Profiles

The Cegliesi Italo American Association honored acclaimed conductor Maestro Raffaele Cardone at its 44th annual dinner dance on Oct. 21 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. (847-224-9324) A bio provided by the organization follows: Maestro Raffaele Cardone Maestro Raffaele Cardone is a native son of our beloved Ceglie who has traveled the world and performed with the greats in his career as a renowned tenor and opera director. Maestro Cardone has had an extensive career as a professional opera singer, voice teacher, opera coach, stage director and clinician. His work in the field over a period of 65 years has …

Set to join DiMaggio and Marciano in the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame this fall, Gene Pingatore has earned his place in the pantheon through his longevity and stellar record.   Gene Pingatore still can’t quite believe that in November he’ll be among the inductees into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. “I am totally honored and extremely humbled,” he says. “When you think about it, I’m a high school coach. And here I go to the hall of fame with all my heroes who are there — Joe DiMaggio, Rocky Marciano. It just boggles my …

An airfield controller in England during World War II, Bob Pasquesi did his best to assure that the pilots in his fighter group took off and landed safely.   One of five children, Bob Pasquesi was born in Highland Park in 1924. His father, Sante Pasquesi, emigrated from Modena, Italy, at the age of 13 to join his uncle at Gonnella Bakery in Chicago. His mother, Linda Vitali, was born in Ferrara, Italy. Pasquesi grew up in Highland Park and graduated from St. James Grade School and Highland Park High School. His family ate dinner together every evening. “If you …

Salvatore J. “Sam” Tornatore and Michael M. Cabonargi were the guests of honor when the Justinian Society of Lawyers hosts its annual installation and awards dinner on Sept. 26 at the Palmer House Hilton. (708-338-0760) The Hon. Salvatore J. “Sam” Tornatore The recipient of this year’s Award of Excellence, Tornatore has served as a DuPage County Commissioner since 2012 and a DuPage County Health Department board member since 2015. He was appointed by Governor Pat Quinn and reappointed by Governor Bruce Rauner to serve on the board of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, where he also serves as its secretary. …

The Sicilian American Cultural Association held its annual Medal of Merit dinner on Sept. 16 Cucina Biagio in Harwood Heights. This year’s recipient was attorney Sam F. Cannizzaro. (773-454-4771) Sam F. Cannizzaro Cannizzaro is a Sicilian American who has lived on the Northwest Side of Chicago all his life. He is a family law attorney and partner of the downtown Chicago law firm of Birnbaum, Haddon, Gelfman & Arnoux, LLC. As an attorney, Cannizzaro has served multiple terms on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Assembly as well as a committee chairperson. He has been involved with the Chicago Bar Association, …

The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin honored Vito M. D’Ambrosio as Humanitarian of the Year and Angelo “Skip” Saviano as Columbus Patriot at its 94th annual Columbus Banquet on Oct. 6 at White Eagle Banquets in Niles. (708-403-7822) Vito D’Ambrosio Vito Mario D’Ambrosio was born in Ricigliano, Salerno, Italy, to Antonio and Rocchina D’Ambrosio. Vito was the second child, Onofrio being the first. In a typical Italian immigrant household, it was almost the norm that the father would come to this country, stay with relatives, acquire a job, save some money …

  A student of commedia dell’arte since her college days in Bologna, Chiara Durazzini champions the art form here in America through her troupe, Pazzi Lazzi. As a champion of commedia dell’arte — an Italian theatrical tradition with roots in the 1500s — Chiara Durazzini is used to hearing theater aficionados confess their ignorance. In some cases, not even Italian Americans quite know what it is. At least that’s what they say, anyway. As the Florence native likes to tell people, “If you think you haven’t seen commedia dell’arte, maybe you have — and just didn’t know it. Shakespeare based …

  With 30-plus years of harness racing under his belt, Dave Palone has amassed an astounding 18,400 wins in more than 75,000 races. Dave Palone has logged about 18,400 career wins in his 30-plus years as a harness race driver. That’s an average of about 600 wins per year, with 700 or 800 wins in his better years. Twelve races a day, four days a week, and voila, you have the sport’s winningest driver. “I’ve done it so many times, I know the horses, I’ve driven most of them, I know their tendencies,” the 56-year-old Palone says. “That’s probably the …

  Badly wounded in the early days of the War in the Pacific, Neil Iovino nevertheless survived the Bataan Death March and 44 months in jungle prison camps. The youngest of eight children, Neil Philip Iovino was born on the West Side of Chicago on Jan. 3, 1918. His parents, Domenico and Richetta Serpico Iovino, came to Chicago from Scisciano, near Naples. A graduate of Notre Dame Grammar School on Flournoy Street, he attended only one year of high school, but my dad was street smart. When people asked him where he went to school, he would say Notre Dame …

  A trek along a medieval pilgrimage route in Italy moved Chandi Wyant from personal tragedy to spiritual triumph and an award-winning memoir. Italy has no shortage of stunning historic roads (think Appian Way), but when it comes to pilgrimage routes, few can match the Via Francigena. It owes its existence to a little-known abbot named Sigeric who, after John XV named him Archbishop of Canterbury, forever marked the trail by writing about the 80 mansions he stayed in (and perhaps partied at) along the way. Fast forward to 2009, when historian and world traveler Chandi Wyant tackled the path …