Tag Archives: Dominic DiFrisco

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans marked the 700th anniversary of the passing of Dante Alighieri with a standout media luncheon on Sept. 14. Galleria Marchetti in Chicago was bursting at the seams with journalists, elected officials and community leaders who had come to honor CBS President and General Manager Jennifer Lyons and Chicago attorney Antonio Romanucci. Lyons was the recipient of the divine poet’s namesake award, while Romanucci accepted the inaugural Dominic DiFrisco Lifetime Achievement Award. Seated at the dais along with the honorees were past Dante Award recipients Dina Bair, Greg Caputo, Janet Davies, Mary Laney, Vince …

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans honored Jennifer Lyons and Antonio M. Romanucci at this year’s Dante Awards luncheon. The organization provided these profiles. JENNIFER LYONS Jennifer Lyons received the Dante Award. She is a celebrated television news executive with more than 30 years of experience, most of it in Chicago, the third largest television market in the United States. The former vice president of news for WGN America, Lyons oversaw the design and buildout of a 24-hour newsroom and studio and the creation and launch of a new national cable news outlet. She worked in a variety of …

The Cook County Board recently honored the passing of Dominic DiFrisco with a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Peter Silvestri. On hand were (from left) Commissioner John Daley, daughter Nina Mariano, grandson Pasquale Gianni, widow Carol Loverde, Silvestri and Pressident Toni Preckwinkle. The resolution reads as follows: WHEREAS, on April 27, 2019, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom called Dominic DiFrisco from our midst; and WHEREAS, Dominic DiFrisco was the beloved husband of Carol (nee Loverde) and loving father of Nina (Robert) Mariano; and WHEREAS, Dominic DiFrisco was the proud grandfather of Pasquale Gianni and fond brother of Carmela Soricelli of …

“How ya doing kid?” … “I have shoes older than you.” … “These God-damned cell phones.” … When you read these phrases, you only hear one person: Dominic DiFrisco. Dominic was a loving husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, brother, uncle, brother-in-law and godfather to many. As he would say in Sicilian dialect, “sangue mio.” My blood. Dominic’s other family members were the countless worldwide friends and colleagues that he would laugh, mentor and share with any hour of the day or night. There literally wasn’t a corner of the world where Dominic didn’t know someone. He was born Nov. 14, 1933, …

Community leaders turned out in force on Dec. 13 at Venuti’s in Addison to ring in the holidays and oversee the changing of the guard at the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. Outgoing president Enza Raineri passed the gavel to Sergio Giangrande at a festive event filled with camaraderie, acknowledgements and honors. Cook County Circuit Court Judges Elizabeth Ciacci-Lezza and Lisa Marino presided over the induction of President Giangrande along with First Vice President Lisa Ryan, Second Vice President Ron Onesti, Third Vice President John Galluzzi, Secretary Joseph Rago, Treasurer Christine Caliendo-Cerami and Sergeant-at-Arms Pasquale Gianni, the grandson of President …

  Illinois’ largest non-profit provider of emergency and transitional services for survivors of domestic violence recently lauded Dominic DiFrisco as a powerful advocate for the cause. During a fund-raising dinner at the Mid-America Club, WINGS CEO Rebecca Darr announced the Dominic DiFrisco Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be bestowed annually on men who follow DiFrisco’s example as crusaders against domestic violence. “Over the past few years, Dominic introduced WINGS to several new donors, such as Art Van Furniture, Smeraldina Artesian Water and Mariano’s,” says Darr. “Art Van graciously donated thousands of dollars of furniture for our new shelter and continues …

  In the column I wrote last month about widespread efforts to blot out Columbus Day, I touched upon a game-changing encounter that took place a quarter of a century ago. In July 1991, Native- and Italian-American leaders entered a room as adversaries and left as allies who embraced each other’s cultures and supported each other’s causes. As a result, peace reigned over Chicago’s quincentennial Columbus Day celebrations. But how exactly did this remarkable détente occur? For the answers, I turned to its principal architect: Dominic DiFrisco. A gifted public relations professional and talented mediator, he served as president of …

On Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, The Comboni Missionaries will honor Dominic DiFrisco at their 48th annual dinner dance. The event will take place on Nov. 22 at Via Bella in Countryside. For details, call 708-354-1999. Dominic DiFrisco has emerged over the decades as the voice of the Chicago-area Italian-American community, lending his considerable oratorical talents to major events throughout the year while sounding the alarm whenever our good name has been besmirched. Born to Leoluca and Antonina, immigrants from Corleone, Sicily, Dominic began his career in public relations with Alitalia, eventually transferring to the city of Chicago as a public …