Tag Archives: People

In April of this year, after having served for four years as an elected village trustee, one of the brightest stars in our local political firmament, and a lady of our ethnicity, was elected by 64 percent of the vote as president of River Forest. This month we highlight the political career of Catherine M. Adduci, a woman who quietly has made her mark both professionally and politically. Those of us who know this outstanding professional are aware of her history as an accomplished senior executive with 30 years of outstanding achievements with UNISYS Corp. A Fortune 500 global information …

As you walk up to the gleaming new storefront on North Avenue in Galewood, a large automatic sliding door sweeps open and you hear, “Welcome to Serrelli’s. It’s our grand re-opening today.” And grand it truly is. For nearly 80 years, Serrelli’s Finer Foods has been a grand name in the industry that’s guaranteed to bring a smile. From the first grocery store that Louis Serrelli opened at Western and Huron in 1934, the Serrelli family has been all about great products and friendly service. “When my grandfather came over from Calabria in the 1930s, he had the philosophy that …

by Jim DiStasio, Joe Stella and Paul Basile Even though the Turano Baking Co. is one of the largest bread makers in the nation, its heart still beats with the warmth and generosity of a small family business. For the last half century, La Famiglia Turano has steadily built a world-class company firmly rooted in values that can be traced to its founder. Launched in a storefront shop in Chicago in 1962 by Mariano Turano, the company has blossomed under the stewardship of sons Renato, Tony and Giancarlo into a national powerhouse with more than 750 employees who create more …

This month we introduce Michael V. Favia, a true leader and highly respected attorney. There is an old saw: When you want something done, give it to a busy person. In our ethnic and legal community as well as the community-at-large, that person is Michael. The principal and managing attorney for the law firm of Michael V. Favia and Associates, and counsel to the health care law firm of Goldberg Law Group, Michael is recognized for his extensive legal and administrative skills, which he uses to oversee and operate a most successful general civil practice firm. He also serves, very …

Persistence and focus are the keys that open up the doors to success. Eighteen-year-old Cettina Nardulli has unlocked those doors, and a bright future lies ahead of her. Nardulli graduated with honors from Ridgewood High School in Norridge on May 27, having blossomed into a capable young lady. During her high school career, Nardulli managed to juggle participation on the pompom squad and soccer team with a leadership role as class council president and still earned a GPA of more than 4.5 along with an honorable mention on the 2013-2014 Illinois High School Association’s All-State Academic Team. “My parents are …

He’s the manager of digital marketing for the adult division of U.S. Soccer. He also is the U.S. Midwest regional trustee with the Italian National Olympic Committee. And he’s well-known in the Chicago-area Italian-American community as the founder and president of Sportivo Academy, a non-profit organization that provides introductory sports development programs primarily for Italian-American youths in the area. Isabelli says Sportivo, which he founded in 2008, “uses the universal passion for sports in a way to bring local Italian-American youth, coaches and mentors together to not only develop athletic and personal skills, but to help develop Italian cultural awareness …

This month we highlight the distinguished career of Frank A. Citera, highly respected practitioner in a unique and complicated area of the law – products liability and mass torts. Frank Citera is co-chair of the Products Liability and Mass Torts Practice of the Chicago law firm of Greenberg Traurig. Frank received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University (1980) and his Juris Doctorate, cum laude from the University of Miami (1983). He is active in all the major bar associations, and is a member of the board of directors, by a university presidential appointment, of the Miami Law Alumni Association. To …

Every year, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, a highly respected daily newspaper for the Illinois legal community, accepts nominations for its prestigious 40 lawyers under the age of 40 recognition, and eery year, our community sees many of its younger attorneys recognized for their accomplishments. One of this year’s honorees is Karie J. Giganti Valentino. We highlight her career, adopting, in part, the article about her from the Law Bulletin. As an Ironman triathlete and an ultra marathon runner, Karie J. Giganti Valentino brings a unique level of energy and dedication to her practice. At Anderson, Rasor & Partners, LLP, …

This month we introduce the readers to Frank Sommario, the soon-to-be elected secretary of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, a 90-year-old ethnic bar association that stands as the third largest lawyers’ organization in the state of Illinois. As secretary, Frank will work his way through the chairs and become the society’s 97th president in 2017. This year’s president, Katherine (Amari) O’Dell, says of Frank, “He became secretary because over the years, as a member, he has shown talent, organizational skills and, most importantly, reliability. The Justinian officers that have preceded Frank have come to realize that when you want something …

This issue we highlight the prominent jurist, Justice Mary Seminara-Schostok, of the 19th Judicial Circuit. This Justinian was appointed an associate judge in 1998 and elected a full circuit in 2002. We pick this time to highlight her judicial career as she was recently sworn in as president of the statewide Illinois Judges Association, no small feat. The first of five children, Seminara-Schostok grew up in New Castle, Pa. Her father came to the United States from Italy and her mother was a second-generation Italian American. She attended Youngstown State University, the first in her family to graduate college. She …