The Italian Connection

Dear Readers, As March begins dozens of Cardinals have gathered in Rome to elect a new Pope.  After nearly eight years as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, 85, surprised the world on February 11 by …

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 …

Dear Readers, March is the month I like to recycle my “St. Patrick was Italian” column and remind you that Italo-Irish author, Tomie de Paola’s delightful book for children “Patrick- Patron Saint of Ireland” is available at the S.F. Museo …

Dear Readers, More April dates with an Italian connection:   Rome was founded April 21, 753 BC. According to legend, a shepherd found the twins Romulus and Remus under a fig tree. The twin boys, sons of Mars and Rhea …

Dear Readers, March…the third month of the year has 31 days and is short for “Martius mensis”, month of Mars. In Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war and agriculture. Nerio, a minor Roman goddess was his wife. Jupiter …

Dear Readers, On April 14, 1912 the supposedly “unsinkable” luxury liner Titanic sank and Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937), born in Bologna, Italy to an Italian businessman and his Scotch-Irish wife, heiress to the Jamison whiskey fortune, was hailed worldwide as a …

Dear Readers, A March minestrone is served:   An Albanian society meeting hall in Los Angeles was once the scene of many joyous Italian wedding receptions, dances and happy memories for Signor A.C. who wondered whatever happened to the “Ghe …

Dear Readers, May is the month we celebrate Mother’s Day and since many of us had mothers (and fathers too) who were born in Italy and spent their early years there, when Fascism was in full flower, I thought I …

Dear Readers, April-Aprile comes from the Latin word aperire which means to open. This is the month to open your umbrellas for April showers and watch the buds open for Spring flowers and Italian American Connections…   St. Francis of …

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 …