Profiles

Embracing the Great American Songbook while fellow high schoolers were dancing to ’70s rock, Denise Tomasello has emerged as Chicago’s quintessential chanteuse. Known as “Chicago’s Queen of Cabaret,” Denise Tomasello has been entertaining audiences in many of the area’s finest venues for decades. After a nearly three-year hiatus from show business, this acclaimed chanteuse is once again taking to the stage with her stirring interpretations of the Great American Songbook. Tomasello is a native of Melrose Park, where she attended Proviso East High School. Her mother worked at Amling’s Flowerland, and her father was a delivery driver for the old …

Fascinated by America during his youth in Italy, Leonardo Aiello served both nations admirably during a three-year stint in the U.S. Navy. One of four children, Leonardo Aiello was born in Bagheria, Sicily, to Angelo and Angela Buttitta Aiello. He grew up near grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family. Among his favorite meals were two Sicilian specialties his grandmother prepared. Cuccia, a “soupy dish” of ceci beans and whole wheat kernels, was served on the Feast of Santa Lucia. “I used to love that,” Aiello says. Sfincione, similar to focaccia, was enjoyed at Christmas. He …

The Mazzini-Verdi Club honored Steve Menconi as Man of the Year and Cathy Ciminello as Woman of the Year at the President’s Ball on Dec. 3 at its clubhouse in Franklin Park. The following profiles were provided by the organization. CATHERINE CIMINELLO Catherine Ciminello has long been involved with the Mazzini-Verdi Club alongside her husband, Paul, and has served as a member of the Mazzini-Verdi Ladies Club for the last seven years. Active with the club’s St. Joseph Table and Festa Fuori, she joined the Ladies’ Club board in 2020 as financial secretary. In the midst of the pandemic, she …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …