Profiles

A standout basketball and baseball player in high school and college, Jerry Colangelo became a multisport luminary thanks to inspiration drawn from his humble Italian roots in Chicago Heights. When Jerry Colangelo was 7 years old, he was given his first basketball, a simple act that ignited the fuse to an extraordinarily successful career in national and international sports. “I smelled the leather, and it was the beginning of a love affair that has lasted a lifetime,” Colangelo tells Fra Noi in a wide-ranging interview about his life and myriad achievements as a player, coach, administrator, owner and overall leader. …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation honored a trio of luminaries at its dinner dance on Nov. 20 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. Frank Grimaldi hailed as Man of the Year at the event, and Anthony Ambrose and Anthony Pucillo was honored as Humanitarians of the Year.  (iaet-chicago.org, 708-212-1051) The following profiles were provided by the organization: Frank Grimaldi Jr., A.A.E. Frank Grimaldi Jr. has faithfully served the Chicago airport community for nearly 40 years in senior Airfield Operations and Design and Construction capacities. He has more than 21 years of airfield operations experience and 18 years managing the design …

A fierce advocate on behalf of his heritage for decades, Basil Russo has undertaken the Garibaldian task of uniting the community on a national level. Basil Russo was watching the ballgame on TV with his immigrant grandfather when Cleveland Indians slugger Rocky Colavito hit his record-tying fourth consecutive home run against the Baltimore Orioles on June 10, 1959. Russo was only 12 at the time, but that moment is forever etched in his memory. “My ‘nonnu’ was a tough, old Sicilian who rarely showed much emotion, but there he was with tears of joy running down his face,” Russo recalls. …

Oak Brook attorney Mario Palermo has been elected president of the Justinian Society of Lawyers’ DuPage County Chapter. Palermo grew up in New York City, attended Kent College of Law in Chicago, passed the bar in 1996 and joined the chapter 15 years ago after setting up shop in DuPage County. “The organization gave me a chance to meet people who are respected in the legal community and establish connections to help me grow my business,” he says. “I’ve made lifelong friends, and now I get to mentor younger lawyers and pay it forward.” “The people are fantastic, and the …

Fred Bilotto has only been mayor of Blue Island since April, but his involvement in public service began when he began volunteering at the Feast of St. Donatus at St. Donatus Church. Both he and his wife, Stephanie, were born in the city, and both graduated from nearby St. Xavier University. They and their three children are now involved in the feast, which has been celebrated for 116 years. Bilotto ran for mayor because he wanted to create a more open and transparent government while addressing infrastructure issues in the aging city. “The problems weren’t created in a day, and …

Born a century ago in Chicago Heights, Ted Micci is a living testament to the determination of the crews who flew bombing missions over Europe during World War II. Attilio (Ted) Micci was born 100 years ago in his parents’ home in Chicago Heights. Massimo and Frances Rotaloni Micci emigrated from Marche, Italy, and settled in the Hungry Hill Italian neighborhood of the city. Micci’s maternal grandparents lived across the street, and his aunts and uncles lived down the block. They all shared Sunday dinners together. Micci loved everything his mother prepared. “She was a good cook,” he says. Micci …

A standout javelin thrower in college, Maura Fiamoncini did remarkably well during the Olympic trials while battling an injury that would have sidelined many others in her sport. Javelin thrower Maura Fiamoncini finished seventh at the U.S. Olympic trials in late June after gritting her teeth and muscling through a shoulder injury. A recent graduate of Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, Fiamoncini, 22, earned rave reviews for her performance from her coach, Kevin Donner. “Today may have been the most courageous effort of any athlete we have ever had,” Donner told local newspaper The Daily Item after the trials ended. Fiamoncini …

A standout high school teacher and director for decades, she now fosters theater at every level throughout the state. Carmel De Stefano loved theater as a child, studied it as an undergrad and beyond, and taught and directed it for decades at the high school level. All of that has prepared her well for her current theatrical turn, as a leader since 2016 in the Illinois Theatre Association. After immersing herself in theater throughout her youth and earning a bachelor of arts in theater and broadcasting out east, the Niagara Falls, New York, native decided to head west. Arriving in …

Retired Chicago police officer Frank DiMaria has been elected president of the Italian American Police Association. An IAPA member since 1997, he previously served as second vice president. Founded in 1964, the IAPA organizes and advocates on behalf of Italian Americans in law enforcement, and serves as a social, professional and charitable outlet for its membership. “When I started going to their meetings, I thought, ‘This feels right. I like the concept. I like how they conducted their business,’” DiMaria recalls. “I’ve always felt like I belong, like I’m a part of a family.” DiMaria’s plans include increasing membership and …

Dr. Jean Barbanente has been appointed interim superintendent of DuPage High School District 88, which encompasses Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools. She is the district’s first female superintendent as well as the first to speak multiple languages. Barbanente has been with District 88 for more than 25 years and worked with past superintendents Dr. Scott Helton and Dr. Steve Humphrey. She joined District 88 in 1995 as a member of the world language department at Addison Trail, where she taught Italian and Spanish. In 2002, she transitioned to her first leadership role in the district, taking on the position …