PLEASE NOTE!

Sons of Italy

Watsonville Lodge #2016

Hosts

PAJARO VALLEY CHAMBER

of Commerce and Agriculture

SOCIAL MIXER

COME JOIN US AND MEET OUR LOCAL

MERCHANTS AND MEMBERS

ENJOY REFRESHMENTS

WINE (VINO) TASTING BY WARGIN WINERY

GELATO BY MASSIMO

APPETIZERS (SPUNTINOS)

Watsonville Woman’s Club

12 Brennan St., Watsonville, CA 95076

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014

5:00 PM ~ 7:00 PM Admission is FREE

Please bring a raffle prize

NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, 2014

LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY

ORDER SONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA

WATSONVILLE LODGE #2016 P.O. Box 1438, Watsonville, CA 95077

PH: (831) 525-2808 FAX: (831) 728-3347

e-mail: sonsofitalywatsonville@yahoo.com

www.watsonvillesonsof italy.org

PRESIDENT: David Delfino

VICE-PRESIDENT: Janeý Leonardich

IMM. PAST PRESIDENT: Frank Nigro III

ORATOR: Robert Moresco

REC. SECRETARY: Deborah Logan

FIN. SECRETARY: Lester Pedrazzini

TREASURER: Nancy Prevedelli

SENTINEL: Ray Pini

UPCOMING WATSONVILLE LODGE EVENTS:

Date Time Event Place

Thurs. Nov. 20 5:00 - 7:00 pm PV Chamber of Commerce Mixer Watsonville Women’s Club

7:00 pm Brief business meeting (?) 12 Brennan St., Watsonville

Thurs., Dec. 18 6:00 pm Christmas Dinner Party Watsonville Women’s Club

No Meeting 12 Brennan St., Watsonville

1

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Mon., Nov. 11: Veterans’ Day

Thurs., Nov. 28: Thanksgiving

Tues., Dec.. 16: 1st Day of Chanukkah

Sat., Dec. 21: 1st Day of Winter

Wed., Dec. 25: Christmas

We are sad to report that we have lost two of our most beloved members within the past two months. Louise Bilicich passed on September 14, and Bob Moresco on October 22. Buono viaggio Louise and Bob; we miss you!

Louise Clara (Zanetta) Bilicich was born in San Francisco, CA on March 12, 1923, of Italian immigrants. She grew up in Santa Cruz, graduating from Santa Cruz High School and San Jose State University. She taught Physical Education at Watsonville High School for 38 years, where she also met the love of her life, Louis Bilicich. She and Louie were married almost 64 years when he passed away in Nov., 2012. Louise was very active in the community, belonging to Sons of Italy, the Young Ladies Institute, Soroptimists Intl., and the Watsonville Women’s Club. She was an avid bridge player, and enjoyed watching Notre Dame football games and attending 49er games with her daughter. She was always a voice of calm and reason, always willing to volunteer her time, and always supportive of and encouraging to our lodge and our members, and especially to the youth of Watsonville. Louise was inducted into the Watsonville High School Hall of Fame in 2013. She leaves her daughter, Dr. Nancy Bilicich, son Louis (Daphne) Bilicich Jr., and grandchildren Danica Louise Mason (Danny) and Louis Anthony Bilicich III.

Robert Angelo Moresco was born in Watsonville, CA, on April 7, 1930 and, except for military service during the Korean War, he spent all of his life here. He was a partner of Rural Garbage Co. for 40 years. Active in many community events, Bob loved cooking and barbecuing for many organizations and fundraisers. In addition to Watsonville Sons of Italy, Bob was a member of the 65 Club, the Elk’s Lodge and Pajaro Valley Rod and Gun Club. He served in many capacities with Sons of Italy, including Lodge President, Vice President, Orator, and State Delegate. He was the chair and chief barbecue master for our annual barbecue almost since its beginning. It will from now on be called the “Bob Moresco Memorial Barbecue.” Bob was incredibly knowledgeable about the Ritual and Protocol and the By-Laws of the Order, and was a tireless volunteer. An avid sports fan, he attended 6 Super Bowls with the 49er’s, and also loved the SF Giants and SJ Sharks. Bob leaves his beloved wife of 57 years, Ann, and sons Robert (Linda) Moresco and Chuck (Sherae) Moresco, and daughter Jill (Kevin) Bird. Bob is survived by grandchildren Matthew, Stephanie, Michael and Shawn Moresco, Cassandra (David) Pimentel, Tyler Sperry, Emily, Tanner, Brady and Molly Bird, and great grandson Charlie Pimentel. He also leaves his two sisters, Lorraine Jurach and Loretta Greco, and his brother William (Nancy) Moresco.

Buon Compleanni to our many birthday celebrants! November honorees include Cheryl Daughenbaugh, Ron DeBenedetti, Albert Locatelli, Ashly Vineyard and our State Deputy Vince Ferrante. Our December celebrants are Sal Locatelli, Janeý Leonardich, Terry Medina, Father Al Mengon, Justice Locatelli, Lester

Pedrazzini and Emil Yappert. Congratulations, brothers and sisters, and happy, happy birthdays to you all.

Louise and Louie Bilicich enjoyed the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Watsonville

Lodge, OSIA, Nov.6, 2011.

Bob and Ann Moresco received a certificate from Pres. Dave Delfino & Past Pres. Frank Nigro III in recognition of their service to OSIA at the Watsonville Lodge’s

60th Anniversary Party, Nov. 6, 2011.

2

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK:

With this, my final “President’s Message”, I have so many thank you’s to extend to so many of you. Thank you for the privilege of being your President for the last four years. I truly believe we have made some great strides in advancing our lodge to make it more active, more fun, and more responsive to the desires of our membership. I know it will continue to improve under the able leadership of our new President, Janeý Leonardich, and I know you will all work together to help her achieve her goals for the betterment of our lodge. Thank you to the officers who served with me, and the new ones coming in, and our committee chairs, for your willingness to step up and give so generously of your time and talents. Janeý, you’ve been a great Vice President and have done an outstanding job organizing the Calamari Dinner, this year’s barbecue, our public relations, and so much more, even to cleaning the closet and ordering supplies! Freddie did a great job as VP during my first term, too, and we’re so glad that he’s conquering his lymphoma. Deborah, you’ve been a wonderful Recording Secretary, keeping accurate Minutes, providing us with Agendas and setting up a new Website for us. Lester, it will be very hard to fill your shoes as Financial Secretary. You’ve kept us afloat in hard times and heading in the right direction with our bequests from the Van Dusen Trust. Organizing the Budget Committee has helped tremendously to streamline our budget process. Nancy, you’ve been a great Treasurer, keeping the checkbook balanced and paying the bills in a timely manner. You’ve always been there for us to handle the raffles, collect the dinner money at each meeting and generally volunteer where needed. What can I say about Bobby? He was a truly knowledgeable Orator, the greatest barbecue chef, and totally devoted to our lodge and the order. I’ll miss you always, Bobby. I could go on and on. Frank has been a treasured mentor to me as Past President, Marie and Silvia (and Elena during my first term) have been great Mistresses of Ceremonies, Ray was the perfect Sentinel, Joe and Norm were both excellent Chaplains, and Ann and her trustees Elena and Virgil have made sure the books were always in order. Thanks also to Elena for stepping up and accompanying me to the Grand Lodge convention last June. Norm and Michelle have made the Scholarship Committee a model to be proud of, Lorraine has been the perfect Sunshine committee person, Virgil and Marie have kept our Bocce program going, Lois keeps us all informed with the newsletter, Mark’s willingness to cook at a moment’s notice and fill in wherever needed is so appreciated, and Michelle’s suggesting and chairing a Program Committee has relieved the officers of randomly trying to come up with appropriate speakers for our meetings. All of you, our members, have been so gracious and willing to help in whatever capacity was needed. The Order Sons of Italy was founded as a benevolent organization, to assist our brothers and sisters of Italian descent. With our comportment at our meetings, our willingness to help with all our activities, our charitable donations, our scholarship program and our assistance for members unable to keep up with their dues, I believe we truly embody and are keeping alive the original dreams and goals of OSIA. I’m proud of you all.

DON’T FORGET OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MIXER THURSDAY, NOV. 20, AND OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY THURS., DEC. 18. A VERY SPECIAL SANTA WILL BE THERE FOR THE LITTLE ONES. BRING YOUR HOLIDAY SPIRIT, YOUR APPETITE, AND A RAFFLE PRIZE TO EACH ONE!

With deepest gratitude, Happy Holidays!

Dave Delfino

President

Please patronize our sponsors. They make the printing and mailing of our newsletters possible!

3

9057 B Soquel Drive, Ste. B, Aptos, CA 95003 (831)768-8384

4