Mary Elizabeth Bianchi Ferrante was born on Cleveland’s West Side to Francesco and Angelina Pasqualoni Bianchi, immigrants from Abruzzo, Italy.

She is very passionate about and proud of her Italian heritage and is staunchly dedicated to its preservation and perpetuation.

Mary has selflessly given years of service to the Italian American community in a variety of ways and continues to do so to this day.

Mary has been a member of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) for 63 years. She is a member of the ISDA Our Lady of Mount Carmel Lodge and has served in numerous offices. At the district level, she served as the Publicity Chairperson.

Mary has also written for the Unione, the past ISDA newspaper, and continues to write for its current newspaper, La Nostra Voce.

In addition to her activities with ISDA, Mary is a dedicated member of the North Italian Club. She has served as the Publicity Chairperson for the Federation of Italian American Societies of Greater Cleveland. Mary founded, managed, and sang in the Italian Choral Group for 31 years.

On the airwaves of Cleveland through WXEN, a radio station with ethnic programming, Mary produced and announced the Italian Radio Program, taking over from Rocco Scotti.

Mary is also active in organizations and events outside of the Italian American community. She is a member of the Middleburg Heights Women’s Club, having served as Civic Committee Chairperson and as editor of the newsletter.

In 2011, the Women’s Club recognized her as Woman of the Year. She has served on the Middleburg Heights Board of Zoning and Building Appeals and volunteers at the Cleveland Sight Center. One activity she is very proud of is having served as a hostess at the inauguration of Governor Richard Celeste in 1983.

Mary was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Cleveland Italian American Heritage Committee on Oct. 2 at Cleveland, Ohio’s City Hall rotunda.

Watch the ceremony here:

 

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