After being a fixture in the Chicago culinary scene for decades, Joe Monastero has taken his passion for the restaurant industry to a whole new level as an executive for the Texas Restaurant Association.

As chief revenue officer of the Texas Restaurant Association, Joe Monastero knows the Italian dining scene in Texas like few others.

Monastero also serves as trustee for the Catering Executives Club of America board (where he is past chairman and president) and is the immediate past co-chairman of the Milan-Chicago Committee of Sister Cities International.

Now residing in Austin, Texas, Monastero grew up less than a mile from his family’s now-closed Monastero’s Ristorante & Banquets in Chicago, and remains deeply connected to the city.

He talks to Fra Noi about the “satisfying and bittersweet” decision to close Monastero’s, his work experience in the culinary and education fields, and what it’s like maintaining his Italian-American cultural identity in Texas.

ELENA FERRARIN: You grew up immersed in Monastero’s Ristorante & Banquets. Tell us about your roles there and what you learned over the years.

JOE MONASTERO: Dad’s philosophy was that you had to do all jobs within the restaurant — from peeling 50 pounds of potatoes to every role within the dining room, kitchen, banquets and back office. I’m blessed to have experienced it all, because there are practical life skills that can only be learned in a restaurant. Working with my parents, uncle, sister and cousin was incredible — think “Big Night” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” merged with a nice, loud Sicilian and operatic soundtrack.

EF: How did it feel when Monastero’s closed in 2017 after 55 years in business?

JM: I had made my father a promise that we would go out on a high note, and that’s exactly what we did. We finished with a 55th anniversary weekend that no one will ever forget. In 55 years, we witnessed every economic twist and turn: Vietnam, the First Gulf War, 9/11, the Second Gulf War and the 2008 recession. I’m incredibly grateful that during the COVID-19 pandemic my parents could watch from home, not worrying about what we would do as business owners.

EF: You worked for Kendall College from 2010 to 2015, including as adjunct chef instructor and ending as director of strategy and global development. What was the highlight of your experience?

JM: A three-week favor to a friend turned into an opportunity to recapture my passion for the industry. I absolutely loved working with the students. The school taught traditional French culinary techniques, and I gave them a little bit of the nonconforming, passion-filled, incredibly rich elements of Italian cuisine. Also, developing relationships with key companies that supported education was an adventure. Facilitating the creation of the first U.S. culinary-school curriculum and dedicated kitchen to teach the sous-vide technique with its “founder” Bruno Goussault was incredible.

EF: You joined Study Group in 2016, ending as vice president of partnerships for higher education in North America. What was that job like?

JM: My role was to promote U.S. university programs and experiences to more than 145 countries. It was challenging, fun and rewarding, and included a lot of international travel. One of the highlights was #YouAreWelcomeHere, a campaign we launched in 2017 geared at reminding international students that, no matter the political climate in the United States, all are welcome on our campuses. We received a MarCom gold award in 2017 for crisis communications management for that campaign.

EF: Why did you join the TRA in 2019?

JM: First, I was reaching almost a decade in a constant state of jet lag from all the international travel. Second, the restaurant industry is as much in my blood as my Sicilian temper or cooking being my love language. Plus, Emily Williams Knight, the TRA president, was my boss at Kendall and Study Group. She is my best friend, big sister and key mentor all in one. When she was hired for the role and there was a spot for me as well, it was like coming home.

EF: Texas is a major lifestyle change from Chicago. What was that like?

JM: After commuting back and forth, I moved to Austin in fall 2021. I came with an open mind, and it’s been a great experience. There is a lot of generalization and stereotyping about Texas. I’ve been to nearly every corner of Texas to visit the 23 chapters of the TRA, and I’ve never seen anyone outside of law enforcement with an open-carry firearm. People are incredibly warm and welcoming. They say “yes ma’am/sir” regardless of rank, status or age. There is true Southern hospitality — a climate that makes a Sicilian very much feel at home — and incredible diversity, especially in the culinary scene.

EF: What is the Italian restaurant scene like in Texas?

JM: Depends where you are! Dallas and Houston have a great Italian food scene, and small pockets of Italian immigrants at the turn of the 20th century gave way to some great spots in places like Beaumont, Galveston and Waco. Also, while not as abundant as Chicago, New York or Miami, there’s a growing influx of authentic Italian restaurants in Texas.

EF: Italian Americans represent only about 1.9% of the population in Texas. How do you maintain your Italian-American cultural identity there?

JM: I’ve had the opportunity to participate in some great events with other Italians and Italian Americans. We have a strong relationship with the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce of Texas, based in Houston, which does a superb job promoting Italian culture. Austin is missing a really good Italian grocery store, so I cook a lot to show my friends and colleagues here what real Italian food is. I also keep in touch regularly with family in Italy through Facebook and WhatsApp. Most of the work team has even gotten used to the random moment when I will answer the phone in Italian or Sicilian.

EF: In 2019, you were named Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella D’Italia. What did this honor mean to you?

JM: I was raised with an intense sense of duty to our culture and to helping bring an understanding to the United States of today’s Italian culture. There are so many Italian Americans of third, fourth and fifth generation who have no idea what today’s Italy is like. The work I did was not just to satisfy the expectations of my father, but also to truly help build a bridge between America, Italophiles and Italian Americans, so they can understand what being an Italian today actually means.

EF: You attribute part of your success and work ethic to the example set by your father and uncle. Can you tell us more about that and your drive to succeed?

JM: I’m pretty sure that George Lucas stole the phrase “There is no try” for Yoda from my father. We were raised to study, work hard and never accept something as enough. If you’re going to do it, do it with your whole soul, all your energy, and when you think you’ve got it right, see what you could do to make it even better.

The above article appears in the May 2026 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.

To view a sample copy, click here.

To subscribe, click here.

Entering a dark period in his life, acclaimed restaurateur Bruno Abate battled his way back into the light by founding a groundbreaking program at Cook County Jail.

After his mother taught him to deeply appreciate fresh, high-quality food, Italian native Bruno Abate became a successful Chicago-area restaurateur with a mission to help others.

In 2010, Abate founded Recipe for Change, a nonprofit that provides culinary instruction, job skills training, fine arts enrichment and mentorship to detainees at Cook County Jail. Over the last 16 years, about 6,000 people have participated in the nonprofit’s programs.

A resident of Winnetka in suburban Chicago, Abate talks to Fra Noi about his entrepreneurship, moving to Chicago in 1999, starting the nonprofit during a very dark period in his life, and meeting Pope Francis in 2024.

ELENA FERRARIN: Tell us about your passion for food and gastronomy.

BRUNO ABATE: I was born in Naples and raised in Milan. My mom was an amazing chef; she was insanely creative in the way she cooked all types of food, and she let me taste all kinds of different things. When I was older, I worked for eight months in the kitchen with Chef Gualtiero Marchesi, where I learned all the techniques. My passion brought me to explore food and understand Italian ingredients. When I was 26, I opened a company where I provided the best products — prosciutto, caviar, bottarga, parmigiano… all the beautiful things we have in Italy — to food retail stores and hotels. Then I opened a fish company, also providing the best fish.

EF: What led you to move to Chicago?

BA: I was 45 years old. I sold my company in Italy, and I was figuring out what I wanted to do. My brother was here. When I came, I wasn’t going to stay, but then there were some family problems, so I stayed. I met a woman and I got married. My first wife in Italy died of cancer when she was young. I have a daughter and a beautiful grandson in Italy. My second wife and I divorced, but we are still very good friends. And her son, Adriano, I consider my son because he was 5 when I met him.

EF: You own two Italian restaurants, Tocco in Winnetka and Follia in Lake Forest, and you used to own two restaurants in Chicago as well. Is there a common thread among them?

BA: I import everything from Italy. San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil from Calabria and Puglia, balsamic vinegar from Modena, dry pasta from Avellino — everything is imported because I want the best quality. We also import flour from Italy, and we make things in house, like fresh pasta and pinsa (Roman flatbread), and we bake bread every day. My food is very Italian, very authentic. I have an “abbattitore” fridge (which uses the “blast chilling” method to cool food quickly). That’s how sauces stay light and flavorful instead of becoming acidic and heavy on the stomach. We use it for fish, too, so it retains a fresh taste.

EF: Do you like to cook?

BA: I like to cook on my day off, or when I have guests. I do about 20 dinners all over the country. I think I am the only chef in the world who uses silver pans, made completely of silver. Each pan is $2,000 to $4,000. I was inspired by another chef from Milan who had two silver pans.

EF: Does silver make a difference?

BA: Yes, it has natural antibacterial properties and eliminates all the acidity. The flavor is completely different.

EF: How did you start Recipe for Change?

BA: This was a call from God. I started teaching in the juvenile prison in St. Charles. I wrote down, “How can I change the prison system in America?” and I created this beautiful program in Cook County. We work with detainees who are waiting for trial; some of them have been with us for three, five years. I started it in 2010, and it became a nonprofit in 2014.

EF: What does the nonprofit consist of?

BA: We provide culinary instruction, job skills training, fine arts enrichment and mentorship. We have two kitchens, 4,000-square-foot each, and an art studio and a music studio, all inside the jail. We launched a food truck in February so people who come out of the program can have a job for three or four months to make money and start a new life. It will be outside the jail at first, then it will travel in summer. I raised $250,000 to start the food truck, and I am also raising $1 million to add a new bakery for the program. In total I raised $12 million. We have a dedicated team and a board of directors, too.

EF: Where does the funding come from?

BA: We have a lot of friends and supporters like the Rockefeller family and the Crown family. We also got a MacArthur Foundation grant, and there are a lot of people who donate every year.

EF: In order to do all this, you must have worked with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.

BA: Yes, without him all this would not happen. When we talked the first time and I told him what I had in my heart and what I wanted to do, he said, “Do it.”

EF: Are you involved with the day-to-day operations of the nonprofit?

BA: Yes, I go there a few times a week. And my son has also been there for 10 years, he is the program manager.

EF: How has Recipe for Change affected you personally?

BA: In 2010, I was in a very dark place. Business was very bad because of the economy; I had family problems. It was a very tough moment. So, when God gave me this opportunity, I didn’t hesitate. I really understood it was a call from God. From there, day by day, my life changed for better and better. This program gave me the compassion that I have for everyone, to forgive everyone. I am very at peace with myself; I am very serene. Two years ago, I got the pleasure that Pope Francis wanted to meet me. I went to Rome and spent 45 minutes with the Pope and Cardinal Cupich. I still can’t get over it, it was such an unbelievable experience.

EF: What are your goals for the future?

BA: I am opening a beautiful gastronomia store in Lake Forest, a very Italian retail store with the best products, and I am also opening a beautiful piano bar. My goal is not money. I employ almost 90 people, and I want to provide for them. I come from a very humble working family. I started working at 14 and I am now 71. God gave me the blessing to make some money, and my goal for the future is to help more people. More and more.

The above article appears in the March 2026 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.

To view a sample copy, click here.

To subscribe, click here.

A retired university professor, Silvio Laccetti created a foundation to support educational and cultural initiatives, and to inspire others to do the same.

The nonprofit Silvio Laccetti Foundation recognizes individuals and schools in a variety of academic areas and gives out unique donations like public statues.

One of its awards, named after Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi, honors high school seniors who have excelled in promoting the Italian-American legacy. There are also awards in classical studies, STEM, sportsmanship and leadership.

The man behind the enterprise, Silvio Laccetti, taught history and social sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, until his retirement in 2008. He is a retired syndicated national columnist and holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Columbia University.

Laccetti talks to Fra Noi about his drive to establish the foundation, its contributions and how he manages to self-fund the initiative.

ELENA FERRARIN: Tell us about your Italian heritage. Where did your family come from?

SILVIO LACCETTI: I grew up in Fairview, New Jersey, in the late 1940s through 1960s. At that time, the town had a large Italian-American population and one of the first Italian-American mayors in the country. My family came from the Naples area on my mother’s side (San Gennaro) and Abruzzo on my father’s (Vasto).

EF: What does your Italian identity mean to you?

SL: My Italian identity is a major component of my public and private persona. I have always been proud of my heritage. This became especially true upon entering college, when I left behind the Italian-American community I lived in. I proudly wore my most unusual name in all circumstances thereafter.

EF: Why did you want to become a teacher?

SL: I was a science/engineering major who loved historical studies, and eventually I switched my major to history. After graduation, I considered going to law school (I had a full scholarship to do so) but decided to pursue doctoral studies in history. A teaching career was the most usual path for such a course of studies.

EF: What was your philosophy about teaching?

SL: My aim was not so much to impart knowledge, but to present knowledge to students in a challenging format through which they could learn and grow in personal terms. My teaching was as much about the individual students as it was about covering course material.

EF: Did you ever hold other school roles?

SL: At various times, I was a faculty advisor to a fraternity, the director of the hockey program and nascent swimming program. More importantly, I had a significant work-study program in which students worked in various grant-funded programs aimed at ameliorating urban problems in the area. Additionally, when I became a national columnist, I offered joint authorship to students who had the skills to write editorials. A number of these articles addressed Italian-American issues.

EF: Where did the idea of creating the foundation come from?

SL: As I approached my retirement, I considered various avenues through which I could continue my work as an “advocate.” Creating an educational foundation seemed to maximize my opportunities and afford me the widest scope of activity. After long consideration and planning, when the time was ready and finances were in place, I established the Silvio Laccetti Foundation in 2016 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity.

EF: Why not just support an existing one? It must have been a lot of work to create one from scratch.

SL: My foundation could become involved in many areas related to my special interests. Other foundations had their own, sometimes narrower, missions. And I like to be independent. Creating the foundation did require lots of effort, but I was ably assisted by my original trustees, and others who contributed time and specialized skills.

EF: How do you manage to self-fund the foundation on a teacher’s salary?

SL: True, a teacher’s salary is not a hefty one. However, I owe my good fortune to the wise investments made by TIAA (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America), the teachers’ pension association, which took full advantage of stock market rises in the 1980s, 1990s and the 21st century.  Also, my foundation is fairly modest. You don’t need hundreds of thousands to do good!

EF: What kind of awards do you give?

SL: Over the years, we have given between 70 and 80 awards. Most are in the form of original art plaques; some have been grants of money. Other awards have been very costly, such as a statue donated to Original Little League in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. We seek to work with entities that can support the goals of our projects. We found a valuable partner in the Garibaldi Meucci Museum of Staten Island for the Garibaldi Award. In all our programs, especially the WorldCast program, we worked very closely with the education attaché at the Italian consulate in New York City. We also enjoyed good public relations from local newspapers and Italian-American oriented publications. From time to time, the New York Giants joined us in giving out sports leadership awards.

EF: What is WorldCast?

SL: It is a global environmental seminar for high school students, and the program I am most proud of. We ran four extremely successful events, the one in 2023 having been the absolute best in my opinion. It was broadcast live across the world, and students and parents were thrilled and nervous to take part.

EF: The foundation also gives out unique donations, like a sculpted flag made of rare woods for the township of Parsippany, New Jersey. How did this come about?

SL: One of my trustees is an excellent woodworker whose pieces have been featured in advertisements and museums. I asked him about creating a flag in wood to donate to his township, and he eagerly took up the challenge.

EF: It also donated the 4-foot marble sundial at Ellsworth Park in Union City as a tribute to 20th century artist Vincenzo Pellarin, who introduced terrazzo and mosaic art to the United States. Why did you choose Pellarin?

SL: One of my college friends was John Pellarin, whose family had a terrazzo and mosaic establishment in Italy and Belgium. In doing some research I discovered how important his family was in the international history of mosaics and terrazzo. His grandfather was a historical personage. All this came after the death of my friend, while I was seeking a way to pay tribute to him. His grandfather Vincenzo was a historical personage.

EF: What are your future projects?

SL: One more flag, for the 250th anniversary of the United States, destination unknown as of now; several more sundials; and other awards to high school students, as we learn of special accomplishments. My philosophy with what I do, generally, is to set an example. I am just one person and my hope is that larger groups and organizations can implement on a wider scale. That’s why I do the things I do.

The above article appears in the March 2026 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.

To view a sample copy, click here.

To subscribe, click here.

A veteran actor of stage and screen, Susan Vinciotti Bonito has made a name for herself in the burgeoning world of audiobooks.

Growing up in Italy, Susan Vinciotti Bonito dreamed of becoming an actor but decided to study economics to please her father. Then, in the late 1980s, she decided to pursue her passion.

Vinciotti Bonito now lives with her husband and son in Santa Monica, California, where she works out of her broadcast-quality studio voicing characters for audiobooks, video games and commercials.

Her narration of Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel “Whereabouts” earned her an AudioFile Magazine Earphones Award in 2021. She is also a theater, film and TV actor.

Vinciotti Bonito talks to Fra Noi about her craft and what it takes to find success as a narrator.

EF: What prompted the move to Los Angeles?

SVB: While at university in Venice, I found myself questioning my future. I had to make a difficult choice: remain in business school, enduring each moment without passion, or take a bold step toward my dream of studying theater and becoming an actor. I decided to listen to my heart. I began researching acting coaches in Los Angeles, which led me to the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting.

EF: Did you always want to be an actor?

SVB: Yes, since I was a little girl. What really inspired me was seeing a production of “The Tempest” with Vittorio Gassman at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano during a school trip. I was hooked. I was in my first play at age 11, and I felt very comfortable and at home under the stage lights.

EF: You co-founded Orpheus Theatre Group with fellow alumni of the Stella Adler Academy of Acting. Which productions are you especially proud of?

SVB: It was the early ‘90s and my fellow actor friends and I practically lived at the theater. We couldn’t get enough of working on the great playwrights like Tennessee Williams, Anton Checkov, Ibsen, etc., so we started producing our own shows, built sets, made our costumes and props. I have very fond memories of our productions of Anton Checkov’s “The Seagull” and “The Three Sisters,” but every show was special in different ways.

EF: Do you have a preferred language between English and Italian?

SVB: I think in both languages, but the process is so fluid that I often don’t realize which language I’m actually thinking in. If I’m upset about something, I instinctively revert to speaking Italian, to which I am connected on a deeply visceral level.

EF: How does one become successful at audiobook narration?

SVB: Success as a narrator doesn’t follow a set formula, but strong acting skills are essential. Many top narrators come from theater or film and excel at portraying unique characters and conveying their emotions while staying true to the author’s intent. In today’s industry, most narrators are expected to record from home, so you have to invest in a home studio with high quality gear. You also have to be able to learn the basic audio editing software, so you can deliver audio that is clear, with no background noise, and edit out mistakes. You have to practice, practice, practice. Read aloud every day, take workshops and invest in one-on-one coaching. A successful narrator has to also run his own small business, connect with audiobook production companies and publishers to audition for their roster. Networking is key, so joining professional organizations like APA (Audio Publishers Association) and PANA (Professional Audiobook Narrators Association) are very helpful.

EF: What are some of the challenges of the trade?

SVB: The biggest challenge is maintaining the stamina needed to narrate for several hours straight. I often compare it to running a marathon. Audiobooks can take many hours of focused performance, so you must have both vocal and mental stamina to get through long recording sessions. The increased use of AI is threatening our entire voiceover industry. Luckily, for listeners who value a nuanced, heartfelt performed story, the human narrator remains the best option.

SVB: You won an AudioFile Earphones Award for Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel “Whereabouts.” What was special about that narration?

SVB: I felt an immediate connection with the story of the main character: a woman questioning her place in the world, in an unnamed Italian city, and the feeling of estrangement in her own town. I’ve felt the same way when visiting my hometown after being away for several years.

EF: Would you ever want to narrate an audiobook in Italian?

SVB: I’d love to narrate an entire book in Italian. I’m extremely proud of “The Letter Carrier” audiobook because it has multiple characters with dialogue both in English and Italian, with some French spoken by the main protagonist.

EF: Which do you prefer for acting — theater, film or TV — and why?

SVB: Theater was my first love and always will be. The excitement I get from performing for a live audience, the uniqueness of each show, the fact that there are no second takes like in film make it truly special.

EF: Which acting roles are you especially proud of?

SVB: I have just completed postproduction on a short film titled “Flora” that I directed over the course of three weeks in Sweden last year. It is produced by Film i Dalarna and Linda Hunter, who also wrote the script. I played a few small roles while mainly concentrating on directing my first film. I take great pride in the film, as it explores what it means to become an artist through Flora’s journey as the central character. We are now in the process of submitting to festivals in both Europe and the United States.

EF: Do you still act?

SVB: Yes, I act on stage or on camera whenever I can. Voice acting is fundamentally a form of acting specializing on only using your voice, which makes it even more challenging. You need to capture emotional truth, but in a more intimate and controlled setting.

EF: You have also voiced for video games. What is that like? Anything that was especially fun?

VB: I absolutely love video games because the characters are epic and the stakes are usually very high. I had a blast playing Vesta, a military commander in World War Z: Aftermath Rome, who leads troops in missions to fight hordes of zombies through sites like the Colosseum and Vatican City.

EF: You have also voiced for commercials. Anything that readers might recognize?

SVB: I’ve done spots for St. Germain/Bacardi, Acuvue, Panzanella and Maison Yoshiki at Milano Fashion Week, among others.

EF: Tell us about your memoir.

SVB: I’m working on a memoir about my life growing up in Italy with my father.  It’s a coming-of-age story set in Milan during a time of historical upheaval heightened by the assassination of Former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978. A complex political climate that mirrors the difficult, yet loving, relationship I had with my father.

The above article appears in the February 2026 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.

To view a sample copy, click here.

To subscribe, click here.

After 45 years in national distribution and sales, Tom Damigella is putting the finishing touches on a decade-long quest to spotlight the Italian legacy in his native Boston and beyond.

A Boston-area native, Tom Damigella has enjoyed a diverse and impactful career spanning multiple decades.

With a bachelor’s degree in criminology and a master’s degree in social work, both from Boston University, Damigella worked with troubled youth before joining Damigella Distributors, the family’s franchised Tupperware business.

He spent 45 years there, developing the business into a Top 10 Tupperware distributorship in North America and overseeing a sales force of 600 consultants. He also served as president of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers.

After his retirement in 2016, Damigella became active in multiple Italian American initiatives and organizations, including the Italian American Alliance and the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian Organizations. Last year, he received an Ambasciatore award from the Italian American Museum in New York.

As president of Boston’s North End Historical Society (NEHS), he has led a major project to establish a museum set to open this summer.

Damigella talks to Fra Noi about his pride in his heritage, what it takes to open a museum and the secret to a great 50-year marriage.

ELENA FERRARIN: Why did you decide to leave social work to work for the family business?

TOM DAMIGELLA: I was in-between employment after getting my master’s in social work. My mother retired from the business and my father invited me to join him. I saw that I could be very effective using my social-work background to train, support and develop successful business leaders through personal growth, and at the same time help improve their income-earning potential. It was a great decision.

EF: You had a brief stint as a soccer player for the Boston Astros. What was that like?

TD: It was fun! I was a goalie at Boston University and then a goalie for an amateur team, so I was asked to be the backup goalie for the Astros. It was in 1972, I was 25. It was all Brazilian soccer players, and I really enjoyed it.

EF:  What happened to Damigella Distributors after your retirement?

TD: It was a proud moment for me and my wife when I decided to transition out of the business and leave it for my top director, who had worked with me for 35 years. She was a national leader as well. I received a wonderful retirement ceremony at our national conference and gave the keynote speech at our summer jubilee before 3,000 attendees. It was a perfect way to say goodbye.

EF: You became involved with Italian American organizations after your retirement. What sparked that?

TD: I have always been very interested in and conscious of my Italian roots, and I love being Sicilian/Italian. My mother was born in Sicily, and I have been there seven times since age 18. I used to live in the North End in the 1970s and had many Italian-born friends from my soccer days. I went to Italian events and I got connected to the Italian American Alliance, which was very active in 2020, when Christopher Columbus was criticized. I wanted to have a platform to protect our heritage. I don’t stay on the sidelines when I get interested in a cause or an activity that I believe in.

EF: You played a pivotal role in establishing a partnership between the Italian American Alliance and the Native American Guardians Association in 2023. Why was that important to you?

TD: I was frustrated that Italians were pitted against Native Americans (regarding Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples Day) and believed we should create a dialogue. This collaboration continues to strengthen the cultural ties between the two communities.

EF: The North End Historical Museum is set to open this summer. How much work did this project entail?

TD: A lot! It has become a full-time commitment, because I have a strong conviction and belief that the North End must have a museum. The Italian immigration story of the North End is a very big part of the total 400-year history of this iconic historic neighborhood.

EF: What has your role been?

TD: I was responsible for helping locate and acquire space. I helped create and organize the committee on historical content and oversee our work with the company we contracted to design the exhibits. It has been a personal seven-year mission of mine to see this come to fruition.

EF: Where did the funding come from?

TD: We have over 170 personal donors and raised $103,000. I also have secured a state grant and have several grants in the works.

EF: What can people expect to see there regarding the Italian American experience and Little Italy in Boston?

TD: We will have exhibit material that will tell the 120-year Italian immigration story as well as why it has remained the most dynamic existing Little Italy in the nation to this day. We will have special exhibits that will tell our story, along with the story of the Irish, Jewish and early Colonial settlers.

EF: In 2024, NEHS donated “The Noble Journey” sculpture to Boston’s St. Leonard Church Peace Garden. Can you tell us about that?

TD: It was designed by sculptor Nancy Schön, who created the famous “Make Way for Ducklings” sculpture in Boston’s Public Garden. The Peace Garden sculpture honors the Italian immigration story. It is a bronze replica of a gangway with footprints, representing our ancestors walking off the ships into Boston. My mother was one of those ancestors, because she immigrated in 1925 to join my grandparents, so the dedication was a very personal experience for me.

EF: What has your involvement in Italian American organizations contributed to your life on a personal level?

TD: It has reinforced for me to keep our Italian family history alive and relevant to the younger generations. I share my pride as an Italian American, and this helps them keep in touch with their family roots. I have become the family historian for all my cousins on all sides of my family. They are very proud of me for doing this for them. That says it all for me.

EF: You have been married to your wife, Rita, for 50 years. What is the secret to a successful marriage?

TD: She and I agree that it is important to compromise, support and, most of all, have a loving sense of humor. She has always supported what I do and she is there at my side. I could not do it without her. In fact, I told our priest friend that I love her more than I do myself.

EF: What are your projects for the future?

TD: None — I am done after this museum is up and running. I just want to be a mentor or someone people can turn to for advice and encouragement. I don’t need any more challenges.

The above article appears in the January 2026 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.

To view a sample copy, click here.

To subscribe, click here.

Born and raised in the Big Easy, Charles Marsala has helped transform the way the public views the city’s vibrant Sicilian past.

From the time he spearheaded the recognition of Italian History Week when he was high school student council president, Charles Marsala has been steadfastly devoted to honoring the contributions of Italian immigrants in his native New Orleans and across Louisiana.

Marsala has served as president of the American-Italian Federation for the Southeast since 2019, and established the Marsala Cultural Fund to support projects to memorialize local Italian American history in film, TV and historic markers.

A businessman and rental property owner who splits his time between California and Louisiana, Marsala talks to Fra Noi about some of the myriad initiatives he’s been involved in.

ELENA FERRARIN: Tell us about your roots.

CHARLES MARSALA: I was born in New Orleans but we went to Monroe (265 miles north) for all holidays, weddings and even Sunday bingo at the Italian club there. It is through the Sicilians in Monroe that my heritage became a large part of my activities. My grandfather was the leader of the Italian community in Monroe and the six Italian organizations across northeast Louisiana, which held an annual convention every Labor Day until the 1980s.

EF: Does anything set apart the history of Italian immigrants in Louisiana from other communities in the U.S.?

CM: Many are surprised to learn that there is any Sicilian/Italian heritage in Louisiana and the Southeast. New Orleans does not have a Little Italy, as many other cities do, but the lower French Quarter was once called Little Palermo because Sicilians came over to cut sugar cane, pick cotton and work the docks. Many here still identify as Sicilian. St. Joseph’s Day is our big day, and in the last few years, more and more Italians are coming in from around America to experience our celebrations.

EF: You have a show on YouTube that covers New Orleans’ Sicilian history from the 1800s to the present. What are some salient events?

CM: The theme is “Immigrants to Business Success to Leaders.” Main events are the 1891 massacre of Italians (when 11 Italians were lynched in New Orleans after the community was deemed responsible for the murder of Police Chief David Hennessy, despite trials resulting in acquittals and mistrials); the 1893 hurricane in Louisiana that killed 500 Italian fishermen; and 11 pasta factories opening in New Orleans after the Dingley Tariff Act imposed a 100% tariff on pasta in 1897. Two products we have today from that era are Progresso Soup and Luxury Pasta.

EF: You were part of a group that in 2019 convinced New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to apologize on behalf of the city for the 1891 massacre. What did it take to achieve this?

CM: In 2018, Michael Santo was the chair of the Sons of Italy Social Justice Committee, which took on this task shortly after Columbus Day. Michael called me in December 2018 and as fate had it, I and another person were on Mayor Cantrell’s calendar for a meeting in early 2019. I added the apology to the meeting agenda, and Mayor Cantrell agreed. During the ceremony, the mayor admitted that several people advised her not to attend the event. Michael was instrumental in getting her to attend and present.

EF: Tell us about your efforts to get the state of Louisiana’s approval for 14 historic markers about Italians.

CM: They take a lot of work to research and validate. The state does this once a year, and I have been getting two to four markers approved per year. So far, the only ones erected are on state land in New Orleans, and a major goal is convincing the New Orleans City Council to allow the erection of 10 markers recognizing Sicilian and Italian contributions. One honors Col. Francesco de Pinedo, an aviator who in 1927 crossed the Atlantic from Italy to Africa to Brazil, then landed on the Mississippi River at Little Palermo. The plan is to build a Sicilian/Italian history trail starting in Little Palermo and going upriver to Donaldsonville, Monroe and Shreveport.

EF: You helped build a free smartphone app called “New Orleans Insider Tours.” What are some favorite destinations in Little Palermo?

CM:  The Monument to the Immigrant located along the river, the Sicilians in Music marker at the Jazz Museum, Central Grocery, the BK House, St. Mary’s Italian Church and Irene’s restaurant.

EF: What are some highlights of your Italian American initiatives?

CM: In 2000, I produced the film “Who Killa da Chief?” to show that several non-Italians had the motive and temperament to commit the murder of Police Chief Hennessy in 1890. The film was the runner-up in the NIAF/Russo Brothers film competition. Part two of that film was how the massacre led to expanded Columbus Day celebrations in 1892. In 2015, I had the idea to start a local TV show on endangered species whose scope has grown to include many issues, including Italian heritage. We have been nominated for three regional Suncoast Emmys. In 2017, I had the idea to erect Italian heritage markers in Little Palermo. In 2021, during the COVID-19 shutdown, Lena Prima asked me to co-host a local TV show called “Buona Sera Louisiana.” We did 17 episodes, many focusing on how Italians celebrate holidays and special days throughout the year.

EF: You have also made efforts to get the youth involved.

CM: After I became an area coordinator for the National Italian American Foundation, we opened chapters at Tulane University and Louisiana State University. We have sent eight college students to “Voyage of Discovery” trips to Italy, and a dozen young people to the annual Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations event for Italians ages 21 to 35 held in Florida.

EF: You served on the city council in Atherton, California from 2002 to 2010, including as mayor. Did you focus on anything related to Italian Americans?

CM: I hosted a summer party called “San Gennaro with a Mardi Gras Twist” with 500 people. We had bocce courts, Italian opera and “I Love the Italians” beads. Guests would bring Italian appetizers or desserts, and we provided the pasta.

EF: What can visitors find at the Italian Cultural Center & Innovation Hub that you recently launched in Menlo Park, California?

CM: The focus is Italian innovation and helping Italian companies enter the U.S. market. Current displays include “Columbia,” showcasing that this name — the feminine of Columbus — was given to U.S. exploration vessels since the time of George Washington, as well as to an airplane that crossed the Atlantic in 1927, the Apollo command and service module, and the Space Shuttle. Other displays are on the telephone, radio, Vespa and Ferrari. We will be adding Italian products soon.

EF: What are some of your future goals?

CM:  Erecting a monument at Houmas House plantation to honor the Sicilians recruited to come to Louisiana to cut sugar cane. Also, getting Little Palermo on the National Register of Historic Places, and getting the state to add Italian history to its education curriculum.

The article above appears in the December 2025 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.

To view a sample copy, click here.

To subscribe, click here.

by Elena Ferrarin and Doug Graham

As a driving force behind Friends of the Uffizi Galleries, Lisa Marie Conte Browne has helped raise millions of dollars toward the restoration of the renowned art museum’s expansive collections.

Visitors flock by the millions each year to the Uffizi Galleries in Florence to marvel at its vast and dazzling array of art. Opened in 1769, it is one of the largest and best-known art museums in the world, boasting one of the most expansive collection of works from the Italian Renaissance.

The mission of Lisa Marie Conte Browne, president of Friends of the Uffizi Galleries, is to ensure that the museum remains vibrant for centuries to come. She works with museum leadership to identify pieces and rooms that are most in need of restoration and then rallies the Friends of Uffizi board and patrons to raise funds to make the restorations happen.

Conte Browne talked to Fra Noi about her Italian ancestry, how she came to lead the nonprofit and what it has accomplished in the nearly two decades since its founding.

Elena Ferrarin: Where did you grow up and what are your Italian roots?

Lisa Marie Conte Browne: I grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey, a town just 3 miles long and 1 mile wide. Despite its small size, growing up, it was home to eight Catholic churches, each representing a different community.

My church and grammar school was Our Lady of the Assumption, widely known as the Italian Catholic church.

My paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States from the Campania region of Italy when he was 19. My paternal grandmother was born in Connecticut, while both of my maternal grandparents were born in New Jersey.

Eventually, I moved to New York, and since the age of 28, I’ve made Florida my full-time home. When people ask about my heritage, I often say I’m three-quarters Neapolitan and one-quarter Sicilian — a blend that reflects my loyalty, passion, resilience and strong cultural identity.

EF: Did you grow up connected to your Italian heritage?

LMCB: I grew up living and breathing Italian traditions. Our home was influenced by all things Italian, from Armani and Capodimonte sculptures gracing our shelves to the comforting aroma of cotenne (braciole) simmering in our Sunday sauce, every detail reflecting our heritage.

The heart of it all was the kitchen, where I learned to cook at my maternal grandma’s knee. She measured nothing but duplicated identical. Grandma Mary didn’t just teach me how to make cream puffs; she passed down a legacy — of love, of family and of food. The memory of my grandma’s food is almost as soothing as her extra place at each table that she set — just in case someone dropped in.

EF: Where does your interest in the arts stem from?

LMCB: My parents filled my life with the beauty of art and nature. My father, an electrical engineer, and my mother, who owned a china shop, both shared their passions and art experiences with me. Growing up, it was completely normal for us to spend weekends visiting museums and art shows. The arts were simply a part of everyday life.

Though I was always drawn to the beauty of the artistic world, I received my Bachelor of Science from Florida Atlantic University, along with all my master’s work in developmental psychology. It wasn’t until the second chapter of my life that I returned to my artistic roots. Studying art in Florence rekindled something deep within me and eventually led me to this extraordinary opportunity of running the Friends of the Uffizi and helping others experience the transformative power of art.

EF: The Friends of the Uffizi Galleries was created in 2006. How did the nonprofit come about and how did you get involved?

LMCB: After spending a transformative summer in Florence studying art — with my mother graciously stepping in as caretaker for my 9-year-old son — I returned to Palm Beach, inspired and recharged. Soon after, I was approached by the chair of the Dreyfoos board (Dreyfoos School of the Arts is a public high school in West Palm Beach) with an invitation that would change the course of my professional life. He asked if I would meet with his attorney, who had just established a nonprofit 501(c)(3) … to enable American patrons to support the Uffizi Galleries, one of the world’s most iconic Renaissance institutions, while receiving a charitable tax benefit.

EF: What began as a meeting turned into a mission.

LMCB: My journey from executive director to president of this cherished organization has been one of deep passion, unwavering commitment and profound personal growth. Now, two decades later, the Friends of the Uffizi Galleries continues to fill my heart. It’s a role that honors not only my love of art and cultural heritage but also the many invaluable relationships I’ve built along the way.

EF: What kind of work does your position entail?

LMCB: Since the beginning of my tenure, I have worked closely with the museum’s director — first Antonio Natali in 2006, then Eike Schmidt and now Simone Verdi — who has always selected the restoration projects we support. This direct collaboration ensures that our contributions meet the Galleries’ most pressing and meaningful needs.

My role also includes maintaining a dynamic relationship with our dedicated board of directors, all of whom I had a hand in selecting. Together — with CEO Michael Bracci, Treasurer Bruce Crawford and each member of our passionate board — we have cultivated a thriving, deeply committed organization. Our strength lies in this close collaboration and shared love for the arts.

Daily, I engage with new patrons, long-standing supporters, and our board, fostering a vibrant and growing community of global art lovers who understand the importance of preserving Renaissance heritage. We found that education is one of our patrons’ most collectively agreed-upon gifts; so, if you take a look at our calendar of events, you may notice the lectures.

One of our proudest achievements is the creation of the Florentine Cultural Weekend, launched in 2008 and held every two years (with just one cycle missed due to the pandemic). This year’s gathering will take place October 16-25, 2025, and, as always, it will be a unique opportunity for our members to witness firsthand the results of the restorations they have made possible.

EF: Are there any restoration initiatives you’re especially proud of?

LMCB: I am immensely proud of the rooms we’ve restored, especially the Titian Room and the Michelangelo Room. One of the most significant undertakings was the six-year restoration of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Adoration of the Magi.”

The project closest to my heart is the restoration of the Valois Tapestries from the court of Catherine de’ Medici. From the beginning of our organization, these tapestries were on our to-do list. Yet, due to the scale and complexity of the task, none of our board members initially felt ready to take it on. I was even told they were not sexy enough.

It was only thanks to the vision and generosity of one remarkable patroness of the arts that we were able to begin. The restoration took a decade and a million dollars to complete, with the first tapestry restored in 2011. Seeing these masterpieces brought back to life has been one of the most fulfilling accomplishments of my career.

For details, click here.

The article above appears in the October 2025 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.

To view a sample copy, click here.

To subscribe, click here.

As a driving force behind the American Friends of Capodimonte, Cristina Del Sesto has helped increase stateside awareness and support for “Europe’s least-known great museum.”

Creating wider public access to the Capodimonte Museum has been the opportunity of a lifetime, says Cristina Del Sesto.

Located in Naples and boasting more than 47,000 works of art spanning the Middle Ages to the 21st century, the museum was described as “Europe’s least-known great museum” in a Financial Times article in 2023.

Del Sesto serves on the board of American Friends of Capodimonte (including just over one term as president until earlier this year) and has been involved with the organization since its inception 10 years ago.

After working as corporate relations senior officer for the National Gallery of Art for nine years, she has been devoted to the AFC full time for the past three years.

Del Sesto, who lives in Washington, D.C., with her partner, talks to Fra Noi about the growth and accomplishments of the organization, and why it all matters so much.

Elena Ferrarin: Can you tell us about the AFC and its mission?

Cristina Del Sesto: Individual Americans receive tax incentives to be philanthropic, and there are several “American Friends” groups that raise funds for foreign museums. At the request of the Museum of Capodimonte Director Sylvain Bellenger, an American nonprofit organization was created to support Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte in Naples and serve as the sister organization to Amici di Capodimonte.

EF: What was your role in starting the organization?

CDS: Tasked by AFC co-founder and president Vincent Buonanno to assess Capodimonte’s needs and what this nonprofit might be able to do, I went to Naples in early 2016. I was given full creative license to invent whatever I thought would be possible and useful. Looking at the landscape of other “Friends” groups and the limited time and resources with which we were starting, we had to be scrappy to launch. I did the initial assessment, designed the mission, identified the first AFC Fellow, developed the board from three founding members to 11, wrote press releases and newsletters, planned trips and events, and was, in essence, “chief bottle washer.”

EF: How has the organization grown in the last 10 years?

CDS: I am extremely proud of the fact that we have sent four postdoctoral curators and two senior fellows to Capodimonte. Their scholarship on Capodimonte’s extraordinary collection is already making a significant impact and bringing awareness not just to art historians but to museum-goers worldwide. There have been art trips with directors Bellenger and Eike Schmidt (appointed in January 2024), loans to U.S. museums and two noteworthy U.S. traveling exhibitions: “Flesh & Blood: Italian Masterpieces from the Capodimonte Collection” (2020) and “Art & War in the Renaissance: The Battle of Pavia Tapestries,” which closed recently at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The AFC is propelled by a devoted board of volunteers. This has been a huge collaborative effort, and everyone participates fully.

EF: Did you grow up connected to your Italian heritage?

CDS: Growing up in Rhode Island, we had spaghetti or ravioli every Sunday and lasagna on Christmas Day. I shopped with my father on weekends at Italian markets. All four grandparents were proud of their heritage and were keenly aware of the sacrifices their parents had made to start a life in this country. Coincidentally, my grandfathers were from small villages 14 miles apart in Campania. My father, Ron Del Sesto, an attorney, served as honorary vice consul for Italy in Rhode Island and was a board member of the National Italian American Foundation. I studied Italian in college, and my junior year I lived outside of Florence in Fiesole. I’ve been to Italy many times since then, and I always long to go back. Almost 20 years ago, my son and I became Italian citizens.

EF: You have a B.A. in art history from Georgetown University and M.F.A. in English literature and creative writing from Bennington College. Where does your passion for the humanities stem from?

CDS: My passion for the arts was nurtured by my parents and extended family members. My mother indulged every artistic endeavor I wanted to pursue. She took me on my own to museums. She hung my artwork up! As a family we went to plays and musicals.

EF: You covered the arts for the Washington Post for many years, first as a staffer, then as a freelancer. What was the job like?

CDS: I started as a copy aide on the night shift in the general newsroom and then moved over to the Style Section to be the classical music critic’s assistant. Ultimately, I had a weekly column in the Home Section on art, architecture and design, and I contributed to other sections. My big break was writing a lengthy story about the double Dutch jump ropers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

EF: In 2004, you authored “At the Ansonia Hotel: A Broadway Landmark Turns 100” and organized the corresponding exhibition of photography by Tom Wolff at the Municipal Art Society. Why write a book about this hotel?

CDS: The Ansonia at the time I lived there was undergoing a massive shift. Tenants in rent-controlled apartments from the ’70s were elderly and dying and/or being forced out so that renovations could be made and condos sold. Most of the older residents who lived there were artists. Many were musicians because the walls are thick, and their leases included a clause that allowed them to practice from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. I knew we were witnessing the end of an era, and I wanted to document the history of my neighbors and the building they called home.

EF: Do you have a favorite art destination?

CDS: Capodimonte, of course! Not only is the collection bigger than the one at the Uffizi Galleries, it is arguably as good or better. Guido Reni’s “Atalanta and Hippomenes” from around 1620 is one of my favorites. Next might be Parmigianino’s “Antea” and El Greco’s “A Boy Blowing on an Ember to Light a Candle,” because it reminds me of my son. The Porcelain Room created for Queen Maria Amalia of Saxony is another highlight, as is Michelangelo’s “Cartoon with a Group of Soldiers for the Crucifixion of Saint Peter,” an enormous drawing that was a study for the Pauline Chapel at the Vatican.

EF: Why do organizations like AFC matter so much?

CDS: The very definition of “civilization” is a culturally advanced society. Italy is committed to its cultural heritage, but there are 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy alone — more than any other country — and UNESCO estimates that over 60% of the world’s art treasures are in Italy. While there’s no doubt the Italian government is trying to preserve and conserve its treasure trove, it is a very expensive undertaking, and I believe it has to be a commitment by all of us to preserve art in Italy for all civilization. Our humanity is at stake.

For more, click here.

https://www.americanfriendsofcapodimonte.info/

The article above appears in the September 2025 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture. To subscribe, click here.

Having lived through the Nazi occupation of Italy during World War II as a child, Edward Pasquesi helped keep the North Koreans on the far side of the 38th Parallel after the Korean War.

The middle of three children, Edward Pasquesi was born in Bomporto, Italy, to Angelo and Antonietta Santi Pasquesi. His parents had been working on a farm in the Modena valley and returned to Cadagnolo, their family village in the Apennine Mountains, when Pasquesi was 4 or 5 years old. “We were poor, but we really didn’t know it,” he says.

Pasquesi lived among relatives from both sides of the family. He has vivid wartime memories of when the Germans occupied Cadagnolo and lived in their houses. “As a child, growing up in that, you didn’t really think of the danger,” he says. Battles between the partisans and Germans were routine. “At night, Allied planes would fly over and drop supplies to the partisans up in the woods, and the German flares would light up the skies, and you would see parachutes dropping the supplies,” Pasquesi says.

The Germans had Russian prisoners they used as slave laborers. “I remember us kids playing with a big Russian prisoner. He would give us piggyback rides,” Pasquesi says. “My mother would tell me, ‘Stay away from the Russians, they have lice.’”

One day, Cadagnolo was caught in the crossfire during a battle between partisans and a German convoy. Pasquesi’s family left their village and ran up a dry mountain stream bed to escape. “We could hear the sound of bullets whizzing through the trees above us,” says Pasquesi. They spent the night in the fields as German troops set fire to houses and barns, fortunately none in Cadagnolo. The family returned to their home in the quiet of the morning. “I remember my grandfather carrying me,” Pasquesi says. “There were chicken heads practically all over the place,” he remembers. “At that point, the German supply lines were cut off and they were killing all the animals for food.”

The war left the area depressed, and Pasquesi’s father left in search of work, eventually moving the family to Liege, Belgium, when Pasquesi was 11 years old, settling into a small Italian community. “As a child, it was an exciting experience,” Pasquesi says.

He attended Catholic schools in Cadagnolo and Liege and graduated from a Catholic seminary before the family immigrated to the United States when Pasquesi was 17 years old. They lived in Highwood, near family. “We were excited about coming to the U.S.: better living, but also the opportunity,” he says.

Pasquesi first worked at a golf course and then as a butcher at Jewel Foods. He became a U.S. citizen after the required four years and was drafted into the U.S. Army soon afterward. His parents were not too happy. “For me, I just wanted the experience,” Pasquesi says. “At the time, it was normal for young men to serve in the military.”

He completed basic training at Fort Ord, California, and continued to advanced training, learning reconnaissance and leadership skills. Pasquesi was assigned to the 1st Battalion/12th Cavalry Regiment and deployed to Korea in 1962. He completed heavy mortar and demolition training and volunteered for the parachuting skydiving group. “I loved it,” he says.

Pasquesi was stationed at Blue Lancer Valley, one of several small forts a few miles from the Demilitarized Zone. He lived in a Quonset hut with 12 other soldiers. The weather was challenging at times, with the harsh winter and monsoon season, but the fort had amenities such as a bar, craft shop, and movie theater and occasional special entertainment, including Bob Hope. “They treated us pretty well,” Pasquesi says.

Pasquesi performed numerous jobs at the DMZ, part of that time as squad leader. He maintained defense posts, bunkers and fences. “We’d put on barbed wire and repair the fencing along the DMZ,” Pasquesi says. “We did that carefully, not to step over on the other side for fear of being shot.”

He also manned observation posts overlooking North Korea and reported any activity to his superiors. Pasquesi led his squad on patrols mostly during the day. “Sometime at night, we would set up listening posts on our side of the DMZ, watching for infiltrators from the North,” he says.

The soldiers encountered local children while out on patrols and especially when jumping out of airplanes. “Sometimes when you’re landing, they were right there,” Pasquesi says. “They always warned us be careful of the kids.”

During one daybreak patrol, Pasquesi and his men approached a village and spotted a dog in the rice paddy. Suddenly a small boy came running, shouting, “Shoot dog, shoot dog.” Of course, they did not shoot the dog. “They ate dogs,” Pasquesi says. “That’s just to tell you how poor they were.”

During the Cuban Missile Crisis in fall 1962, Pasquesi’s unit went on high alert and camped out for two weeks near a village. A chow truck came daily to drop off food, and the kids always came around. “We’d give them some of our food.” Milk was always plentiful, which the soldiers also shared with the children. One day, the soldiers kept a case of chocolate milk, placing it in a nearby stream to keep it cool. “And of course, what do you expect, when we went back the chocolate milk was gone,” Pasquesi says. “When I think about that country, the progress they have made from then to now is amazing.”

Pasquesi occasionally visited local villages and Seoul on weekends when he was off duty and never encountered any problems with the locals, “They were good to us, and we were good to them,” he says. Korea was still considered a war zone, so Pasquesi spent his two weeks of R & R in Japan.

Pasquesi completed his 12-month stint in Korea and returned to the States, where he was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. He continued skydiving as well as participating in training maneuvers and war games. He was discharged in February 1964 as Sgt. E5, returned home and fulfilled his two-year obligation in the Army Reserve, reporting to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, for his annual training. Pasquesi worked at Jewel and then in construction before buying an Ace Hardware store in Highland Park. “I always had the ambition to have my own business,” he says.

That ambition led to the opening of Pasquesi Home and Gardens in Lake Bluff, currently celebrating its 50-year anniversary. Pasquesi married Marie Unterbrink in 1966, and they have three children and seven grandchildren. Nowadays, Pasquesi’s children pretty much run the business, and he goes in several days a week. “At 86, it’s pretty nice to have a place to go,” he says.

Reflecting on his time in the Army, Pasquesi says, “It was a good experience for me, and I am very proud to have served. I am so thankful for this country of ours; I’m thankful for the opportunity that this country has given my family and me.”

The article above appears in the September 2025 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture. To subscribe, click here.

Recently tapped to chair the National Italian American Foundation, John Calvelli is fueled by a dedication to Italian culture that dates to his early childhood.

If there is someone who embodies wholehearted devotion to the cause of preserving and promoting Italian heritage, it’s John F. Calvelli.

Calvelli was elected chairman of the National Italian American Foundation in April after serving for more than 25 years on its board of directors, most recently as executive vice chairman.

He also was a founder in 1984 and first president of FIERI, a national organization of students and young professionals dedicated to promoting Italian American culture and heritage.

Calvelli has extensive leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. He currently works as executive vice president of public affairs for the Wildlife Conservation Society.

He talked to Fra Noi about his deep connection to the Italian American community, which began in his early days attending Italian American community events with his parents, John and Rose, in the Bronx and Westchester, New York.

ELENA FERRARIN: Where did your parents emigrate from and what was your upbringing like?

JOHN CALVELLI: Both my parents are from Vico, Aprigliano, in the province of Cosenza, in the foothills of the Sila Mountains in the Calabria region. My father was strict about only speaking Italian at home, although we actually spoke Calabrese. We maintained many of the Italian traditions, including Calabrese cuisine like cuzzupa at Easter and pitta ‘mpigliata for Christmas.

EF: Why were you so devoted to your community and culture so early on in your life?

JC: It all comes back to your family and the values you were raised with. Mom and Dad felt strongly that we should always respect and promote our Italian heritage, but it was never to the exclusion of other communities. We shared our table with many friends who were not Italian, but it was always important to live our Italian American values: Be an active part of your community, respect people, be passionate about everything that you do and never forget the importance of food. I think of our great writers and leaders: Lampedusa, Giovanni Verga, Silone, Caesar. I felt that being Italian was a great gift and even greater responsibility. How could we let our heritage be lost?

EF: Tell us about founding FIERI.

JC: I had just returned from studying in Italy and felt this incredible desire to stay connected with my heritage and identify other young professionals who shared similar values. I was president of the Italian Honor Society at Fordham University in the Bronx and was also asked to lead a group called the Bronx Italian American Cultural Association. I met the president of the Italian club at nearby Lehman College, Gina Biancardi, and realized that we had the ability to think much bigger than just the Bronx or a college campus. The name came to me straight from Toto Cutugno, whose song “L’italiano” was my inspiration. Siamo FIERI, we are proud.

EF: What was it like to form an organization for young adult Italian Americans back then?

JC: It was truly groundbreaking. No one had ever tried to build a national Italian American organization for students and young professionals. From the older generation, there was a “wait and see attitude” while we were trying to figure out how to build stronger linkages with them to support our networking goals. We were very much the topic of discussion and emulation, with NIAF and OSIA (Order of Sons of Italy in America) replicating elements of what we were attempting to build. At our height, we had approximately 1,000 members and 13 chapters.

EF: You served as the chief of staff and counsel in the Washington office of Congressman Eliot Engel and were instrumental in the passage of landmark legislation highlighting the Italian American experience, including the first nationally recognized Italian American Heritage Month. How did you manage to carve out so much time to work on Italian and Italian American projects while you were working for him?

JC: Congressman Engel and I had an incredible respect for the importance of culture and heritage. He studied Italian in public school, and his wife is Italian American, so he wanted to better understand her culture. He appreciated my passion for my heritage and gave me complete autonomy to work on issues of importance to our community.

EF: In recognition of your contributions to U.S.-Italy relations, you were bestowed the title of Commendatore in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2022. How did that feel?

JC: Honors of this nature are an incredible recognition, but at the same time you sit there and wonder, “Are they talking about me?” Some of us have been blessed with the opportunity to improve people’s lives. Whether it was the work done with the Italian government to bring peace to the Balkans and justice to the Albanian people, or being asked by the U.S. State Department to serve as the U.S. lead for earthquake relief in central Italy, I was in a position to help. My Jesuit teachers and Italian American upbringing taught me that in those moments it is your responsibility to engage and make a difference. For me, the greatest honor was the opportunity to share this special recognition with my parents, Rose and John, my wife, Maria, and our son, John Domenico. They have been my greatest advocates and supporters through the years.

EF: When did you first get involved with the National Italian American Foundation?

JC: In 1985, when I was in law school and FIERI was less than a year old. Through the active support of Rose Marie Gallina, director of Italian American affairs for New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, we were asked to participate in a conference focusing on the Italian American high school dropout rate in New York City. We helped organize the conference, told our stories — many of us were first in our family to go to college — and served as mentors for the students. This experience led us to better appreciate the benefits we had received and the importance of paying it forward. I started off as the NIAF “go to” person on Capitol Hill. I met Italian leaders and even had the honor of showing Luciano Pavarotti around the Capitol!

EF: You are extremely active — you chair the International Conservation Partnership, the FIERI Scholarship Fund, serve as vice chair of New York City Tourism and Conventions, and sit on the board of the Public Affairs Council and the Italian American Forum. You are a past chair of the New York City Cultural Institutions Group, New Yorkers for Culture and Arts, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Government Affairs Committee. What advice do you have for younger generations who want to follow in your footsteps?

JC: Stay engaged. Take advantage of the opportunities placed before you. Find leaders that will allow you to make mistakes. It is truly the only way you will learn how to improve and succeed.

The article above appears in the August 2025 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture. To subscribe, click here.