Tag Archives: Berwyn

The Pav YMCA in Berwyn presented Carl Reina with the 2019 Robert W. Teeter Award on May 3 at Skylite West Banquets in Berwyn. The award is presented in memory of legendary community leader Robert W. Teeter. Reina was a founding member of the Italian American Civic Organization of Berwyn, using his home as collateral when the organization purchased its clubhouse. Reina served as feast committee chairman for the Maria SS. Lauretana Society for 44 years, when the feast was held in Cermak Plaza Shopping Center in Berwyn. He also played an active role in the Houby Day Parade and …

More than five-dozen sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center were treated to a holiday feast at the 12th anniversary Sailors for Christmas in Berwyn. The celebration ran from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 25 at Skylight Banquets and included brunch, Christmas dinner, music provided by a DJ and a pizza hour. More than a dozen awards were presented. Volunteers were drawn from the ranks of the community as well as Post 1 of the Italian American War Veterans.

This month we introduce in these pages, the highly respected and hardworking mayor of the city of Berwyn, Illinois. Robert J. Lovero. Having been born at Mother Cabrini Hospital in the Taylor Street Neighborhood and residing in Berwyn for the last 50 years, Bob has embraced his Italian-American heritage as an integral part of his life in public service. Both parents trace their roots to the Calabria region (though Bob’s dad also has some Hispanic roots as well). Throughout this time he has had the support of his family, including father Thomas (deceased), mother Alba, brother Scott, wife Gail, son …

Robert Lovero has served as mayor of Berwyn since 2009. He has been a resident of Berwyn for nearly half a century, and has previously served as an alderman, prosecutor and assistant city attorney. A lawyer with a private practice in Berwyn, Lovero is a member of the Berwyn Development Corporation, Blue Ribbon Historical Committee, American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Local Law Enforcement Advisory Board and Justinian Society of Lawyers; a past member of the Berwyn Township 708 Mental Health Board; a former precinct captain and current Democratic committeeman; and a member and past president of the Italian American …

Before I begin this story, whaddaya say we get an espresso to set the mood. And I know just the place. It’s a quaint little coffee shop that serves up the finest caffeinated Italian beverages along with authentic Italian (excuse me, Sicilian) pastries. Now let me tell ya, Starbucks it ain’t. Walk into this place and you’ll feel yourself immediately transported back in time. This storefront is more than 80 years old, with its original hardwood floors, oak doors and woodwork, and a copper-colored tin ceiling. The rough plastered walls are adorned with framed album covers of all the great …

It’s fitting to focus this month’s article on a personal friend of mine who truly needs no introduction in the city of Berwyn or the Chicagoland Italian-American community. My “someone you should know” is community leader and funeral director Joseph Russo, who is realizing a longtime dream of opening of his own funeral chapels. I’ve personally known, trusted and admired Joey for more than 25 years, so I’ll start from the beginning. Throughout our high school years, we were the ultimate Italians (not your Jersey Shore wannabes). We were proud of our heritage and we had to profess it with …

As a young boy growing up in an urban environment, green space was always hard to come by, especially when our backyard looked like a vineyard and giardino that would make the Green Giant jealous. In the front of the house, we would play “Running Bases,” or get 20 kids from the neighborhood together for “Relievio,” during which we would play hide and seek with a jail set up on my stoop, and hope that the other team didn’t yell “Olly Olly Oxen Free Free Free” before the game would be called due to darkness. So when my parents wanted …

Ber-wyn [bur-win] — noun, a city in NE Illinois that is conveniently located within one mile of two major transportation arteries, the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to the north and the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to the south. Berwyn’s northeast edge is less than a mile from Chicago’s western city limits and just minutes from the bustling Loop business and entertainment district. Berwyn has three convenient commuter rail stations, serviced by Metra along the BNSF Railway. Berwyn’s Metra stations provide tremendous customer potential and visibility for local business and offer Berwyn residents’ ready access to area jobs and attractions. Pace bus service …

So I’m sitting in beautiful downtown Berwyn enjoying an espresso when my phone rings. I see it’s Fra Noi editor Paul Basile, so I pick up the phone thinking my Giovanni the Talking Teddy Bear order is ready. Boy, was I wrong. Paul tells me he has an idea for a column about Italian Americans living in the southwest suburbs. I say, “That’s great, Paul. Are you talking Naperville? Lisle?” In a bad Svengoolie accent, he says, “No, Burr-vynnn.” I try to explain that Berwyn isn’t “South Side,” unless we’re talking baseball. And once I straighten him out geographically and …