The Italian Connection

  Dear Readers, ITALIAN AMERICANS IN THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY, the exciting exhibit at the Martin Luther King Jr. main public library, located at San Jose University, in partnership with San Jose State University (150 E. San Fernando Street), has …

By Staff

Dear Readers, June jottings with an Italian Connection: Domenico Ghirlandaio (c. 1449-1494) was a Florentine painter of the early Renaissance, whose birth name was Domenico di Tommaso Bigordi. His father was a silk merchant and goldsmith – which likely gave …

By Staff

Dear Readers, May has many Italian connections.   Mother’s Day was Sunday, May 12th this year and since St. Monica, mother of the late blooming “Saint” Augustine is also the patroness of wives and mothers, I will share some info on …

By Staff

Dear Readers, August-Agosto has many dates with an Italian connection:   Caruso, the world famous tenor was born in Naples in 1873 and died there at age 48 on August 2, 1921. Enrico Caruso had just turned twenty-two when he …

By Staff

Dear Readers, On July 4th let me refresh your memory and mine on the Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, 1776 (in Philadelphia) and learn about Italian and Italian American contributions to the American Revolutionary War.   Although the colonists …

By Staff

Mazzini would not have been surprised at revelations that the N.S.A. (National Security Agency) had been monitoring our telephone, email and Internet use, had he been able to read the front pages of our newspapers lately.   The A.C.L.U. has …

By Staff

  Dear Readers, Father’s Day was last Sunday, so Happy Father’s Day to all you fathers, grandfathers, uncles, big brothers and father figures out there, and may happy memories bring a small measure of comfort to readers whose fathers are …

By Staff

  Dear Readers, Memorial day, originally called Declaration Day, is a day of Remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day will be observed on May 27th this year, the last Monday in May, as per …

By Staff

  Dear Readers, My mailbag has been the source of many Italian Connections through the years. “Grazie” to Signor J.M. (John Mancini, Executive Director of the Italic Institute of America, PO Box 818, Floral Park, NY 11002) and other Readers …

By Staff

Dear Readers, Francis Albert Sinatra, born December 12, 1915, left us on May 14 1998, but for fans the memories and the melodies linger on, hence my Sinatra column encore.   Thanks to the tabloids, the devil side of Sinatra …

By Staff

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