of the 20th century. Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Mario Andretti, Muhammad Ali, Joe Montana, Walter Payton, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Derrick Jeter are among the countless luminaries Beninati has captured on canvas. Using bold colors and impressionistic backgrounds, Beninati depicts the prowess and charisma of his …

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Standup comedian Tom Dreesen

Lifting himself out of poverty by his own bootstraps, Tom Dreesen made it to the very pinnacle of standup comedy by staying in touch with his humble roots. Tom Dreesen grew up in a shack with no hot water, started working at age 10 and, as a young comedian, slept in a car for three weeks. In that very same lifetime, he appeared on “The Tonight Show” more than 60 times and spent 13 years riding in private jets and limousines as the opening act for Frank Sinatra. Like the Sinatra song “My Way,” Dreesen — who is half Irish and …

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IAET fêtes Gullo, Allred, Onesti

The Italian American Executives of Transportation celebrated a trio of luminaries at its dinner dance on Nov. 19 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. Mariann Gullo was honored as Woman of the Year and Michael Allred as Humanitarian of the Year, with Ron Onesti receiving a special recognition award. The following profiles have been provided by the organization. MARIANN GULLO — WOMAN OF THE YEAR Mariann Gullo is the Chief Operating Officer of Gullo International and a tireless activist on behalf of her Italian heritage. Located in Elk Grove Village, Gullo International Development Corporation has been a leader in real estate …

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Police Association honors Napolitano, Roti

The Italian American Police Association honored a pair of law enforcement titans at its annual dinner dance on Nov. 5 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. Anthony Napolitano, alderman of Chicago’s 41st Ward, received the IAPA’s Man of the Year Award, and Nicholas Roti, a former Chicago Police Department deputy chief and bureau chief who now serves as executive director of the city’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The following profiles were provided by the organization. Ald. Anthony V. Napolitano Anthony V. Napolitano traces his roots to Italy on both sides of his family. …

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ICF Branch 392 honors Fr. Mulcrone

The Italian Catholic Federation, Branch 392 presented Fr. Joseph A. Mulcrone with its Mother Cabrini Award on Nov. 6. The following profile was provided by the organization. The Reverend Joseph A. Mulcrone Over the years, the Reverend Joseph A. Mulcrone has demonstrated faith, leadership and dedication in his work. His assistance to the deaf and disabled exemplifies the true spirit and humanity of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini. Like Mother Cabrini, Father Mulcrone (known as “Father Joe” to his friends) has touched hearts in the United States as well as many other countries. He is an individual to be admired for his …

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Army Pfc. Alexander Delulio Jr.

Only 19 years old when World War II took his life, Alexander Delulio Jr. lives on in the hearts and minds of his extended family. On Sept. 17, 1944, Pfc. Alexander Delulio Jr. parachuted into Zon, Holland, with the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, as part of Operation Market-Garden. Two days later, Pfc. Delulio gave his life in the defense of freedom while serving along the Eindhoven-Arnhem Highway near the town of Best. He was manning a slit trench when a German mortar struck. His young body remained in the trench until it could be buried during a …

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Labor council honors union leader Perinar

Third-generation union leader Gary Perinar washonored as Man of the Year when the Italian American Labor Council assembles for its 2022 dinner dance on Oct. 22 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The following profile was provided by the organization. Perinar is the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, which represents 52,000 members across Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Eastern Iowa. He has led the union since 2018 when he was elected Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, which later merged with the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council to form the Mid-America Regional Council. Gary …

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