Tag Archives: Frank Sommario

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 …

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 …

The Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 23rd annual Children’s Endowment Fund grant reception on March 13. Justinian President Brian Monico and Justinian Society Endowment Fund Chairman Frank Sommario presented a total of $15,000 in grants. The March 13 event was held at Luxbar Chicago. Homewood Science Center Executive Director Edie Dobrez, Keshet board member Doug Winkelstein and Chicago District Golf Association Executive Director Robert Markionni were on hand to accept the grants, provide short descriptions of their organizations and explain how the grant money will be used. “The Justinian Society is dedicated to promoting charitable giving as part of …

Super Lawyers magazine has named 11 attorneys at Chicago-based Romanucci & Blandin to its 2025 Top 100 Super Lawyers, Illinois Super Lawyers and Illinois Rising Stars. Founding partner Antonio Romanucci ranked No. 3 on the Illinois list and senior partner Frank Sommario was among the Top 100 Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers relies on peer selection and review, third-party research and professional achievement to curate its lists. Candidates are eligible as Rising Stars if they are 40 or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less. Only 5% of attorneys in Illinois earned the Super Lawyer title and …

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 Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 22nd annual Children’s Endowment Fund grant reception on March 14 at Luxbar in Chicago. Justinian President Michael Pisano and Endowment Fund Chairman Frank Sommario presented a total of $10,000 in CEF grants at the event to Almost Home Kids and La Casa Norte. Additional donations were made from the floor by Justinian members and other guests in attendance. On hand to accept the grants were Jose Muñoz of La Casa Norte and Raeann Olsen-Jackson of Almost Home Kids. “The Justinian Society is fervent in continuing to give back to our community and we …

Super Lawyers magazine has named 13 attorneys at Chicago-based Romanucci & Blandin to its 2024 Top 100 Super Lawyers, Illinois Super Lawyers and Illinois Rising Stars. Among them are several Italian-American attorneys, among them founding partner Antonio Romanucci, who ranked among the top 10 on the Illinois list. Super Lawyers relies on peer selection and review, third-party research, and professional achievement to curate its lists. Candidates are eligible as Rising Stars if they are 40 or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less. Only 5% of attorneys in Illinois earned the Super Lawyer title and only …

Chicago attorney Michael Grieco was among the many lawyers honored at the American Association for Justice’s 2023 annual convention in Philadelphia this July. An AAJ Board of Governors member since 2022, Grieco was presented with the F. Scott Baldwin Award, which recognizes a young trial lawyer with one or more outstanding trial verdicts who has made a significant contribution to the New Lawyers Division of the AAJ. Grieco also serves on the executive committee for the Professional Negligence section of the AAJ. The award was presented by AAJ officer Jared Smith of Jared Smith Law in Kentucky. Grieco was recently …

Recently elected to the presidency of of the National Italian American Bar Association, Frank Sommario dedicated his career to shining a positive light on his heritage and his profession. Justice may be blind, but Chicago attorney Frank Sommario has a clear-eyed view of his duties as an American attorney of Italian descent. “I want to show that Italian Americans continue to contribute to the legal system in a positive way, despite the stereotypes that our community has endured over the decades,” he says. “It makes you work harder because you know you not only represent yourself, your firm and your …

The Justinian Society of Lawyers held its 21st annual Children’s Endowment Fund grant reception on March 16 at Lux Bar in Chicago. Justinian President Bruno Marasso and Endowment Fund Chairman Frank Sommario presented a total of $15,000 in CEF grants at the event to the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, Direct Effect Charities and St. Anthony Hospital. Additional donations were made from the floor by Justinian members and other guests in attendance. “The Justinian Society is fervent in continuing to give back to our community, and we thank all members who have contributed,” Marasso said. “Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, …