Each year, the DuPage Chapter of the Justinian Society of Lawyers bestows the Justice Anthony M. Peccarelli Award upon an attorney who has displayed qualities of leadership and civility. This year honoree was Joseph P. Glimco III. The award was presented at the chapter’s installation dinner on May 14 at Sogno Ristorante in Wheaton.

“I am honored to be the recipient of the Justice Anthony M. Peccarelli Award and I thank the DuPage Chapter of the Justinian Society of Lawyers for choosing me,” Glimco says.

A graduate of Benet Academy (1978), St. Ambrose College (1982) and Drake Law School (1985) Glimco was admitted to the bar in November 1985 and founded the Law Offices of Joseph P. Glimco, III P.C. in 1996. He practices in the area of family law in DuPage and Will counties and also serves as a court-appointed guardian ad litem and court-appointed mediator.  He is starting his 40th year as a practicing attorney.

A member of the DuPage County Bar Association, Will County Bar Association, and Illinois State Bar Association, Glimco served as president of the DuPage Justinians in 2014/15.

The eldest of eight children, he is the son of Joseph P. Glimco Jr. and Mary “Maggie” (Kelly) Glimco. Hs parents were very active in the Chicago-area Italian American community and always encouraged their children to support and honor their heritage.

Glimco’s paternal grandfather was born Giuseppe Glielmi in 1909 in Puglietta, Italy, a small town in the Campagna region. His family name was changed to Glimco at Ellis Island in 1913. His paternal grandmother, Lena, nee Pierini, was born in Ponte Buggianese in 1911, arriving in America in 1913.

“Through his dedication to the law, his support of the DuPage Justinian Society, and his promotion of our Italian American heritage, Joe embodies the same qualities of leadership, service and civility that Justice Peccarelli exemplified,” incoming president Maria Gabrielle Antoniolli. “We are proud to recognize him with this prestigious honor and thank him for his continued service to our community.”

Peccarelli was the first president of the DuPage Justinians and was instrumental in the creation of the organization. His career included terms as associate judge, to circuit judge, chief judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit and justice of the Second District Appellate Court. He passed away in September 2005.

Let me introduce the readers to, as they say, “a guy from the neighborhood,” Peter J. Puleo. Peter served as a public servant, a police officer in a suburban community for the best part of his career. He also was a college professor. And now, in addition to these distinguished accomplishments, he became an author — a really talented author.

His grandparents were born and raised in Italy, near Rome on one side and in “a little town just outside of Palermo,” the town of Partinico, on the other. They came to the United States after the First World War, like most of our families. His grandfathers were soldiers in the Italian army during that “war to end all wars.” Like many of us, Peter remembers one of his grandfathers telling him about his memories of the passage to his new homeland, his dreams of a new life, new opportunities, and the process of going through Ellis Island.

The Puleo family settled in Chicago, in one of our neighborhoods around Taylor Street. His parents and aunts and uncles and cousins were all born there, as was he in 1948. He was raised in that neighborhood and remained there until 1964 when the family moved to the suburbs, also like many of us. The first school he attended was Our Lady of Pompeii.

In high school, Pete worked part time in grocery stores owned by the Gargano family and later the Frisella family, names familiar to the “old timers.” While living in the suburbs as a college student, he traveled each day back to the old neighborhood to attend the University of Illinois, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, got married to his wife Janet, spent some time in the military, worked as a casualty claims investigator for insurance companies. Then, he joined a suburban police force when he was 26 years old. He and his wife Janet began their family, which blessed them with his three daughters, Jennifer, Melissa, and Stephanie. During the 25 years on the police force, he gradually rose rank by rank to become the Chief of Police after 18 years of service. During that time, Peter acquired his Master of Science degree from Loyola University and his Master of Arts degree from the U of I, back in the old neighborhood yet again. Obviously a Renaissance man, and multi-talented, and one conscious of his ethnicity and his origins.

Puleo served as Chief of Police for seven years and wrote a book during the evenings and on the weekends. During those seven years, he taught as an adjunct instructor at Triton College in River Grove and at the U of I and is, in his own words, “ back yet again in that wonderful old neighborhood.”

Peter’s book “Cop on the Scene,” is a wonderful small paperback containing about 77 short essays depicting many of his life’s experiences “on the job,” as a person sworn to serve and protect, as a first responder, as a sensitive human being, experiencing all the pathos and drama of living in these difficult times — the jobs, the challenges, the highs and lows of being in law enforcement.

Some essays are as short as a page and a half, others no longer than eight pages.

In his own words: “These are brief essays of what police officers encounter every day and each night. Police intersect with the lives of others during times of crisis, when these goodly citizens have done something wrong, or bizarre, or careless, or when something has been done to them by other good citizens … these interactions are brief, inexplicable and lack the tidy beginning, middle, and end to be found so neatly packaged in police novels and movies.”

After retiring from the police force, Puleo accepted a job at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois to teach criminal justice for 13 years and retired as an associate professor in 2013. It was during that happy time that his four grandsons and four granddaughters were born, the blessed and wonderful gifts to him and Janet from their daughters and three fine sons-in-law. Paul Russo, husband of Stephanie and prominent national real estate developer with offices in Chicago, says of his father-in-law, “Peter has been a wonderful patriarch, welcoming and supportive, and for him and his two young sons, Pete’s grandsons, serves as a wonderful role model — someone to emulate and look up to.”

In his own words, Peter says: “This seems like a long journey, as it is for any man, and yet it seems so short and it passed so quickly.” He wrote his book “Cop on the Scene: Life and Death on the Street” as a memoir of his 25 years on a police force. It is part lyrical, part action, part philosophical, part humorous, and all true as he lived and experienced it.

He writes sort of like Norman Mailer and he writes of Damon Runyonesque characters. Like the short story titled “Actress,” about a woman he met on a well-being call, that brought to his mind, MacBeth, Act I, Scene III. “She had the look. Irrational behavior caused by mental illness … of course, insanity is internal and pointedly manifests itself in behavior … the unfocused stare, the inappropriate laugh, the twitch, the immobile facial rictus, the mussed hair, the unshaven slovenliness. She had the look. It was a dismally cold and winter evening when we got the call … “

Like the story “Dinnertime” about a domestic disturbance call that ended with a “t-bone on skull-bone.”

“Domestic disturbance calls are job security for the policing profession. Even in some future Eden, when all criminals mend their ways and become men of the cloth or women of the veil, there will be enough disturbances to provide a few police careers.”

Or the story titled “Bottled Ferocity,” an example of the impact on the never ending activities of the cop on the street.

“It emboldens some. It sickens some. It dulls some. Some it thrills, others it angers. Some get happier with each drop drained, and the night weans on, and the long slow process continues among cigarettes, and insane humor, and idle chatter, and tales of loves lost told loudly amidst the background roar of music.”

Or in “Entomology,” a story of aging and hopelessness, a reality in every big city in America:

“Today’s emphasis on compassion and euphemisms would designate him as a ‘homeless man.’ A few decades ago, he was simply a ‘bum.’ He was merely a ‘vagrant’ in police language when I got a call to check him out … His slack-jawed mouth showed several remaining teeth of banana yellow, precariously cantilevered this way and that. He might have just hopped off a time machine from some plague infested back alley of a medieval European city. Years before, I had seen an old photograph of a mendicant in a sociology text book. I never thought I would see one in real life, yet there he was in front of me. Of course, police work isn’t real life, it is surreal, and there you have it.”

“Cop on the Scene: Life and Death on the Street” by Peter J. Puleo, was published and distributed by Litchfield Literary Books. (www.litchfieldliterarybooks.com, (866-248-7924))

The book is available on Amazon.com in both paperback and as a Kindle ebook.

A wonderful profile of a “guy from the neighborhood” who wrote a terrific little book after a diverse, interesting career. Another example of the best of our community.

This month we highlight the very distinguished career of Eugene A. DiMonte and Riccardo A. DiMonte, father and son and alter egos of the north suburban law firm of DiMonte & Lizak. Gene, and now his exceptionally talented son, Riccardo, have been significant influences in our Chicagoland community for many decades and in no small part, our ethnic community. They contribute time, effort and talent to making Park Ridge and the Chicagoland community a better place with their quality legal services and their contributions to the improvement of the Italian condition in these areas.

I’d like to introduce them to our readers in their own words, starting with Gene.

“My parents each immigrated here from Italy in their late teens and met here in Chicago. My father was from Caramanico in Abruzzo. My mother was from Montefalcone di Valfortore, Province of Benevento, Campania region. My wife, MaryRita’s parents and sister were born in Friuli Venezia Giulia. She was born here in Chicago.

“I was born in 1936 in Chicago, Illinois. We lived in my grandfather’s house at 3920 Lexington Street. In 1946 our family moved to Stevensville, MI, along with two other uncles. I attended a two room school house there. We returned to Chicago in 1950 to the southwest side of Chicago. I attended Kelly High School and graduated in 1958. I received a bachelor of science in commerce degree (BSC) from DePaul University in 1958 and a JSD degree from DePaul in 1961. I never worked for a law firm and started my own practice after law school with a bit of help from an older lawyer.

“My primary initial area of practice was construction and real estate law which transitioned into zoning and real estate development. The practice then grew into a general corporate practice including banking and employment law. We also have a new strong estate planning group.

“We presently have 26 lawyers in our firm and 21 staff personnel. We occupy our own building at 216 Higgins Road in Park Ridge.

“All through law school I worked as a heating and air conditioning salesman on a commission basis to pay my own way through college and law school. I have never worked for a salary.

“My father was a contractor and kept me busy weekends and summers. Between school, music, and work I never had time to get in trouble.

“I played the tuba in many bands and orchestras including the Chicago Civic Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera Orchestra. Because of the time constraints, I quit playing during college and unfortunately have never resumed doing so even though I still have an instrument and fool with it every once in a while.

“My main hobby is raising and training bird dogs and hunting.

“My wife MaryRita and I were married after the first year of law school with two years to go to complete my studies in law. We have three sons, two of them were born before taking the bar exam. They are Riccardo, Rinaldo, and Alfredo.

“In addition to my law practice, I have been very active in land development forming numerous ventures for that purpose.”

And now, in Rick’s own words:

As my father mentioned, my father and mother’s parents immigrated here from Italy. My mother’s family was from northern Italy and my father’s family was from southern Italy. You can genuinely say that I am, and my two brothers are, the product of a mixed marriage!

My parents met at DePaul University attending college and my father law school. They married in 1959 and I was born literally nine months later in June of 1960. Although my younger brother Ron and I were not aware of it, we both attended my father’s graduation from law school in 1961. Although we were too young to remember, we are both very proud that we attended his graduation ceremony.

I was very lucky to have (and I still have) such wonderful parents. With my grandparents’ Italian cultural background, we were raised very “Italian,” i.e., Catholic School, church every Sunday, frequent correspondence with our Italian relatives here in America and in Italy, Italian food at home and big Italian celebrations for religious holidays like Christmas and Easter, and American holidays like Thanksgiving and Fourth of July. Of course, my grandparents discouraged my father from learning Italian because it was very important for us to assimilate into the American culture, which I believe we have done.

As I mentioned above, I was born in 1960 in Oak Park where my parents had an apartment overlooking construction of the new Congress Expressway. A few years later, we bought a house in Elmwood Park, demolished it, and built two three-flats with family occupying adjacent units just like good Italians should do. In 1967, my parents and their three boys moved from Elmwood Park to South Barrington, Illinois, which was somewhat of a cultural shock but a very nice change for three boys to grow up in a semi-rural environment where we could enjoy the outdoors on a daily basis. My brothers and I attended St. Anne’s grammar school in Barrington and St. Viator High School (for boys) in Arlington Heights.

In terms of the law practice, I was very lucky to have such a hard-working and competent lawyer for a father. We spent a lot of time together on the weekends going hunting and fishing and his law cases and legal principles were a frequent topic of our discussions. For example, I was reading the Mark Twain classic “Huckleberry Finn” and didn’t know what the word “mortgage” meant. After I asked my father the meaning of the word during our next automobile ride, rest assured I knew what I meant at a very young age.

As a young man, I made up my mind that wearing a suit and working in an office was for sissies. I therefore started a landscaping business with my two younger brothers in approximately 1972. The business grew throughout the greater Barrington area, my brothers bought me out when I went to college, and my younger brother has raised a family and put four kids through college operating that business to this very day, 40 years later!

After landscaping, I became a logger and worked in the woods in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Although I loved working outdoors whether it was landscaping, logging, or construction, I quickly realized that manual labor would limit me and I immediately returned to college and applied for law school. I think my parents were very surprised after I spent 18 years convincing them that neither office work nor wearing suits and ties were for me. Now I have been wearing suits and ties continuously for 30 years practicing law so what did I know anyway?

I graduated from DePaul Law School in 1985 and worked as both a law clerk and a collection agent during law school. My collection agency business was primarily for court reporters so I collected money from every law firm in the city for court reporters’ attendance, deposition and trial transcripts. Since we had no cell phones or email, I personally visited over 100 law firms every year.

Once I graduated from law school, I had offers from several of the larger firms for higher salaries but my father convinced me that a small firm practice would put me ahead of my classmates in short order. I trusted and took his advice, joined his firm and we have grown from six lawyers in 1985 to 25 lawyers in 2015. Our five-year strategic plan puts us at 30 lawyers within the next two years.

In terms of law practice specialties, my dad was always a generalist doing both transactional work and litigation. I decided to specialize in commercial litigation early because I loved business (I earned my bachelor’s degree in business administration) and I loved the challenge of trial work as well. Over the years, I have progressed from collections to construction law and mechanic’s lien, bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosures, business divorce and sophisticated, multiple party commercial litigation of many types. I have tried two lottery prize cases to verdict and dabbled in all types of litigation including personal injury and federal civil rights.

I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish here at DiMonte & Lizak, LLC. We have a group of very hardworking and intelligent, dedicated attorneys who practice at a very high level with very high standards and discipline. Our associate training program and mentoring is excellent and young attorneys join our firm to get hands-on experience in transactional and litigation work early in their careers.”

Michael worked in other positions in the financial field, including, from 2006 to 2013 for Direxion Investments in Chicago, as Senior Regional Director. In this position, he promoted and marketed alternative investment strategy mutual funds and ETFs to Wire House, Independent Financial Advisors in numerous states. He successfully raised well in excess of $600 million in mutual fund assets through 2013 and ranked first or second for new producers in net sales during his time at Direxion.

Prior to Direxion, he began his career at MFS/Sun Life Financial, working his way up five positions, from Teleservices Representative to Vice President. From 1993 to 1998, he was a Teleservices Rep, where he responded to shareholder and top producing representatives, worked on account processing, and generated leads for the external sales force. From 1998 to 2000, he was an Inside Wholesaler, where he promoted and marketed MFS Mutual Funds and Annuities within Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. From 2000 to 2002, he was the Senior Sales Representative for Insurance Products, where he promoted and marketed MFS Annuities for the western division of the company. From 2002 to 2003, he was the Business Development Manager, where he promoted and marketed all MFS products and services in the North East. He was recognized as a top three producing advisor for gross sales and new producers in 2003. Finally, he was promoted to Vice President and Regional Manager in 2003, where he was recognized for increasing sales by 98% in 2004 and finished top 5 of 40 territories in 2005 and 2006.

A graduate of the highly respected Ivy League school of Boston University, he has licenses as Series 6, 63 Securities Licenses and IL Insurance License, as well as a being a Certified Continuing Education Instructor.
From time to time, in response to our request for information for purposes of highlighting a given career, we receive a narrative that, because of the quality and sincerity, requires it to be published in the subject’s own words. Now in his own most charming and illuminating words, more history of this month’s professional from our community.

“Leonard, I’m incredibly flattered by your note dated March 26, 2015, and that you would think of me for one of your monthly columns in Fra Noi. Honestly, I’m not sure how to respond. Certainly, let’s meet and have a conversation first, and then we can decide together if that makes sense. My career has lasted 22 years and I’ve certainly had success and quietly made a difference in people’s lives. Of course, my dedication is to my wife, Karah, and my amazing daughter Mia Angelene Matarazzo.

“For perspective, I would like to take a moment and share, I’m a very sincere man and hold myself to the highest standard of ethics and integrity. Growing up in Cambridge, Mass., and of humble beginnings, my family values were formed by a working mom taking care of three children, going to school to get a master’s in education, and running the Department of Children’s Family Services in Lynn, Mass. (one of the toughest neighborhoods in the Boston area), in her 20s. She is one of my mentors and just a wonderful human being. Unfortunately, my parents divorced when I was very young. In many ways, this personal family struggle has shaped my values and character as a man.

“I have always felt a strong pride for my Italian heritage (as well as my Irish heritage) and recall spending time with my grandfather’s mom from Italy when I was a preteen. Speaking very broken English, she would go on and on and of course, I could not understand one word. Another strong woman in my life is my Italian grandmother, who I affectionately refer to as Nana, will turn 95 on April 3. She’s an example of strength, family values, and perseverance. She grew up in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a working class community, overcame poverty, wars, and the depression though always kept our family together. She and I are very close today and I have such fond memories of her throughout my life. Her parents, Angela and Valentino Nista, emigrated from a small town northeast of Naples called Sant’ Arcangelo Trimonte.”

John P. Pelissero, Ph.D., became interim president at Loyola University Chicago on July 1, having previously served as provost. He is also a political science professor at Loyola, where he has been a member of the faculty for 30 years. He joined Loyola’s Department of Political Science as an assistant professor in 1985, was promoted to associate professor in 1988, and then to professor in 1993. He served as chairperson of the Department of Political Science from 1999 to 2002.

Dr. Pelissero’s university leadership roles began in 2003 with his appointment as the first associate provost for curriculum development. He led the development of a new undergraduate core curriculum and supervised academic services, assessment, and learning technology. From 2005 to 2010 he was vice provost for the Division of Academic Affairs, responsible for budgeting, enrollment management, faculty development, and institutional research.

He was named provost in May 2010. As the University’s chief academic officer, he lead academic affairs, including two colleges, seven schools, two institutes, the University Centers of Excellence, and University Libraries. He was responsible for enrollment management and strategic planning, as well as oversight of the Division of Student Development. He served as a member of the President’s Cabinet, the Council of Deans, two committees of the Board of Trustees, the Budget Review Team, and the Development Council.

Dr. Pelissero earned his BA in political science from Marquette University in 1975. He holds a MA in political science and a MPA from the University of Oklahoma. He received his PhD in political science from the University of Oklahoma in 1983. He was a member of the faculty at Texas A&M University from 1983-85.

His academic specializations include urban politics and management, state politics, and intergovernmental relations. He has also conducted extensive research on Chicago and its politics. He has published dozens of articles in political science journals and two books: Managing Urban America, 7th ed., Washington: CQ Press, 2012, (with David R. Morgan and Robert E. England) and Cities, Politics and Policy: A Comparative Analysis. Washington: CQ Press, 2003.

Before beginning his academic career, he was an Army officer, a captain in the Adjutant General Corps. He and his wife, Paula, have lived in Skokie for 30 years. They have two adult children. Their daughter, Carolyn is married to Nick Moretti, who is co-owner of an Italian deli and butcher shop and restaurant, the Chop Shop, in Bucktown. Their son, Steven, is a restaurant manager with Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants in Chicago.

As for his Italian background, his father, John F. Pelissero, was a first generation Italian. His mother, Mary Lou, is Irish. His father was a butcher and food store manager in Bessemer, Michigan (in the Upper Peninsula). Pelissero’s grandparents both emigrated from Italy in the early 1900s. His grandfather, Peter (Pierino) Pelissero was from Meana di Susa, in the Torino district of Piedmonte. He settled in Bessemer, as did many Italians from Meana di Susa, to work in the iron ore mines. He served in the US Army during WWI. His grandmother, Alma Barbacovi, was from Tres, in the Trentino-Alto Adige region. She followed her five brothers who settled in Bessemer. Pelissero has visited with relatives in both Meana di Susa and Tres, Italy, and was able to see the homes in which his grandparents had lived as children.

He has five brothers and three still live in or near Bessemer, Michigan, as does his 85-year old mother. He still visits Bessemer whenever he can and his family has had a cottage on Lake Gogebic for many years. Bessemer and nearby Hurley, Wisconsin, still have large Italian communities, from which he learned a great deal about his heritage.

Dr. Pelissero is a member of the City Club of Chicago, a director of the The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies, and a past member and president of Skokie School District 73.5. He and his wife, Paula, a human resources consultant, live in Skokie.

Of his dad, Jim says, “He had a neighborhood office and one downtown. He mostly represented individual clients. He did a good job for them. That influenced me the most about becoming a lawyer.” One of the things that makes him most proud is when he walks down the street and runs into lawyers who knew his dad, and they say, “Boy, your dad was great. He helped me with this or with that.”

Montana completed his undergraduate degree at the respected Jesuit institution in the east, Georgetown. From there, he went on to study law at Northwestern University School of Law.

After law school, Montana went to work at the Wall Street firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. He joined the firm’s litigation department. After three years, Montana decided to return to Chicago and join the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As an assistant U.S. attorney, Montana worked under former Gov. James R. Thompson who was then the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “I not only served under him at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, but when he became governor, he appointed me to do certain things as outside counsel to the Governor’s Office.” Montana says Thompson respected Montana so much that he called on him to assist when the 1982 gubernatorial election was contested. He also called on him for important assignments while he was governor.

In 1983, Thompson appointed Montana to the Illinois Court of Claims.

After leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Montana spent eight years in private practice focusing on white-collar criminal defense, parallel administrative proceedings, and litigation. Then in 1993, he became chief legal counsel to Gov. James Edgar.

Montana is very proud that he served two Illinois governors. “Governor Edgar was great to work with,” Montana says. “It wasn’t hard to be his general counsel. He listened to me. He paid attention to the things I said.”

When Montana left the Governor’s Office, he became senior vice president and general counsel at Bally’s Entertainment Corporation, a national gaming entity, which then was headquartered in Chicago even though they had no Illinois casinos.

Montana was also on the Bally’s compliance committee, which made sure the gaming company followed all of the regulations in all of the states where it operated. The committee also reviewed the backgrounds of people being hired in major positions to uncover any issues from the past.

Bally’s was eventually purchased by Hilton, which did not need a headquarters in Chicago, so the office was closed. “I was asked to stay on with the company, but I would have had to relocate to Atlantic City or Vegas,” says Montana. He declined.

After spending five years as a partner at DLA Piper, Montana joined Vedder Price. He served as the head of the litigation department for three years.

Montana also handles some gaming law because of his experience as general counsel at Bally’s. He previously represented Caesar’s in connection with their unsuccessful effort to secure the 10th casino license in Rosemont.

Shortly after he joined Vedder Price, he was elected as the litigation practice area leader (from 1997 to 2002) and served very ably in that role. “I have really been involved in a lot of different and varied things in my legal career,” says Montana, “and because of my experience, I get called on a lot at Vedder to help with various things.” For example, because of his former general counsel role to the governor, if someone has an issue with the state of Illinois, Montana gets called in by his fellow partners to assist with whatever issues they are having.

On July 1, 2015, Montana set up his own law office at 20 S. Clark, where he will continue to work on white collar criminal cases, litigation, gaming and government relations, as well as acting as an arbitrator.

Montana is an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association assisting on commercial litigation matters. He works either as a single arbitrator or as part of a panel of three.

He is on the board of directors of the Chicago Special Olympics which meets monthly. “They are so dedicated. It’s a wonderful thing to watch. I help out in any way I can,” says Montana.

Montana has served on the board of the foundation and been a volunteer. He has also been a longtime participant in the Investing in Justice Campaign and a member of the Lincoln Circle.

Montana is member of Sen. Mark Kirk’s judicial selection committee, which makes recommendations to the senator for judicial vacancies for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.

Most recently, during his tenure as Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn appointed Jim to be a public member of the Illinois Medical Disciplinary Board. The board meets twice each month to review complaints against Illinois physicians for violations of the Medical Practice Act and can recommend probation, suspension, revocation or other sanctions. Montana’s four-year appointment to the unpaid position began in February 2014, and was recently reappointed by Governor Rauner as a member of this board.

Mr. Montana is a frequent speaker and lecturer, having served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola School of Law, where he taught Advanced Trial Practice. For many years he served as an instructor in the Midwest Region and Boulder, Colorado, for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), which trains lawyers in trial skills.

Montana has five children. None of them are lawyers. “I don’t understand it,” he says. He has a son who is a doctor in Ely, Minn., two daughters who are working moms, a son who works for a private equity firm in California, and a son who is a Tulane graduate. He has eight grandchildren. Montana’s wife, Lori, was director of the Illinois State Lottery for six years.

Umberto Davi of Willowbrook, a principal in the Western Springs Law Firm of Umberto S. Davi P.C., was installed as president of the Illinois State Bar Association at the organization’s 139th Annual Meeting on June 19 at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis.

“Umberto is not only a lawyer’s lawyer, he is a gentleman’s gentleman,” Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride stated as he swore Davi in as president. “He brings to the presidency a classic combination of leadership, professionalism, humor, compassion, and the heart and soul of a hardworking small law firm lawyer.”

As the first immigrant to be sworn-in as president of the ISBA, Davi was proud to provide and display the Italian flag alongside the American flag at the ceremony. “I want to publicly thank this great country for welcoming and accepting my mother and her three children 50 years ago and for allowing us to earn money and become educated,” Davi stated from the podium. “Most importantly, I want to give thanks that my family could experience the American Dream.”

Davi came to America in 1964 with his mother and two younger brothers. His 42-year-old father had tragically died in an accident so his mother brought her family to America for better opportunity, independence and the freedom to attain her dreams. According to Umberto Davi, “my mother’s hopes and dreams were realized because she was able to earn a living, be independent, and raise and educate her children.” While Davi still maintains close ties to his family in Sicily to this day, he also realizes that his mother’s decision to move to America was the right one and has provided him even greater opportunities to grow, advance his career, and meet an expanded network of Italian Americans.

Like so many other first generation immigrants, it was quite a challenge for Umberto and his family to learn the language and acclimate to life in American, especially under the circumstances of having lost his father at a young age and being the oldest sibling, where he had to assume adult responsibilities also at a young age.

Nevertheless, he rose to the challenges along the way and through hard work and perseverance he dedicated himself to his profession, his family, his heritage, and to giving back to his community. According to ISBA President Leonard Amari, “Umberto is respected, charismatic, bright, and articulate and serves as a wonderful Bar association and community leader. He is a wonderful role model for those that follow him from The Justinian Society. Umberto climbed the ladder of the American Dream and makes sure that the ladder is there for those that follow him.”

During his year as president, Davi will concentrate on several initiatives. He will establish a special committee charged with exploring the expansion of the 711 limited law license that would enable qualifying law school students to work more directly with private law firm clients and to be able to appear in court. In addition, he will establish a special task force to address the implications of new client service approaches in certain legal matters, such as the Limited License Legal Technicians program recently enacted in the state of Washington.

A third initiative will focus on providing another practice tool – a library of Illinois-specific, automated legal forms for members of the association. Davi will also continue work to expand the Courtroom in the Classroom program, a joint project with the Illinois Judges Association. He will support the ongoing work of a task force examining necessary changes to what law schools teach students and he will bring substantive and management educational programs to members around the state, through a series of one day Solo and Small Firm Practice Institutes.

“It is a privilege and an honor to serve as president of such a significant organization as the Illinois State Bar Association,” Davi stated. “As the first to hold this position and remaining true to my Italian heritage, I am committed to leading with integrity, honesty, professionalism and compassion.”

Davi, whose law practice concentrates in family law and real estate, was elected to the ISBA Board of Governors in 1998 and re-elected in 2004, 2008 and 2011. Since becoming an ISBA member in 1982, he has served as an elected member of its 203-member Assembly, as secretary and treasurer of the organization and has been active on numerous committees.

Davi is active in several other bar associations including the DuPage Chapter Justinian Society of Lawyers, DuPage Bar Associaton, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, and The Illinois Bar Foundation to name a few. He is on the Board of Governors of the West Suburban Bar Association and is a member of Western Springs Business Association.

Davi was the Award Recipient of the Justice Anthony M. Peccarelli Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication As A Trial Attorney and also received the Justice Anthony Sbabarro Excellence in Mentoring Award. Davi has also been elected by his peers as a SuperLawyer for the past four years.

A past president of the Justinian Society of Lawyers and Willowbrook Police Pension Board, Davi is a Willowbrook Village Trustee. He helped establish the Sicilian American Cultural Association and is a lifetime member of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans.

Davi received his law degree from The John Marshall Law School, with Distinction, in 1982. A member of the school’s alumni board, he served as its president in 2005-06 and served as a trustee on the School Board of Directors. He received his undergraduate degree in 1976 from Western Illinois University, in Macomb, where he was a member of the National Honor Society.

The 33,000-member ISBA (isba.org), with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides professional services to Illinois lawyers, and education and services to the public through a website (illinoislawyerfinder.com), consumer brochures, and distribution of legal information.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Ursitti received her Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell University in Nutritional Sciences and then earned her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Tufts University in Boston. She spent two years in New York City practicing General Dentistry at Cornell University-New York Hospital before completing her advanced specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1995. She graduated with a specialty certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and in conjunction with her training at UIC, won a National Award from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for research she conducted on Pharmacological Agents for Behavior Management.

Dr. Ursitti has been in private practice since 1995 and opened All About Kids Dentistry in January 2002. She is a Diplomate and Fellow of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and for many years enjoyed teaching as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She serves as a state Fluoride Spokesperson for the American Dental Association and has taken Media Training for the position.

She is an active member of the American Dental Association, where she will serve as a Delegate to the ADA House in Washington D.C., Illinois State Dental Society; Chicago Dental Society; American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; an associate member of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentistry; The Arcolian Dental Arts Society, where she served as President in 2011; and the International Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Recently she was inducted as a Fellow to the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. This year she is serves as the President of the Northwest Suburban Branch of the Chicago Dental Society and Treasurer of the Independent Dental Organization of the Chicago Dental Society.

To keep her practice current, Dr. Ursitti attends national and international conferences on Pediatric Dentistry and Nutrition. She often lectures to professional organizations and is very active in the Northwest Suburbs. Dr. Ursitti and her practice staff devote many hours to providing educational programs throughout the community and volunteer their services to groups of underserved children. They have also participated in the last three Missions of Mercy and look forward to the next one. She is a member of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce and St. James Social Committee, and sponsors children’s events in support of local charities. She is an avid downhill skier, participates in Boot Camp Exercising, choral singing, and enjoys traveling and Italian cooking. She resides in Arlington Heights with her husband Patrick and son, Gianni.

When asked why Judge Rossi became a judge, he provided his judicial philosophy: “I’ve never run for office because I wanted to be someone, but rather because I want to do something. My goals in becoming a circuit court judge are to promote appreciation for the legal profession, promote continued respect to the Will County Judiciary, keep our streets safe and, in general, ensure that the tough decisions that are to be made are correctly made through common sense and a conservative judicial approach. I believe that these are the qualities one needs to run for judge.”

Judge Rossi served with great distinction as Village President (Mayor) of Frankfort for 12 years from 1993 to 2005, making significant advances for its residences. During that time, he was instrumental in lowering the tax rate in each of his twelve years while also instituting a tax rebate program for residents and creating a surplus each year. He achieved over $12,000,000 in grants, oversaw construction of a new police station that was paid by funds on-hand, multiplied economic growth, revitalized the downtown district, orchestrated development of parks and recreation facilities and created numerous communication tools to interact with community.

His civic work also includes the volunteer position as Chairperson of the South Suburban Tollway Authority (3rd Extension), Executive Committee member of the Chicago Area Transportation Council (“CATS”) and Grand Knight (President) of the Knights of Columbus Council 9770. He was nominated by Governor Edgar and twice confirmed by the Senate to be a volunteer member of the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority. He has been a Frankfort Township Committeeman, elected every 2 years from approximately 1984 to present, no small feat, started the Frankfort Main Street program and was the founder, head coach and President of the Falcons Wrestling Club that provides wrestling instruction to youth 5 days a week for 5 months of each year. Besides being a terrific elected official, his involvement with youth athletics demonstrates another side of this dynamic successful Italian-American. A man who truly cares about his community and people in general.

Judge “Raymondo” has authored and published cutting edge legal articles, been a long-time arbitrator (Panel Chairman), a long-time member of the Frankfort Lions and Knights of Columbus, was a leader on the Frankfort elementary School Action Plan Committee (Education Foundation study) and an Executive Board of Directors member of the Rainbow Council of Boy Scouts of America. He was also an elected Frankfort Township Trustee, Chairman of a Plan Commission, President, officer and director of a local homeowners association, on the Will County Board Old Plank Trail Committee, received the Service to Community Award of the Italian American Political Coalition, the political voice of our community, and been a member of the Pro Bono Panel-Trial Bar, U. S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois and Will County Pro Bono Advocates. Finally, like with his coaching of youth wrestling in his community, he was also a boys’ baseball coach, a member of his church’s Administration Council, a member of the Executive Board of Frankfort Township Central Committee and recognized for service to the Will County Board. Clearly, a man for all seasons – a man who understands the concepts of “giving back” and “paying it forward.”

In his own words, the kindly and humble public servant and judge talks about his ethnic background: “I was born and raised in Chicago Heights until I was fourteen years of age and have fond memories of Mt. Carmel grade school and mass at the legendary San Rocco Church, both on the famous “hill.” The judge is two thirds Marchigiano and one third Calabrese, but he is sad to say he never met relatives in his homeland. His son, Carmen Rossi, an individual making his own place in the community (e.g., recently appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to the significant Landmarks Commission Board) says of his distinguished dad:

“It makes it easy to find a role model when you live under the same roof as a man who has committed every living minute of his life to his family, his career and his civic and philanthropic responsibilities. He is my best friend. “

Jesuit educated, David T. Arena received his undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago, concentrating in political science and graduated with honors in 1993. While in college, an obvious precursor to his accomplishments as a lawyer, he was involved in the Lakeshore Student Government Association, was a member of Phi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society, a recipient of a Presidential Scholarship, and a Dean’s List student. David received his law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio, Cum Laude in 1996. While in law school he honed the tenacity he brought as a trial attorney into the practice of law through experiences such as participating in 1995-1996 on the Moot Court Board of Governors; 1995 American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition; American Inns of Court, just to mention a few of the accomplishments while studying law.

Presently, and since 1996, David has been with the law firm of another community leader, Gene DiMonte, who along with his son Riccardo, among others, are DiMonte & Lizak, LLC. This highly respected, multi-tasked law firm is located in Park Ridge, with more than 25 attorneys with a goal to expand. This is a highly respected mid-sized law firm that offers attorneys, especially David Arena, skilled in multiple practice areas.

Of his charismatic partner, Riccardo DiMonte says, “We have worked together for 20 years and he has always been extremely conscientious and diligent concerning every case we’ve brought to court. David has always been careful with the facts and the law. He’s also a friendly and well-liked individual with a great sense of humor.”

An accomplishment to the tenacity and legal skills of the firm of DiMonte & Lizak and David Arena is perfectly exemplified in a 2014 matter involving a longtime business owner in Mount Prospect against the Village and members of its administration. In July of 2014, DiMonte & Lizak’s litigation team, coordinated by Riccardo DiMonte, David Arena, and others, obtained a favorable settlement for their client against the Village of Mount Prospect. In the lawsuit, various Village employees and the Village of Mount Prospect were alleged to have violated the Civil RICO Statute, highly unusual application of this federal statute, which is another example of the foresight of the abilities of this firm and David Arena. The allegation was that this proprietor of a small pizza shop’s civil rights were violated in an effort to force the client to sell his property for less than fair market value. On the eve of trial, the firm recovered for its client the whopping sum of a $6.5 million settlement and resolved the dispute that had been pending for approximately six years. Again, this is just an example of David T. Arena’s tenacity and skill, and that of his law firm’s, to competently handle complex legal matters.

When I asked this month’s subject for his ethnic history, smartly, he went to his Dad for details. Here, in Paul Arena’s own words, is the history of this Arena family, in America.

“Grandpa John Arena was born in Torre Faro, Sicily in June 1908 and Grandma Maria Barca Arena in Villaggio Paradiso near Messina, in February 1914. Grandpa was in the merchant marine for a few years and after that he was in the Italia Navy. After he was discharged he married Grandma and he made a connection with someone that was working in the motion picture industry in Rome. He was offered a position to be a distributor on movie films in Eritrea, at that time part of Ethiopia. The territory covered all the Italian colony and part of Somalia. A year after, I was born in Asmara in 1940 and two years later your uncle Aldo was born there. Since this was an Italian colony, Asmara was like an Italian city and everyone spoke Italian. Aldo and I were baptized and attended services in a beautiful Cathedral and went to Catholic grammar school. Grandpa purchased two movie theaters which he sold to my uncle Stefano in 1950 when we moved back to Italy.

We relocated to Torre Faro for about 6 months and when Grandpa started in movie distributorship in Calabria, Italy. We moved to Villa San Giovanni were your uncle Sal was born. Soon after that, we moved to Cosenza (Calabria) where we resided until he decided that it was in the best interest of his children to move to the United States in December 1955.

Since he could not speak English, Grandpa had no chance to get any positions in the movies industry so he worked in a factory with my uncle Joe until he retired and Grandma worked in a factory as a seamstress. My brothers and I went to high school in Newark NJ and College in the same area; I served six years in a medical Army Reserve Unit during the Vietnam War. I met your mom in high School and we married in Newark.”

Of his protégé and young partner, the Senior Partner of the firm, the highly respected Gene DiMonte says: “David is an aggressive lawyer, but at the same time, an ethical one and a polite and nice person.”