Niles Police Chief Joseph Romano

Joseph Romano grew up in the Niles area and attended Nelson Elementary School and Gemini Junior High School in Niles. In 1983, while attending Maine East High School, Romano started as a Police Explorer with the Niles Police Department. He was eventually hired by the Police Department and has held every position on his way to his current post as Chief of Police. Those positions have included Public Service Aid, 911 Telecommunicator, Canine Officer, Detective, North Regional Major Crimes Task Force (NORTAF) Homicide, Patrol Sergeant, Administrative Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Detective Commander, Detective Bureau Chief and Deputy Chief of Operations.

Romano’s training and education have taken him to Oakton Community College, the Chicago Police Academy, Landheim K-9 Training Center, Northwestern University (Supervision of Police Personnel, Executive Management and Staff, and Staff and Command) and Northeastern University (Bachelor of Arts).

His certifications include Lead Homicide Investigator, Force Science (Force Science Institute), Field Training Officer, K-9 Officer, Gang Enforcement Officer, Juvenile Officer, Crime Prevention Officer and Dignitary Protection.

Romano has received accolades in every position he has held at the Police Department in addition to a host of honors throughout his career. While attending the Police Academy, Romano was voted Outstanding Recruit by his peers for his leadership skills and ability to lead by example. In 2008, he was voted Police Officer Special Agent of the Year by the Niles Chamber of Commerce. In December 2021, Romano received the Public Safety Executive Leadership Award from the Northwestern University School of Public Safety for his successful completion of their Supervision, Staff and Command, and Executive Management courses. Romano is a longtime member and past President of the Niles Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #138.

Romano lives in Niles with his wife of 33 years and three adult kids.

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Lavorata served in the Marine Corps from 1964-67, including a tour of duty as a battalion scout in Vietnam from 1965-66. He entered the Police Academy in November 1967, and served as an officer for the Chicago Police Department for 35 years.

His assignments included the 12th, 25th and 20th districts; Area 4 and 5 Traffic; the Radar and Mass Transit units; and the Office of Special Events, coordinating police presence for major celebrations like the Taste of Chicago and the Columbus Day Parade.

After retiring with several honorable mentions in August 2002, he joined the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office as an investigator tasked with finding witnesses for cases. He retired from that position in 2016.

Dr. Willie Wilson will be honored as Humanitarian of the Year, Domenic Lupo will be honored as Officer of the Year, and James Viola and James Calvino will receive Lifetime Achievement awards at the event.

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The Italian American Police Association honored a pair of law enforcement titans at its annual dinner dance on Nov. 5 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. Anthony Napolitano, alderman of Chicago’s 41st Ward, received the IAPA’s Man of the Year Award, and Nicholas Roti, a former Chicago Police Department deputy chief and bureau chief who now serves as executive director of the city’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The following profiles were provided by the organization.

Ald. Anthony V. Napolitano

Anthony V. Napolitano traces his roots to Italy on both sides of his family. His mother, Sara DeLiso, was born in Mola Di Bari and immigrated to the United States when she was 8 years old. His father, “Tony” Napolitano, is a second-generation Italian American whose family came from Naples and Calabria.

Anthony grew up in the 41st Ward and is a graduate of Immaculate Conception Grammar School, Notre Dame High School and Calumet College of St. Joseph University. In 2000, he joined the Chicago Police Department, serving as a gang enforcement officer in the 015th District in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

After five proud years as a Chicago Police Officer, Anthony crossed over to the Chicago Fire Department, where he served as a Firefighter/EMT for more than 10 years. His career paths came from a deep-seated belief in public service that was inspired by his father, uncle and brother, who all served as Chicago Police Officers.

Anthony has an inherent drive to serve his community. After 15 years of serving the City of Chicago, he decided the Chicago government needed a dramatic change. In 2015, he ran for Alderman of Chicago’s 41st Ward and won. He was reelected in 2019, receiving more than 70 percent of the vote.

Anthony has devoted the past eight years in office to his community and to the working conditions of his brothers and sisters in the trades and public safety sectors of the city. He resides in the 41st Ward, where he has lived for more than 47 years. He and his wife and childhood sweetheart, Jamie O’Shaughnessy-Napolitano, are raising their three children, Sofia, Fiona and Anthony, in Edison Park.

Anthony spends his free time coaching two AA Girls Hockey teams, which made it to nationals in both 2021 and 2022. He also coaches an all-girl high school hockey team.

Nicholas J. Roti

Nicholas J. Roti was born in Chicago to an Italian immigrant father, Nicola Rotiroti, and first-generation Italian-American mother, Josephine Barbagallo, who instilled a lasting pride in his Italian heritage as well as a strong work ethic. Nick was raised in a Southwest Side neighborhood that was home to many first responders who, along with his parents, served as role models. While attending a local college, he took the first Chicago Police Department entrance exam he was eligible for, entering the CPD Academy at 22 years of age.

To date, Nick’s law enforcement career spans more than 36 years. After spending many years working in high-crime and gang-infested areas of Chicago as a Police Officer and Sergeant, he began rising through the ranks. As a Lieutenant, he served as a Watch Commander as well as the Commanding Officer of the 2nd District Tactical/Gang Unit, Detective Division’s Area 2 Robbery/Burglary Theft Unit and Detective Division’s Area 4 Homicide/Gang/Sex Crimes Unit. As a Commander, he led the Crime Strategy and Accountability Unit, Gang Investigations and Intelligence Section, and the Narcotics Section. As a Deputy Chief, he led the Detective Division and the Organized Crime Division. Ultimately, he was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Organized Crime and Counterterrorism, serving in that capacity until he retired. During his tenure with the CPD, he supervised many of Chicago’s biggest and most newsworthy operations and investigations. He was also selected by the U.S. Department of State to conduct criminal gang conspiracy investigations training in Central America for law enforcement leaders from several countries in the region.

After retiring from the Chicago Police Department, he served as the Chief Policy Advisor to the Director of the Illinois State Police. Due to his extensive experience in partnering and coordinating efforts with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, Nick was appointed the Executive Director of the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), one of 33 HIDTA Directors across the country. HIDTA is a program under the President’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Nick has held leadership positions with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association and Chicago HIDTA, and is a member of the National Deconfliction Council and Greater Council of Cook County Police Chiefs. He holds an M.S. in Law Enforcement Administration and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police.

Additionally, Nick has donated a significant part of his personal time to assisting law enforcement officers and their families, including the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation and Association of Federal Narcotics Agents Foundation. He is also an associate member of the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association, whose mission is to provide scholarships to deserving youth and to be positively involved in community affairs and charitable causes.

Nick has been happily married for 32 years to his lovely and supportive wife, Janice, who is 50 percent Italian and a recently retired teacher.

Founded in 1964, the IAPA organizes and advocates on behalf of Italian Americans in law enforcement, and serves as a social, professional and charitable outlet for its membership.

“When I started going to their meetings, I thought, ‘This feels right. I like the concept. I like how they conducted their business,’” DiMaria recalls. “I’ve always felt like I belong, like I’m a part of a family.”

DiMaria’s plans include increasing membership and unity, and advocating vigorously for his members and police officers in general. “These are tough times to be a police officer: the toughest I’ve ever seen, and I joined the force in 1978,” he says. “Anything we can do to help, we’ll do it.”

DiMaria joined the Chicago Police Department in 1982, having previously served in Lake Forest. After spending eight years in the 15^th District, he did stints in Gang Crimes and Special Operations.

Active in the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 since 1982, DiMaria began working full time for the FOP as a field representative in 2002, becoming a peer support officer a year later. He has served as a trustee and second vice president. Though he retired in 2014, he has continued to serve as a trustee.

He and his wife, Jackie, have two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Elmcrest Banquets was packed to capacity for this year’s Italian American Police Association’s dinner dance. Sharing the spotlight were Chicago Alderman Nick Sposato, Illinois State Police District Commander Jason LoCoco, Circuit Court Judge William Raines and retired Chicago Police Officer Carl Liture, but the Police Officers of the Year stole the show. The honor went to Lake County Sheriff’s Police Deputy John Forlenza and his K-9 partner, Dax, who received an engraved food bowl along with a standing ovation.

The Italian American Police Association honored Rich Onesti, Jack Miuccio and Kevin Graham on Nov. 4 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison.

Rich Onesti, Man of the Year

As the technical wizard behind the scenes for Onesti Entertainment Corporation, Rich Onesti has brought joy to countless concert and festivalgoers while generously donating his time and talents to a variety of causes.

Rich was born on Taylor Street in Chicago’s Little Italy on May 18, 1968, to Alberto and Gabriella Onesti. He has fond memories of growing up in his parents’ home with his siblings, Ron and Vickie.

He began working at the tender age of 10 as a busboy at the Onion Roll Deli in Oak Park. From there, he joined his brother, Ron, as they embarked on a professional journey that has taken them to the heights of the entertainment industry.

Rich has always been the “nuts and bolts” guy in all the Onesti ventures. Mostly behind the scenes, he has gathered whatever resources were available at the time, added some Scotch tape and paper clips, and always ended up creating something spectacular.

As Vice President and Production Manager of Onesti’s Softball City, Rich oversaw all levels of production including the development of many of the processes used by the company. The enterprise designed, fabricated and printed specialty sports uniforms and corporate wearables. There wasn’t one garment that left the business in its 12-year span that Rich didn’t supervise or print himself.

Then, the Onesti Entertainment Corporation was born. Starting out with small special events and municipal concerts in the park, the company has emerged as a major producer of festival, concerts and corporate entertainment presentations. When it comes to sound, lighting and logistics management, Rich has always been at the helm, making sure that everything is efficiently executed.

Just to keep things interesting, he and Ron (The O Bros) co-hosted a radio show on 92.7 FM in Chicago. “The Rich & Ron Show” aired every Sunday night for about a year and featured fascinating guests from all walks of life.

In 2005, the brothers decided to take on the monumental feat of saving a 1926 vaudevillian venue located in St. Charles called the Arcada Theatre. This was no small task as the property suffered from decades of mismanagement and decay.

Rich rolled up his sleeves and began to build a new sound and lighting system from scratch for this gem of a theater. Today, more than 200 major concerts are produced at the Arcada each year.

In 2015, Rich was surprised to find out that he and Ron were to be inducted into the Chicago 16” Softball Hall of Fame as pioneers during the game’s resurgence in the early ’80s. By producing the majority of the uniforms for the sport during that time as well as putting on respected events tied to the game, the brothers were welcomed along with the greats of the sport into 16” softball’s most sacred of places.

Rich is married to the love of his life, Kelly, and they have a 4-year-old marvel of a boy, Max.

Each year, Rich is involved with producing festivals in Chicago and New Jersey and hundreds of other shows, mainly at the Arcada Theatre and the recently opened 1926 Speakeasy and Showroom, Club Arcada.

Rich has been very involved in Chicago’s Italian-American community and is a passionate and consistent donor of his time and talents. The Columbus Day Parade, National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, Italian American Police Association, Casa Italia and several other organizations have relied on Rich for production services for their events.

Jack Miuccio, Humanitarian of the Year

Jack Miuccio is a legendary local crooner with a heart as big as his voice.

The son of Jack and Rose (Farinella) Miuccio, he was born in Chicago, raised in

Elmhurst, and graduated from York High School and Trinity College with a degree in communications.

An appliance salesman his entire professional career, Jack never dreamed that singing would become such a large part of his life. A “closet crooner” who sang at karaoke bars on weekends, his first paying gig was at Enzo’s Ristorante on Harlem Avenue in 1995. The rest, as they say, is history.

He has performed in nightclubs, banquet halls, casinos and concert halls; on TV and radio; at festivals and major sporting events; and for mayors, governors, bishops and countless celebrities.

While Jack can belt out everything from Bennett to Elvis, jazz to opera, musicals to standards, and country to ’50s rock, Jack finds his greatest musical fulfillment at Visitation Church in Elmhurst, where he sings in the choir each Sunday with this wife, Krystyna. He is proud to be the stepfather of Krystyna’s daughters, Anna and Danielle.

Probably best known for his spot-on interpretations of the Sinatra songbook, Jack speaks of “The Chairman of the Board” with boundless admiration. “Sinatra was the father of modern pop,” he enthuses. “He was the first one to actually sing the meaning of the words.”

Connie Francis, Keely Smith, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Rydell, the Gaylords, Deana Martin, Dick Contino, Freddie Bell and Franz Bentler are just a few of the entertainment legends that Jack has share the stage with.

He considers himself truly blessed to have lived such a fulfilling double life. “I’ve performed with so many great people at so many great venues through the years, it’s beyond belief,” he says. “Whether you’re on stage for 2 minutes or 2 hours, it’s such a thrill.”

He is the recipient of a David Award from the IANU Foundation in 2000, a Certificate Of Appreciation from the Governor of the State Of Illinois in 2002 and a da Vince Award from the Order Sons of Italy in American in 2017.

Kevin Graham, Lifetime Achievement Award

As President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge 7, Kevin Graham has established himself as a passionate champion and fierce advocate for his fellow police officers and retirees alike.

Kevin has served the Chicago Police Department as a beat cop for the past seventeen years, but that is not where his career in law enforcement began. Kevin took his first job in law enforcement in 1983, when he joined the Morton Grove Park Police Department as a young recruit. In 1985, he was hired as an investigator for the Village of Golf Police Department and later joined the Hawthorne Woods Police Department as a Detective. Just before he accepted the job as a Chicago Police Officer, he worked as a Patrol Officer for the Cook County Forest Preserve Police Department for eight years.

As a Chicago Police Officer, Kevin became an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge 7. Kevin’s career with the FOP started when he was elected by his peers as the Unit Representative for the 23rd District of the CPD. Kevin was then elected as an Alternate Trustee on the Fraternal Order of Police State Board of Trustees, where he served for nine years. It was also during this time that Officer Graham earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Northwestern University.

In 2012, Graham’s relationship with FOP took wing. Graham was chosen to be an Appointed Trustee for the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge 7 Board of Directors, and he was elected to the Office of First Vice President of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, all while still working the streets of Chicago.

Officer Graham was elected to the Office of President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge 7 in April of 2017. He is humbled and honored to have been elected by the rank and file of the Chicago Police Department.

The Italian American Police Association honored a trio of worthy recipients at its 53rd annual dinner dance on Nov. 5 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison.

Accepting Man of the Year honors was attorney David Figlioli, co-founder and general partner at Morici, Figlioli & Associates. Receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award was entertainment industry powerhouse Ron Onesti, founder and president of Onesti Entertainment. And accepting Humanitarian of the Year honors was Fr. Dan Brandt, director of the Chaplains Unit of the Chicago Police Department. Officer of the Year Awards were also bestowed.

Anthony Langone has stepped up to the plate for a second two-year term as president of the Italian American Police Association. A member for since 1983, he previously served as vice president and chairman of the board as well as president.

Tony is the eldest of four sons of Louis and Betty Langone. He has lived his entire life in the Taylor Street neighborhood.

“(When I was a kid), from Halsted to Western, everybody knew everybody,” he recalls. “We would play baseball at Peanut Park and ride our bikes around the neighborhood. It was like one big, happy family.”

Tony graduated from Our of Lady of Pompeii Grammar School and attended Holy Trinity High School before doing a three-year stint in the Army that included a 13-month tour of duty in Vietnam. He joined the Chicago Police Department in 1982.

A patrol officer most of his career, Tony was assigned to the 12th and 18th districts. He also patrolled trains and buses as part of the Mass Transit Unit, and served as executive assistant to the commander of gangs.

During his 25 years as a police officer, Tony earned 49 honorable mentions, a Reduction in Crime Award from the CTA, and a Department Commendation for his role in saving 13 people from a burning building.

A member of the Italian American Police Association his entire professional career, Tony praises the IAPA for its ability to bring officers together from across the state.

“What I love is the camaraderie of this organization,” he says. “A lot of police officers, a lot of people who are associate members, all have the same roots. We don’t see each other as much as we’d like, so it’s nice to get together once a month and socialize.”

Joining Langone as officers are First Vice President Jason LoCoco, Second Vice President Frank DiMaria, Secretary Onelia Pacocha, Treasurer Wayne Bubak, Sergeant-at-Arms Eric LoCoco and Legal Advisor Gino Peronti.

The immediate past president is Philip Tenerelli and the board of directors are Ralph Imbrogno, Christopher LoCoco, Sam Natale, Victoria Onorato, Luigi Picicco, Dianna Schlifka and James Viola, with Ralph DeBartolo serving as Chairman of the Board.

For more information, visit www.iapa-il.org or call 312-415-4202.

The Italian American Police Association honored David Figlioli, Ron Onesti and the Rev. Daniel J. Branch on Nov. 5 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison.

David Figlioli — Man of the Year

A former police officer, David Figlioli has dedicated his career as an attorney to defending the rights of those in law enforcement who have been injured on the job.

The son of a World War II Army veteran and retired Chicago Police sergeant, Dave served in law enforcement for more than a decade, rising to the rank of sergeant in the Chicago Police Department.

Before committing his life to judiciary work, Dave attended Concordia University, where he achieved his undergraduate degree in Education. He served in the Mt. Prospect, Schaumburg and Chicago Police Departments from 1979 to 1991. He spent four of his nine years with the CPD in the Gangs North Unit at the Area 3 Station at Belmont and Western.

David enrolled at the John Marshall Law School in 1986, where he earned his Juris Doctorate, graduating magna cum laude in 1991 while working full time for the CPD and attending classes in the evening.

Since starting his legal career, Dave has dedicated his work to fighting for the rights of those harmed by negligent, reckless, and careless individuals and entities.

A founder and general partner at Morici, Figlioli & Associates, Attorney, Dave brings a quarter century of legal experience to the firm.

While he is able to handle a wide range of personal injury cases, he primarily spends his time handling cases involving worker’s compensation, claims arising from the PSEBA and PEDA statutes, and police officer and firefighter disability pension claims.

Currently, Dave holds memberships in various associations, including the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Justinian Society of Lawyers, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association. Additionally, he has continued to serve on the Board of Managers for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Rated by SuperLawyers ®, Dave has held an AV® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell ® since 2002.

His areas of practice are workers’ compensation, police and firefighter Injury and pension claims, as well as PEDA and PSEBA claims.

Ron Onesti — Lifetime Achievement Award

Ron Onesti is an entertainment industry powerhouse recognized as an innovative leader across the country. With a passion for his heritage, he has provided enjoyment for countless lovers of the “Italian Experience,” from Las Vegas to Hoboken, N.J.

Ron is the president of Onesti Entertainment Corp., which produces concerts, special events and festivals nationwide. A specialty of the company is the production of Italian festivals. In the Chicago area, he stages Festa Pasta Vino on South Oakley Avenue and the Little Italy Fest-West in Addison and coordinated and/or provided entertainment services for several suburbs.

In 2005, he took over the Arcada Theatre, a 900-seat vaudeville theater in St. Charles that was founded in 1926, restoring it to its original splendor and using it to showcase local and national talent in the far western suburbs. It is now the No. 1 live music venue in the Midwest, with more than 200 shows annually.

He has produced several projects for television, including a PBS special about kids against drugs and violence that garnered three Emmy Awards. He is currently a regular on-air host on the Chicago PBS station, WTTW Channel 11.

Ron has also appeared on numerous radio shows, including his own entertainment-based talk show co-hosted by his brother, Rich, on FM radio in Chicago, and an entertainment-based show on Chicago’s WGN radio. He also writes regularly for the Daily Herald and Fra Noi.

Passionately involved in the Italian-American community, he donates his time and talents to countless organizations, including the Italian Consulate, the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, Casa Italia, the Italian American Veterans Museum and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

Ron was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor, one of only three medals recognized by Congress, at an all-military event at the Statue of Liberty. He has also been honored by Casa Italia, the Italian American Executives of Transportation, the IANU Foundation, the Order Sons of Italy in America and many more.

By bringing major Italian superstars like Zucchero, Laura Pausini, Il Volo, Orietta Berti and many others to the States; producing hundreds of live performances on stages all over the country; and spreading the wonders of his Italian culture, Ron is living the American dream while honoring the memory of his grandparents, who came through the gates of Ellis Island.

The Rev. Daniel J. Brandt — Humanitarian of the Year

The Rev. Daniel J. Brandt was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 22, 1999. During his first six years of priesthood, he served at St. William Parish on the far western edge of Chicago.

From there, he moved on to serve as pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Bridgeport. He met many challenges and enjoyed countless blessings there.

Prior to his five years of graduate seminary education, Fr. Brandt was business manager of a CPA and law firm in Lombard — an experience that has helped him tremendously in the administration of parishes and now the Police Chaplains Ministry.

His educational background includes a bachelor in science in management and accounting from Northern Illinois University, and a master’s degree from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Fr. Brandt also has bilingual skills gained over two summers of intensive language study in Mexico.

As full-time Director of the Chaplains Unit of the Chicago Police Department, Dan ministers to the 10,000-plus men and women who protect and serve the citizens of this great city — as well as 5,000 retirees, 500 police recruits, and all their families. His “parish” encompasses the entire city of Chicago: 225 square miles.

Two and a half years ago, when wrapping up his term as pastor in Bridgeport and accepting Fr. Tom Nangle’s invitation to replace him as Director of the Chaplains Unit, Dan returned — like the Prodigal Son — to the North Side. He resides at Resurrection Parish near California and Diversey in Logan Square. This location is ideal for his crisis ministry with the Police Department, as he can be out his door and on the Kennedy Expressway in either direction in less than 60 seconds.

Most of all, he thanks Almighty God for allowing him to serve as a priest of Jesus Christ and a servant to the good men and women in law enforcement who have followed — among parenthood and religious life — one of the most worthy callings this world knows.

“As a lifelong union organizer, Joe has had a significant positive impact on the quality of life of countless law enforcement officers and other union members throughout the Midwest,” says IAPA President Phil Tenerelli.

Joe was born in Chicago and grew up in the Austin District on the city’s Far West Side. The son of Joseph Sr. and Jean Martucci, he has fond memories of the Martucci Brothers butcher shop that his father and uncles ran on Taylor Street near Western Avenue.

After having attended St. Angela Grammar School and St. Mel High School, he graduated from Austin High School, attended Wright Junior College and the University of Illinois at Navy Pier, and received a diploma in labor from Roosevelt University and a diploma in acting from the Act 1 Academy of Theatrical and Performing Arts.

Joe began union life as an organizer in 1965 and served in that capacity throughout his long and productive career, retiring in 2006.

He spent his first seven years as an organizer and business agent for the Chicago and Central States Joint Board of the AFL-CIO. He was affiliated during that period with Wine Distillery Union Local 44; Plastic Workers Union Local 18; Metal Workers’ Union Local 16; Sheet Metal Workers’ Union Local 73; and the Laborers’ International Industrial Division Local 8: AFL-CIO, for which he also served as vice president.

From there, he moved on to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, serving as an organizer and business agent for Local 714, as well as its president in 1996. He also served as a political liaison with the Chicago Federation of Labor.

His main mission throughout his career was to organize the labor forces of non-union companies and then negotiate contracts with those companies. During a particularly busy one-year stretch, he flew out of Chicago 52 times to destinations throughout the central region. Throughout his career, he organized more than 10,000 workers.

“Unions are so important in terms of enhancing wages, benefits and working conditions,” Joe explains. “I’m proud to have played a part in improving the quality of life of the average worker.”

Joe is particularly proud of his involvement in the statewide campaign to convince the Illinois Legislature to pass the Collective Bargaining Rights Law. After the passage of the law, the Teamsters organized Cook County Court Deputies and Cook County Sheriff Deputies and other suburban police and fire departments, while other unions organized countless city and suburban police, fire and public works departments throughout the state.

During his tenure, Teamsters 714 also organized pharmacists and chauffeurs; industrial plant, warehouse and scrapyard workers; employees at McCormick Place, Chicago Amphitheater and Rosemont Exposition Center; and professionals in the movie and trade show industries.

In 1966, Joe was one of the founding fathers of the Italian American Labor Council, which consists of leaders from throughout the Chicago area and the state of Illinois. He has been a lifetime member of the organization since its inception, serving as president for a three-year term, and currently holding the title of president emeritus.

Among the many highlights of his involvement in the IALC, Joe is proudest of the fact that both Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and Francis Cardinal George agreed to be honored as Man of the Year at his invitation.

Joe has four children by his beloved wife, Jilda, who passed away 27 years ago from cancer. He mourns her passing to this day, and is grateful for the love he shares with his fiancée, Renee; his children and their spouses, Joe III (Maria), Ross, Rob (Cheryl) and Jill (Pete); and his grandchildren, Joe IV, Angelo, Viviana, Ava, Marco and Luca.

Joe is proud of the fact that all of his sons joined him among the ranks of organized labor. All three boys worked in the trade show and motion picture divisions of Teamsters Local 714 in high school and college, and they remain members today.

Joe dusted off his acting diploma a decade ago, playing an alderman in the TV series “Boss” with Kelsey Grammar, serving as a featured extra in the movies “Witless Protection” with Joe Mantegna and “Contagion” with Matt Damon; and assisting behind the scenes in several movies and television series.