Profiles

Nella classe d’Italiano 3 accelerato con la prof. Laura Longano stiamo studiando le automobili italiane. Come tutti sanno, l’Italia produce automobili bellissime, come la Ferrari, la Lamborghini, la Maserati, l’Alfa Romeo, la Fiat e la Lancia. Abbiamo imparato come le diverse parti dell’auto si chiamano in italiano. Poi ognuno di noi ha disegnato una macchina italiana e abbiamo usato il nuovo vocabolario per illustrare le diverse componenti di un’automobile. Dopo abbiamo studiato le regole di guida italiane ed i segnali stradali internazionali. Per approfondire la nostra conoscenza delle auto italiane, ognuno di noi ha scelto un’auto italiana, e ha creato …

Nella classe onoraria d’Italiano 4, stiamo preparando una presentazione molto interessante! Questo progetto consente agli studenti di utilizzare il potere della persuasione per convincere un famoso uomo d’affari a costruire il suo prossimo grande hotel in una determinata regione in Italia. A ogni studente viene assegnata una regione diversa e conducono ricerche sulla storia, la cultura e le tradizioni della loro regione. Dimostreranno ai loro compagni di classe perché l’hotel dovrebbe essere costruito lì. Gli studenti sono valutati non solo su quanto ampiamente ricercano la loro regione, ma anche su quanto sia convincente la loro argomentazione. Il progetto utilizza le …

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 …

The Comboni Missionaries honored Joseph A. Russo at their annual dinner dance on Nov. 30 at Manzo’s Banquets in Des Plaines. (708-354-1999) As a boy growing up in Cicero, Russo enjoyed learning about his Italian and Calabrian heritage from his extended family. From those experiences, he decided he wanted to make a difference in the world. As a teenager, he found his calling in funeral directing and embalming. Russo graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1991 and opened his own company, Russo Funeral Service, in 1995 at the age of 21. In 2012, he fulfilled a dream by …

The Italian Catholic Federation Branch 392 presented the 2019 Mother Cabrini Award to Nicola and Maria Tenerelli on Nov. 10 at Porretta’s Banquets in Chicago. The award is given each year to a deserving couple that has demonstrated the Italian values of faith, family and community in their everyday lives. Nicola and Maria were both born in Puglia, meeting and marrying after they moved to the Chicago area. The couple has been active in the Italian-American community in the Chicago area for many years. Nicola and Maria joined the Madonna della Croce Society in 2005, Cegliesi Italo-American Association (CI-AMA) in …

Eminent Italian conductor Enrique Mazzola has been named as Lyric Opera’s music director designate and will become Lyric’s music director beginning with the 2021-’22 season. The transition will be overseen by the Lyric’s acclaimed and beloved music director Sir Andrew Davis, who plans on concluding his two-decade-long tenure at the end of the 2020-’21 season. “I am thrilled that Enrique Mazzola has accepted Lyric’s invitation to become our next music director,” Lyric CEO Anthony Freud says. “He has accrued a wealth of international experience in his career to date, and he is tremendously well liked and respected by the Lyric …

A forward observer during World War II, Michael Priami scouted out the enemy’s presence across Europe, communicating their location back to the troops. The second of four children, Michael (Mike) Priami was born in 1924 in Hancock, Michigan. His father, Federico, was born in Rota, Italy, and his mother, Davina Barsocchi, was from Lucca. They met and married in Italy and emigrated to Hancock, settling near relatives. His parents grew a huge vegetable garden with potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and more. “They had everything,” Priami says. He, his older brother and two younger sisters all helped out. In addition to …

A hot rod legend like his father before him, Tony Schumacher holds the land-speed record for a quarter-mile run along with countless other drag racing achievements. Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher is arguably the most successful drag racer in the history of the sport. An eight-time National Hot Rod Association champion, he led the pack in consecutive years from 2004 to 2009. He is the winningest racer in the NHRA’s “top fuel” class, posting 53 career victories, holding the record for the fastest quarter-mile run and reaching 330 mph in competition before any other racer. The son of fellow drag racing …

Lisa Cini’s design revolutions bring an Italian-American accent to improving Alzheimer’s and dementia care. “Nursing home” is a contradiction in terms for many Italian Americans, for whom the word “home” conjures images of Sunday dinners surrounded by friends, family and, of course, food. Lisa Cini grew up amid such celebratory weekends and today fights to bring some of that warmth and spirit to adult care. As an interior designer of long-term care facilities, Cini has become an expert in how design can positively impact those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She’s also cared for a grandparent with those very conditions — …

The Italian American Police Association will honor a foursome of stalwart souls at an Oct. 26 dinner dance at Elmcrest Banquets in Elmwood Park. (312-415-1202) The following profiles were provided by the organization: Alderman Nick Sposato • Man of the Year Award 38th Ward Ald. Nicholas (Nick) Sposato grew up around Belmont and Harlem avenues and is a lifelong resident of Chicago’s Northwest Side. Ald. Sposato is currently serving his third term. He was the first firefighter elected to the City Council and the first elected in two different wards. In 2011, he beat the machine in a runoff to …