The

Golden LionOfficial Publication of the Grand Lodge of New York

Largest Italian-American Fraternal Bi-Monthly in New York State“The Order Sons of Italy in America is the oldest and largest organization of Italian-American Men and Women in the United States and Canada”

VOL. 49 NO. 4-5-6 APRIL-MAY-JUNE 2016

1905 - 2005

~ Ordine Figli d’Italia in America ~

G O L D E N L I O N A W A R DG O L D E N L I O N A W A R DG A L A D I N N E RG A L A D I N N E R

The 34th Annual Event of Italian Pride

A Tremendous Success

Three Outstanding Italian AmericansHonored by the NYSOSIA Foundation

For Their Commitment To Their Professionsand Community

Dr. Dominic J. MarinoAngelo Mazzone

Hon. Frank Petrone• • • • • •

(See Pages 10 and 11 For Full Coverage)

Villa Roma Resort and Conference CenterVilla Roma Resort and Conference Center

“Pride in Heri tage!”110th Annual Convention

to be held at

Villa Roma Resort and Convention Center

June 1 to June 5, 2016

Delegates to Elect

S t a t e Tru s t ee san d C om mis s ion ers

Aw ard s f or Ben e Em er i t u s - S e l l a ro

Fa m i ly o f t h e Year - C orn aro - a n d L i t era ryt o b e Bes t ow ed a t C on ven t ion

Related Convention Agenda Begins in Section 2

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

$82,700 in Scholarships and Grants to be Awardedon June 11, 2016

At Tappan Zee High School, Orangeburg NY~~~~~~~~~~~~

The three 2016 Golden Lion Honorees, are flanked by NY Grand LodgeFoundation President Carolyn Reres and Foundation Vice President AnthonyNaccarato (right). The recipients are shown in center holding their covetedGolden Lion Awards. From left: Hon. Frank Petrone, Huntington TownSupervisor; Dr. Dominic J. Marino, Chief of Staff - LI Veterinary Specialists; andAngelo Mazzone, President and CEO of Mazzone Management Group.

State Trustees

Grand Lodge OfficeEileen Stavis, Office Manager

Carol DiTrapani, Executive Assistant2101-03 Bellmore Avenue, Bellmore, N.Y. 11710-5605

Tel. 516-785-4623 1-800-322-OSIA Fax 516-221-OSIA (6742)www.nysosia.org • nysosia@aol.com

State Past Presidents

State AppointeesRev. R. Adam Forno ...................................................... NYS ChaplainAnthony D’Angelis........................................... New York State DeputyLouis Gallo ........................................... New York State CSJ ChairmanMadeline Matteucci ................................ NY State GMM ChairpersonJoseph Sciame .............................................. NY State GMM President

Carolyn Reres ........................................................ State President280 Franklin Ave. Unit 15, Franklin Square, NY 11010Home Tel: 516 358-5010 Cell Tel: 516 376-3056 Fax No. 516 221-6742 Email: osiacarolyn@aol.com

Robert Ferrito .......................................... State 1st Vice PresidentAnthony Naccarato ................................ State 2nd Vice PresidentJoseph F. Rondinelli .................... State Immediate Past PresidentMichele Ment ............................................................... State OratorBiagio Isgro, Jr. .................................... State Recording SecretaryJohn A. Fratta ........................................ State Financial SecretaryJames Spatafora........................... State Corresponding Secretary

2712 Smith Drive, Endwell, NY 13760Arthur Spera ......................................................... State TreasurerLuigi Squillante........................................... State Principal Trustee

The Golden Lion is the official publicationof the New York State Order Sons of Italy inAmerica (NYS OSIA) Grand Lodge, thelargest and longest established organizationrepresenting New York's women and men ofItalian heritage. The Golden Lion strives toprovide timely information about NYS OSIA,while reporting individuals, institutions,issues and events of current or historical sig-nificance in the New York Italian-Americancommunity.

The Golden Lion is published 5 times year-ly: (Jan-Feb-Mar, Apr-May-June, Jul-Aug,Sep-Oct, and Nov-Dec) by NYS OSIA, 2101Bellmore Avenue. Bellmore, NY 11710,516-785-4623. Mailed at periodicals postagerates at Bellmore and at additional mailingoffices under USPS permit #017-248. ” 1997NYS OSIA. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any method without permis-sion of the editor is prohibited. Statements offact and opinion are the responsibility of theauthors and do not necessarily imply an opin-ion on the part of the officers, employees andmembers of NYS OSIA. The Golden Lionaccepts queries, unsolicited manuscripts,news releases, reviews, and comments, butdoes not assume any responsibility for unso-licited materials. Letters to the editor mustinclude the name, address, and daytime tele-phone number of the author to be consideredfor publication.Annual subscriptions are included in the duesfor NYS OSIA.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes toThe Golden Lion, 2101 Bellmore Avenue.Bellmore, NY 11710. NYS OSIA member-ship information is available at 800-322-OSIA. Archives are maintained at theImmigration History Research Center,University of Minnesota. Printing by RichnerCommunications, Inc., Garden City, NY.

Anthony J. Gulotta+

Crescenzo Pitocchi+

Stefano Miele+

Corrado Stornello+

Salvatore Cotillo+

John J. Freschi+

Stefano Miele+

Frank Catinella+

Andrew J. Malatesta+

Francis X. Giaccone+

Ubaldo N. Marino+

Amedeo H. Volpe+

Carmine A. Ventiera+

Peter A. Brevett+

Salvatore H. Migliaccio+

George Montopoli+

P. Vincent Landi+

Joseph Bologna+

Joseph E. Fay+Peter R. Zuzolo

Joseph A. Montemarano+

Nicholas G. VigliettaJoseph Parillo, Jr.+

Joseph SciameJoseph Cangemi+

Joseph J. DiTrapaniCarlo Matteucci

Nancy DiFiore QuinnSalvatore Lanzilotta

Thom Lupo

New York State Grand Council

New York State Member Bene Emeritus

Anthony CorselloJoseph DiCarlo

Anthony DiCostanzoValerie Gobbo

Geraldine GrahamPatrick Iandoli

Thomas LiPumaCathy Lembo Lloyd

Ernest Magliato

John MauraJohn M. Rubbo Sr.

Joanne SperaKeith Wilson

2 • The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016

The Golden LionOfficial Publication

of N.Y. Grand Lodge

Order Sons of Italy

in America

Published Bi-Monthly

Editor

Sal Moschella

Co-Editor

Marjorie MoschellaNancy DiFiore Quinn

Advertising Manager

Anita Rosato

Contributing WritersMike Cutillo

Prof. Philip J. DiNovoFlorence Gatto

Dr. Joseph A. Tursi

Past Editors

Frank RossiGuido Vitiello (Emeritus)

Joseph MagliotoFrank Rossi

Frank MalerbaPeter R. Zuzolo

August A. Di Renzo

State Photographers

Joseph Fratta

Natale Mannino (Emeritus)

Are You Changing Your Address?Please Notify The Golden Lion

This will assure that you will receive your copy of the Golden Lionon time at your new address, and the NY Grand Lodge will save the75 cents charged by the United States Postal Service for eachreturned newspaper.

Please notify us of a change of address as soon as possible.

Print all requested information, otherwise changes cannot beprocessed.

Name ________________________________________________Last First MI

Lodge # ________

Old Address _________________________________________

City _________________________ State _____ ZIP __________

New Address _________________________________________

City _________________________ State _____ ZIP __________

MAIL TO: New York State OSIA Grand LodgeAttention: Golden Lion

2101 Bellmore Avenue, Bellmore, NY 11710-5605

Carmine Cocchiola +

Giuseppe A. Nigro +

Constantine Fascia +

Gregorio Morabito +

Lillian Black +

Philip Iannuccilli +Frank Picarazzi

Maria Dell’Unto +

Giacomo DiNola +

Andrew Torregrossa, Sr.+

Rev. Julius Valentinelli+

Joseph G. Bologna +

E. Howard Molisani +

Thomas F. Rosolio+

P. Vincent Landi +

Anne Fiore+

Hon. Angelo D. Roncallo+Amelia B. Magnotta +

F. Joseph Leone +

Arthur L. Pardi +

John Musicaro +

Edward InnellaHon. Josephine Gambino+

Hon. Dominic R. MassaroPeter R. Zuzolo

Louis L. Giambra+Joseph Parillo, Jr. +

Nicholas G. VigliettaSalvatore Marasa+Emanuel J. AragosaFrank D’Andrea+Joseph E. Fay+

Joseph SciameRev. Donald B. Licata+

Lucy F. CodellaLouis AmbrosioJohn Dabbene+Dan Colantone+

Joseph Cangemi+Joseph J. DiTrapani

Carlo MatteucciNancy DiFiore QuinnSalvatore LanzilottaAntonette Innella+

Sylvia Summa+Joseph Montemarano+

Thom LupoCarmine Federico

National Officers/Appointees

Nancy DiFiore Quinn....................................National Second Vice PresidentJoseph J. DiTrapani.................................National Immediate Past PresidentThom A. Lupo....................................................National Financial SecretaryCarlo Matteucci.....................................................................National TrusteeJoseph Rondinelli..................................................................National TrusteePeter R. Zuzolo...........................................................National Past PresidentJoseph Sciame.............................................................National Past PresidentJoseph J. DiTrapani..................National Sons of Italy Foundation PresidentSalvatore Lanzilotta...........................................National Foundation TrusteeBruce Lankewish................................................National Foundation TrusteeMarianne Principe O’Neil.................................National Foundation TrusteeNicholas Mauro.......................................National Arbitration CommissionerEleanor Jobbagy......................National Alternate Arbitration CommissionerRev. R. Adam Forno...........................................................National ChaplainJoseph Rondinelli.............................................Cooley’s Anemia ChairpersonDominic Massaro.........................................National CSJ President Emeritus

Circulated 5 times per year amongthe NY OSIA Membership with afamily readership of over 40,000throughout the New York State Area.

New York State Hall of Fame

D e a d l i n efor the

Next Golden Lion Issue is

July 7, 2016

All articles for publication must be typed and double spaced.All photograph captions must be typed and all persons identified.

If possible submit all photographs in black & white for better reproduction.Digital photos should taken in the highest quality setting possible of camera,

a minimum of 300 pixels per square inch (psi) is desirable. Photos takenwith phones are usually of poor quality and may NOT be publishedAll articles and captions must be received before the deadline date.

Please Note - Photographs are NOT returned, unless a self-addressedenvelope is provided. (Sufficiently large for photo size submitted).

Unpublished articles are not returned.The Editor reserves the right to edit articles, letters, advertisements, andother material submitted for publication, for its length, clarity, accuracy,

and for conformity to the ideals of the Order.

#

Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro+

Francis Mezzatesta, Esq.+Dr. Vincent Buffa+

Stefano Miele, +

Peter R. Zuzolo

Joseph SciameJoseph DiTrapani

+Deceased

O u r t h o u g h t s a n d p r a y e r s

a r e w i t h t h o s e i n u n i f o r m

i n h a r m ’s w a y

O u r t h o u g h t s a n d p r a y e r s

a r e w i t h t h o s e i n u n i f o r m

i n h a r m ’s w a y

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

One cable news program anchor clos-es his program by saying, “Breakingnews changes everything.” Every

morning, I wake with a plan of action forthe day. However, more often than not, aphone call, email or text is receivedwhich requires immediate attention andthe events of day completely change.The good part is that I have come toexpect this and have taken to factoring itinto planning. Flexibility is everything.

The OSIA 2016 Executive Session washeld in Baltimore, Maryland on February26th – 28th, headed by NationalPresident Daniel Longo. Our own JosephDiTrapani, President, Sons of ItalyFoundation, presided at the meeting ofthe Foundation. Many issues of impor-tance to the Order were discussed and itwas my honor to represent you at thetable.

Congratulations to CSJ Chair LouGallo for the wonderful Brunch/Dinner atRusso’s On The Bay honoring State IPPJoseph Rondinelli, National FinancialSecretary Thom Lupo, and ProfessorLouis Leonini. Unfortunately, an acci-dent on the way home from the Baltimoremeeting, stopping traffic for hours,forced me to miss almost all of the festiv-ities of this hugely successful event.

All reports indicate that the 2016 ver-sion of OSIA March Madness was anunqualified success, with the lodges pre-senting installations which were memo-rable for all present. It was my pleasureto swear in the officers at seventeenlodges, and was most delighted to play arole in the merger of two lodges. Myheartiest congratulations and best wishesare extended to the new Geneva Lodge#2397. Thank you to the members of theExecutive Committee who installed theofficers at the lodges where I was unableto attend, to all the State and NationalOfficers who attended numerous cere-monies throughout the state and to all theLodge Deputies. Traveling throughoutour state during this month provided mewith another opportunity to marvel at thebeauty of our great state. To all my broth-ers and sisters thank you for your warmwelcome.

The 34th Golden Lion Dinner held atthe Garden City Hotel on Fridayevening, April 15, 2016, was a brilliantsuccess. We celebrated the achievementsof our fantastic honorees: DominicMarino, DVM; Angelo Mazzone; and theHonorable Frank Petrone. Each honoreespoke eloquently about his Italian her-itage. Our guests were treated to amazinga capella renditions of the Italian andAmerican anthems by the young brothersof the DG Quintet. Michael Mazzonesurprised his father, honoree AngeloMazzone, and regaled us with powerfulperformances of popular arias. Thisevent was expertly chaired by State 2ndVice President Anthony Naccarato, theGeneral Dinner Chairperson. Specialrecognition is extended to the committee:our office staff, Carol DiTrapani andEileen Stavis and our volunteers, AnnetteLankewish and Anita Rosato. The beau-tiful commemorative journal was chairedby National 2nd Vice President NancyDiFiore Quinn. Elegance was the themefor the evening. Indeed a job well done.

Still exhilarated from the previousevening’s gala, the Grand Council gath-ered at Clinton Martin Park, New HydePark for the April plenary session gra-ciously hosted by the Cellini Lodge#2206. Many thanks are extended toCellini President Alfonso Squillante andthe entire committee for their most cor-dial hospitality. It was a day chock fullof OSIA business as our well-preparedState and National Officers and commit-tee chairs presented detailed reports. ThePlenary was capped by the announce-ment of our major 2016 OSIA awards.Congratulations to our Awardees: Dr.Vincenzo Sellaro: Jean Gagliardo ofCellini #2206 and Louis Mazzacone ofSt. Francis of Assisi #2629; Family ofthe Year: Antonio Capicotto Family ofAntonio Meucci #213; Bene Emeritus:Immediate Past President JosephRondinelli of Per Sempre #2344;Literary Award: Marianna Randazzo;and Cornaro Award: Dr. Mary AnnTrasciatti. Thank you to the chairs ofthese important committees: SantinaHaemmerle, Nicholas Mauro, AlfonsoSquillante, Joseph Sciame, Dr. LoisMignone, Dr. Joseph Tursi, and RobertSavino and their committees. At the endof the meeting all those who are runningfor State Trustee, for Garibaldi MeucciMuseum Commissioner and for the StateCommission of Arbitration at the Juneconvention announced their intentions.All the best is extended to each of thecandidates.

The Presidential Lifetime AchievementAwards, also announced at the Plenary,will be presented at Founder’s DayCeremonies on June 18th to the ThreeWise Men of the Order: Peter Zuzolo,Joseph Sciame and Joseph DiTrapani.Event Chair John Fratta and the commit-tee are planning an amazing day and wehope you will celebrate with us.

Chair Mary Naccarato and her commit-tee presented the incomparable annualCooley’s Dine-A-Round at Verdi’s ofWestbury in April. This tremendousundertaking has become quite a favoritefund raiser in support of our NationalCharity. The Foundation is grateful to the

restaurants that donated the food and allthose who contributed in so many waysto the incredible financial success of thisevent.

Our annual state bowling tournamentwas held on April 24th at theFarmingdale Lanes. Chairperson KeithWilson and his committee ensured thatthe enthusiastic bowlers had a wonderfultime in friendly competition. My job wasto throw the ceremonial first ball. I pre-fer to count the ceremonial second ballwith which I was fortunate enough toknock down nine pins. The tournamentwinners will be announced at the upcom-ing convention, when the bowling tro-phies will be presented.

The 2016 State Convention will con-vene at the Villa Roma on the afternoonof Thursday June 2nd. This year we willbe celebrating “Pride in Heritage.”Convention Chair Carol DiTrapani andher committee have been working toensure a wonderful time for our dele-gates. Please meet with all your lodge

delegates and express to them the impor-tance of attending AND participating inall convention sessions. We have a fullagenda with several surprises, and urgeyou to arrive for the opening session onThursday afternoon.

I blinked and the first year of my pres-idency is coming to an end. It is with adeep sense of pride in the many accom-plishments of the past year that I expressmy gratitude for dedicated efforts of allthe brothers and sisters throughout thestate. They have served their lodges andworked on numerous state committeesand commissions, all working together,enthusiastically, in the interest of ourshared heritage and in the OSIA traditionof Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

And now, on to the 110th StateConvention, where we are certain to hearthe Lion Roar!

Carolyn ReresState PresidentGrand Lodge of New York

The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 3

Carolyn Reres

State President

Grand Lodge of New York

From The State President’s Desk P r e s i d e n t ’ s P h o t o A l b u m

State President Carolyn Reres presided at the 2016 Spring PlenarySession, held on April 26th, hosted by the Cellini Lodge #2206 of NewHyde Park. Thanking the lodge and its members for their hospitality and fra-ternity extended to the National and State Officers, and to all others in atten-dance, an Appreciation Plaque was presented to Lodge President AlfonsoSquillante by NY Grand Lodge President.

State President Carolyn Reres attended the 36th Anniversary Commissionfor Social Justice Dinner Dance on February 28th. She is shown with the threehonorees, from left: Professor Louis Lionini.; NYS Past President Thom Lupo;and NYS Immediate Past President Joseph Rondinelli.

From Your ChaplainDear Sisters and Brothers!

June is the month in which we cele-brate the anniversary of our belovedOrder and honor St. Anthony of

Padua (June 13th). While you may befamiliar with the legends and traditionsabout the saint, I thought it may beinspiring to hear from him in this issueof the Golden Lion that brings us toJune. His words are particularlypoignant this year in the context of thisExtraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.

St. Anthony says in one of his sermons:“Do you want to have everything? Giveall of yourself and God will give you allof himself, and thus, not having any-thing of yourself, you will totally pos-sess God and yourself in him.”

A good litmus test for Anthony’s call tothis growth in holiness, in giving our-selves to God, would be to reflect onhow compassionate we are. ElsewhereAnthony says: “Compassion toward ourneighbor ought to be threefold: if theysin against us, we ought to forgive them.If they stray from the path of rectitudeand truth, we should instruct them. Ifthey are in need, we must help them.”

As a sign of our willingness to becomemore compassionate, let us reflect onsomeone who needs that gift of God’smercy that is given through us.Remember, St. Anthony tells us we arevessels of God’s grace and impels us:“Let us ask Jesus Christ, our Lord, to fillus with his mercy, so that we may prac-tice compassion with ourselves and oth-ers, not judging nor condemning them,but forgiving those who hurt us andhelping those who are in need.”

Perhaps it is an in-law; sister, daughter,

brother or son-in-law who needs mycompassion. It may be a spouse or sib-ling, a co-worker, parishioner, neighboror member of my lodge who is in needof compassion. To that end we canpray:

Holy St. Anthony, reach down fromheaven and take hold of my hand andflood my heart with love. Help me to beever ready to reach out to those whoneed the gift of my compassion. Those Ifind most difficult to love. Deliver mefrom any regret, anger or sorrow, that Imay be a vessel of God’s grace and lovedelivering reconciliation and peace toothers.

Teach me to be humbly thankful, asyou were thankful, for all the bountifulblessings I have received. Let me bemindful that I am called to share themfor the sake of the kingdom, where Godreigns, Father, Son and Spirit, now andforever. Amen.

St. Anthony, pray for us!

Rev. R. Adam Forno,

National/NYS OSIA Chaplain

Reverend R. Adam FornoState and National

Chaplain, OSIA

4 • The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016

State President Carolyn Reres (2nd row - right), joined her sisters and brothers ofAmerica Lodge #2245 of Franklin Square, in a Valentine's grab bag night to cel-ebrate the month of Hearts. In addition to being a fun night, informative materialwas distributed on the symptoms of heart attacks and how to recognize and actwhen experiencing those symptoms.

L E T T E R SIn gratitude for the honor bestowed

Dear Brothers and Sisters of OSIA, New York State Grand Lodge Foundation,Brother Anthony Naccarato, and Sister Annette Lankewish,

I want to thank you all, for the Humanitarian Award presented to me at the23rd anniversary winter charitable ball.

It was for me, one of the most memorable experiences, too difficult to forget.It brought together many members of my dear family, and many of my per-sonal and social friends, that came to share the day, and the honor with me.

I also want to thank you for the very generous contribution made to theCroatian Relief Services (CRS). a humanitarian organization for which I do myvolunteer work in Haiti. Since the earthquake of 2010, CRS has establishednd administers a orphanage in the capital city of Port-Au-Prince. CRS takes inchildren made orphans by the earthquake.

The children are very well taken care of. CRS provides shelter, food,clothes, education, and medical care. The children are very grateful and, thankyou for your generous hearts.

Sincerely,

Anthony D’Urso

Cellini Lodge #2206

The 2016 NYS Grand Lodge Foundation’s Humanitarian Award recipient -Anthony D’Urso (seated exreme left), is shown with the volunteer staff and chil-dren of the Croatian Relief Services (CRS) orphanage in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.D’Urso performs volunteer work for this humanitarian organization.

A mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose

place no one else can take.

Cardinal Mermillod

the Golden lion • april-May-June 2016 • 5

attention all NY state officers and Chairpersons

scheduled Plenary session

July 30, 2016 - Summer Session

Hosted by: Duca Degli Abruzzi Lodge #443 - Endicott

District Lodge Member DODCono Murello 3/15/2016Father of State Past First Lady Barbara Lupo

1 2107 Natale (Nat) Mannino 4/11/2016 Lodge Past President #2107 and #2612

1 2211 Alphonse (Sonny) Marigliano 4/17/2016 Lodge Past President

2 1389 Gaetano Mazzei 2/23/20162 2143 Paul De Stefano 3/17/20163 2344 Cav. Leonard Mancusi 5/8/20164 213 Anthony M.Cucciarre 12/30/2015

Lodge Past President

May their souls, and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.Names as submitted by Lodges as of May 9, 2016

In Memoriam

You are cordially invited to attendOSIA’s 111th Anniversary Event

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Celebration of Mass - 11:00 a.m.Most Precious Blood R.C. Church113 Baxter Street, New York City

Wreath Laying Ceremony - 12:00 p.m.OSIA Founding Site

203 Grand Street, New York City

Luncheon - 1:00 p.m.$65 per person

Il Cortile Restaurant125 Mulberry Street, New York City

2016 State President’s Lifetime Achievement Awardpresented to National/State Past Presidents

Peter R. Zuzolo, Joseph Sciame & Joseph DiTrapani

On April 11, 2016, a long-time member of the GoldenLion staff, Natale (Nat) Mannino, passed on to his eter-nal reward. Nat served as the State Photographer fromthe mid-1990s to 2014. His “one more” quip, always puta smile on the face of those that he was photographing.He was a pleasant figure at most of the Grand Lodgeevents and at numerous filial lodges’ ceremonies.Nat was truly dedicated to the Order Sons of Italy in

America. In addition to his volunteer work as a photogra-pher, Nat was also a Past President of the Arturo

Toscanini Lodge and the Anthony Casamento Lodge. Nat was a true gen-tleman. I was fortunate to have personally worked with him, an experiencethat I will long cherish.

The Editor

MARCH MADNESS, OR

How I Survived a Month of Installations

by Marjorie Moschella - Co-editor

‘Twas March 31st when all through the State,Lodge members were saying “We must not be late For tonight is the night we’ve been waiting so long for. Thirty days have gone by and we cannot take no more.”But why all this grumbling, why such a whine?On the first day of March, everything was just fine!Installations to go to, installations to have.The slates were all ready, the dates had been saved.State officers looked forward to travelling around,“Let’s get out the maps, these districts must be found.New members we’ll meet and tell them ‘Hello,’And warmly greet friends we already know.New Presidents are eager to take up the gavel,So greet them we must, even though we must travel.”Oh yes, they were eager, it’s a great time of year.The month of fraternity finally is here.

‘Tis the 15th of March, and lo and behold,Are these warm fuzzy feelings turning just a bit cold?All over the state, the children were sore “My mom’s in OSIA, she won’t cook any more.We don’t want more pizza, not even one slice!Roast beef and potatoes sure would be nice.”But OSIA moms heed fraternity’s call,If the truth would be known, they don’t mind not cooking at all!But there’s always the week-ends for families to gatherAnd spend time together (or not, if they’d rather).Yes March is the month that drives families apart.Just a few weeks to go though, so let’s all take heart.

But there’s one more problem I’ll mention in fact I have to be careful, it requires some tact.Could it be that our belts are becoming tighter?Could it be on March 1st we were many pounds lighter?We cannot resist those trays of good food.Not to eat is an insult, it certainly won’t look good!Pasta con sarde, linquine and clam sauce,Sausage and peppers - we’ll have to stay home ‘causeWe cannot resist all these home-made delights.But “Oh well, what’s the use, there are just ten more nights.”And oh, did I mention the zeppole, pastries, and such?The only conclusion, we’re eating too much!

The month’s wearing on, we’re into our “fat clothes.”And sorry to admit, during speeches we almost doze.We’re starting to notice all things are about the same,Every Lodge, every District, except for the names.But finally, finally, the 31st is here!The end of the month, salvation is near!

But wait, it’s the time for the truth to come out.We’re perfectly happy gadding about!It’s nice to make new friends and meet with the old ones,We look forward to March, and are glad when it does come!We know what’s important, it’s our sisters and brothers. Our love for the Order makes us love all the others.So yes, when we heed old fraternity’s callOur love for OSIA makes us “give it our all!”In just a few weeks those pounds will be gone.New tires, new maps, we’ll get all that done.Yes, March Madness is over, but this we do know It leaves all of us with that warm, fuzzy glow. n

Installation Ceremonies in next 4 pages uuu

Please Note: to give proper recognition to deceased members,

please submit their names soon after their passing to the editor of

the Golden lion, so that members of the order can pay their time-

ly respects to the deceased’s families.

6 • The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016

Columbus Lodge 2143Farmingdale

Anthony Musarra, Pres.

John Michael Marino Lodge 1389Port Washington

Marianne Bortone Prince, Pres.

Ann Bambino Lodge 2353Massapequa Park

Anita Novarro, Pres.

Brumidi Lodge 2211Deer Park

Daniel Calise, Pres.

A.P. Giannini Lodge 2859Brooklyn

Josephine Piazza, Pres.

M a r c h M a d n e s sS t a t e P r e s i d e n t R e r e s ’ I n s t a l l a t i o n s O d y s s e y

C. Columbus Lodge 692Ossining

Frank Picucci, Pres.

America Lodge 2245Franklin Square

Gloria Maffettone, Pres.

Fr. Vincent CapodannoLodge - Staten Island

Carl Cioccia. Pres.

Geneva Lodge 2397Geneva

Sam Cosentino, Jr., Pres.

Galileo Galilei Lodge 2253Hicksville

William San Filippo, Pres.

Cellini Lodge 2206New Hyde Park

Alfonso Squillante, Pres.

Romanesque Lodge 2198Blauvelt

Sybil DeSimone, Pres.

Giuseppe A. Nigro Lodge 2234Islip

Eleanor DeNovellis, Pres.

G. Garibaldi Lodge 2583Tuckahoe

Virginia Molinari Holek, Pres.

The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 7

Columbus Lodge #2143 - Farmingdale. ALL IN THe FAMILy. Three generationsof service to the Order as Presidents of the Lodge. On the day of his installationas Lodge President on March 6, 2016, newly elected President Anthony Mussara,left, together with his father, Lodge Past President Frank Musarra, went to visithis grandfather Lodge Past President Tony Musarra, who was hospitalized. Avery proud day for grandpa and dad, for Anthony in assuming the mantle of lead-ership of the lodge. It‘s believed that this is the first time in the NY Grand Lodgehistory that 3 generations served as a filial lodge president.

Loggia Glen Cove No. 1016, held its Annual Installation Ceremony on March 2,2016, at which a new president – Portia Ryder – was installed. The ceremonywas attended by officers from the NYS Grand Lodge, Lodge Presidents, officersfrom filial lodges, dignitaries, family members, and friends. In photo, the newlysworn-in Lodge President Ryder, seated center, is surrounded by the lodge’scouncil and other dignitaries.

Cellini Lodge #2206 - New Hyde Park. Cellini Lodge – The lodge newlyinstalled chair officers: IPP Vincent Illuzzi, 2nd VP Anthony Calabro, PresidentAlfonso Squillante, 1st VP Mark Ventimiglia, and Orator Maria D'Urso (seatedfrom 2nd from left to 2nd from right), are joined by the new lodge council andnumerous lodge past presidents.

Vigiano Brothers Lodge #3436 - Mt. Sinai. After taking the Oath of Office, thenew council poses for a photo op. Anthony Rotoli, the new Lodge President isshown 3rd from left, joined by NY Grand Lodge First Vice President RobertFerrito, 2nd from left, who acted as Herald at the Installation Ceremony.

Constantino Brumidi Lodge #2211 - Deer Park. The lodge’s 2016-2017 newlyinstalled council pose with incoming Lodge President Daniel Calise (seated, 3rdfrom right) and outgoing President Ciro Capano (seated on extreme right). Thean nual ceremony was held on March 12, and was well attended by members,guests, and numerous dignitaries.

On March 16, Gloria Maffettone was installed as President of the America Lodge#2245 of Franklin Square. This is Gloria's second time as President. GrandDeputy Vincent Iluzzi was the installing officer and NY State President and lodgemember, Carolyn Reres acting as Herald. ln photo, from left: Vincent Iluzzi,President Gloria Maffettone, State President Carolyn Reres, and National/StatePast President Joseph Sciame.

8• The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016

Ann Bambino Lodge #2353 - Massapequa Park. For a second time, AnitaNovarro (front center) is taking the helm of leadership of the lodge. She is showntaking the Oath of Office with the new lodge council, administered by NY GrandLodge President Carolyn Reres, who acted as Herald for the Installation Ceremonyheld on March 23rd.

Arturo Toscanini Lodge #2107 of Dix Hills, held its Installation of Officers’Ceremony on March 16th, installing Domenica Diana Grauer as the 26thPresident of the lodge. In photo, Domenica (center) is shown with her proud fam-ily. From left: her granddaughter Brooke; daughter Maureen; son Michael; andDaughter Kathleen.

Sgt. John Basilone Lodge #2442 - Bluepoint. INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS. StateTreasurer Arthur Spera, acting as Herald, is shown administering the Oath ofOffice to the 2016-2017 Lodge Council. In front row, to the right of Spera, are fromleft - Vice President Robert Donato; President Margaret Ripa Maier; and OratorDorothy Curto.

State President Carolyn Reres, extreme left, facing the audience, administeredthe Oath of Office to incoming officers of the Giuseppe A. Nigro Lodge #2234of Islip. The officers are shown being sworn-in led by President EleanorDeNovellis (front row center). In the spirit of fraternity, the ceremony was held atthe Guglielmo Marconi Lodge in Islip.

Christopher Columbus Lodge #692 – Ossining. At the completion of theInstallation Ceremony held on March 2nd, the new Lodge President FrankPascucci (standing, 5th from right), poses with the Lodge Council, State OratorMichele Ment, on his left; and State President Carolyn Reres and District 4Deputy Joanne Alfonso (immediately on his right). Outgoing Lodge PresidentMarco Piscopiello, is shown standing in back row center left.

Fr, Vincent Capodanno Lodge #212 of Staten Island, held its Installation ofOfficers Ceremony on March 1, 2016. State President Carolyn Reres attendedher 1st Installation of the many scheduled for the month of March throughout NYState. She is shown with new Lodge President Carl Ciaccio (center) and, fromleft: William Castello, IPP Frank Cicero, and Lodge Deputy Joseph Fratta.

The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 9

romanesque Lodge #2198 - Blauvelt. Posing with the newly installed LodgePresident Sybil DeSimone (3rd from right), are, beginning at 2nd rom left; StateHistorian Lucy Codella, State Orator Michele Ment, State President CarolynReres, IPP Mary Princi, and State Trustee Thomas LiPuma.

Geneva Lodge 2397 and the Geneva American Italian Lodge 2397A. An

HIsTorIC oCCAsIon. After 38 years of service to the Order and the community,operating as separate lodges, the two lodges were officially merged on March 19,2016, at a ceremony presided by NYOSIA State President Carolyn Reres. A newcharter was presented to the lodge which retained the name Geneva Lodge2397. A new co-ed officers’ council, led by Sam Cosentino, Jr., who was installedas the first president of the co-ed lodge. Posing with the president are, from left:Sentinel Shawn Corcoran, MC Tom Quartaro, Treasurer Ken Gregory, Fin. Sec.Steve Muzzi, VP Nancy Gregory, Pres. Sam Cosentino, IPP Cindy Durso-Woodhams, Trustee Phyllis Lowrey, Trustee Vince Bonetti, Trustee Steve Venuti,Trustee Mike Cutillo, and Trustee Sandra Schading. Not in photo, are: Rec.Sec.Beth Clark, Orator Paul D'Amico, and MC Helen Garlick.

qq Attending the momentous occasion were, from left: State Trustee TonyDiCostanzo, State Orator Michele Ment, Lodge VP Nancy Gregory, LodgePresident Sam Cosentino, Jr., State President Carolyn Reres, Lodge IPP CindyDurso-Woodhams, State 2nd VP Tony Naccarato, Dist. VIII Deputy Joseph Rubè

B u o n a G i o r n a t a d e l l a M a m m a !Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge #2583 - Tuckahoe. Newly installed Lodge PresidentVirginia Molinari Holek (center), is being escorted for a “recognition walk” and pre-sented to the audience by the Assistant Heralds: State 2nd VP AnthonyNaccarato and State Orator Michele Ment. State President Carolyn Reres actedas Herald for the Installation of Officers Ceremony.

Captain Kathy Mazza Lodge #2163A - Bethpage. At the completion of theInstallation Ceremony held March 23, 2016, the new council poses for a photo opwith friends of the lodge. From left: Lodge Deputy Al D'Blasio, Louise La Gatta,Felicia Mannetta, Theresa Loria, Dotty Yarcel, Vincent Balsamo, Adele Balsamo,Legislator RoseMarie Walker, Councilman Anthony Macagnone, Lodge PresidentJoAnn Manfredi, Linda Wargo, Rose Mazza, Councilman Joseph Pinto, RichardHaemmerle, and John Wargo.

10 • The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 Photos by Anthony Gallego of

2016 Golden Lion Awards Dinner

by Nancy DiFiore Quinn NY Grand Lodge, Past President

By Nancy DiFiore Quinn

In celebration of the 2016 Golden Lion Awards Dinner, the New YorkGrand Lodge Foundation, Order Sons of Italy in America held its annu-al event at the Garden City Hotel on Friday evening, April 15, 2016.

With over 225 guests in attendance, this prestigious event and commemo-rative journal was a social and financial success due to the overwhelmingcommitment by the prominent honorees ... Dr. Dominic Marino, AngeloMazzone, and the Honorable Frank P. Petrone.

Vice President of the Foundation Anthony Naccarato, serving as theGeneral Dinner Chairperson, together with Foundation President CarolynReres, lauded the wonderful accomplishments of the 2016 award recipients.

Dr. Dominic Marino is the Chief of Staff of Long Island VeterinarySpecialists, the Director of Canine Chiari Institute, and a founding boardmember of the New York Veterinary Foundation. Dr. Marino pursued hislife-long animal passion by attending Auburn University in Alabama wherehe attained a B.S. in biology and a DVM degree. He is board certified bythe American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American College ofClinical Thermology, and is the former head of Orthopedic/Neurosurgeryservice at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Marino pro-vides true compassion and understanding to all that require his services. Heis an Italian American gentleman who exemplifies the ideals of healing andcommitment and has successfully included these standards in both his per-sonal and professional life.

Entrepreneur and visionary, Angelo Mazzone is the consummate businessand family man. He received his Associate Degree in Hotel and RestaurantManagement at both Schenectady County Community College and HudsonValley Community College. As an alumnus, he continues to give back tothe college by offering experiential educational opportunities to students.After the purchase of numerous high-end restaurants in the Capital Regionof New York, he has become part of the redevelopment of the downtownSchenectady area. Mr. Mazzone is President and CEO of MazzoneManagement Group and is rooted in family tradition and hospitality. He isa proud Italian American committed to quality catering and customer ser-vice, and has become a generous supporter and an iconic figure in theupstate area.

Frank P. Petrone’s 22-year tenure as Huntington Town Supervisor hasbeen marked by sound fiscal management, community redevelopment,innovative economic and housing initiatives, dedication to preserving theenvironment and open space, and major program and capital projects thatfurther enhance the Town’s outstanding quality of life. As Supervisor, Mr.Petrone has been instrumental in promoting and celebrating the Town’s cul-tural and ethnic diversity, as exemplified by his lead role in bringing theLong Island Columbus Day Parade to Huntington and in maintaining theTown’s role as a sponsor of this annual event, which highlights ItalianAmericans contributions to our country. Supervisor Petrone has spent hisentire professional life dedicated to public service and to high ethical stan-dards and family values, making him a political Italian American rolemodel.

Each of our honorees spoke extensively about how very important theirItalian upbringing was toward the success they have achieved today. It wasan exceptionally emotional program that proved without a doubt … grow-ing up in a loving Italian family environment can only lead to a successfulfuture! Everyone was impressed by the obvious role models each of thehonorees have become.

The Annual Golden Lion Dinner is the premier event held by the NewYork Grand Lodge Foundation … a night to present the Golden Lion Awardto prominent Italian Americans and to laud their many civic and philan-thropic endeavors. All of our honorees met that goal this evening.

The success of this event is so essential to the fund raising efforts of theNew York Grand Lodge Foundation, Inc. It is this Golden Lion AwardsDinner that allows us to continue to fund so many worthwhile charitableorganizations as well as our state and national scholarship programs. TheNew York Grand Lodge Foundation also makes every effort to assist in thepreservation of our Italian heritage by funding cultural events and encour-aging the study of the Italian language.

Sincere thanks to our National and State Officers, filial lodges and specialdignitaries for supporting this event. Whether you purchased a journal ad… or attended the dinner, your support of this main fund raising event of theNew York Grand Lodge Foundation is sincerely appreciated.

We look forward to next year’s event when we will celebrate another yearof success for the New York Grand Lodge Foundation, Inc., Order Sons ofItaly in America.

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The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 11Gill Associates Photography

12 • The Golden Lion • april-May-June 2016

2016 Dine-A-Round

“Research Will Find The Cure”

by: Mary Naccarato, NYS Cooley’s Anemia Chairperson andMildred Mancusi, NYS Cooley’s Anemia Co-Chairperson

On April 5, 2016, the 18th Annual Cooley’s Anemia Dine-Around, to benefit theCooley’s Anemia Foundation, was held at Verdi’s of Westbury. Three-hundredand twenty–six guests participated in this very worthy event. It was wonderful

to see so many Order Sons of Italy Lodges and their guests, enjoying the evening.The Committee is very proud to announce that the profits exceed $38,000. MaryNaccarato, a member of the Giuseppe Verdi Lodge, is the New York StateChairperson for Cooley’s Anemia and Mildred Mancusi, a member of the Per SempreLadies Lodge, is the Co-Chairperson.

Forty-seven restaurants and bakeries participated by donating their house special-ties to the event. Wine was donated by Robert Ferrito, Cathy Lembo-Lloyd, Anthonyand Gen Lembo, Grotta Azzurra and Banfi Wines of Brookville. The Committeethanks all who graciously donated raffle gifts, table sponsors, canisters and directdonations. Mary and Anthony Naccarato were privileged to continue to underwrite thecost of the catering hall.

State President, Carolyn Reres and State First Vice-President, Robert Ferrito werein attendance, along with National Second Vice-President, Nancy DiFiore Quinn;National Foundation President, Joseph DiTrapani; National Cooley’s Anemia Chair,Joseph Rondinelli; State Fundraising Chair, Anthony Naccarato; and numerousNational and State Officers. Anthony Viola, CA Foundation President and CraigButler, CA Executive Director were also in attendance, along with a large representa-tion from local CA Chapters.

The Dine-Around Committee is comprised of representatives from OSIA filiallodges throughout New York State. The Committee did an outstanding job of reach-ing out to Lodges, members and to outside donors to insure that the event would be afinancial and social success.

The theme of the night was “Research Will Find The Cure.” OSIA, The Cooley’sAnemia Foundation and the Committee are grateful for everyone’s support and gen-erosity and we look forward to the day that we will celebrate the finding of a cure forCooley’s Anemia. n

New York Grand Lodge President Carolyn Reres (seated, 4th from right) is flanked by Mary Naccarato (on right) NYS Cooley’s Anemia Chairperson and MildredMancusi, Co-Chair (on left), and the entire Cooley’s Anemia committee.

Mary Naccarato, NYS Cooley’s Anemia Chair (right) and Mildred Mancusi Co-Chair flank Cooley’s Anemia Foundation Chair Anthony Viola.

National Officers from New York with NY State President Carolyn Reres (center).

The then State PresidentJoseph DiTrapani, turns oneloaf of bread into many. StatePresident and State Cooley’sAnemia Chairperson Raestand over a delicious displayof fine baked Italian bread, atthe annual Cooley’s AnemiaDine-A-Round held on April8, 2002, at Leonard’s of GreatNeck. Over 280 peopleattended this fund-raiser tocontinue to combat a dis-abling illness and at timesfatal, that mostly affects thevery young, who are ofMediterranean stock.

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The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 13

MUSEUM HAPPENINGSgARIBALDI-MEuCCI MuSEuM

420 Tompkins AvenueStaten Island, New York

718-442-1608 garibaldimeuccimuseum.org

by Theresa M. Corey, Commissioner

On Sunday, April 10, the gMM hosted a standing room only event, co-spon-sored by the Staten Island Jewish Community Center, introducing the bookAmericordo: The Italian Jewish Exiles in America by gianna Pontecorboli.

The program opened with a heartwarming welcome by CEO Joseph Sciame whointroduced the Board of Commissioners present. Chair Madeline Matteucci thenrecognized all whose labors made this event possible. At the outset, ProfessorsCastello and Leonini vividly led us through the ages on the plight of Italian Jews.The captive audience sat silent and focused eager to hear from our distinguishedauthoress. And what a delight it was to hear Ms. Pontecorboli tell her personal sto-ries and recollections as she interviewed exiled Italian Jews forced to leave Italyfollowing Mussolini’s racial laws in 1938. Over 1800 Jews arrived in the uS wherethey were neither accepted by the Italians nor by Jews already here assimilating tothe American way. The intersection of these worlds created very importantmoments of Italian American history. Our most charming authoress told a storyabout a famous pediatrician who treated children of royalty in Italy yet unable tolegally practice in America. That was okay though because those he treated herehad no money to pay him! Lo and behold in our midst was an elderly man whoraised his hand to say “yes, yes.” I know of whom you speak, he was my doctorwhen I was a child! Among our guests was the President of the Council of JewishAmerican Organizations who spoke briefly before all were invited to the front lawnfor a wreath laying ceremony at the statue of Antonio Meucci, whose birthday isApril 13. It was a great day at the Museum. I think Meucci smiled.

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In the spirit of the Italian Inventor, best known for his original invention of thetelephone, the gMM, through a grant from Time Warner Cable sponsored it’s annu-al Antonio Meucci Young Inventors’ Competition. The competition receivedover 400 entries from NYC school children in grades 3-8. After review by theJudges, semi-finalist project winners were invited to the final competition held onSunday, April 17th at Staten Island Tech High School. There were 3 winners ineach of the three categories – grades 3-4; 5-6; 7-8. The glowing success of thisevent is made possible by the hard work and dedication of the Board, staff and vol-unteers of the gMM.

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The gMM is now in its second session of Mommy and Me Bilingual,Italian/English STEAM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art andMath). The gMM has partnered with the Huguenot Park Library in hosting Momsand their 2-1/2 to 4 year old youngsters for 8 weekly sessions. The program is pro-vided at no cost through generous grants from The Richmond County SavingsFoundation and the Italian American Women of Staten Island. Children areimmersed in the Italian Language through songs, rhymes and puppetry. Musicalplay, gardening and literature makes this program unique and well received.

Personal Note: I hope you have enjoyed reading about our Museum, the Jewel ofthe Order. Know that it is only through your generous donations at Convention thatwe may continue our programs and maintain our Museum as a shining beacon andlegacy for future generations.

At the conclusion of Americordo program, all guests were invited to the frontlawn for a wreath laying ceremony in front of the Meucci Monument in honorof Antonio Meucci whose birthday is April 13th (born in 1808). AuthoressGianna Pontecorboli (front, 5th from right - holding flowers), is flanked byTheresa Corey and Madeline Matteucci. Also in photo are: Joseph Sciame,Fran Cicero, Carlo Matteucci, William Castello, and Carol Berardi.

Finding Private John Michael Marino

by Marianne Bortone Prince - Lodge President

In a past edition of the John Michael Marino Lodge’s newsletter LE NOTIZIE, thereappeared an article regarding the PVT. John Michael Marino memorial plaque thatthe Lodge had commissioned and unveiled at Sunset Park in Port Washington dur-ing the November 11, 2015 Veteran’s Program sponsored by the VFW Henderson-Marino Post 1819 and the American Legion Post 509. The plaque inscription readsas follows:

John Michael Marino Lodge No.1389 Order of Sons of Italy in America InCommemoration of the 90th Anniversary of Its Founding Dedicates This

Memorial To The Memory of PVT. John Michael Marino The Namesake of theLodge Who Was the First Italian-American From Port Washington to Die InService To Our Country During World War I. The Lodge is Committed to the

Principles of Liberty – Equality - FraternityDedicated November 11, 2015

At the end of the ceremony, I had a conversation with the Post Commandersregarding the actual location of PVT. Marino’s gravesite. I mentioned that in a shortbiography researched and written by lodge member Mike Ragusa, there existed acopy of the letter that was written in answer to the Marino’s family inquiry regard-ing PVT. Marino’s passing. The letter was presented by the Hon. Frederick C.Hicks, dated December 30, 1918 from Paul D. Meek, Captain 112th Field SignalBattalion, Commanding Company C. The letter provided the details of PVT.Marino’s active involvement in the Flanders Offensive, which ultimately lead to hisdeath. The letter also stated that PVT. Marino was buried at Staden, Belgium.

I recall lamenting that this son of Port Washington was buried in a foreign land,away from his family and friends for nearly one hundred years. I was somewhat

consoled by the fact that our Lodge was instrumen-tal in securing the memorial in memory of PVT.Marino. But this story does not end here.

I became curious about the gravesite in Belgiumand sought a photo of the headstone. I discoveredthat PVT. John Michael Marino’s gravesite nolonger existed in Belgium, and the logical conclu-sion I reached was that his remains must have beenmoved decades ago – the question is where? StadenCemetery could not provide that information, sinceso much time had passed, and I could not easilylocate surviving descendants who might shed somelight on the subject. Since the Lodge was institutedninety years ago, members possessing insight werelong gone.

I reached out to Lodge Principal Trustee, MarcBiundo, and asked if we would be willing to take ona project on “finding PVT. Marino’s final restingplace.” I sought his assistance in this project and hegladly accepted this “mission impossible.” Marcsuccessfully completed the assignment and locatedMarino’s gravesite at Holy Rood Cemetery inWestbury, NY. The gravesite dates back to 1921. At

the March 16th Installation Ceremony, a poster of the headstone was unveiled forthe audience. The inscription on the tombstone reads: MICHEAL M. MARINO -DISTRICT OF COLuMBIA - PVT. 112 FIELD SIg B., 37 DIV. - NOVEMBER 9, 1918.[It’s assumed that the remains of Marino were moved at the request of his fam-ily and re-buried in the then St. Brigid’s Cemetery, before it was incoporated aspart of the Holy Rood Cemetery in 1930]. n

John M. MarinoTombstone

Holy Rood CemeterySt. Brigid’s Section

Saluti ai Miei Fratelli e Sorelle!

Your CSJ kept a pretty heady pace this past quarter. Much was happening fromso many directions! The quarter began with our 36th annual Brunch/Dinnerfundraiser at Russo’s-On-The-Bay in Howard Beach. Over 200 attended, and

we made a handsome profit to help our missions. The climax of the event wasproudly honoring Past Presidents Joe Rondinelli and Thom Lupo, resolute support-ers of CSJ, and GMM Professor Lou Leonini, a devotee of the instruction of Italianlanguage, culture, and history. As far as Italian culture and history is concerned youknow that we face fierce challenges, particularly relative to Columbus Day.

Last quarter multiple challenges erupted. Brown University in Providence,Rhode Island, dumped Columbus Day in February and instead substituted“Indigenous Peoples Day.” In March the city school district of Philadelphiadropped Columbus Day, and that day is now a regular day of class instruction. Inthis same month the Los Angeles city council voted for a two-month study tolaunch an investigation of a paid day-off for city workers for Indigenous PeoplesDay but with options: a separate holiday, a substitute for Columbus Day, or noIndigenous Peoples Day at all. That study’s results are due in May. However, onthe other side of the coin there have been some positive developments for us aboutthis issue.

The Utah State Senators in a 15-10 vote defeated legislation to change ColumbusDay to Indigenous Peoples Day and put pressure on the University of Utah to dothe same. In Colorado it was dramatic. In a 7-2 vote in the State and MilitaryAffairs Committee of the Colorado House of Representatives the legislation wasalso defeated after passionate arguments on both sides of the issue lasted for fourhours. The Colorado CSJ Chairman thanked us for our efforts in making this defeatpossible, and I want to thank so graciously our Board members and lodge liaisonsfor their effective participation! We could not turn our attention too much to helpthese other locales because we had our own fight in Southampton. Communityforums have been organized to discuss the matter but participants are deadlocked.An administrative shakeup evolved in the meantime and a new Superintendent hastaken over. He personally told me that the matter will now be postponed until afterthe school budget votes in mid-May, which fortunately now gives us more time toorganize Southampton residents to defeat the proposal. Meetings have occurredbetween CSJ and these residents to plan and strategize. To bolster our efforts wenow have “Save Columbus Day” T-shirts for you to purchase and bring attention tothe public. Contact Joe Vallone, our Treasurer. The shirts are $10. BesidesColumbus Day we have another score to settle.

On March 7th the Osgood File program on WCBS Radio 880 AM commemorat-ed the anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell’s patent for the telephone. Thanks tothe sharp ears of Tony Conetta from the JMM Lodge he texted me about what heheard. Immediately I e-mailed the station and provided them the true story ofAntonio Meucci and the telephone and demanded equal time on their station to setthe record straight. The News Director Tim Scheld and his staff were so fond of thestory that arrangements are now being made to do the Meucci story on the stationon the grounds of the museum! How delightful!

Another delight is CSJ and the Committee to Preserve Our Lady of LoretoChurch is moving closer to landmarking and preservation. On May 2 Mario Togliaand I traveled to Brooklyn to meet with area Assemb. Latrice Walker to urge her tospeak to the the owner of OLL, Our Lady of the Presentation, and her colleagues tourge them to come on board for the effort since she has mentioned she is in fullsupport of the preservation of OLL. She agreed, and while in Brooklyn we visitedother community groups to encourage them too. We now have added East NewYork in Motion, an Afro-Caribbean dance troupe, and the Italian American CivilRights League, a non-profit community services group in Brownsville, whichmakes for four community groups on board now. Including the owner and commu-nity groups on board moves us closer to city and state approval for landmarking. Iwill also send out letters to other elected officials in the area to make it easier forWalker to convince them.

Furthermore, we’re thinking ahead to October Culture and Heritage Month2016. Board members Liz Rizzo and Jean Gagliardo have been charged with con-tacting the public libraries in the state to coax them in preparing programs andevents now for that Month. Hopefully, we’ll have a full array throughout the stateto be proud of. After all, such an effort on our part coincides beautifully withdirection suggested by a one Mr. Pat Morelli from upstate Loudonville.

Thanks to Liz Rizzo’s reading of Primo magazine she noticed an article he wroteabout his experience and capabilities in fighting bias and bigotry with effective tac-tics for fifty years. When contacted, we rendezvoused with him in Manhattan onMarch 26th and were enthralled with a two-hour presentation about the nature ofmass media and how to channel one’s passion and energy in using effective tacticsto counteract such pervasive media. One idea that resonated was that one has tocreate POSITIVE PRODUCT—-pamphlets, books, billboards, posters, t-shirts,films, et al, into wide circulation. Therefore, we’re asking public libraries in thestate to do just that. Since his program is developmental, we will be meeting withPat for further instruction along the way, and thankfully we will be more proficientin our missions.

On the subject of bias and bigotry we had our usual share of rankling develop-ments. The WD food truck lost in court again! The judge basically said that thestate was acting as a property manager when it launched the Empire State SummerLunch Program, and according to the state’s contract for the program vendors hadto be “family-friendly.” The term “WD” is not, so the state had every right to ban-ish the truck from the program. WD is appealing. The NYC Transit Authority’stime sheet had a ‘WOP” code on it for those union leaders working on TransitAuthority time (“Without Papers”) and had to be paid by the union instead. Thanksto our pressure the TA will change the code. If all of you have been following ourFacebook posts and e-mails, you know that Sen. Ted Cruz and Fox News LiveCommentator Neil Cavuto have hurled insults at Italian people, and your CSJ hasliterally bombarded them with all modes of communication with vitriolic content.So far, no responses yet. Finally, if any of you are invited on Facebook to MobCentral, Mob Daily, or Hardcore Italians groups, protest vehemently and take your-self out of these groups! They portray us as criminals and buffoons. I have alreadynoticed that the creators have disallowed comments or posts in the groups. So,we’re making headway here.

One final note— I want to introduce you to our new, talented FinancialSecretary, Joanne Grove from the Sellaro Lodge. Gina Ferrara has accepted thesame position in her own Cellini Lodge. So thanks for everything Gina and goodluck! Welcome Joanne!

Fraternally,

Lou

“Fighting Bias,

Building Pride”

C S J C h a i r m a n ’ s M e s s a g e

14 • Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016

Louis J. Gallo Jr.

Commission For Social Justice

On February 28th, the three Commission for Social Justice (CSJ) honorees posewith CSJ Chairman Louis Gallo (right) and Dinner Chair Josephine Morici Cohen.The honorees, from left are; NYS Past President Thom Lupo; NYS Immediate PastPresident Joseph Rondinelli; and Professor Lou Leonini.

In 1816 - Philip Mazzei, one of the contributors to the AmericanIndependence, dies. Former President Thomas Jefferson writes of Mazzei,“He was greatly esteemed in this country.” Among the thirty shareholders ofMazzei’s agricultural company in Virginia, were Washington and Jefferson.Mazzei, a political activist and writer during the War of Independence,received the first of five drafts of the Declaration. Jefferson termed Mazzei’scopy “the original.” The words, “that all men are created equal” are those ofPhilip Mazzei.

The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 15

Dual Italian-American Citizenship

The Importance of Having Italian Citizenship Today

by Peter (Pietro) Caschera, JD. - Gabriele D’Annunzio Lodge #321, Schenectady

Forbes magazine recently rated Italian Citizenship as the world's most valuable cit-izenship. With Italian Citizenship, you open doors to over 170 countries world-wide. Some, if not the world's finest companies, ranging from all walks of life, areItalian. International Italian firms dominate basically every industry, and thesefirms are on the cutting edge of their fields. They seek to hire English speakers ona regular basis and require citizenship. It is a citizenship that is as profound asItaly is diverse. Travel to Italy for 6 months, a year, or even indefinitely. A trueItalian citizen does not need to acquire or pay for expensive and time consumingworking certificates or visas.

I am very proud to be an Italian citizen and I believe it to be a significant part ofmy identity as an Italian-American and a member of the Sons of Italy. The processis long and tiring, but very rewarding. I carry my passport in my pocket at alltimes as a symbol, and as a very important point of my heritage. The opportunitiesthat this citizenship brings are endless. Not only did I become a member of one ofgreatest histories that the World has ever seen, but more importantly, I became aEuropean Citizen. This is a point that bears repeating; not only did I become anItalian citizen, but I became a citizen of a united Europe in its entirety. Free towork and travel anywhere on the Super Continent. Have aspirations to live inLondon, Paris, Hamburg, or any of the metropoli of Europe? Good credentials,fancy schooling, and the highest of recommendations are not enough...you must bea citizen.

Earning your Italian Citizenship is something that is truly generational and oneof the few things that will pass the test of time. It is something that can be handedto your spouse and even to your children. It is a great gift. The demand for theItalian Citizenship has seen a strong wave in recent years and it is something thatis becoming harder to obtain. Distress caused by Syrian and other refugee immi-gration, threats of international wars and terrorism have raised the bar of citizen-ship attainment and has resulted in a surge of applications in recent years. Theprocess used years ago will fall short. Now, all applicants must be screened andcleared by the Department of Homeland Security. Don't let these complicationsprevent you from enjoying something that is well worth the fight. n

Editor’s Note: Brother Caschera is willing to assist free of charge, members of theOrder interested in getting additional information or in how to obtaining Italian cit-izenship. Please contact him at caschera@gmail.com, or call him at 518-302-1366.

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Captain Kathy Mazza Lodge #2163A - Bethpage. On March 11, 2019, LodgeIPP  Rose  Mazza  (front  center),  accepted  a  Citation  from  the  Jersey  CityMunicipal  Council,  on  behalf  of  her  daughter,  Port  Authority  Captain  KathyMazza,  killed  in-the-line-of-duty  on  September  11,  2001  at  the  World  TradeCenter,  in  recognition as  the 2016 Women of Action,  for her  contributions anddedication to her community. 

The Rockland Lodge 2176 of Blauvelt,  hosted  a  dinner  on March  30th,  tohonor two Tappan Zee High School students with awards for their commitmentand  dedication  in  learning  the  Italian  language.  The  two:  Catlin  Hartnett  andGreg DeCola,  are seen in photo with their teachers: Miss Castelli, Mrs. Nilson,Mrs.  Amos,  and  Mrs.  Bruno  who  attended  the  dinner  and  ceremony.  LodgePresident Greg DeCola (3rd from right), is one of the proud parents.   

A New York Grand Lodge Delegation, led by State President CarolynReres, will attend on Thursday, May 26, 2016, in Washington, D.C., theSons of Italy Foundation (SIF), the 28th Annual National Education &Leadership Awards (NELA)-, honoring Dr. Condoleezza Rice; NicholasE.  Calio;  Joseph  M.  Mattone;  Sr.,  Mary  Ann  Pessolano  Mattone,RN/MPH; and Paul Rinaldi. In addition to these outstanding headlinehonorees, the SIF's national scholarship recipients -- chosen througha highly rigorous and competitive process -- will be showcased. Threestudents from New York will be amongst the recipients.

Interesting Facts about the Italian Language

Compiled by: Prof/Cav Philip Di Novo

Today modern Italian is the national language of the Italian Republic, one of theofficial tongues of Switzerland, and one of the principal languages spoken exten-sively in the European Common Market countries. Italian is also spoken in

Malta, Corsica, southeastern France and along the eastern Adriatic Coast, and iswidely used in the former Italian colonies of Libya, the Dodecanese Islands, Eritrea,and Somalia. Italian is spoken by several millions of Italian immigrants and their

descendants in Western Europe, North and South America, andin Australia. As a cultural language, it is spoken and under-stood in Yugoslavia, Albania, Romania, Greece, Tunisia,Egypt, and generally along all the Mediterranean area.

Italian is a secondary, cultural, diplomatic, and commerciallanguage. It is spoken and understood in all Latin Americancountries, particularly in Argentina where it is spoken side byside with Spanish, and in the southeastern states of Brazilwhere it is spoken side by side with Portuguese.

Of all the Romance languages, Italian retains the closestresemblance to Latin. The sonority and rhythm which the French lost, the delightfulclearness which has become a bit blurred in Spanish, all remains in melodious Italian,the ideal language of poetry, in which it has always excelled.

As a transmitter of the great culture of the Renaissance, Italian has exerted aremarkable influence on all languages of Western Europe, and notably on French,English, German and Spanish. Many hundreds of words in each of these languages,mostly related to cultural achievements in such fields as music, art, and literature, areof Italian origin, and even today musical terminology all over the world is, in largepart, Italian. Besides its contributions to the western European languages, Italian hasdeeply influenced the Albanian, Romanian, and Yugoslavic tongues, and especiallymodern Greek.

In modern Italian, the vocabulary of Latin has been made to meet the changingconditions of Italian life. The simplicity of the phonetic and morphological changesfrom Latin, along with a perfectly phonetic orthography, makes the acquisition ofItalian easy for a person who has knowledge of the English language. It is also a use-ful first step in learning Latin, French, Spanish, or Portuguese.

Italian contains no unfamiliar sounds, no new letters, and no uncommon diacriticalmarks. It has regular, simplified spelling. Each letter or combination of letters usual-ly stands for one distinct sound; as a result a word is generally pronounced exactlyas it is spelled.

Italian pronunciation consists of only seven vowels and twenty-one consonantsounds already familiar to English speakers.

This researched was done by O.D. Belle, who says "Considering all these out-standing features and advantages over other languages, we must come to the logicalconclusion that modern Italian is, without doubt, the nearest approach to INTER-LINGUA — the most interesting and, until now, the most attractive proposal for aworld second language. n

Prof/Cav. DiNovo, a member of the Gabriele D’Annunzio Lodge #321 of Schenectady,dedicates his time and study to the Italian American communities of the U.S.

16 • The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016

The John Michael Marino Lodge No.1389 of Port Washington, responded toan urgent appeal by Our Lady of Fatima Church in Manorville, to replenish itsFood Pantry. Members of the lodge generously rebonded by donating bags andboxes filled with non-perishable food items and delivered on February 22nd. Onhand for the delivery were Lodge officers and members: Tom Faticone, AliceO’Leary, Barbara Faticone, Joe Ciotoli, President Marianne Bortone Prince, andSharon Natalie Abramski). All are pictured with a delighted Village of ManorhavenMayor Giovanna Giunta, shown holding gift cards that were part of the donation.

Gabriele D'Annunzio Lodge #321 of Schenectady. CELEBRATING LA FESTA DI SAN

GIuSEPPE. The lodge celebrated the Feast of St. Joseph Italian style. With a 3 tieredtable representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our Italian tradition was carriedon. A simple meal was served to the members who attended. They were very gra-cious in bringing items for the lodge’s Food Pantry. Four boxes of assorted foodswere all displayed on the St. Joseph table as is seen in the photo.

Gabriele D'Annunzio Lodge#321 - Schenectady. SHARING

AND CARING AT THE CITy

MISSION OF SCHENECTADy. Thelodge hosted an Italian Dinnerat the Schenectady CityMission. Shown in photo areAngelo Piccirillo and NickPiccirillo, who with some ofour other chefs, preparedcavateli, meatballs, Italiansausage, salad, and desserts.Over one hundred CityMission residents wereserved by members of ourlodge.

The John Michael Marino Lodge No.1389 of Port Washington continued theannual tradition of honoring St. Joseph by replicating an altar at two PortWashington RC churches. The event took place on Saturday, March 19th after the5:00pm Mass at St. Peter of Alcantara Church and Our Lady of Fatima Church.Officers and members of the Lodge attended Mass and were on hand to distributebread, oranges, bookmarks, and zeppole to parishioners as they exited the church.Monetary donations collected at the altars are given to the Outreach Program ofeach church. Pictured at St. Peter of Alcantara Church with Lodge PresidentMarianne Bortone Prince (3rd from left), are members of the lodge and clergy.

Loggia Glen Cove No. 1016, held its celebration of the feast of St. Joseph, thepatron saint of the family. A prayer service was conducted by Very Rev. GabrielRach. A meatless dinner was served after all the food had been blessed by FatherGabriel. The Very Rev. Dom Elias Carr Can. Reg., Pastor of St. Rocco’s Churchand the Very Rev. Dom Ambrose Boyd Can. Reg. were also in attendance. TheSt. Joseph’s bread was sold and the proceeds from the bread and other dona-tions were given to the Church of St. Rocco to help the poor in the OutreachProgram. St. Joseph’s Day is celebrated on March 19th in Italy and all over theworld, wherever Italians have settled. Pictured left to right: Kathryn Grande,Heritage and Culture Chairperson; Fr. Ambrose; Portia Ryder Lodge President;and Frs. Elias and Gabriel.

H e l p i n g T h e C o m m u n i t y

The Sgt. John Basilone Lodge #2442 of Patchouge, held a yard sale on April30th, raising $1,600 to benefit the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum. Twenty eightLodge members helped throughout the day of the fund-raiser. In photo are someof the mebers that helped. Front row, from left: Pete Ficarra, Madeline Brewster,Angela Donato, Rae Flaherty, Luisa Potenza, Regina Allen, Margaret Maier,Grace Ficarra, and Nat Ierardi. Back row: Bob Donato, Carlo Matteucci, DorothyCurto, and Madeline Matteucci (Museum Chairperson).

The Barbershop

Igrew up in Brooklyn near the VerrazanoBridge. My father had a store and neverleft his business unless my mother could

take over for a little while. So, if there was alull during the day he would escape to get ahaircut. That meant he had to care for mewhile Mama took care of the store.

I loved going to the barbershop with myfather when I was little. It was my favorite

place because thetwirling barber polelooked like a candycane to me. I did notknow the mesmerizingpole was the ominoussymbolic red for blood,and white for bandagessince the middle ages.The blue stripe wasadded later on. Barbers

were called barber-surgeons then becausethey practiced bloodletting, dentistry, andminor surgery.After all, they were qualifiedsince they had sharp scissors in hand most ofthe time. No wonder my young intuitive sonsscreamed when I took them for summer buzzhaircuts. They anticipated life threateningtorture!

Luigi’s barbershop had a white tile floor,black leather client chairs, hooks for razorstraps and a jar of blue liquid to disinfectcombs. Hair was not shampooed before ser-vice then. Luigi, Il barbieri, wore a whiteclinic type jacket while he worked.

My father looked exactly the same afterhis haircut, - except that he also had a shave,so he looked cleaner to me. His hair wasparted on the side and trimmed above theears as always. He probably paid $2 for hisvisit unlike the current pricing of $60 ormore at elite stylist shops.

In my life time I have seen men’s hair-styles progress from slicked back hair to mil-itary flat tops, long sideburns to short side-burns, crew cuts to DAs. I remember the

Beatles long floppy manes, Mohawk styles,children with John-John bangs, and permsfor men. Luckily many Italian men had won-derful wavy hair and did not need a perma-nent. Now pony tails and the ultimate “manbun” are popular,

Barbers are fashion trend setters today. Itis cool to have tousled locks, pompadours or“fades” with precisely sectioned hair, andperhaps bleached or pastel streaks.

Receding hairlines were sometimes aworry but now young men request modifica-tions. Tracing above the forehead creates anew hairline to shape around the face. Itseems high foreheads are in style. Baldingcould cause anxiety years ago but now it’s“manly chic” for men of all ages to shave theentire head. As a bonus there is never a needto look for a comb.

Barber shops were male hangouts wherethey shared news years ago. Barbers werechatty and some also flaunted their singingtalent. Although Luigi sang, there was noquartet because only his brother worked withhim, so they sang duets of O Sole Mio.

We did have one Italian American barberfrom New York who became world famous.Perry Como was a cool, calm, crooner of the50s and 60s. It is no secret that his talent wasdiscovered singing to a patron. Many immi-grants sang along with Como to “It’sImpossible,” or “Papa Loves Mambo.” Hewas truly an Italian American Idol. There isan OSIA lodge with his name.

Now, children sit in little cars, beep, andsteer, while cutters do their clipping. Adultscan watch sports on huge TVs or shoot poolwhile waiting their turn. But, Luigi sang, asdid Perry Como, with scissors snipping inrhythm. n

Florence is a Past President of the GiovanniCaboto Lodge #2372, and a member of theNYSOSIA Scholarship Committee. Flo is theauthor of “The Scent of Jasmine - Vignettesfrom a Sicilian Heritage.” She has studied inItaly under Fulbright and NYS TeacherGrants.

As we pulled into the town of Valguarnera Caropepe in the hills of cen-tral Sicily, I could sense my wife’s excitement and knew her heart wasracing. Me, I was just excited about experiencing another Italian adven-

ture; this country has never failed to deliver. We had been invited to thehome of Miranda Profeta, whose maiden name was Miraglia and whoseuncle was Gregorio Miraglia, which was the name of my wife’s grandfather,who left this little town for America in 1910 and never returned.

We knew that Miranda’s uncle and Jan’s grandfather were not the sameman, but with the Italian tradition of naming children after others in thefamily, we had a strong sense that they were related.

The Profetas lived on Via Della Stazione, and we actually found theirhome very easily, which is no small feat in the smalltowns of Italy, if you have ever tried to do so.

We were greeted warmly by Miranda’s husbandLiberio on the street, and when we went inside, thewelcoming party included Miranda’s sister, who actu-ally had spent time in Rochester, N.Y., of all places,and Francesco Miraglia and his daughter Lara. The85-year-old Francesco was not related to Miranda buthad helped us connect because he knew she had anuncle Gregorio.

They had coffee ready for us and a stack of fami-ly photographs. Our conversation – all in Italian – centered around trying tomake a connection between Jan and Miranda, but sadly, we were unable to.She showed us photos of her uncle Gregorio along with other family mem-bers, and Jan, through me as interpreter, told stories of what she remem-bered of her grandpa Gregorio.

We couldn’t connect the dots right then and there at the kitchen table, butmy feeling is that if we go back another generation – to Jan’s grandfather’sbrothers and sisters – we may strike gold. We are going to continue theresearch on both ends.

In the meantime, we said: “Se non siamo cugini, almeno siamo nuoviamici. Facciamo un brindisi a quello!” If we are not cousins, at least we arenew friends; let’s have a toast to that!

We had a very happy and heart-felt toast, and then Lara took Jan and meon a tour of Valguarnera Caropepe, an old and historic town, though cer-tainly not among the most famous in Sicily. She showed us some of thetown’s nine churches – incredible for a town of 8,000 people -- including itslargest, San Giuseppe. She showed us the main shopping area, the town hall,and the bridal shop where she worked. She also took us to the highest pointof the town, where the water tower stood, that offered gorgeous views of thesurrounding valley and distant hills.

A highlight of our tour was a stop in a local bar that was run by anotherMiraglia family, Salvatore and his son Calogero. We took pictures of thethree Miraglias – Jan, Lara, and Calogero – unsure of whether they mayactually be cousins.

When our tour was finished, we drove back to the Profetas’ home whereMiranda had prepared a beautiful pranzo (lunch) for us. It included spaghet-ti with homemade sauce, two types of eggplant dishes, and fresh salad.Everything on the table was home grown on their farm just outside of town,or homemade, including the spaghetti, and we washed it down withLiberio’s homemade wine and toasted at the conclusion with homemadelemoncello. We capped the pranzo with espresso and some pastries that Janand I had bought at a little bakery that Lara knew.

Their daughter Sonia and her husband joined us after lunch, and the sto-ries included my own Italian background and where my own father and rel-atives had come from. It truly was a memorable day, and even though wewere unable right then and there to make a family connection, at the veryleast a strong bond was formed, and we vowed to keep in touch. Liberio toldus that we were no longer allowed to stay in any hotels in Sicily; any timewe visit in the future, we must stay with them, he said.

We closed by saying: “Anche se siamo solo amici, ci sentiamo piu’ comecugini. Quindi, siamo amici-cugini!” Even though we are only friends, wefeel more like cousins – so, we are “friend-cousins!”

We laughed at the new term we had coined, and then we parted – all of uswith tears in our eyes.

Did I mention that Italy never fails to deliver? n

Mike Cutillo is Immediate Past President of Geneva Lodge 2397 in upstateNew York. He also is the Executive Editor at the Finger Lakes Times, a dailynewspaper in Geneva. Contact him at:mcutillo1@rochester.rr.com.

A S i c i l i a n A d v e n t u r e P a r t I Iby Mike Cutillo - Contributing Writer

by Florence Gatto - Contributing Writer

T h e n a n d N o w

The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 17

Dan Chelenza and Phyllis Lowery (in center of composite photo) pose with GenevaLodge #2397 President Sam Cosentino, Jr. (left) and State Recording SecretaryBiagio Isgro. Dan and Phyllis received the Lodge’s Man and Woman of the Year Awardfor their "above and beyond" service to the lodge and community. Both Chelenza andLowery were Past Presidents of their respective lodges before merging in 2016. Thegala dinner dance was held on April 30, 2016, and was attended by over 130 people.At the same ceremony, five other awards were presented to deserving individuals.

18 • The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016

Ital ian American HeroesCongressional Medal of Honor Recipients

Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace

Born - July 2. 1937, Honolulu, HawaiiDied - Date Unknown - Republic of Vietnam.

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army. Special Forces Group IntelligenceAdvisor. Place of Death: South Vietnam. Entered service on at: Norfolk, VA.Missing in Action since 29 October 1963. In 1965 he was reported executedsomewhere in South Vietnam

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life aboveand beyond the call of duty. Captain Humbert R. Versace distinguished himself byextraordinary heroism during the period of October 29, 1963 to September 26,1965 while serving as S-2 Advisor, Military Assistance Advisory Group,

Detachment 52, Ca Mau, Republic of Vietnam. Whileaccompanying a Civilian Irregular Defense Group patrolengaged in combat operations in Thoi Binh District, An XuyenProvince, Captain Versace and the patrol came under suddenand intense mortar, automatic weapons, and small arms firefrom elements of heavily armed enemy battalion. As the battleraged. Captain Versace although severely wounded in the kneeand back by hostile fire, fought valiantly and continued toengage enemy targets. Weakened by his wounds and fatigued bythe fierce firefight, Captain Versace stubbornly resisted captureby the over-powering Viet Cong force with the last full measure

of his strength and ammunition. Taken prisoner by the Viet Cong, he exemplifiedthe tenets of the Code of Conduct from the time he entered into Prisoner of Warstatus. Captain Versace assumed command of his fellow American soldiers,scorned the enemy's exhaustive interrogation and indoctrination efforts, andmade three unsuccessful attempts to escape, despite his weakened conditionwhich was brought about by his wounds and the extreme privation and hardshipshe was forced to endure. During his captivity, Captain Versace was segregated inan isolated prisoner of war cage, manacled in irons for prolonged periods of time,and placed on extremely reduced ration. The enemy was unable to break hisindomitable will, his faith in God, and his trust in the United States of America.Captain Versace, and American fighting man who epitomized the principles of hiscountry and the Code of Conduct, was executed by the Viet Cong on September26, 1965. Captain Versace's gallant actions upon himself and the U.S. Army inclose contact with an enemy force and unyielding courage and bravery while aprisoner of war are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect theutmost credit.

Humbert Roque Versace was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 2, 1937. He wasthe eldest of five children of an Italian Puerto Rican family, the son of US ArmyColonel Humbert Joseph Versace and Marie Teresa Rios. (An author of books - oneof which, “The Flying Nun,” the TV series of the 1960s, was based). Versace grewup in Alexandria, VA, attending school in Virginia, Washington, D. C., and Germany.He joined the Armed Forces in Norfolk, Virginia. As had his father before him, Ver-sace entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in1959 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Armor in the U.S. Army.

Prior to winning an appointment to West Point, Versace had been torn betweenthe Army and the priesthood, but decided that God wanted him to be a soldier.

After receiving specialized training in Ranger and Airborne Schools, Versaceserved as tank platoon leader from 1960 to 1961 in the Korean War. After volunteer-ing for duty in Vietnam, he attended the Military Intelligence courses and theUSACS Vietnamese language course.

In 1962, Versace began his first tour of duty in Vietnam as an intelligence advisor.In 1963 he volunteered for a six -month's extension of his tour, planning to attendseminary at the conclusion of his service and join the Catholic priesthood, hoping toreturn to Vietnam as a missionary working with orphans. Versace spoke fluentFrench and Vietnamese, and was known to love the Vietnamese people. He couldnot accept the Viet Cong philosophy of revolution, and spent long hours assailingtheir viewpoints. (Later on, after his capture, his captors eventually isolated himto attempt to break him on his anti Viet Cong strong beliefs).

Less than two weeks before the end of his tour, on October 29, 1963, while actingas intelligence advisor to Detachment A-23, 5th Special Forces Group in the MekongDelta, Versace accompanied several companies of South Vietnamese Civilian Irregu-lar Defense troops who had planned to remove a Viet Cong (VC) command post lo-cated in the U Minh Forest, a Viet Cong stronghold. A VC Main Force battalionambushed and overran Versace's unit, wounding him in the process. He was able toprovide enough covering fire so that his forces could withdraw from the killing zone,but was eventually captured.

Versace tried to escape four times from captivity, but failed in his attempts. Ver-sace insulted the Viet Cong during the indoctrination sessions and cited the Geneva

Convention treaty time after time. The Viet Cong separated Versace from the otherprisoners for his “insubordination” and attempt to break him. The last time the pris-oners heard his voice, he was loudly singing “God Bless America.”

On September 26, 1965, North Vietnam’s "Liberation Radio” announced the exe-cution of Versace. His remains have never been recovered. His headstone at Arling-ton National Cemetery stands above an empty grave awaiting his ultimate repose.

The Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously to Captain Humbert Roque“Rocky” Versace for his heroic actions while a prisoner of war (POW) during theVietnam War. He was the first member of the U.S. Army to be awarded theMedal of Honor for actions performed in Southeast Asia while in captivity. Ver-sace was a soldier with an unwavering belief in duty, honor, and country.

Amongst the may remembrances to a valiant soldier, a sculpture of Cpt. Ver-sace is located in Versace Plaza, in Alexandra, VA, dedicated in 2002. n

Researched and prepared by Sal Moschella.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

DISTRICT I2232Frank CitarellaGanci GiovarcttinoDominick Lettieri

2442Larry FilippinoLaura FilippinoFrancine GuilfoyleLoretta GianfortoneMaria Mattace

DISTRICT II2253Andrea MessinaRose Tulino

2372Marilyn Gerro CanarelliRobert CangelosiCarol Ann CeraldiPhilip CiofaloFred GenoveseAlyson KendricVito Meruoso

2667Christine AliottaPhyllis ArcabassoBrittney BorrusoDoreen BorrusoAngela DiGiovanniMaria DenaroAnthony EramoLarry LombardiTheresa LoughronJoan TaurisanoRosalie Valinotti

DISTRICT III285Katherine AppelloAnnMarie Donato

2491John BonannoTammy ChiaramonteSanto Uglialoro

DISTRICT IV

213

Lina AmelloGaetano GuizzoNancy NapoliRonnie NapoliVito PetrielloMarisa RazionaleTina SalernoJoseph Peter SalernoCrescenzo Schettini

2248

Vincent Bettina

2583

Collen AnicitoMichael BernardiDiana CapeceMarianne CarideoCarmela MarinoMirella ParisPeter PengolisTerry FerraraJim GillonTeresa HrinakMaria LiosatosPatti RolloFrank SpinelliJoAnn SprinkleLiz SiegelLorraine Verge

2600

Zachary BenedictLuca DonatiMark GrossmanJohn RomanoAnthony MangiaracinaFrank SpotoranoJames J. Wilson

DISTRICT V

2198

Theresa KillianTheresa King

DISTRICT VI215Maurizio AndreozziDaniel M. BarbaraRobert CardonaTommasino ConteJoseph DiCarloMara EricksonEd FinneyDiane GeddesLee GeddesJohn L. GeddesWilliam HearleyNatalia KuklinaSharon A. MascioccoJamie MillettGiuseppe MirettoRoseann PecoraroKimberly PecoraroJoseph Tassone, Jr.Pasquale Pecoraro

DISTRICT VII487Frankie AlvarezDonna LeeValerie Valentine

1047Anna Cannata

1666Sandra GloverDanyell Long

DISTRICT VIII83Rosa Fierro

2270Becky DiFilippoMichael J. MelecaKim Marie RuggieriPaula Santrrocco

2397Gordon EddingtonArmondo PietrocarloAlexander Romeo n

Membership 2016

New members initiated as of April 31, 2016

2016

June 2-5th - NYOSIA Annual StateConvention to be held at the Villa RomaResort & Conference Center, Callicoon.Contact: Carol DiTrapani @ 516-785-4623,Annette Lankwish @ 516-933-7393 or AnitaRosato at 631-271-1272.

June 11 - NYOSIA Grand Lodge FoundationScholarship Program to be held at TappanZee High School, Orangeburg. Brunch at11:00am. Scholarship Program to begin at12:00pm. Contact: Michele Ment @ 845-225-1144.

June 18 - OSIA 111th Anniversary Event tobe held at Il Cortile Restaurant, 123 MulberryStreet, Little Italy. Celebration of Mass atMost Precious Blood Church 11:00am -Wreath Laying Ceremony at 12:00pm -Luncheon at 1:00pm. Contact: John Fratta @646-261-8614 or Louise Corsello @ 516-766-5518.

July 30 - NYOSIA Summer Plenary Sessionto be hosted by Duca Degli Abruzzi Lodge#443 at the Lodge Hall, 126 Odell Avenue,Endicott. In conjunction with the 100thAnniversary of Binghamton Lodge #487.Contact: Eileen Stavis @ 516-785-4623.

Aug. 29 - NYOSIA Annual State Golf Outingto be held at the Town of Oyster Bay GolfCourse honoring State President CarolynReres, State Principal Trustee LuigiSquillante, GMM Chairperson MildredMancusi, and Joseph D’Alonzo, President ofCowbay Contracting. $180 per golfer, regis-tration at 9:30am, shotgun start 11:00am.Dinner to follow at Woodbury Country Club,5:00pm, $80 for dinner only. Contact:Anthony Naccarato @ 917-539-9321.

Sept. 18 - NYOSIA Celebrates the 24thAnnual Italian Experience at HofstraUniversity, Hempstead, 11:00am. Contact:Eleanor Jobbagy @ 516-358-9151.

Sept. 23-25th - NYOSIA Student Summit tobe held in the New York State Capital Regionat the Radisson Hotel, 205 Wolf Road,Albany. There is a $150 registration fee foreach attendee. Contact: Carolyn Reres @516-376-3056 or Mary Modica @ 646-438-2838.

Nov. 5 - NYOSIA Garibaldi Meucci Museum28th Annual Fundraiser Luncheon to be heldat LiGreci’s Staaten, Staten Island, 11:00am.Contact: Fran Cicero @ 718-273-8741.

Nov. 19 - NYOSIA Gift of Sight AnnualAwards Luncheon to be held at theImmaculate Conception Center, Douglaston,12:00pm. Contact: Marianne Principe O’Neilat 516-883-5762.

Local Lodges2016

May 20 - Ann Bambino Lodge #2353 -Family Movie Night/Peanuts Movie atMassapequa Park Town Hall, 7:00pm, $12adults, $6 kids. Contact: Anita Novarro @516-586-4682.

May 27-29th - Joe DiMaggio Lodge #2248 -Festival at East Fishkill Recreation Center.Contact: Mike DeLuca @ 845-896-2754.

June 2 - Guglielmo Marconi Lodge #2232 -Social Night at Marconi Lodge Hall, Islip,7:30pm, $15pp. Contact: Joe Canestro @631-678-3220.

June 13 - America Lodge #2245 & CelliniLodge #2206 - Annual Memorial Mass and inmemory of Fr. Licata’s 10th Anniversary ofpassing at the Church of Notre Dame, NewHyde Park. Contact: Gloria Maffettone @516-483-1151 or Alfonso Squillante @ 516-280-4080.

June 15 - John Michael Marino Lodge #1389-Annual Scholarships & Charities AwardCeremony at the Pt. Washington CommunityCenter, 8:30pm. Contact: Marianne BortonePrince @ 718-631-7917.

June 18 - Constantino Brumide Lodge #2211- “Sweetwater” Orchestra Live at BrumidiLodge Hall, Deer Park, 7:30pm, $50pp.Contact: Laura Capano @ 631-757-8301.

June 20 - Constantino Brumide Lodge #2211- Movie Night “Unbroken” at Brumidi LodgeHall, Deer Park, 6:00pm, $10pp. Contact:Rose Dispinseri @ 631-254-3015.

June 22 - Ann Bambino Lodge #2353 -Military Bridge at Massapequa Park TownHall, Massapequa Park, 7:00pm, $10pp.Contact: Anita Novarro @ 516-586-4682.

June 23 - Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge #2583 -00Tuckahoe, 7:30pm. Contact: Lina Asterita@ 914-844-0147.

June 25 - Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge #2319- 3rd Annual Variety Show “Sellaro MaltShop Memories” at the Byzantine ChurchReception Hall, Smithtown, 7:00pm, $20pp.Contact: Bob Graham @ 631-265-0205.

July 12 - Le Amiche Lodge #2550 - AnnualScholarship Dinner at 885 Midland Avenue,Yonkers, $10pp. Contact: Teri Tirone @ 914-769-0893.

July 12 - Progresso Lodge #1047 - AnnualFamily Picnic. Location TBA. Contact:Carmine Federico @ 315-457-5010.

July 16 - Sgt. John Basilone Lodge #2442 -Garage/Yard Sale at 110 E. WoodsideAvenue, Patchogue, 9:00am. Contact: DottieCurto @ 631-289-7470.

July 21 - Donatello Lodge #2559 - AnnualTestimonial D/D honoring NYOSIA StatePresident Carolyn Reres and Joseph Sciame,Chair, Conference of Major Italian AmericanOrganizations at the Chateau Briand,Westbury, 6:30pm. Contact: AnnetteLankewish @ 516-933-7393.

July 24 - NYOSIA District II - District IIAnnual Queens and Kings Pageant at PompeiRestaurant, West Hempstead, 1:00pm, $50pp.Contact: Maria Kobylarz @ 516-852-7345.

July 29 - Binghamto Lodge #487 -Centennial Anniversary Gala at the Traditionsat the Glen Resort, Johnson City, 6:00pm,$85pp. Contact: Mark DeNovellis @ 607-727-2911.

Aug. 14 - Constantino Brumidi Lodge #2211- Testimonial D/D honoring IPP Ciro Capanoat the North Ritz Club, Syosset, 12:00pm.Contact: Ciro Capano @ 631-793-8027.

Aug. 22 - Fr. John Papallo Lodge #2684 -15th Annual Fr. John Papallo Memorial GolfOuting at Smithtown Landing Golf &Country Club, Smithtown, 8:00am/shotgunstart, $185pp. Contact: Rick Annichiarico @631-724-3697.

Aug. 24-28th - Cellini Lodge #2206 - AnnualItalian Festival at Michael J. Tully Park, NewHyde Park. Entrance fee $1. Contact: MarkVentimiglia @ 516-747-1680.

Aug. 25-28th & Sept 1-5th - Giuseppe NigroLodge #2234 - Annual Feast at SuffolkCounty Community College, Wicks Rd,Brentwood, 5:00pm. Contact: EleanorDenovellis @ 631-277-0199.

Sept. 7-11th - John Michael Marino Lodge#1389 - Annual Italian Festival at N.Hempstead Beach Park, Pt. Washington.Contact: Marianne Bortone Prince @ 718-631-7917.Sept. 15-18th - Rockland Lodge #2176 - 7thAnnual Italian Feast & Carnival at theMasonic Park, 89 Western Highway, Tappan.Contact: Greg DeCola @ 347-346-1462.

Sept. 17 - America Lodge #2245 - AnnualD/D at Verdi’s of Westbury, Westbury.Contact: Carolyn Reres @ 516-358-5010.

Sept. 18 - Capt. Kathy Mazza Lodge #2163A- Scholarship D/D honoring IPP Rose Mazzaat Westbury Manor, Westbury, 6:30pm.Contact: Joann Manfredi @ 516-263-2030.

Sept. 23-25th - Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge#2583 - St. Pio Weekend at Tuckahoe DepotSquare, Tuckahoe. Contact: Vito Catania @914-329-3125.

Sept. 25 - Galileo Galilei Lodge #2253 -Testimonial D/D honoring IPP AnthonyCuccia, Jr. and Past Lodge Deputy MonaSplendore at Hartigan Manor, 519 CentralAvenue, Bethpage, 1:00pm. Contact: KathySanfilippo @ 516-946-1074.

Oct. 2 - Giuseppe Nigro Lodge #2234 -Testimonial D/D honoring IPP TheresaPernice at the Irish Coffee Pub, E. Islip,5:00pm, $69pp. Contact: Eleanor Denovellis@ 631-277-0199.

Oct. 4 - Le Amiche Lodge #2550 - Annual PotLuck Italian Heritage Dinner at 885 MidlandAvenue, Yonkers. Contact: Geri Esposito @914-776-6293.

Oct. 12 - Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge #2583 -Eastchester Library Lecture at EastchesterLibrary, 7:30pm. Contact: Rob Cartelano @RTC@Columbia.EDU.

Oct. 14 - Giuseppe Garibaldi Lodge #2583 -Scholarship D/D at the Fountainhead, NewRochelle, 6:30pm, $125pp. Contact: MarioAnnunziata @ 914-879-2523.

Oct. 15 - Progresso Lodge #1047 - AnnualColumbus Day D/D at Bella DomaniRestaurant, 6:30pm, $45pp. Contact:Carmine Federico @ 315-457-5010.

Oct. 15 - Roma Intangible Lodge #215 -Golden Lion Award and 103rd AnniversaryD/D at the Shaker Ridge Country Club,Loudonville. Contact: Anthony Geddes @518-365-7431.

Nov. 3 - Per Sempre Ladies Lodge #2344A -Annual Fall Fashion Show at Verdi’s ofWestbury, Westbury, $50pp. Contact: MildredMancusi @ 516-359-1745.

Nov. 13 - Giovanni Caboto Lodge #2372 -Annual D/D at the North Ritz Club, Syosset,12:00pm, $90pp. Contact: Josephine Capriola@ 516-390-7199.

Nov. 19 - Vigiano Brothers Lodge #3436 -Night at the Races at the Bates House, 1Bates Road, Setauket. Contact: Joe Sescila @631-676-6145.

Dec. 11 - John Michael Marino Lodge #1389- Annual Family Christmas Party at HarborLinks, Pt. Washington, 12:30pm. Contact:Marianne Bortone Prince @ 718-631-7917.

Dec. 17 - Progresso Lodge #1047 - AnnualChristmas Party at Bella Domani Restaurant,6:30pm, $40pp. Contact: Carmine Federico@ 315-457-5010.

As of 5/7/16

2016 OSIA UPCOMING EVENTS

State/National Events

The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 19

Order Sons of Italy in AmericaCellini Lodge #2206 & America Lodge #2245

andGrand Lodge of New York

request the honor of your presence at the Annual Memor ia l Mass

in memory of our deceased members and observing the

10th Anniversary of the Death ofFather Donald B. Licata

Chaplain, New York State OSIA

Monday, June 13, 2016 Feast of St. AnthonyNotre Dame RC Church

New Hyde Park Road, New Hyde Park, NY Mass a t 7:30 PM

Recep tion to FollowPlease RSVP so that appropriate arrangements may be made.

Alfonso Squillante, President, Cellini Gloria Maffettone, President, America516 263 3990 516 483 1151Joseph Sciame Carolyn Reres646 704 1741 516-376-3056

All Grand Council officers and all lodges are invited to participate.

Advertise In the Golden LionIt’s Cheaper Than You Think

For Rates Call Us at 800-322-OSIA (6742)

JoSepH SerraCertiFieD puBliC aCCountant

Business tax Services email joes@jserracpa.com

personal income tax Services tel. 516-326-2993

accounting and Bookkeeping Services Fax 516-352-6401

990 Forms prepared for Your lodgeor Foundation Cell 516-633-2799

Quality Services at reasonable rates

visit our website at www.jserracpa.com

20 • the golden lion • april-may-June 2016

Carla M. ParrellaItalian Translations and Documents

Notaio Pubblico Procure - Apostille

Travel Agency- Specializing in Italy Tours

- Groups or Individuals -

28 Catskill Avenue Phone/Fax 845-452-3749Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 todonnell28@hotmail.com

HoW are tHe 2016 meDiCare CHangeS

going to aFFeCt You?

You may be entitled to additional savings andgreater healthcare benefits.

Would you like to:

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It is important to understand your options so you can avoid any mistakes that

can adversely affect your coverage. Speaking with a trained Senior Health

Insurance Representatives who represents all of the Major Carriers can

simplify this complex process ... all at no CoSt to You!

Call for your medicare options review.

Barbara Cochran - (516) 395-4057

norma Cardone - (917) 754-5617

Sister Members Of Giovanni Caboto Lodge 2372

SolutionS For Your BuSineSS

A Legal Plan For

Small Business

• Help WitH DeBt ColleCtion

• ContraCt anD DoCument revieW

• proteCtion againS iDentitY tHeFt

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oFFiCe: 631-698-2565

Cell: 631-949-6362

Brother member of the Constantino Brumidi lodge #2211

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Office: 540-412-5626

www.remarkablesailings.com

P a t r i c i a F e r r a r iCell 516-244-4825

e-mail: pferrari@cruiseone.com

Past President,Giovanni Caboto Lodge

Pride in Heritage!110th Annual State Convention Agenda

Thursday, June 2, 2016

9:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Registration Desk Open - For all State Officers, Ex-Officio Delegates, State Delegates, Alternate State Delegates, and Guests.

12:30 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. Lunch2:00 P.M. Promptly convene FIRST GENERAL SESSION of the

Grand Convention.• Welcome - Grand Convention Chairperson Carol

DiTrapani • Honor Guard• Call to Order and Opening Ritual - State President

Carolyn Reres• Invocation - National/State Chaplain Rev. R. Adam

Forno• Roll Call of State Officers - State Recording Secretary

Biagio Isgro, Jr.• Introduction - National Officers and Visiting Dignitaries• Appointments - Grand Convention Committees by State

President Carolyn Reres• Approval of Standing Rules for 2016 Grand Convention• Approval of 2015 Grand Convention Minutes• Acceptance of New York State Deputy's Report - State

Deputy Anthony D’Angelis• Acceptance of State Chaplain’s Report - Rev. R. Adam

Forno• Acceptance of State Officers Reports and Updates

(based on time available)• Acceptance of State Committee Reports and Updates

(based on time available)3:45 P.M. Recess 1st Session to 8:30 A.M., Friday, June 3, 20164:15 P.M. Nominating Committee Interviews for Nominations

(Reconvene at 9:00 P.M.)6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Benvenuti “Welcome” Reception & OSIA Wine Tasting

Contest - Forum Night Club7:00 P.M. Opening Dinner - Villa Roma’s famous “Caesar’s Night”

Dinner - a banquet fit for a King and Queen!9:00 P.M. Nominating Committee Interviews for Nominations10:00 P.M. Villa Roma Star Studded Entertainment ~ Charismatic

Sicilian Tenor “Elio Scaccio”11:00 P.M. Hospitality Suites open (as announced)

Friday, June 3, 2016

7:30 A.M. - 9:00 A.M. Breakfast

8:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Registration Desks Open8:30 A.M. Promptly convene SECOND GENERAL SESSION of

Grand Convention• Reconvene Convention - State President Carolyn Reres• State Committee Reports and Updates continued• State President’s Report - State President Carolyn Reres

Prior to Lunch Family of the Year Award presentation - ChairpersonAlfonso Squillante

Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Award presentation - Co-Chairpersons Santina Haemmerle and Nicholas Mauro

12:30 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. Lunch1:45 P.M. Promptly convene THIRD GENERAL SESSION of

Grand Convention• Report of the Nominating Committee - Chairperson

Nancy Di Fiore Quinn (con’t)=

Friday (con’t)

3:30 P.M. Recess 3rd Session to 8:30 A.M., Saturday, June 4, 20163:45 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. State President’s Town Meeting & Various Seminars

TBA7:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. Banquet IPP Tribute and Emeritus Award Presentation

- Chairperson Joseph Sciame10:00 P.M. Villa Roma Star Studded Entertainment ~ Entertainer

“Tony Pace”11:00 P.M. “Meet the Candidates Night” Hospitality - Chairperson

Gina FerraraLodge Hospitality Suites open (as announced)

Saturday, June 4, 2016

7:30 A.M. - 9:00 A.M. Breakfast7:30 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. Elections/Voting - Marty’s Lounge - Chairperson John

Laruccia8:30 A.M. Promptly convene FOURTH GENERAL SESSION of

Grand Convention• Reconvene Convention - State President Carolyn Reres• Credentials Committee Report - Chairperson Anita

Rosato• Scholarship Report - Chairperson Michele Ment• Cornaro Award - Chairperson Dr. Lois Mignone• Literary Award - Chairperson Dr. Joseph Tursi• Gift of Sight Report - Chairperson Marianne Principe

O’Neil• Report of General Laws & Resolutions Committee

Chairperson Keith Wilson• Budget and Finance Committee Report - Chairperson

Carlo Matteucci• Old Business - State President Carolyn Reres

1:00 P.M.- 2:00 P.M. Lunch 2:15 P.M. Promptly convene FIFTH GENERAL SESSION of

Grand Convention• Electoral Board Report• Cooley's Anemia Presentation - Chairperson Mary

Naccarato• Charitable Donations - State President Carolyn Reres

4:00 P.M. Recess 5th Session to 9:00 A.M., Sunday, June 5, 20164:15 P.M. Celebration of the Holy Eucharist - National/State

Chaplain Rev. R. Adam Forno6:30 P.M. Cocktail Reception - Forum Night Club7:45 P.M. Grand March of the State Officers8:00 P.M. Banquet Dinner9:30 P.M. Installation of 2016-2018 State Trustees and

Commissioners - Master of Ceremonies Robert Ferrito10:30 P.M. Villa Roma Star Studded Entertainment 11:30 P.M. Hospitality Suites Open (as announced)

Sunday, June 5, 2016

7:30 A.M.- 9:00 A.M. Breakfast9:00 A.M. Promptly convene SIXTH GENERAL SESSION of the

Grand Convention• Reconvene Convention - State President Carolyn Reres• New Business - State President Carolyn Reres• Grand Convention Future Site Report - Chairperson

Carol DiTrapani• Welfare of the Order• Benediction

12 Noon • Adjournment of Convention - State President CarolynReres

Hotel check out 12:00 Noon ~ Have a safe trip home!!

C o n v e n t i o n S e c t i o n

The

Golden LionSECTION 2

Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of New York

Largest Italian-American Fraternal Bi-Monthly in New York State

ATTENTION >>>> To be eligible for Nomination •••All potential candidates for elected office must be registered by 12 NoonFriday, June 3rd.

ATTENTION >>>>To be eligible to vote in the Saturday, June 4th Election ***All State Delegates must be registered by 2:00 P.M. Friday, June 3rd.

The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 21

22 • The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016

District OnePresidents’ Council

Proudly Endorses

Our Brothers and Sisters

For the Following Positions:

New York State Trustees, District 1Joanne Spera

Geraldine Iannello Graham

State Commissioner of ArbitrationJoseph Vallone

Garibaldi-Meucci MuseumCommissionersCiro Capano

Robert Graham

Re-electJoseph A. Vallone

For

Commissioner of Arbitration

The John Michael Marino Lodge #1389Unanimously and Proudly Endorses

Anthony ConettaFor Re-Election as

Garibaldi Meucci MuseumCommissioner

w 24 year member of OSIA

w Current GMM Vice Chair

w Current GMM Commissioner 2014-2016

w President, John Michael Marino Foundation

w IPP, John Michael Marino Lodge #1389

w 1st & 2nd VP John Michael Marino Lodge

w Financial Secretary, Recording Secretary, Principal Trustee, and Trustee, John Michael Marino Lodge

w Chairperson and Treasurer of Grande Festa Italiana,John Michael Marino Lodge

w Vice Chair and Recording Secretary, NYSOSIA District 2Presidents

w Liaison for John Michael Marino Lodge to North Hempstead

Ethnic Coalition

w New York State-Westchester County for Professional Engineer in Government Excellence Award

w Licensed Professional Engineer in NY, NJ, and Wisconsin.

the golden Lion • april-may-June 2016 • 23

DISTRICT 1 STATE TRUSTEE

Unanimously endorsed by the

Vigiano Brothers Lodge #3436

and District I Presidents

• State Trustee 2014-2016

• Past President of the Vigiano Brothers Lodge #3436

• Past President of the Constantino Brumidi Lodge #2211

Ladies Auxiliary

• 2004 NYSOSIA Family of the Year

• Winter Charity Ball Committee, 2010 – Present

• Coordinator of Sentinels, 2010 NYS Grand Lodge

Convention

• District 1 Presidents Council Secretary, 2012 - 2013

• Family of the Year Committee Chairlady, 2014 - 2015

• District 1 NYSOSIA Scholarship Chairlady

• Grand Deputy to Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge #2319,

2013 - Present

• Convention Delegate 2009 – Present

Honesty……Integrity……Dedication

Re-Elect

JOANNE SPERA

the brothers and sisters of the

constantino brumidi Lodge #2211Proudly endorse

brother ciro capano

for

commissionergaribaldi meucci museum

• Lodge President 2014-2016

• district 1 Presidents’ chairman

• member- 2016 seLLaro award seLection

committee

• district 1 dePuty

• Lodge 2nd Vice President

• Lodge director

• Lodge orator

• Lodge recording secretary

• Lodge PrinciPaL trustee

• Lodge trustee

• deLegate to osia state conVentions

• Long isLand coLumbus day Parade

committee

As a professional engineer Brother Ciro can contribute

his expertise to help with structural and mechanical

issues at the Museum in order to improve the efficiency

and quality of the building and take an active role in the

maintenance and preservation of this OSIA treasure.

24 • the Golden Lion • april-May-June 2016

Local Lodge activities

• Member since 2002

• Business Directory Chairman 2002-2003

• Recording Secretary 2004-2006

• Orator 2006-2007

• Second V.P. 2007-2009

• First V.P. 2009-2011

• Lodge President 2011-2013

• Picnic Chairman 2005-2009

• Scholarship Chairman 2007-2010, 2015

• Palm Sunday Chairman 2008-2009

• House Rules and By Laws Review Chairman 2006-

2007

• St. Joseph’s Chairman 2006-2010

• Communion Breakfast Chairman 2005

• Lodge Convention Chairman 2009-2011

• Reciprocation Chairman 2007-2009

• Membership Chairman 2013-Present

• Tenant Committee 2006-present

• Feast and Festival Comptroller 2008-present

• Super Bowl Pool Chairman 2007-present

• Insurance Review Committee Chairman 2007-2009

Columbus Lodge #2143Unanimously Endorses

Past President

Brother Keith Wilsonfor

Re-Election as District 2State Trustee

Grand Lodge activities:• State Trustee District 2 2013-Present• State Membership Committee 2007-2011, 2015-2016• State Retention Committee Co-Chair 2009-2011• Commissioner GM Museum 2008-2010• GM Museum President/CEO and Chairman 2010-2011• GM Museum Co-Chairman 2011-2013• State Budget Committee 2006-2010• State Bowling Chairman 2005-Present• Recording Secretary CSJ Executive Board 2013-Present• General Laws and By-Laws Chairmen 2015-Present

district 2 activities:• Long Island Parade Committee Secretary 2005-2009• Long Island Parade Committee Chairman 2010, 2013-Present• District 2 Presidents’ Vice Chairman 2011-2012• District 2 Presidents’ Chairman 2012-2013

Grand LodGe State of new York

• NYS Convention Delegate 2006 to present

• State Trustee, District II 2014 to present

• State Principal Trustee 2015 to present

• Garibaldi-Meucci Museum Chairperson for 2 years

• Garibaldi-Meucci Museum Commissioner for 4 years

• District II Presidents’ Council Co-Chair & Treasurer

• Website Competition Chairperson

• NYS Fundraiser Co-Chair, $100 Raffle Chairperson

LoCaL CeLLini LodGe #2206

• OSIA Member for over 13 years

• Lodge President

• Annual Feast Chair

• Cellini Lodge Foundation President

• Cellini Lodge Foundation Director

• Chair and Co-Chair of other Cellini LodgeCommittees

Proud Dual Citizen of USA and Italy

Cellini Lodge #2206Proudly Endorses

Luigi Squillantefor Re-Election as

State Trustee, District II

The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 25

Grand Lodge State of New York

NYS Convention Delegate: 2003 – PresentAppointed Commissioner of Museum to fill vacancy: October 2011Prior to appointment, volunteered to work with Garibaldi MeucciMuseum on installation of walk wayElected Garibaldi Meucci Museum Commissioner 2012 – 2014Elected New York State District II State Trustee 2014 - presentNew York State Golf Outing Honoree - 2013New York State Golf Committee 2016

John Michael Marino Lodge #1389

Member Since 1981Recording Secretary: 2003 -2005President: 2005 – 2007 (Centennial Year of Order Sons of Italy)John Michael Marino Lodge Foundation President: 2009 – 2011 Volunteer Feast Worker: 1995 – PresentOversaw Grande Festa Italiana: 2005 – 2007Co-Chair Grande Festa Italiana: 2014 – 2015Committee Chair – Super Bowl Parties; Committee Chair – KentuckyDerby Races; Committee Chair – Casino Trips Committee Member – various lodge events

Community Involvement

Sands Point – Port Washington Republican Committee Honoree 2005Chabad of Port Washington Community Service Award 2011Vice President North Hempstead Business AssociationBoard of Directors - Sandminers’ Monument CommitteeMember State Insurance Fund Safety Group 453 ExecutiveCommittee: 2001 - PresentCitations from Town of North Hempstead for Participation in localprograms Port Washington PYA Honoree-2006

Other

Tampa College - 1965 - 1967 received Associates of Arts in BusinessServed in the United States Navy on board the USS Shenandoah 1968-1970 Joined Family Business - Maura Bros & Co. Inc. in 1970, becamePresident in 1976-present

UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE

JOHN MICHAEL MARINO LODGE #1389

Re-Elect

J O H N B . M A U R A , J RAs

StAte tRUStee

The Lt . Joseph Petrosino Lodge #285

Proudly Endorses

E rnes t Magl ia toFor Re-Election as

NYS D is t r i c t 3 T rus te e

26 • the golden Lion • april-may-June 2016

Per SemPre LadieS Lodge:

•Immediate Past President

• Member since 1986

• Grand Lodge ConventionDelegate for numerous years

• Chaired many successfulfund-raisers

Per Sempre Ladies Lodge No. 2344aProudly Endorses Our Sister

Mildred Mancusifor

District III State TrusteeState LeveL:

•Presently Deputy to Lt. JosephPetrosino Lodge #285

• NYS OSIA Cooley’s AnemiaCo-Chairlady

• Chairlady of District III Presidents’ Council

• Commissioner of the Garibaldi Meucci Museum

H a r d Wo r k i n g a n d D e d i c a t e d t o O S I A

PER SEMPRE LADIES LODGE #2344A

PROUDLY ENDORSES

SISTER ELEANOR JOBBAGYFOR

Commissioner of Arbitration

Lodge Member 34 Years

Served in Local, District, State, and National

Positions

Dedicated - Experienced - Dependable

Cellini Lodge #2206

Proudly Endorses

Grace Ferrarafor Re-election as

Commissioner of ArbitrationSUPREME LODGE

National Convention Committee NYC 2005 National Convention - 1st Alternate Delegate 2009 - Delegate 2011 National Cookbook Committee 2010GRAND LODGE STATE OF NEW YORK

New York State Trustee - District II 2008-2012 NYC 100th Anniversary celebration Co-Chair 2005 Grand Deputy to America Lodge #2245 2005-2008 District II Presidents’ Co-Chair 2004-2005 District II Presidents’ Christmas Party Chair 2004 OSIA Grande Festa Italiana Volunteer 2001 NYS Convention Sentinels Committee & Co-Chair 2004-2007 NYS Convention Delegate 1989 to present Member of OSIA Players at State Convention NYS Family of the Year Award Recipient 2007 NYS October Culture & Heritage Month Committee 2007-2009 Dist. II King/Queen Pageant Co-Chair 2008-09 - Chair 2008-2009, 2012 NYS Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Award Chair 2008-2009 NYS Cooley’s Anemia Co-Chair 2010-2013 NYS Walkathon Committee 2009 to present NYS Convention Committee 2008-2014 NYS Commissioner of Arbitration 2013 to present NYS Education Chair 2015 to presentLOCAL CELLINI LODGE #2206

Member 25 years & President 2003-2005 Nominating Committee Chair 2005-07/Annual Feast Chair 2001 Cellini Lodge Foundation President 2003-2005 Chair and Co-Chair of other various Cellini Lodge committees

The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016 • 27

The Roma Intangible Lodge #215Proudly endorses the election of

Anthony L. GeddesFor

NYS District VI Trustee

Roma Intangible Lodge #215Immediate Past President 2016 – PresentPresident 2012 - 2016Recording Secretary 2008 - 2010Financial Secretary 2006 - 2008 & 2010 - 2012Co-Chaired Membership Committee from 2006 – PresentCo-Chaired Fundraising and Special Events Committee 2006 – PresentCo-Chaired Golden Lion Dinner Committee 2007 – PresentCo-Chaired Columbus Day Parade Committee 2006 – PresentRoma Intangible Lodge #215 Il Ruggito Newsletter Editor

Distr ict VIState Lodge Deputy for Gabriele D’Annunzio Lodge #321 2010-2014

Dedicated and Committed to band together the Lodges in District VI byintroducing Co-Sponsored Lodge & Community Events and Activities to

promote our Heritage, Culture, and Membership Growth!

Joanne Alfonso

District 4and the 

Le Amiche Lodge #2550 -         John D. Calandra Lodge #2600Proudly Endorse 

Remo Carriero

for

NY State Trustees - District 4

Re-elect

Pasquale Grecofor

Commissionerof the

Garibaldi Meucci Museum

Proudly Endorsed by theJudge Frank A. Gulotta Lodge #2180

28 • The Golden Lion • April-May-June 2016

The Order Sons of Italy District 5 Presidents’ Council

and

The Entire Membership of The Vincent Linguanti Lodge

Proudly Endorse

Thomas V. LiPumafor

New York State Trustee

It is with great enthusiasm that we support and endorse

Thomas V. LiPuma for the position of New York State

Trustee. For the past year, Tom has represented the Grand

Lodge of New York with integrity and supported its Lodges

and Members with unwavering commitment.

Tom remains influential throughout District 5 and remains

steadfast supporting various Annual Events and Celebrations

and regular Plenary Sessions.

We ask that you and your Lodge enthusiastically support

Thomas V. LiPuma for another Term as Trustee of the

Grand Lodge of the State of New York.

New York Grand Lodge - 2016 AwardsTo be Bestowed Upon

(At 110th Annual Convention)

Bene Emeritus

Joseph F. Rondinell i~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro

Jean Gagliardo and Louis Mazzacone~~~~~~~~~~~~

Family of the YearCapicotto Family~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LiteraryMarianna Randazzo~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cornaro - Dr. Mary Anne Trasciatti

~~~~~~~~~~~~

At Tappan Zee High School68 Scholarships and Grants

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(At OSIA’s 111th Anniversary Celebration)

Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

Peter R. Zuzolo - Joseph Sciame - Joseph DiTrapani

The officers and members of

Vincent Lombardi Lodge #2270

& District VIII

proudly support and endorse

Dr. Joseph A. Rube Jr.for

State Trustee District VIII

t District VIII CSJ Chairperson 2015-Present t District VIII Deputy 2015-Present t Local Lodge President 2008-2013 t Local Lodge Financial Secretary 2014-Present t Elected local Lodge Trustee 2005-2008 t Local Lodge Italian Civic League Delegate t State Convention Delegate t Chair, Local Lodge Finance Committee