Profiles

Mario Salerno has been elected president of the Calabresi in America Organization. A member for eight years, Salerno served as an advisor for two years and worked his way up through the vice presidential ranks before being elected president. “Being involved has given me the opportunity to share my Calabrese background with others and celebrate it as well,” he explains. “I like being able to provide outreach not only to other Calabrese but to members of other Italian-American organizations.” Being elected president is both on honor and an opportunity for Salerno, who follows in the footsteps of his father, Frank, …

Stan Kuczynski has been elected president of the Chicago West Suburban Chapter of UNICO National. Kuczynski was inducted into the organization in 2014, and served as recording secretary and chairman of the Scholarship, Fundraising and Bylaws committees before ascending to the presidency. “To be president of this 61-year-old organization comes with a lot of history and responsibility,” he says. “I only hope I can live up to the expectations of the generations that came before me.” Kuczynski says that he joined the chapter because he wanted to be a part of an organization that not only did charitable and patriotic …

Paul Loparco has been elected president of the Illinois-Wisconsin Grand Lodge, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. A member of OSDIA since 1999, Loparco served as trustee, vice president and president of Leone D’Oro Lodge #2700 before ascending to the state presidency. “It’s a big step for me and I still have a lot to learn, but I’m certain I can handle it,” he says. “My goals are to increase membership, continue the OSDIA mission, and inform people about all of our wonderful charitable activities.” Loparco joined the local lodge at the invitation of a friend, and he …

Reflecting on his upbringing in Melrose Park, recently elected Willow Springs Mayor John M. Carpino says, “I realize when my grandparents immigrated they helped one another. The community came together and I never forgot the need to help others.” Carpino was raised by his mother and grandmother, his grandfather and father having passed away while he was still a child. He attended Holy Cross High School and Triton Junior College before embarking on a 40-year career in law enforcement. He worked his way up from cadet to officer to detective for the Addison Police. He continued to work his way …

Retired CFO Mark M. Corrado will ascend to the presidency of the Columbian Club of Chicago at a black-tie optional installation dinner on Jan. 18 at the Medinah Country Club. For reservations, call Michael Russotto at 630-222-2686. Corrado has been a member of the Columbian Club since 2006, but he was introduced to the organization more than 40 years ago when his father, Albert, first joined. “While it took a few years for me to follow in his footsteps, I always saw how proud he was to be a member and the joy it brought him,” Corrado explains. “This was …

The Lyric’s incoming maestro brings with him impressive credentials and a towering passion for his repertoire, his fellow artists, his new audience and his new home. When Anthony Freud stepped onto the Civic Opera House stage before the second act of “Luisa Miller” on Oct. 20, the audience gave a cry of dismay. They knew what announcement was to come from the general director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago: Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja was ill, and could not continue singing. After American soprano Toni Marie Palmertree stepped in to replace ailing star Krassimira Stoyanova as Luisa at the top …

Opting for the Navy instead of college, Georgiann Callaway found professional fulfillment and adventure on six continents during a stellar 20-year career. Georgiann “Gigi” Callaway was born in Chicago and grew up in LaGrange Park, one of four girls born to Andrew and Ann (Beres) DiDonato. Her father’s family was from Calabria. Callaway enjoyed a close relationship with her paternal grandparents, who lived in the Little Italy around Taylor Street. “It was Sunday at my grandparents’ house,” says Callaway. Aunts, uncles and cousins gathered together for pasta. A cherished memory is making ravioli with her grandmother. Callaway attended Forest Road …

An abiding passion for hockey propelled John Conenna to the pinnacle of the sport in Illinois. From standout grade-school goalie to stellar high school coach to Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, John Conenna has excelled at every local level of the sport. The soon-to-be-60-year-old travel agency owner was bitten by the hockey bug when he was only 8. “I used to watch a group of boys in my neighborhood play street hockey outside my window,” Conenna says. “I figured I’d tag along and try it and I was hooked.” His choice of positions was influenced by the play of …

In her memoir, Eleanor Foa addresses her family’s power, passion and paradox, and discovers deep literary significance in her Italian-Jewish ancestry. Being so strongly identified with Catholicism, Italy may strike the casual observer as inextricably connected to Christianity. But a closer look reveals that Italian Jews had much to do with the region’s history, culture and proud traditions. How much so? As Rabbi Barbara Aiello explained in a past Lou&A column, the very name “Italia” is of Hebrew origin. The first of the Jewish diaspora, on seeing the peninsula’s beautiful, misty coast, exclaimed “Aiee-tal-ya!”, a Hebrew phrase that means “the …

The Most Serene Republic of San Marino has named Robert Allegrini as its Honorary Consul in Chicago. The title was recently bestowed on Allegrini during a ceremony in San Marino presided over by the country’s co-heads of state, the Captains Regent. San Marino becomes the 88th country to have official diplomatic representation in Chicago. As consul, Allegrini will be responsible for promoting San Marino from the standpoints of trade, investment and tourism throughout his consular jurisdiction, which includes Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. He will also be tasked with looking after the welfare of San Marino citizens and visitors …