Tag Archives: Marie Marsalli

(The following was provided by the Grand Lodge of IL/WI, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America) Eight distinguished professional Italian Americans were presented with Leonardo da Vinci Awards of Excellence at the 20th annual Reception and Ceremony on July 18, 2021, at White Eagle Banquets in Niles. The Grand Lodge of IL/WI, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, hosted the event. Paul Loparco, President of the Grand Lodge, welcomed the honorees and guests and thanked them for their participation. He then introduced Marie Marsalli, Immediate Past President of the Grand Lodge and Chair of the event, …

The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin held its 48th Biennium State Convention on June 15 at the Edward Hotel Chicago in Rosemont. Grand lodge officers elected at the convention for the biennium 2019-2021 are Paul Loparco, president; Frank Schiro, first vice president; James LasCola, orator; Anna DeLuca, recording secretary; Maria Mancini, financial secretary; Carl Busateri, treasurer; Joseph Dentice, historian; and the Rev. John Belmonte, S.J., chaplain. Grand lodge trustees are Margurite Rowley, Giacomo Mancini, Elia Kress, Carol Hatley, Gino Montalbano and Joseph Santoro. Delegates to the convention were members elected by …

The Order Sons of Italy in America, Grand Lodge of Illinois/Wisconsin, honored a dozen outstanding individuals from all walks of life at the 18th annual Leonardo da Vinci Awards of Excellence Gala on May 5 at White Eagle Banquets in Niles. “Our recipients walk among giants in their chosen professions,” says Lodge President Marie Marsalli. “They lead by example and truly embrace their Italian heritage.” Fra Noi’s own Pat Capriati, author of the monthly Italian-language profile “L’eta d’oro” and co-host of the bilingual radio program “Domenica Insieme,” received an Award of Excellence in Communications at the event. Also receiving awards …

  The Grand Lodge of Illinois/Wisconsin, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Celebrating its 94th Annual Columbus Banquet on Oct. 6 at the White Eagle Banquets in Niles. Margurite Rowley, Columbus Banquet Chair, welcomes the guests and introduced the Master of Ceremony for the evening, the Honorable Anthony Calderone, Mayor of Forest Park. The MC introduced the Grand Lodge Officers, the Deputy Consul of Italy, the Columbus Day Queen, and the award recipients as they entered the hall. Highlighting the evening were the presentations of the 2018 Columbus Patriot Award and the 2018 Humanitarian Award. In addition, the …

  Eleven distinguished Italian Americans were honored with Leonardo da Vinci Awards of Excellence at the 17th annual reception and ceremony on May 6, 2018, at the Roma Lodge in Racine, Wisconsin. The event is hosted annually by the Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. The Master of Ceremony and event Chairman was Frank Schiro, Grand Lodge First Vice President. Schiro introduced Richard R. Della Croce, national Fifth Vice President, who sang both the American and Italian national anthems. Grand Lodge President Marie Marsalli was introduced and welcomed the honorees and guests. …

The 2017 Columbus Day Parade was among the best in recent memory. The sun shone brightly and the weather was glorious, attracting a record crowd. And thanks to the enthusiastic leadership of our parade chairman, Sergio Giangrande, we maxed out the capacity of our float company and enjoyed tremendous support from sponsors and television advertisers alike. Festivities officially began on Oct. 6 with the revival of our beloved flag raising ceremony at the Daley Center. On Oct. 9, a total of nine buses left the grounds of Casa Italia over the course of the morning for the Mass and Parade. …

The Grand Lodge of Illinois & Wisconsin, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, celebrated their 93rd Annual Columbus Banquet on Saturday evening, October 7, 2017. The event was held at Villa Brunetti, Franklin Park, IL. Anna DeLuca, Columbus Banquet Chairwoman, welcomed the guests and introduced the Master of Ceremony for the evening, the Honorable Anthony Calderone, Mayor of Forest Park, Illinois. The MC introduced the Grand Lodge Officers, our honored award recipients, the Consul General of Italy and the Columbus Day Queen as they entered the hall. Highlighting the evening were the presentation of the 2017 Humanitarian Award …

  The sun shined brightly on the 2016 Columbus Day Parade, which attracted one of the largest and most enthusiastic crowds in recent memory. The weather was glorious and the spectators stood five deep along State Street all the way from Monroe to Wacker. Buses filled with volunteers and parade goers left the grounds of Casa Italia in the early morning for the Mass, with a second wave departing later in the morning and heading directly for the parade. The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii was filled to capacity for the Mass, the altar was gorgeous with bouquets of flowers, …

  Celebrating its 92nd Annual Columbus Banquet, the Grand Lodge of Illinois/Wisconsin, Order Sons of Italy in America hosted the event at Villa Brunetti, Franklin Park, Illinois on October 8, 2016. Maria Mancini, Columbus Banquet Chair, welcomed the guests and introduced the Master of Ceremony for the evening, the Honorable Anthony Caldarone, Mayor of Forest Park, Illinois. The MC introduced the Grand Lodge Officers, our honored award recipients, the Consul General of Italy, and the Columbus Day Queen as they entered the hall. Highlighting the evening were the presentations of the 2016 Humanitarian Award and the Columbus Patriot Award. In …

Fifteen worthy Italian American’s were honored with a da Vinci Award of Excellence at the 14th Annual Gala on May 3 at BeauJolie by Victoria in Schiller Park. The event is hosted annually by the Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin, Order Sons of Italy in America. Chairman and Master of Ceremony Richard R. Della Croce welcomed the honorees and guests and introduced Grand Lodge President Marie Marsalli. Beautiful renditions of the American and Italian national anthems was sung by Della Croce. In the spirit of da Vinci, the order recognized the outstanding accomplishments of honorees in their various paths …