When Italian blood runs through your veins, sharing that passion with others is a natural part of life. Joseph D’Antony did exactly that! In 1979 he gathered a few Italian friends including Frank Barbaro, John DiCaro, Frank Terreri, Joe DiVencenzo and the Honorable James DiCesare to start an Italian club of enterprising young Italian American Lawyers in Orange County.
They borrowed the idea from colleagues in Los Angeles whom they had joined at their meetings but the drive to LA proved difficult after work and after enjoying a meal of fine wine and a plate of pasta.
The newly established Orange County group voted D’Antony as the first president meeting monthly all the while continuing to encourage others to join. They met consistently from 1979 to1992 and like many things, life took over and the meetings fell by the wayside.
D’Antony, an attorney specializing is medical and professional malpractice, was continually stopped at the courthouse by friends and acquaintances to resume the organization. After a 10-year hiatus, meetings were called to order again in 2002.
They currently have about 50 members and as D’Antony states, “If you’ve eaten spaghetti or seen a Sophia Loren movie you’re in!”
The group meets the second Tuesday of every month at Italian restaurants in Orange County including Il Fornaio, Canaletto, Antonello Ristorante & just recently at Cucina Enoteca. Several of their monthly meetings include Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) seminars. The active group also plays bocce ball, golf and even arranges legal seminars in Italy. Their next trip/seminar to Italy will be held in Tuscany June 15 – 21st.
Annual membership dues are $50 per year. To become a member and for more information about Lex Romana or more commonly known as: Italian American Lawyers of Orange County go to http://lexromana.org/ or contact Joe Ferrucci at lex_romana@aol or call 949.600.5370.
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