In a bittersweet turn of events, a monument to St. Frances Cabrini will occupy the pedestal in Arrigo Park where Christopher Columbus once stood.

I say “bittersweet” because the goal all along for the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans was to restore Columbus to his original place of honor in the park. But after a grueling 4-and-a-half-year legal battle, it became abundantly clear that it wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.

Despite the herculean efforts of lead counsel Enrico Mirabelli and his legal team of Frank Sommario and Anthony Onesto, the city of Chicago under two mayoral administrations has steadfastly refused to budge from its position.

At the end of the day, the Chicago Park District owns the statue and really could have done with it what they saw fit, including melting it down or “loaning” it to another city hundreds of miles away. In the face of that harsh reality, my objective was to get the statue into our possession and return it to the park when a new administration comes into power.

Luckly, we were blessed with a sympathetic judge who insisted on a settlement that both parties found acceptable. Because the city was resolute in its stance that the statue would be a safety hazard if placed outdoors (a stance that we as resolutely refute), we convinced them to give it to us on loan so that we could place it indoors in the soon-to-be-opened Chicago Museum of Italian Migration located on Taylor Street.

Our community has long needed a shrine in which we could honor the accomplishments of the countless Italian immigrants who became American citizens in this thriving enclave. By placing the statue there, we were able to address the city’s safety concerns and give our community a way to preserve that legacy for future generations.

When I asked what the plans were for the pedestal in Arrigo Park, I was informed that one of the options could be a statue of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. As proud as we all are of the late mayor’s contributions to this great city, our community’s deep ties to the park called out for a different direction.

That’s when we went back to the negotiating table and demanded that the figure who stepped in to fill the void would have to be a person of Italian heritage with a strong connection to Chicago. The city conceded, and those became the parameters for the new statue.

The Chicago Park District sought community input at an “Arrigo Park History Slam” on Jan. 14 and then put the matter to a vote, offering several suggestions, including Mother Cabrini, Florence Scala and Enrico Fermi. With her deep ties to Chicago and her profound impact on the city and beyond, she was the perfect candidate, and she prevailed in the balloting.

As Fra Noi goes to press, the next phase of the process is about to ensue. A sculptor and design will be selected by a committee of various stakeholders, including the JCCIA. The statue will be paid for by the city of Chicago.

And so, our beloved statue of Christopher Columbus will be repaired and placed in a hall of honor where it can be viewed, enjoyed and discussed by all, free of charge. AND we will have a museum on Taylor Street, Chicago’s original “Little Italy,” that celebrates our history there.

AND another iconic Italian will be memorialized in Arrigo Park, preserving the ethnic character of a space that is profoundly meaningful to our community. AND we will have the opportunity to return Columbus to the park as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

Given Chicago’s volatile political climate, and the relatively small numbers of Italian Americans living within the city limits, we’re truly in an admirable position.

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.

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Catherine R. (Caifano) Locallo ascended to the presidency of the Justinian Society of Lawyers at the society’s installation and awards dinner on May 15 at RPM Events Chicago. Enrico J. Mirabelli was presented with the society’s Award of Excellence at the event. Joining Locallo as officers are First Vice President Michael R. Bertucci, Second Vice President Judge Jill Cerone-Marisie, Third Vice President Michael R. Grieco, Treasurer Sarah M. LeRose and Secretary Dominic C. LoVerde.

The following profiles were provided by the Justinians.

Enrico J. Mirabelli
Award of Excellence
Enrico J. Mirabelli, an Equity Partner at Beermann LLP, is one of Illinois’ most respected family law attorneys, with an extraordinary legal career spanning 43 years. Known for his legal acumen, public service and dedication to preserving cultural heritage, Mr. Mirabelli has been honored with the 2025 Award of Excellence by the Justinian Society of Lawyers, recognizing his distinguished contributions to law, community and Italian American advocacy.

Mr. Mirabelli’s legacy in family law is both deep and wide-reaching. Over the course of his career, he has handled some of the most complex and precedent-setting cases in the state. A 10-year member of the Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors, he has also served on the ISBA General Assembly and the Family Law Section Council. A sought-after educator, he frequently lectures at legal seminars hosted by the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association, and has taught family law at John Marshall, Loyola, and DePaul Law Schools.

His legal prowess extends beyond the courtroom to the legislative process, where he has testified before committees in Springfield on proposed family law reforms. Mr. Mirabelli is also a two-time recipient of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Corporation Distinguished Service Award and was honored by The John Marshall Law School for his dedication to public service. He received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Legal Assistance Foundation for his pro bono work in the high-profile “Baby Christopher” case (In Re: Adoptions of Indian Children, 1995).

A defining moment in Mr. Mirabelli’s legal career came in 2003, when he successfully argued In Re Parentage of M.J. v. Banary before the Illinois Supreme Court. This landmark decision established new law regarding the parental responsibilities of unmarried men in cases involving children conceived through artificial insemination. The ruling clarified the legal obligations of men toward children born to their partners through assisted reproductive technology — an area previously undefined in Illinois law — and has had a lasting impact on family law in the state.

Mr. Mirabelli has also played a significant role in defending and promoting the dignity of Italian Americans through the legal system. In 2002, he represented, pro bono, the Italian American Defense Association in its case against HBO for the negative portrayal of Italian Americans in the television series “The Sopranos.” That case, AIDA v. HBO, sought to challenge harmful cultural stereotypes and was heard by the Illinois Appellate Court. Though the legal grounds for action were ultimately not sustained, the case marked an important stand in the fight for cultural fairness and representation.

In 2022, Mr. Mirabelli again took up a cause dear to the Italian American community — this time working tirelessly and entirely pro bono to lead the legal and civic effort to restore the Columbus statue to its rightful place in Arrigo Park. His leadership, advocacy and strategic acumen were instrumental in navigating the complex political and legal landscape surrounding the statue’s removal and eventual reinstatement. For this effort, he was previously honored with the Moses Harrison Award of Excellence by the Justinian Society, a recognition now followed by this year’s Award of Excellence.

In 2019, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, celebrating his lifelong dedication to charitable service and the advancement of civil rights through law. He has also been named year after year to The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Family Law, a testament to his peer-recognized excellence and enduring influence.

Reflecting on his career, Mr. Mirabelli shares, “I may be in the autumn of my career, but I practice every day like it is spring.” Of all his achievements, none makes him more proud than seeing his eldest son, Justino, follow in his footsteps and join the practice of law. “Helping good people go through bad times is its own reward,” Mr. Mirabelli says. “I have always felt privileged that people have placed their trust and confidence in my abilities for so many years.”

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Mirabelli is a devoted husband, father and son. His family remains his foundation, and his unwavering commitment to justice and community continues to define a legacy that extends far beyond the courtroom.

Catherine R. (Caifano) Locallo
President
Catherine R. (Caifano) Locallo is the current President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers. She is honored to now lead the Society that her father, Richard B. Caifano, and her father-in-law, Joseph F. Locallo Jr., have successfully led. Both men have helped shape her legal career. They also taught her the importance of a strong work ethic and community service.

Catie received a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies from Southern Illinois University in 1999. Prior to attending law school, she worked full-time as a paralegal in Chicago. In 2004, Catie landed what would be her final job as a paralegal with Robbins Schwartz law firm. Within one year of working among the attorneys at Robbins Schwartz, Catie knew that she wanted to attend law school and continue her employment with Robbins Schwartz as an attorney representing public sector clients.

One of Catie’s mentors, Leonard F. Amari, identified a path for her to secure a coveted spot in law school by successful completion of the SCALES program. Catie worked full-time for Robbins Schwarts as a paralegal and attended law school in the evenings. She was on The John Marshall Law Review and authored the article, “When the Music Stops, Why Not Require Certain Title VII Plaintiffs to Find a Chair on Which to Rest Their Complaint?” (42 J. Marshall L. Rev. 505 (2009). She received her Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School in 2009, graduating with honors as Order of John Marshall.

Catie became an attorney at Robbins Schwartz in May 2009. She has devoted her career to the realms of labor and employment law, focusing on education and board governance matters. Her commitment is exemplified by her role as a counselor to employers, offering comprehensive guidance on employment law intricacies, collective bargaining, labor relations, and compliance with various acts, including the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act. Catie’s dedication to education law led her to become a partner at Robbins Schwartz in 2017.

Catie’s strengths lie in her client-focused approach, problem-solving skills, and the ability to build strong relationships. Her enjoyment stems from problem-solving and the opportunity to foster improved relations between management and labor.

Catie has been a mentor to law students over the years and has served several terms as co-chair of the Justinian Society of Lawyers Endowment Fund Scholarship Committee. In 2023, she received the Honorable Gerald L. Sbarbaro Mentoring Award from the Society.

Catie is also committed to community service. She serves as a volunteer member of the Triton College School of Business Legal Advisory Committee. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the (not-for-profit) Glenview Stars Hockey Association for many years, including her current role as President of the hockey club. She also volunteers her time on the AHAI Tier II Hockey Committee.

Catie is most proud to be the Mom of two boys, Jack (14) and Tommy (12). Both boys play travel hockey, like their Dad. Jack is also an avid golfer and novice chef. Tommy loves to fish and beat anyone in video games. Catie resides in Glenview with her husband, Joseph F. Locallo III, whom she was re-introduced to in law school and who is a partner with the Amari & Locallo law firm. Catie and Joe love to celebrate their Italian heritage by warmly opening their homes to family and friends for dinner and wine.

Catie is grateful for the opportunity to lead this distinguished Society.

Michael R. Bertucci
1st Vice President
Michael R. Bertucci is the Litigation Partner at Mike Agruss Law, where he oversees the litigation department and focuses on personal injury, wrongful death, and consumer protection cases. He previously served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Jesse G. Reyes of the Illinois Appellate Court and subsequently worked at a prominent personal injury and medical malpractice firm in Chicago. Michael earned his Juris Doctor in 2017 from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he received the CALI Excellence Award in multiple classes and served as the Chicago-Kent Justinian Society Vice President. Michael currently serves on the Scholarship Committee of the Diversity Scholarship Foundation.

Hon. Jill Cerone-Marisie
2nd Vice President
Hon. Jill Cerone-Marisie is the Presiding Judge of the Third Municipal District. She supervises 19 judges in Civil, Parentage, Traffic, Misdemeanor and Felony cases. She currently presides over Felony Mental Health and Veterans Courts. She graduated from the John Marshall Law School in 1990. Among her many accolades over the years, she’s also received the John Marshall Law School Distinguished Service Award. Judge Cerone-Marisie serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Justice and Mental Health Planning Committee. She has taught for the Administration Office of Illinois Courts’ continuing education for judges.

Michael R. Grieco
3rd Vice President
Michael R. Grieco, Founding Partner at Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, is focused on the practice areas of medical malpractice, construction negligence, sexual abuse, motor vehicle collisions and wrongful death. Michael obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2012, where he walked on the football team as a kicker. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Michael is an active member of various professional organizations, including the American Association for Justice, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Chicago Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association. In 2023, Michael was honored with the F. Scott Baldwin Award by the American Association for Justice, which is presented each year to the most outstanding young trial lawyer in the country.

Sarah M. LeRose
Treasurer
Sarah M. LeRose, attorney at Leonard J. LeRose, Jr., Ltd., concentrates her practice in probate law, focusing on contested guardianships (adult and minor), estate litigation, and administration. She represents individuals, fiduciaries, guardianship agencies and financial institutions. Sarah graduated from Saint Louis University Law School in 2014 and received her Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University in 2011. Since 2019, she has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star, awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys annually. Sarah has also been recognized as an Emerging Lawyer by the Law Bulletin Media. Sarah previously served on the Board of Governors and Assembly for the Illinois State Bar Association and is an active member of the Chicago Bar Association.

Dominic C. LoVerde
Secretary
Dominic LoVerde is the founder of LoVerde Law, LLC, a personal injury firm focusing on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. He represents clients in cases involving defective and dangerous products, construction injuries, truck crashes, medical negligence, unsafe property conditions, and complex commercial disputes. He has several record-setting verdicts and settlements, and has been recognized as a Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Lawyer; U.S. News Best Lawyers Ones to Watch; National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 civil plaintiff trial lawyers; Super Lawyers Rising Star; and an Emerging Lawyer by Law Bulletin Media. In 2022, Dominic received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Justice. In 2024, he was selected to join the Melvin Belli Society, an invitation-only national organization of plaintiff trial lawyers.

The statue of Christopher Columbus that for decades graced Arrigo Park is heading back to the neighborhood it once called home after spending nearly five years in storage.

After a protracted legal battle, the Chicago Park District has finally released the statue into the care of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. The cherished icon will be installed as the centerpiece of a new museum on Taylor Street dedicated to the Italian immigrants of Chicago.

“This resolution is a huge victory for our community, and to all those who believe in free speech and artistic expression,” JCCIA President Ron Onesti says. “This is the first step in getting all three statues back to our community.”

On July 24, 2020, statues of Columbus in Arrigo and Grant parks and on the Far South Side were removed in the dead of night by then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot in response to violent protests in Grant Park aimed at the statue there.

Lightfoot had promised at the time that all three would be restored to their original locations, but when the mayor fell silent on the matter, Onesti assembled a legal team led by Enrico Mirabelli and including fellow local attorneys Frank Sommario and Anthony Onesto to address the issue.

The prospects seemed grim until a Freedom of Information request unearthed a contract executed between the Chicago Park District and the Columbus Statue Committee.

The agreement governed the disposition of the Taylor Street statue, which was displayed at the 1892-93 Chicago World’s Fair, also known as the Columbian Exposition. It spent more than 60 years in a niche above the door of the Columbus Memorial Building at 31 N. State St. and was placed in storage when the building was torn down in 1958. The statue was moved to Arrigo Park in 1966 and became the subject of the contract in October 1973.

“The contract was signed by (General Superintendent) Ed Kelly and approved by the Chicago Park District,” Mirabelli explains. “The community agreed to donate more than $10,000 toward the repair and upkeep of the statue and the park district agreed to maintain the Columbus statue and plaza in perpetuity. That contract also gave the JCCIA standing as successors to the Columbus Statue Committee to bring a suit to compel the park district to honor its commitment and return the statue to its rightful place.”

Mirabelli estimates that he and his team devoted roughly 700 pro bono hours to the lawsuit from the time it was filed in July 2021 to the present, with Mirabelli clocking the lion’s share of the hours. They were rewarded for their Herculean efforts with a settlement agreement approved on May 2, 2025, by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael T. Mullen.

“The city threw every legal trick in the book at them, but Rico and his team were relentless,” Onesti says. “The statue would be in storage until the end of time if it weren’t for them.”

The graffiti-marred statue remained in storage throughout the negotiations, except for one shining moment in October 2021. In the days before the annual Columbus Day parade, Onesti convinced the park district to allow him to cover the statue with a coat of removable paint and present it to an overjoyed crowd at the post-parade reception at Casa Italia.

The statue will step permanently into the light as early as October, thanks to the May 2 settlement agreement. In it, the city agrees to loan the statue to the JCCIA for an open-ended number of five-year periods and the JCCIA agrees to place it in the Chicago Museum of Italian Immigration, which Onesti is creating at 1501 W. Taylor St.

“The museum will tell the story of the families who came here from Italy from 1870 to 1970 to establish a new life in America, and what they did to contribute to the development of this great city,” Onesti explains. “The statue will occupy a position of honor in an exhibit about the Columbian Exposition.”

Onesti says he began quietly laying the groundwork for the museum as soon as it became clear that the city was steadfast in its refusal to return the statue to Arrigo Park or any other open-air setting.

“We’re putting the museum together because the community needs it,” Onesti says, “but it also satisfies a crucial condition of the contract.”

The city and the park district have also agreed to top the empty pedestal in Arrigo Park with a statue of an Italian or Italian American who has contributed to the community in Chicago or nationwide. The person honored will be chosen by a committee of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in which a member of the JCCIA will be a part.

According to Mirabelli and Onesti, the return of the Columbus statue to the Taylor Street neighborhood is a huge and indispensable step in the right direction.

“The importance of returning the Columbus statue to the embrace of the Italian community cannot be understated,” Mirabelli says. “The lawsuit served its purpose, to reunite the statue with its community.”

“Of course, our goal was the return of all three statues to their original locations,” Onesti says. “But in the current political environment, this solution is a positive step toward an ultimate outcome of bringing the statues back to the community in a way any other ethnic group would want.”

For more about the arduous process that led to the settlement agreement, click here.

The article above will appear in the July 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.

If you’re just now finding out about the agreement to bring the Christopher Columbus statue back to the Near West Side, you might be disappointed to learn that it’s headed for a museum on Taylor Street rather than its pedestal in Arrigo Park. (For more, click here.)

But those of us who watched the process unfold at the monthly meetings of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans can tell you just how triumphant the final accord truly is.

As many of you know, the JCCIA is a congress of 50-plus local organizations tasked with acting on behalf of the Italian American community. Anyone can attend its meetings but only the delegates of the member organizations can vote.

Attendees were kept scrupulously well-informed throughout the protracted negotiations, and no major decision was made without the knowledge and approval of the delegates. JCCIA President Ron Onesti and attorneys Enrico Mirabelli, Frank Sommario and Anthony Onesto did their community proud, and the attendees returned the favor.

“If any of what we revealed at the meetings got out, it might have compromised the negotiations,” Onesti reports. “We asked them to keep things under wraps and they rose to the occasion.”

What the membership witnessed was a dedicated legal team that fought tooth and nail against seemingly insurmountable odds to wrestle the statue back into the light.

A return to Arrigo Park was a reasonable expectation at the start of the lawsuit. After all, the team went to court armed with a 1973 agreement that committed the Chicago Park District to keeping the statue on its pedestal and maintaining it in perpetuity.

“Our goal from the get-go was to return the statue to its place of honor and make sure that it was adequately protected against future vandalism,” Onesti says. “It’s what the park district promised to do 50 years ago and it was only just.”

But what’s just and what’s doable aren’t always the same in the rough-and-tumble world of Chicago politics.

“The current administration would never have allowed the statue to be put back in a public space because of the safety concerns they had,” Mirabelli says. “You can dispute the justice of that and you can dispute whether the statue could have been adequately protected, but they weren’t going to budge and we were in for a legal battle with no end in sight if we continued to pursue it.”

Efforts aimed at taking ownership of the statue were met with similar resistance. “The city and the park district were never going to gift us the statue,” Mirabelli notes. “They never have in the past and they never would because of the precedent it would set.”

A deal for the other two Columbus statues was also a non-starter. “The community only had a contract for the statue in Arrigo Park,” Mirabelli explains. “We tried to negotiate for all three but they refused to go beyond the terms of this contract.”

In the final analysis, the compromise Mirabelli and his team hammered out was a miracle of due process on every level and it boasts several benefits.

First and foremost, a cherished icon that has been hidden away for more than four years will be cleaned up and put on display as early as October. Better still, it will be showcased in a brand-new museum dedicated to the Italian immigrants who contributed so mightily to the growth and success of the city. And to top it all off, yet another one of our heroes will ascend to the pedestal in Arrigo Park for all the world to see.

Where once there was only one monument to our accomplishments, soon there will be three. And who’s to say the museum will be Columbus’ final home?

“Any agreement can be renegotiated and ours leaves open the possibility of the statue returning to an outdoor setting if a future administration is receptive,” Onesti says. “In the meantime, our statue will be out of storage and back in the public eye, where it belongs.”

The article above will appear in the July 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.

Since its inception in 1952, there have been only two three-term presidents of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans: Dominic DiFrisco and JoAnn Serpico. Ron Onesti became the third member of that elite group at the JCCIA’s Christmas party on Dec. 9 at Venuti’s in Addison.

Joining Onesti as officers for the next two years will be First Vice President Christopher DeSanto, Second Vice President Pat Capriati, Third Vice President Laura Orrico, Secretary Sam Cannizzaro and Treasurer Mario Cinardi. Phyllis Schoene was appointed executive director and Rose Mary Ranallo and Pasquale Gianni will reprise their roles as presidents of the Women’s Division and Avanti Group, respectively.

Recently arrived Italian Consul General Mario Bartoli was introduced at the event and several scholarships were bestowed to worthy recipients.

The party included a lively retrospective of the past year’s activities. Among them were a well-attended Dante Awards Luncheon, a whirlwind visit by the famed Italian aerobatic team Frecce Tricolori and a resoundingly successful second annual Italian Caucus reception in Springfield.

Onesti pointed with pride to a Columbus Day celebration that included participation by the Native American Guardians Association and a rousing performance by parade Grand Marshal Paul Anka at the parade’s first-ever official kickoff celebration.

“This has been a team effort as our community is enjoying growth, strength and unity in ways that we can all be proud of,” Onesti said.

The JCCIA legal team of Frank Sommario, Enrico Mirabelli and Anthony Onesto offered promising news regarding the Columbus statues, with a positive outcome expected in the near future for the statue removed from Arrigo Park.

A pair of Illinois Italian Americans were among this year’s recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Attorney Enrico J. Mirabelli, corporate executive Sergio “Satch” Pecori and 90 others received their medals during a May 11 ceremony on Ellis Island.

Mirabelli is a family law attorney with more than 37 years of experience. He served for 10 years on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Board of Governors and has served on the ISBA General Assembly and Family Law Section Council.

Mirabelli has been honored by the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Corporation, John Marshall Law School, National Center for Exploited and Missing Children and the Legal Assistance Foundation. He has been annually selected as a Leading Illinois Attorney in Family Law, and since 2015 as among the Best Lawyers in America in the field of sports law and family law.

Mirabelli is a frequent lecturer at family law seminars sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association and has lectured at the John Marshall, Loyola and DePaul law schools. He has testified before various committees in Springfield regarding family law-related bills and co-authored an amendment to Illinois’ Code of Civil Procedure. He was the first attorney in Illinois to establish cause for wrongful adoption, as well as third-party liability for sexually transmitted disease.

The son of blue-color Italian immigrants, Pecori is chairman and CEO of Hanson Professional Services, a national consulting firm providing engineering, planning and allied services. He joined Hanson after earning his master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has been with company for 45 years.

Pecori is a fellow of the Society of American Military Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Council of Engineering Companies and serves on ASCE’s Industry Leaders Council. He has been honored by the UIUC’s College of Civil Engineering, Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of Defense, Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and the Boy Scouts of America. He was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and he was inducted into the National Academy of Construction in 2018.

Since 1986, the Ellis Island Honors Society has annually recognized U.S. citizens for their accomplishments in their field and inspired service to the United States. On hand at this year’s ceremony was past Medal of Honor recipient George Randazzo.