Profiles

Three decades and 8,000 performances later, Tony Ocean continues to chart his own musical course, attracting legions of fans in the process. As Tony Ocean belted out the final notes of “My Way” to a roar of applause on May 29 at the Des Plaines Theatre, he surveyed his band onstage and his wife and family in the audience and, amid a shower of roses, wiped a tear from his eye. And why not? Ocean had just finished his 8,000th performance. There has been plenty of glitz along the way: a run in Las Vegas, a performance in Aruba, and …

After serving in the Navy for 16 years, mainly in intelligence, John Cervone signed on with the Army, spending another 14 years, principally in communications. The oldest of three sons, John Cervone was born in Jamaica Heights, a neighborhood in Queens, New York, to Giachino and Benita Russo Cervone. Cervone’s mother was born in Naples, as were his father’s parents. The family moved to the nearby Springfield Gardens neighborhood to be closer to relatives, whom they visited frequently. “I spent a lot of time with both sides,” Cervone says. Holiday meals began with lasagna and meatballs, were followed by ham …

Describing himself as an “old-school” coach, Jared Grasso has transformed the basketball program at Bryant University in four short years. Bryant University men’s basketball head coach Jared Grasso could see with his own eyes the change he ignited in his first season. “My first game, there were 15 people in the crowd — three were my family, and three were the assistant coach’s family. I remember standing there during the national anthem, half embarrassed,” the 42-year-old says of the 2018-19 season at the Rhode Island school. “By the end of the season, we had sellout crowds. Students were waiting five …

A star in Italy’s top basketball league, Sara Bocchetti heart is set on one day competing in the WNBA. For Italian basketball star Sara Bocchetti, it was love at first sight, when she was introduced to the sport as a baby, before she could even walk. “My brother was given a basket for his birthday. Since I saw that basket, I started to hear its call. I had to make a basket, even if I wasn’t walking yet!” Bocchetti says. The 5-foot-9-inch guard plays for Use Scotti Rosa Empoli in the Serie A1, the top basketball league in Italy. Two …

One of the greatest bowlers of all time, Carmen Salvino recently celebrated 70 years of unparalleled success in a sport he loves and helped to transform. In baseball and in life, “three strikes” are typically a bad thing. But for world-class bowler Carmen Salvino, it’s just another day at the office. He began his career as a professional bowler at 19 years of age, and 70 years later, he’s only now looking back at just how many pins he’s knocked down. Carmen was born in the Taylor Street neighborhood of Chicago near Flournoy and Ashland. His father was from Calabria …

Wheaton attorney Jessica Defino has been elected president of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, DuPage County Chapter. Joining her as officers are Vice President Amanda Zannoni, Second Vice President Kira Albrecht, Secretary Anthony DeLongis, Treasurer Gabby Antoniolli and Comptroller Elizabeth Pope. A member of the DuPage County Chapter since she was sworn in as a lawyer in 2016, Defino was a student member of the Justinians in law school, earning the Justinian Scholarship from the DuPage chapter while pursuing her law degree. “I love the camaraderie among the members and how dedicated each person is to their Italian heritage,” she …

Brian Bernardoni has been inducted into the Illinois State University Steve and Sandi Adams Hall of Fame. A resident of the village of Justice and president of the Roberts Park Fire Protection District, Bernardoni was recognized for enhancing the quality of life on campus as an undergrad, grad student and beyond. While earning his bachelor’s degree at ISU, Bernardoni served as Fell Hall Community Council president, Student Body student advocacy director and vice president, and co-chair of the Senior Challenge. A president of Delta Sigma Phi, he was named Greek Man of the Year. He also served as a human …

An educator of Italian descent, Diana Hartmann is spearheading a drive to introduce Italian-American history into grade and high school curricula across the state. In this era of ever-expanding inclusion, Italian Americans have long been the odd community out. That may soon change in Illinois if Diana Hartmann has anything to do with it. An educational administrator of Italian descent, Hartmann has watched as books about Italian and Italian-American history and culture have disappeared from the shelves of school libraries. Last fall, she took action to reverse the trend. “I wanted to make sure that our contributions and experiences received …

A state champion runner in high school, Micaela DeGenero lost her way as an undergrad at the University of Michigan before rediscovering her groove as a graduate student at the University of Colorado. Of all the times to seize an NCAA title, this was the most improbable for Micaela DeGenero. DeGenero won the women’s indoor mile race in March after emerging from the back of the pack to obliterate her competition with a time of 4:33.92. The now-24-year-old ran with the University of Colorado, where she was a graduate student working toward a master’s degree in technology, cybersecurity and policy. …

Don’t let the sedate job title fool you. As a combat engineer on the front lines of the Korean War, Joseph Fabiani was constantly under fire. One of five children, Joseph Fabiani was born in 1929 in Donora, Pennsylvania, to Nazzarino and Laura Settimi Fabiani, and grew up with aunts and uncles living in the area. His parents emigrated from Ascoli Piceno, Italy. His mother, a homemaker, baked bread, made ravioli and even brewed root beer. “She was the best cook!” Fabiani said. His father, a steel mill worker, died of stomach cancer attributed to mustard gas poisoning suffered while …