— ISDA’s Year in Review —

As 2025 draws to a close, the Italian American community finds itself not only reflecting on the past — the struggles, the triumphs, the traditions — but also looking ahead with renewed energy. From laying the groundwork for a National Museum of Italian American History to advancing coordinated advocacy, securing key legal victories and elevating women in leadership, this year has showcased resilience, pride and collective action.

Laying the Foundation for a Smithsonian Museum

One of the most ambitious initiatives of the year came from Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) and the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO): a push to establish a national museum honoring the Italian American story. In Congress, a bipartisan bill (H.R. 1102) was introduced by Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Michael Rulli (R-OH) to create a planning commission to study the feasibility of a Smithsonian Museum of Italian American History on the National Mall.

With 42 cosponsors and backing from 78 Italian American nonprofits nationwide, the proposal quickly gained momentum. ISDA’s National President, Basil Russo, described the effort as part of a broader campaign to preserve monuments, spotlight heritage in the arts and empower our younger generations.

For decades, stories of immigrant families formed the backbone of the Italian American narrative. A museum under the Smithsonian’s roof would mean preserving those stories for America and the world. It’s a dream that, this year, began to feel well within reach.

Citizenship, Diplomacy & Advocacy

On the diplomatic front, ISDA and COPOMIAO (also led by Russo) took action to address challenges surrounding dual citizenship. Russo met in Washington, D.C. with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to press for changes that would ease recently imposed restrictions for those pursuing Italian citizenship.

The meeting underscored the living connection between our community and its ancestral roots. Russo plans to meet with Italy’s Ambassador to the U.S., Marco Peronaci, to discuss the issue at length, in the pursuit of compromise, in 2026.

While those conversations progress on the international level, ISDA raised funds to support the opening of a local office for Dr. Steve Mancini, the newly appointed Honorary Consul of Italy in Pittsburgh. The space allows Mancini to more effectively assist ISDA members seeking guidance on Italian citizenship and passport matters.

Victory in Heritage: Columbus Day Restored in Philadelphia

Heritage isn’t only about the past; it’s also about civic recognition in the present. In a major win this year, a unanimous 7-0 decision by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court invalidated a 2021 executive order that had replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Philadelphia.

The court ruled that the former mayor lacked the authority under the city charter to unilaterally eliminate the holiday — a legislative power reserved for City Council.

The restoration of Columbus Day, led by Russo and attorney George Bochetto, remains a meaningful affirmation for the vast majority of Italian Americans who view the holiday as part of their Italian American heritage. As a community, we continue to navigate how to honor our ancestors, while also engaging in thoughtful discussions on history, identity and inter-cultural collaboration.

Arts, Film and Culture: A Spotlight on Legacy and New Voices

The cultural scene for Italian Americans flourished this year, with film playing a leading role. In Cleveland, ISDA co-hosted a special screening of CABRINI, a critically acclaimed film chronicling the life of Mother Cabrini, the Italian-born nun who became a champion for the poor and the first and only U.S. citizen canonized by the Catholic Church. Italian actress Cristiana Dell’Anna attended the screening, fielded questions and offered her gratitude for a community that continues to honor its roots.

Meanwhile, acclaimed actor, author and filmmaker Stanley Tucci was honored with the 2025 Renaissance Award from the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF), presented by ISDA and AGBO Films in Los Angeles. The annual award recognizes artistic excellence and a deeper mission: “to share our culture through stories that reflect the complexities of who we are,” said Tucci. Each year, RBIAFF provides $10,000 grants to emerging filmmakers who create short films that illuminate aspects of the Italian American experience.

Through these powerful cultural moments — a movie about immigrant faith and service, and a filmmaker’s platform that celebrates authentic representation — Italian Americans continue to affirm their place in the mainstream narrative: not as caricatures, but as nuanced, proud and diverse contributors.

Rising Leaders and Cultural Renewal

At the heart of every organization is its next generation. This year, the Italian American Future Leaders (IAFL) continued to drive a cultural renewal, amplifying the voices of younger members who bring fresh energy, ambition and vision to the community. Through an annual convention, outreach and leadership programs, the IAFL has helped shape a new generation rooted in heritage that looks boldly to the future.

Inizio (ages 21 to 39) is turning heads and garnering considerable local media attention with its cultural endeavors; to start your own ISDA younger generations lodge, contact the ISDA Home Office at 412-261-3550.

Women in Leadership

This year also marked a historic step forward for women in Italian American leadership. Longtime ISDA leaders Danielle Salasavage and Sharon Cerrone were unanimously elected as national vice presidents of ISDA’s Order and Fraternal Affairs, respectively — the first time in the organization’s history that women have held both roles. Russo nominated Salasavage and Cerrone as part of his ongoing commitment to elevate women across the Italian American community.

“The Italian American nonprofit community has been too patriarchal,” said Russo. “Women, from the boardroom to the household, have preserved and guided our culture for generations. Our community simply wouldn’t exist without the strength of our mothers and daughters.”

Each year, COPOMIAO and ISDA present its prestigious Donna Distinta Award to outstanding women of Italian descent, honoring contributions across culture, industry, philanthropy and advocacy. This year, we honored Marie Palladino, Andrea Mauck and Pamela Dorazio Dean.

No other major Italian American nonprofit has placed women’s leadership so firmly at the forefront — a shift ISDA is pioneering, and one that is poised to reshape the community in the years ahead.

ISDA’s 47th National Convention: Forward, Together

This summer, on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the 2025 ISDA National Convention assembled members from across the country — a gathering of tradition, fellowship and forward motion. The convention celebrated past achievements, honored community leaders and set the agenda for advocacy, culture and unity in the years ahead.

At the convention, Russo was unanimously reelected to his sixth term, and plans were set for ISDA 48 in 2027, a major NYC / NJ convention that will be organized by Salasavage and ISDA VPs John Viola and Patrick O’Boyle.

If 2025 has shown us anything, it’s that our community doesn’t just look backward with nostalgia, we move forward with purpose under the visionary leadership of Basil Russo and the ISDA Board of Directors.

Here’s to 2026! May it bring more milestones, more unity and more pride in who we are.

In 1930, immigrant families banded together to create the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), now one of the most prominent and financially successful Italian American organizations in the nation. In the last decade, we built a 725,000-strong social media community, grew our not-for-profit fraternal association, ISDA Financial Life, to nearly a half billion dollars in member assets, co-founded the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF), and launched the fastest-growing Italian American publication (La Nostra Voce). 

Make a Pledge and join Italian Sons and Daughters of America today. 

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By Joyce Mariani

Nestled in a tree-lined, bucolic space in Rockefeller Park is an architectural gem: Cleveland’s Cultural Monument to Italy honoring cultural greats of Italy in the Arts & Sciences and Arts & Letters. This splendid Renaissance monument is unique in both Ohio and the U.S. and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

At its dedication in 1930, the government of Italy dispatched its royal ambassador from Washington, D.C., who presented a bust of the Roman poet Virgil. Also in attendance were Ohio’s governor, the mayor of Cleveland, and other dignitaries.

Congratulatory telegrams arrived from President Herbert Hoover; the celebrated conductor Arturo Toscanini; Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi; Newton D. Baker, U.S. Secretary of War under President Woodrow Wilson; and New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. In August 1934, Papal Delegate Cardinal Egidio Vagnozzi visited the Cultural Monument to Italy.

On October 12, 2025, the garden celebrated its historic 95th anniversary.

This majestic public space was envisioned by three Italian immigrants who journeyed from Sicily to Cleveland, driven by anticipation and a deep desire to share Italy’s rich cultural patrimony with America.

Upon arriving in Cleveland, they diligently built their careers piece by piece, overcoming discrimination at every turn. Philip Garbo became President of the Italian Fresco & Decorating Company, Basilio Ianni rose to prominence as a renowned architect, and businessman Alessandro De Maioribus entered politics and ultimately served as President of Cleveland City Council.

In 1930 three acres of public land was given to the Italian community by the city of Cleveland. It was stipulated that the parcel was to be maintained by the Italian Americans in Cleveland. Garbo, Ianni, and De Maioribus spent 11 years building this Late Renaissance-designed Cultural Monument to Italy. It was dedicated “as a symbol of the contribution of Italian culture to American democracy.”

The trio gathered skilled Italian stone carvers and craftsmen and raised the necessary funds to build this beautiful Renaissance outdoor museum honoring Italy’s cultural greats that highlighted the brilliant genius Italy gave the world. In 1941, this new public space celebrated its completion.

The Late Renaissance design has wide walkways and two large Renaissance fountains, one that is modeled after the fountain in Villa Medici in Rome with two sweeping staircases leading down to a lower-level amphitheater and a second large Renaissance fountain

During the 1930s and 40s this public space was the center of Italian activities in Cleveland. On October 12, 1935, it served as the starting point of the Columbus Day Parade in Cleveland. Since this space was dedicated to share the cultural arts of Italy, the historic “Opera in the Italian Garden” concerts were revived and are presented each year showcasing ballet and opera — both of which began in Italy.

In 2012, a statue of Dante Alighieri, the father of the modern Italian language and author of the Divine Comedy, was dedicated in the piazza across from Virgil the Roman poet. Recently, images of seven famous Italian cultural figures were carved on large granite medallions circling the Renaissance fountain: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, father of modern science, Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Donatello and Ovidio, the Roman poet.

In the lower-level amphitheater on the face of a large Renaissance wall fountain are carved images honoring Petrarca, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Giotto, Guglielmo Marconi, and Giuseppe Verdi.

Old newspaper microfilm revealed a stunning Pantheon structure honoring 100 famous Italian men and women that was part of the original plan but never completed.

It’s important the original plans for the Pantheon structure envisioned by these men be completed, fulfilling their desire to shine the cultural beacon of Italy’s great accomplishments to the world. It will honor famous Italians from the Romans, down through the Renaissance to present day with an additional 150 famous Italians circling the structure.

”Buon 95th anniversario!” Cleveland’s Cultural Monument to Italy!

The monument is in the midst of a $1.5 million restoration of which $604,820 has been completed.

Tax-deductible donations for the construction of the Pantheon may be sent to:

Italian Cultural Garden

1284 Som Center Rd. # 316

Cleveland, Ohio 44124

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Christmastime was ripe to “redd up” — Pittsburgh’s way of saying “tidy up” — the corner where copies of La Nostra Voce and the Unione (printed by Annie and Larry Frediani) were stowed. Several hardy house plants needed additional growing space. My intention was to page through, cut out, and save printed stories. Forgotten copies and unexpected memories dated back to 2007.

Hours turned into a couple of days. Why? Well, stopping to say, “may their soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace” when late ISDA members’ faces showed up on the turning pages.

This article will appear in the December edition of La Nostra Voce, ISDA’s monthly newspaper that chronicles Italian American news, history, culture and recipes. Subscribe today!

Emotions were mixed as the stories sparked recollections. Regina Coeli Italian Church and School brought thoughts of our Manchester neighborhood. The location where the Italian language could be heard with passing neighbors stopping to talk. The dialects from Molise, Abruzzo and Sicilian Regione were palpable.

Several stories of catching burglars, drug dealers, armed robbers, killers, and other bad guys faded away upon coming up on the article of a Sunday trip taken with my wife on December 6, 2007.

Pat and I traveled to West Virginia on the anniversary of the Monongah Mine Disaster. In 1907, it was here where hundreds of coal miners lost their lives, including 171 Italians. Massive explosions erupted in Monongah Mine 6 and Mine 8. The blasts were felt for miles. Large clouds of dirt and smoke permeated the atmosphere.

During our visit we attended mass and prayed at the Monongah Heroine Statue that was erected in memory of the beloved widows of the miners lost in the disaster. We walked the hillside where miners were buried; there were so many victims that mass graves were necessary.

Our late ISDA member, Honorable Consulate of Italy and friend Joseph F. D’Andrea, born in Molise, Italy, labored to keep these lost miners and their families in our memory. Joe was a warehouse of Italian history and culture and enjoyed drinking espresso.

Italians from Molise, Calabria, Abruzzo, Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, and Piermonte left Ellis Island to live and lose their lives in Monongah. Safety was not a major concern.  English, Turkish, German, Polish, Russian, and Hungarian immigrants suffered the same plight. Underage children also worked in the mines; their deaths were not included in the almost 500 lost. Some widows lost both husband and sons.

Marianna Gatto, an ISDA Contributing Editor, furnished the February 2022 La Nostra Voce with a compelling article telling the full story of this disaster to ensure that these hardworking Italian Americans are never forgotten.

“Where the rain never falls, and the sun never shines, it’s dark as a dungeon, way down in the mines.”

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On July 25, 1956, shortly before midnight and shrouded in dense fog, the Swedish liner SSStockholm slammed full speed into the side of the Andrea Doria, killing 51 people and sending the Italian luxury ship to a watery grave off the shoals of Nantucket.

Pierette Domenica Simpson, at age 9, was aboard with her grandparents immigrating to the U.S.

In July, Simpson took part in a survivors-only gathering at the Italian American Museum (IAM) in NYC’s Little Italy. Her film “Andrea Doria: Are the Passengers Saved?” was screened and attendees toured an exhibition of artifacts curated by the museum, including a 140-pound brass bell from the ship and items from the vast collection of artifacts retrieved by the diver John Moyer, who first explored the wreck in the 1980s.

This feature article appeared in the November edition of La Nostra Voce, ISDA’s monthly newspaper that chronicles Italian American news, history, culture and traditions. Subscribe today!

“This museum is all about telling the Italian experience, coming to America and being in America,” IAM Founder and President Dr. Joe Scelsa told The New York Times. “Even with the sinking of the ship and the terrible loss of life that took place, I will tell you, every one of them that survived still felt the trip was worth taking because of the opportunities America offered. That’s the message.”

Doria, an opulent 697-foot Italian ocean liner that carried travelers from Genoa to New York, was a jewel of her time. She boasted elegant paintings, tapestries and murals, along with lavish amenities that included several outdoor swimming pools.

Equipped with 11 watertight compartments, a full fleet of lifeboats and radar, a cutting-edge innovation of the era, the Doria seemed every bit the model of modern maritime safety.

Passengers felt reassured as she completed 100 transatlantic crossings, before tragedy struck.

The Stockholm, under the watch of Third Officer Johan-Ernst Carstens-Johannsen, had departed from New York on a voyage to its homeport of Gothenburg, and as night fell, the two ships were barreling toward each other from opposite directions.

Each ship used its radar to arrive at different conclusions: While the Swedish liner decided on the standard port-to-port pass (on the left), Doria’s Captain, Piero Calamai, elected to pass on the starboard (right) side.

The officers didn’t realize they were on a collision course until shortly before 11:10 p.m., when Calamai spotted Stockholm’s lights through a thick curtain of fog. “She’s coming right at us!” one Doria officer shouted.

With just moments to spare, Calamai ordered a hard left turn to outrun the Stockholm. Carstens, having spotted the Doria, tried to reverse his propellers and slow down.

It was too late. Stockholm’s icebreaker bow crashed into the Doria’s starboard side like a battering ram, snapping bulkheads and penetrating some 30 feet into its hull. It remained lodged there for a few seconds, then broke loose, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the Doria.

Prior to the fatal, screeching collision, Doria was unquestionably the symbol of Italy’s revival from the economic ruin of WWII.

Designed by Italy’s greatest artisans of the time, she was called “a floating art museum” with works reflecting the nation’s artistic heritage of painters, ceramists, sculptors and designers. It was a prestigious choice of travel by immigrants seeking a new life, and the rich and famous, such as Anna Magnani, Cary Grant, Orson Wells and Spencer Tracy.

“After what seemed like eternity, my nonnis and I sat on the floor in prayer circles of the already heavily inclined liner; the Ave Maria’s last words ‘…now and at the hour of our death’ suddenly took on an eerie meaning. After all, we did not know that Captain Calamai had sent out an SOS and rescue ships were on their way. For 1,640 passengers they were angels of mercy,” said Simpson. “Even after 69 years, I quiver when I recall my frail, 9-year-old body dangling from a rope around my waist over the black ocean. Fortunately, I didn’t understand the concept of drowning, but the intense screams from above and below signaled a great danger.”

The Andrea Doria tragedy remained one of the most complicated and controversial collisions at sea. How could this happen on such a large ocean? Simpson’s research, based on interviews with maritime experts in both Italy and the U.S. and with the scrutiny of a computer simulation at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York, revealed how the Stockholm’s crew contributed to the collision:

• The captain assigned an inexperienced Third Officer and two other young men to the bridge in fog; he remained in his cabin even while in the most trafficked area near the Northeast coastline (approximately 50 miles from the Nantucket Shoals)
• The young men were overworked and overwhelmed
• The Third Officer was directed to navigate in a lane designated for westbound traffic, thus in our lane as they traveled eastward
• The Stockholm had an antiquated radar that had to be set by hand, with a flashlight to determine position of vessels
• Its foghorn was silent, although prescribed by maritime law
• The Third Officer misread his radar, thinking the Doria was approaching on his left; he mistakenly ordered two right turns which led to the shocking collision, at full speed

The emergency effort to save more than 1,600 people aboard the Doria, widely deemed the greatest sea rescue in history among maritime experts, is the subject of Simpson’s book, Alive on the Andrea Doria!: The Greatest Sea Rescue in History.

In 2019, Simpson made headlines when she rang the Doria’s bell at the Columbus Day Parade in New York City — a poignant gesture symbolizing her commitment to ensuring the ship’s story continues to echo from past to present in honor of the survivors and victims.

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By Danielle Salasavage, National Vice President (Order), ISDA

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The new consular office will serve Italian nationals and Italian Americans across Western Pennsylvania.

Dr. Mancini expressed his gratitude to the Italian Sons and Daughters of America for their financial and organizational support in helping to establish the office.

Make a Pledge and join Italian Sons and Daughters of America today. 

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White smoke curled from the Sistine Chapel chimney, the bells of St. Peter’s rang out across Rome, and the world held its breath for what seemed like an interminable amount of time. When the Cardinal Protodeacon finally stepped onto the Vatican’s central balcony to proclaim “Habemus Papam,” the name that followed stunned the globe: Robert Prevost — an American! — had been elected Pope Leo XIV.

I knew little about the man behind the name: a member of the Augustinian Order and a native of the Chicago area. And, like many, I immediately reached for my phone, eager to learn more, especially about his roots. What emerged in the days after the conclave was almost as surprising as the election itself: we had an Italian American Pope.

Of course, Pope Francis, born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio to a father from Turin and a granddaughter of Genovese immigrants, was also an Italian American, though from South America. We often forget that South America, like its northern counterpart, saw a massive wave of Italian immigration, particularly in Argentina and Brazil. But Pope Leo was born and bred in our great nation, and for that we are proud, even more so as Italian Americans. His family story and postwar Baby Boomer upbringing offer a sense of familiarity, even reassurance, to our community.

While Pope Leo’s maternal grandparents were of mixed race, born in Hispaniola and New Orleans respectively, his paternal grandmother was a French immigrant, and his paternal grandfather, Salvatore Giovanni Riggitano, was born in Milazzo, near Messina in Sicily, in 1876. Riggitano emigrated to the United States in 1903, arriving on the SS Perugia to New York City, and settled in Illinois, where he would teach Italian, French and Spanish.

Eventually, he would drop “Salvatore,” keeping the English form of Giovanni, John, and adopted his second wife Suzanne’s mother’s maiden name, Prevost, which he would give to his two sons. The second son, Louis, the Pope’s father, was born in Chicago in 1920. There, he would marry Mildred Martinez in 1949, giving birth to three sons, the last of whom was Robert (now Pope Leo), born in 1955.

Yes, the Pope is a quarter Italian, and a second-generation Italian American. But “only” or “just” 25% Italian extraction does not make His Holiness any less Italian American than anyone else. That he likely learned the Italian language later in life during his years of study and work in Rome, is to his credit; it would not make him a “Johnny come lately.”

We do not know if the Pope has visited (or how often) his town of origin during those years, or whether he’s in touch with his Italian relatives; nor do we know, in decades past, how often the Prevost family enjoyed pasta dinners.

We do know this: through his words, his example and his identity, Pope Leo already shows us that there is room at the table for everyone — culturally and spiritually — no matter their family background or heritage, both as Italian Americans and as Catholics. His very motto, “In the One, we are one,” taken from the writings of his spiritual father, Saint Augustine, and the message he has expressed so far during the first few weeks of his papacy, are an indication of the importance he places on unity, which no doubt will prove one of the key messages of this pontificate.

For those struggling to identify as Italian American, young or not so young, because your Italian blood might be less than a major percentage, or for those seeking validation, look no further than Pope Leo. His own story can “give permission” and reassure us, at a crossroads in history, where going forward, we will see increasingly less “pure” extraction but allowing the Italian American identity to flourish.

Perhaps another indication of a bigger picture (or Divine Providence): Pope Leo was elected on May 8, the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, the most popular devotion among Italians at the time of the largest immigration, and which the immigrants continued to lovingly practice in their adopted country.

Interestingly, I learned of the white smoke as I was burying a friend, Sr. Lisa Marie DiSabatino, who was half Italian and half Polish. Her father Anthony was a first-generation Sicilian American; his parents lived near Pope Leo’s grandfather’s hometown. Anthony died while serving overseas in the U.S. Army during World War II, Sister wasn’t even 2 years old. As a result, she had little exposure to her Italian side but readily acknowledged those roots. Another sign?

Saint Augustine also stated: “Let us all embrace one another: in necessary things, unity; in uncertain things, liberty; in all things, charity.” What better example, what better words to follow, than those of this Saint, and those of his spiritual son, our Holy Father, Pope Leo.

Viva il Papa!

-Brendan Young, a second-generation Italian American originally from Buffalo, New York, is a member of ISDA.

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Middle school is the perfect time to spark curiosity about new cultures, especially through hands-on experiences that are both enjoyable and educational. One fantastic way to do this while advancing the mission of the ISDA is by starting an Italian Club at your local school that introduces students to rich culinary and cultural traditions of Italian America. More than just a language or geography lesson, this club can bring Italy to life — one bite at a time.

Launching such a club is precisely what we did at St. Ann Academy in Raritan, N.J.

The heart of the Italian Club is the food. Cooking allows the kids to get involved and to experience Italian culture in an engaging and memorable way. On day one, we dove right in the deep end, learning how to roll meatballs. Students learned about the importance of Sunday family meals in Italian American homes, how recipes are passed down from generation to generation, and the effort their parents and grandparents put forth to provide them with the joy of a home-cooked meal.

Making pizza is another exciting highlight. Students could create personal pizzas from scratch — kneading dough, spreading sauce, and choosing toppings. Along the way, they explored the history of pizza from its roots in Naples to how it became a beloved dish worldwide.

To tie in seasonal traditions, the club celebrated spring with the baking of Italian Easter cookies, sometimes known as iced “Anginetti” cookies. Students rolled and shaped the dough, glazed the cookies, and decorated them with colorful sprinkles. It’s a delicious way to explore the symbolism of Easter in Italian culture and learn how food plays a major role in religious and family celebrations. One student shared that her grandmother used to make Anginetti cookies and this year they are going to restart the tradition together!

A particularly meaningful cultural tradition to explore is the St. Joseph’s Table. Celebrated on March 19th, this feast honors St. Joseph. Students learned how this tradition began in Sicily to thank St. Joseph for ending a famine. As part of the club, members prepared a symbolic “St. Joseph Table.” Non-meat dishes were made in the club, reflecting the Lenten season, and we had the table blessed by our local priest.

The Italian club is not merely about cooking — it fosters teamwork, curiosity, and respect for other cultures. Students laughed and played as they cooked and listened to Italian music. By engaging all the senses, students would come away with more than just recipes, they’d gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and warmth of Italian heritage.

After the five weeks were over, the St. Ann Academy Italian Club was a smash hit! While some students were of Italian heritage, many were not. They were simply Italophiles looking for a good time, and though I may be biased, I’d propose that Italians are among the best at having a good time! For the student who wishes to go deeper than spaghetti and meatballs, the Italian club is a critical first step into the world of La Dolce Vita!

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By Marla Monzo-Holmes

What made this discovery extraordinary was the archivolt’s origin: it once adorned the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Alife, the very church where my grandparents were married. Built in 1132, the cathedral originally housed two archivolts; however, in the early 1920s, one was removed and eventually became part of the Brummer Collection, purchased by Duke University in 1966, to establish what is now the Nasher Museum of Art.

Upon returning to North Carolina, I visited the Nasher Art Museum with my husband and mother. Seeing the archivolt in person was a deeply emotional experience. Standing before it, I reflected on its odyssey from the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta to Duke University and the incredible connection it symbolized between my two homes.

The archivolt discovery reaffirmed what I have always felt: my heart belongs to two places. Alife is where my roots run deep, and North Carolina is where I now call home. The ties that bind these two places feel divinely inspired, and they continue to remind me of the enduring legacy of my ancestors.

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By Richard Leto, La Nostra Voce

As a third-generation Italian American growing up in the Little Italy neighborhood of South Philadelphia, I fondly remember learning about my immigrant grandparents. They immersed themselves in Italian opera and took great pride in the history and masterpieces of renowned Italian artisans and sculptors. Our home, like many in the neighborhood, was adorned with grotto-like garden shrines or furniture topped with cherished Italian statuary and figurines — a tangible connection to our heritage.

Last year, I had the privilege of viewing the historic works of sculptor Edoardo Alfieri (1913–1998) at an exhibition hosted by the Columbus Historical Society (CHS) in Ohio’s capital. Alfieri is renowned for his creation of the monumental bronze statue of Christopher Columbus, which stood prominently in front of Columbus City Hall for 65 years, from 1955 until its removal in 2020.

This article will appear in the January 2025 edition of La Nostra Voce, ISDA’s monthly newspaper that chronicles Italian American news, history, culture and traditions. Subscribe today!

The 20-foot, 3-ton statue was a gift from the citizens of Genoa to the people of Columbus, Ohio, symbolizing the bond between the two cities. It was cast at the Michelucci Foundry in Pistoia, Italy, and dedicated on October 12, 1955, in front of 100,000 people by then-Mayor Maynard E. Sensenbrenner as part of the city’s Columbus Day celebration. Published news accounts stated the bronze statue was transported from Italy to America via the Italian ocean liner “Cristoforo Colombo.”

In May of 2020, civil unrest broke out in downtown Columbus three days after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Storefronts were damaged and destroyed and windows were smashed at the Ohio Statehouse. A month later, Mayor Andrew Ginther ordered the removal of the statue from Portman Plaza, outside Columbus City Hall.

The statue was placed in storage, removed from public view, with officials stating it will never again be displayed in front of Columbus City Hall. In 2023, supported by The Monuments Project of the Mellon Foundation, the “Reimagining Columbus” initiative was launched to identify a new location for the historic statue. This two-year initiative is set to run through June 2025. Notably, a Christopher Columbus statue still stands on the grounds of the Ohio Statehouse, highlighting a distinct separation between Ohio’s state government and the municipal government of Columbus, Ohio.

Recently, the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department was sued by an Italian American who says the city demonstrated undue bias when it renamed Columbus Square to Warren Square in 2022. The lawsuit contends that the change violates city rules and taps into an undercurrent of intolerance toward Italian American iconography.

According to the Parks and Recreation Department’s naming guidelines, a park can only be renamed if the person it is named after “comes into disrepute in relation to the community at large.”

The plaintiff in this lawsuit argues Christopher Columbus does not fall into these restrictions.

Stay tuned.

For more on the topic, read ISDA National President Basil Russo’s letter to the editor, published in The Columbus Dispatch on Oct. 11, 2024.

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