Profiles

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 …

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society honored Anthony M. Spina, D.D.S., M.D., as Arcolian of the Year at the society’s annual Christmas Party on Dec. 11 at the Park Ridge Country Club. (Dr. Jessica Mattern, 847-498-1595) “Dr. Spina exemplifies our mission,” says Arcolian President Dr. Katina Spadoni. “He perpetuates fellowship between dentists, specialists, retirees and students; he has provided us with extraordinary speakers to help us earn continuing education units; and he opens us up to networking opportunities by bridging the gap between medical and dental.” Spina earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University, his dental degree from Loyola University School …

After making her mark as a mixed martial artist, then toiling in the trenches as a working actress, Gina Carano landed the role of a lifetime in the ongoing “Star Wars” saga. If you’re professional fighter-turned-actress Gina Carano, what do you do when one of Hollywood’s biggest directors asks to meet? Well, like any good Italian American, you bring a bottle of wine to the meeting, of course. And not just any wine, Carano told Fra Noi in an exclusive interview. This particular vintage was one that holds a special place in her heart because it comes from the Sonoma …

A member of the Air Force and Air National Guard for 40 years, Victor Guerrieri was responsible for all communications on base and in the field of battle during a nine-month deployment to Iraq in 2010. The second of six children, Victor Guerrieri was born in Chicago to Carmen and Rita (Mariano.) The family lived in his maternal grandparents’ building near Marmora and Higgins avenues before moving to the area around Foster and Cumberland avenues, where Guerrieri grew up. His parents were born in Chicago, and his grandparents emigrated from Bari. Maternal aunts, uncles and cousins all lived close, and …

The Italian American Executives of Transportation honored a dynamic father-son duo at their Nov. 16 gala at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. (708-212-1051) Michael Tadin Jr., president of MAT Construction Inc., was honored as Man of the Year at the event, and Michael A. Tadin, president of Marina Cartage Inc., was hailed as Humanitarian of the Year. Tadin Jr. launched MAT Construction in 1999, offering road-grinding, paving and general contracting services. He launched his real estate arm, Morgan Street Development, 15 years ago, and MAT Asphalt LLC last year. He is a member of the Illinois Roadbuilders Association and the Illinois …