Profiles

A proverbial knock on the door of a historical society in Boston led Jessica Dello Russo across the ocean to explore the burial practices of one of ancient Rome’s most storied minorities. The ancient catacombs of Rome — underground tunnels with slots in the walls where early Christians were interred — are well known to most connoisseurs of the Italian capital. Perhaps less known is the fact that there are also Jewish catacombs there and elsewhere in Italy. Jessica Dello Russo, who in January earned a Ph.D. from the Vatican’s Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology in Rome, is an expert …

Walgreens is fond of telling its loyal clientele that it’s “at the corner of happy and healthy.” If you’re looking for someone special at that intersection, someone who’s dedicated to making the happy and healthy happen, you’re likely to find Andrea Collaro. As senior director of brand management and product development for the Walgreens Boots Alliance, Collaro oversees more than 4,500 products under the Walgreens banner. The Private Label Manufacturers Association recently honored Collaro for her product development vision and leadership by inducting her into the Private Label Hall of Fame. Collaro was among 16 inductees in 2023 who “represent …

“First we eat, and then we do everything else.” That’s a mantra for Briana DiTommaso, who was crowned Universal Woman Italy 2023. She also believes in working hard and not letting obstacles stand in your way. DiTommaso, 41, is the executive chef and winemaker for her family’s vineyard, Valentino Vineyards, in Long Grove, Illinois, where she lives with her three children and her life partner. She is also a partner and head winemaker for the wine company Provocativo. Over the years, DiTommaso has opened several restaurants in suburban Chicago, including Mambo Italiano in Mundelein, which she owned and operated for …

A 21-year-old college student and lawyer-to-be from Illinois is looking forward to a September trip to Rome, Florence and Venice as part of her prize for winning the Miss Italia America pageant. Olimpia Giacalone, 21, a native of Norridge, Illinois, is majoring in English with minors in Italian and philosophy from Loyola University Chicago, from which she expects to graduate in May 2024. She is a graduate of Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Giacalone was crowned in March in Miami. She entered the pageant because she thought it would be an exciting experience after participating in the …

Viewing her connection to her Italian heritage as a superpower, Dolores Alfieri has devoted most of her professional career to celebrating those strong ties. From working as director of Italian affairs for the Office of the Governor of the State of New York to co-developing a podcast that celebrates the Italian-American experience, Dolores Alfieri’s professional and creative endeavors are a testament to her belief that a strong connection to one’s heritage is “a superpower.” Alfieri was instrumental in securing a place on the National Register of Historic Places for the Columbus statue in New York City’s Columbus Circle. Her work …

A standout running back at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, Vinny Rugai eschews social media while he works to perfect his football skills. Vinny Rugai is not the kind of football player who wants to attract attention and gain social media followers. Instead, the 18-year-old believes in working hard and plugging away at his goals. That attitude has resulted in Rugai first forging a path as a standout high school athlete and now as a freshman at Fordham University in New York, where he was a preferred walk-on. “I am pretty driven, but I am also one of those …

A First Lieutenant in the Army, Michael Gasparro went from training soldiers at Fort Lewis, Washington, to leading them on aerial assaults from Firebase Bastogne in South Vietnam. The oldest of two sons, Mike Gasparro was born in Chicago to Michael and Theresa Fonzino Gasparro. His paternal grandparents emigrated from Senerchia in 1917, and his maternal grandparents also came from Italy. Gasparro grew up in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, living in a two-flat above his paternal grandparents. Extended family gathered regularly to enjoy his grandparents’ homemade pepperoni, sausage and other foods. “My grandmother would make bread all year long, even when …

Donato Ancona currently serves as president of the West Suburban Chapter of UNICO National. He was elected to the post in July 2022, having previously served as treasurer and secretary. “If I had to choose one word, it would be ‘honored,’” Ancona says of his election to the presidency of the chapter. “To be nominated by the board to lead the organization along with them is special. I have been involved and I’ve helped out wherever I could from the first day I joined, and the board recognized that. I look forward to giving back to the organization and the …

Recently elected to the presidency of of the National Italian American Bar Association, Frank Sommario dedicated his career to shining a positive light on his heritage and his profession. Justice may be blind, but Chicago attorney Frank Sommario has a clear-eyed view of his duties as an American attorney of Italian descent. “I want to show that Italian Americans continue to contribute to the legal system in a positive way, despite the stereotypes that our community has endured over the decades,” he says. “It makes you work harder because you know you not only represent yourself, your firm and your …

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans honored Vito Gargano at their general meeting on June 27. Gargano, 95, is the former president of the Italian American Federal Club, an organization comprising hundreds of federal employees of the United States Postal Service. Gargano’s career spans more than 40 years in the USPS. He started as a clerk/level 5 and rose to the highest level in the postal system, level 27, as district director of mail processing for Illinois. Along the way, he served as postmaster for Des Plaines, Illinois, and Racine, Wisconsin, as well as officer-in-charge at the post office …