Local Italian instructor Cristina Modica was among four educators honored last year by the Italian Language Foundation. Bilingual from childhood, Modica studied Italian at the Italian Cultural Center in Stone Park throughout elementary school. She took language classes in high school, and majored in Italian and international business at Dominican University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Modica taught Italian at the cultural center while earning her master’s degree in teaching with a concentration in English and world language methodology from DePaul University. She has been teaching Italian at Maine South High School in Park Ridge for more than 20 …

The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame presented multisport luminary Jerry Colangelo with the Mario Andretti Lifetime Achievement Award at a gala and induction ceremony at the Westin O’Hare on Dec. 10. “When the hall of fame needed help making the move to Taylor Street, Jerry Colangelo was there. As we open a new chapter in the hall’s history, Jerry Colangelo is still by our side,” says NIASHF President Ron Onesti. “He has always understood our goal of honoring those sports luminaries who shine such a positive light on the Italian-American experience.” This year’s inductees are Chicago Wolves defenseman …

Taylor Street once again boasts an epic work of Italian-American art thanks to the Comitato Tricolore Italiani nel Mondo. A mural welcoming visitors to Chicago’s venerable Little Italy was commissioned by CTIM, painted on the side of a building at the northeast corner of Taylor and Bishop, and unveiled at a ceremony on Oct. 17. Money was raised from the community to fund the project. The mural faces the plaza that showcased a statue of Joe DiMaggio from 1998, when it was installed by the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, until 2019, when the sports hall shuttered its …

The Columbus Day celebration on Oct. 10 in Mishawaka, Indiana, went off without a hitch. A 1 p.m. ceremony at the Columbus statue in the city’s Central Park was attended by several hundred people and featured presentations by Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood and Elkhart County Commissioner Frank Lucchese. Festivities continued with an Italian buffet luncheon at the DiLoreto Society, with food donated by local restaurants. The event was sponsored by the DiLoreto Society, DeAmicis Italian Club, Italian American Heritage Society of Notre Dame/Michiana, Italian American Relief Association of Elkhart and Knights of Columbus Council 1878. “Speakers talked about their Italian …

Eugene Giudice will be available to sign copies of “Reflections During a Pandemic: Thoughts While Sheltering in Place” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Wilwood Tavern, 6850 W. Touhy Ave., Niles; from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 8 at City’s Edge, 5310 W. Devon Ave., Chicago; and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 12 at Edgebrook Coffee Shop, 6322 N. Central Ave., Chicago. The book contains a series of daily emails Giudice penned while riding out the pandemic at home. A senior research services training specialist with the Chicago office of Dentons US LLP, …

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society honored Dr. Jeffrey Wittmus as Arcolian of the Year at its Christmas gala on Dec. 14 at Cafe La Cave in Des Plaines. Wittmus is the grandson of John Joseph Siravo, whose parents immigrated from Italy’s Abruzzi region. His grandfather’s name was changed to Wittmus when he and his eight siblings were placed in separate foster homes after his mother died giving birth to him and his father died working on the New York subway in 1915. Wittmus was born in Chicago to John Wayne and Judy (Simonian) Wittmus. He graduated with honors from Maine East …

The Women’s Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans honored eight accomplished women at the 2021 Impresa Awards. Scholarships were presented to several deserving female high school seniors at the event. “We’re always so proud to host the Impresa Awards,” JCCIA Women’s Division President Rosemary Ranallo says. “It’s our opportunity to shine the spotlight on Italian-American women of accomplishment and to encourage young Italian-American women to follow in their footsteps.” This year’s honorees were: Catherine M. Adduci, president, village of River Forest Gia Biagi, commissioner, Department of Transportation, city of Chicago Nicole A. Cipriani, M.D., medical directory, Department …

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans marked the 700th anniversary of the passing of Dante Alighieri with a standout media luncheon on Sept. 14. Galleria Marchetti in Chicago was bursting at the seams with journalists, elected officials and community leaders who had come to honor CBS President and General Manager Jennifer Lyons and Chicago attorney Antonio Romanucci. Lyons was the recipient of the divine poet’s namesake award, while Romanucci accepted the inaugural Dominic DiFrisco Lifetime Achievement Award. Seated at the dais along with the honorees were past Dante Award recipients Dina Bair, Greg Caputo, Janet Davies, Mary Laney, Vince …

Addison Trail High School language teacher Judie Vitiritti-Lynch has been appointed a national advocate lead by the AP College Board, having previously served in a similar capacity on the state and regional levels. AP advocates rally support for Advanced Placement programs, lobbying for funding and favorable legislation at all levels of government. The founder of the Italian language program at Addison Trail, Vitiritti-Lynch was the first recipient of the Midwest Award for Leadership in the Teaching of the Italian Language and Culture, in November 2016. The award is given annually by the Observatory of the Italian Language in Chicago, under …

Chicago attorney Frank Sommario was the guest of honor at the Justinian Society of Lawyers’ Award of Excellence, Judges and Scholarship Night. The following profile was provided by the organization: Frank Sommario Frank Sommario began his membership with the Justinian Society of Lawyers in 1997 as a first-year law student at DePaul University College of Law. His academic achievements in law school earned him several Justinian scholarships – cementing his desire to give back to this important organization that had provided so many opportunities for him. Frank began serving on the Justinian Society Executive Committee in 2009, was elected Secretary …