Founded 1994 Il Piccolo Giornale September, 2018

Il Piccolo Giornale is the official newsletter of Club ItaloAmericano of Green Bay, Wi.

Website: http://clubitaloamericano.org/ Facebook: Club Italaloamericano of Green Bay

Board of Directors Send contributions/comments to: [email protected] Officers:

President

L. V. Teofilo Vice President

Patrick Kloster Treasurer Vicky Sobeck

Secretary Mary Prisco Past President

Richard Gollnick BIRTHPLACE: ELLIS and the chance of a lifetime ar- with “Name: Male Infant.” Directors rived. With faith, courage and de- When Maria, Luigi and the baby Ron Cattelan ISLAND termination, their plans and were joyfully reunited, the couple dreams were becoming a reality. Dominic Del Bian- Following is the amazing and true chose “Amelio” after the captain of co. story of the birth of Amelio Balduc- During the exhausting ocean voy- the ship that had carried them to Marlene Feira ci, father of Club ItaloAmericano age, nothing of Maria’s condition this land of new promise. Janice Galt member, Sharon Balducci. Sha- was suspected by the ship’s crew In 1985 Amelio became a member Lisa Iapalucci ron’s mother was Violet Tavonatti, and captain. Many friends watched of the Statue of Liberty Foundation Mark Mariucci cousin of Marlene Feira. over her. But as the voyageurs’ of Ellis Island. Darrell Sobeck Luigi and Maria Balducci set sail ship was being tugged into Ellis In 1989 Sharon gave the Balducci Lynn Thompson from Italy in July of 1928. The Island, Maria’s time of confine- name to the “American Immigra- young couple were expecting their ment was drawing to a close. She tion Wall of Names”, a part of the Ambassador at first child. The immigration laws gave birth to her first baby, a boy, Large Ellis Island Restoration project. restricted pregnant women from on the island, September 22, 1928! Riccardo Paterni embarking on such a lengthy and As the passengers stepped onto the

dangerous trip. But Maria cleverly island for the long processing or- Editor concealed her 8 month pregnancy deal, Maria and Luigi were separat- CONDOLAZIONE Paul Marino and they began their 45 day jour- ed. Maria was taken to a Man- Our sincere sympathy goes out to ney to America. hattan hospital where her medical Sadjida Shariff whose sister recent- needs and the baby were cared for. In the 1920’s, sponsors were diffi- ly passed away. cult to find, but Mr. and Mrs. Because she couldn’t speak English

Georgini of Gaastra, Michigan, and the nurses couldn’t speak Ital- acted as their American sponsors ian, the birth certificate ended up La Seconda Passaggiata

On Wednesday, August 1, the projected rain held off long enough to allow 27 Club ItalioAmericano members the opportunity to stroll a section of the East River Trail together for the second Passeggiata of the summer. The commaraderie of the group con- tinued during the meal following at the Rite Place. Thanks to Dan Brunmeier and Nancy Kohrman for coordinating the event.

Fun time is had playing Bocce Dinner and a Movie MONTHLY ITALIAN CONVER- at Colburn Park Wednesday, November 14, 2018 SATION CLUB

CLUB ITALOAMERICANO BOCCE — Sun- We had a problem scheduling an Italian The Italian Conversation Club will contin- day Afternoons— 4:00 p.m. Come join us movie at the museum because the No- ue to meet on the second Saturday of vember 7 date was already scheduled and each month. Club I/A Bocce will continue every Sunday the next date November 21 is Thanksgiv- afternoon throughout the summer weath- This month we will meet on September 8 ing eve. In lieu of a movie at the muse- er permitting. It will be held at the Col- at the downtown Central Library from um, Chuck and Lenora Rhyner invite club burn Park Bocce Courts off of Highview 10:00 to 11:30. Contact person: Angela members (maximum of 20) to their home Street in Green Bay starting at 4:00 p.m. Landt, [email protected] or 920-536- (2430 Morning Star Trail, Green Bay) to 4097 This is non-competitive--purely for enjoy- view the movie The Sicilian Girl (2008) ment and there is no need to sign up. following the dinner at Sammy’s Pizza. MEMBERSHIP Having a partner is helpful but not neces- “The Sicilian Girl” recounts the true story sary. Teams will be determined by draw Please join us in welcoming Vincent Paul of a mafia daughter, Rita Atria, who broke of those showing up each Sunday. Nardi and Dr. Stephanie A. Nardi. Vince’s the code of silence to provide evidence Nonna and Nonno came from Simbario, Bring your own equipment (set of bocce against members of the mafia. Italy about 1800. balls and rake). Because people have so Dinner at Sammy’s Pizza will be at many commitments, it would be helpful to The Nardi’s own Nardi’s Affogato Bar at 4:45pm. Please call Vicky (Piccione) So- share phone numbers so players can text 109 N. Broadway Street in De Pere beck at 865-7229 if you plan to have din- one another to ensure there will be a (formerly “Bilotti’s.”) ner at Sammy’s Pizza and/or view the game. Benvenuti!! film at the Rhyner’s.

IMPROMTU

A small group of club members meet on the first Monday each month at the Glass Nickle Pizza Co., 416 Dousman Street.

We meet at 5:00 and most order the $5.00 Monday pizza.

If you care to join us, there is no need to call just show up!

La Terza Club ACTIVITIES 2018 tors meetings. Our plan is to create on open forum at the beginning of each Passeggiatta May-September (Maggio-settembre)……. meeting where members can share their Every Sunday (weather permitting)— ideas, suggestions and/or concerns.

Club Bocce Activity 4:00 pm, Colburn If you have an item or topic that you feel The final Passeggiatta for the summer is Park needs extra time, please contact Presi- scheduled for Tuesday September11, dent Teofilo be added to the agenda. 2018 hosted by Paolo and Collette. September (11 settembre)…………….. The meetings are held on the third Thurs- We will meet at the Northeast corner of La Terza Passeggiata day of every month. They begin at 5:30 the Village Grill parking lot at 5:00pm. October 13, (13 ottobre) ………………... and are held at Luigi’s Italian Bistro on Weather permitting we will walk along the Manitowoc Road. Twelfth Spaghetti Dinner East River for approximately 20 to 30 The next Board meeting will be on Thurs- minutes and than convene at the Village Columbus Day Celebration (Italian Herit- day 20 September. Grill for dinner. You will be able to order age Month) Green Isle Park Pavilion, off the menu. The Village Grill is located Allouez ARTICLES FOR OUR NEWSLETTER at 801 Hoffman Rd. Green By, Wi. October …………………….. ………Musicale XI, Please feel free to submit articles or pic- Please let us know if you are planning on tures for our newsletter. Information for attending by sending an email, instead November (novembre)....Sammy’s Dinner each upcoming month needs to be sub- of calling, by Saturday September 8, (4:45 pm) mitted to me by the 25th. (think Christ- 2018 to the following address: Rhymer’s home for the Movie (7:00 pm) mas) of the month. You should email articles as an attachment in Microsoft [email protected]. December 15, (15 dicembre)……….Cena di Word and pictures in a jpeg format. Natale Join us for fun and fellowship on our final My email address is: Passeggiatta. Chair: Marlene Feira [email protected] Calling All Members Questions— call me at 612-360-8246 We extend an invitation for all club mem-

bers to attend our monthly Board of Direc- CLUB MEMBERS IN BUSINESS

We have several club members that are in the restaurant business:

Luigi’s Italian Bistro in Green Bay, Sammy’s Pizza in Green Bay, Titletown Brewery in Green Bay, Thumb Knuckle Brewing Co. brewery and taproom, just west of Luxemburg and east of the Brown County line on Hwy 54, Nardi’s Affogate Bar 109 N. Broad- way, DePere.

Whenever you visit these businesses, please mention that you are a member of Club ItaloAmericano as a support of their business and membership. an indelible mark on New York for American sculptors to go to Italy to City. They carved hundreds of have their translated into mar- commissions around the five ble. It became unnecessary, in fact, for a boroughs, including the 11 fig- sculptor to know anything about stone ures in the pediment of the cutting, and some were quite content to New York Stock exchange, the model in clay, and have all their stone- “” adorning the work done by the Piccirilli’s. The sculptor Customs House at Bowling had this kind of Green, the two stately lions relationship with the Piccirillis. French’s that guard the New York Public statue of Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Library, both statues of George Memorial would be the brothers most Washington for the Arch at celebrated carving, but it was just one of Washington Square, and up- dozens his designs they executed. After wards of 500 individual carv- meeting the Piccirillis, French employed ings at Riverside Church. the brothers on all but two of his marble commissions.

French was not alone. To meet the de- All six brothers Attilio, Ferrucio, Furio, mand, the brothers established the largest Getulio, Masaniello, and Orazio were sculpture studio in the country, and were Piccirilli Brothers born in Massa, Tuscany, near the re- known from coast to coast in all large nowned marble quarries of Carrara, cities, wherever architects and sculptors where their father, Giuseppe, was a mas- When the Piccirilli Brothers arrived in congregate. From their Bronx studio ter carver. Giuseppe taught his trade to all New York from Italy in 1888, they brought flowed marble masterpieces so finely six sons, and Attilio and Furio continued with them a skill, artistry and passion for wrought, the American Magazine of Art their studies at the Accademia di Belle stone-carving unrivaled in the United noted in 1921, that the brothers’ work Arti in Rome. Fortuitously, the Piccirillis States. At their studio at 467 East 142nd “celebrates the natural bond between art arrived in New York at the dawn of the Street, in the Mott Haven Section of the and craftsmanship. They have brought us City Beautiful Movement (1890 - 1920), a Bronx, the brothers turned monumental from their native land the whole art and model of city planning that sought to en- slabs of marble into some of the nation’s craft and science and business of freeing gender moral and social uplift through recognizable icons, including the senate the angel from the stone.” inspiring civic architecture. The move- pediment of the US Capitol Building and ment’s monuments were wrought in the They each won several honors for their the statue of Abraham Lincoln that sits classical carving style the Piccirillis had work: Ozario, Attilio and Furio were indi- resolutely in the on the perfected. vidually awarded the Ellin P. Speyer Me- National Mall. morial Prize by the National Academy of Albert Ten Eyck, a former sculpture cura- The Piccirilli’s not only helped set our na- Design; Getulio was celebrated for having tor at the Met, explained, with the arrival tional narrative in stone but they also left carved the pediment of the of the Piccirilli’s, it became unnecessary New York Stock Exchange when he was classical, figurative sculpture lost favor to just 18 years old; and Attilio, who became more modern styles in the 1920s and 30s, the most famous among the brothers, was their relationship to the city’s monuments commissioned not only to carve but also faded into . By the 1940s, an art to design several sculptures around New critic even suggested that the bronze York, including the Fireman’s Memorial sculptures on top of the Maine Monument on Riverside Drive, the Maine Memorial be melted down for the war effort. at Columbus Circle, and Youth Leading When Orazio, the last surviving Piccirilli Industry at Rockefeller Center. brother, died in 1954, the Washington The Piccirilli’s saw each individual honor Evening Star reflected on the brothers as a shared prize. Art Digest reported in contribution to American art, noting that 1935 that the brothers always used “we” “people who perhaps never heard their when referring to their work, owing to name have reason to be grateful for their their “close and effective” teamwork. That labors.” camaraderie mirrored the way they In the 21st century, grateful New Yorkers worked: The brothers were known to have worked to recognize those labors break into song as they carved, and Attilio and honor the Piccirilli brothers. East often cooked lunch for the entire work- 142nd Street Between Brook and Willis shop. Avenues was renamed Piccirilli Place on In 1944, Fiorello LaGuardia himself high- March 25, 2004. lighted the Piccirilli joviality. Of his close personal friend, Attilio, LaGuardia wrote, “he is the most modest man that ever lived. . . . I have never heard him knock a fellow artist. I taught him how to laugh 35 years ago. We have been laughing ever since.”

The Piccirillis welcomed the world into their joyous atmosphere, hosting thou- sands of visitors at their 142nd street stu- dio including Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson, but the world was not always so welcoming.

The brothers faced some anti-immigrant sentiment even as they worked to realize some of the most patriotic sculptures. For example, the Art Commis- sion of Virginia rejected Attilio’s sketches for a bust Thomas Jefferson, noting that the name Piccirilli would not be welcome in Virginia. Similarly, The Lincoln Memori- al Commission rejected French’s sugges- tion to have “Piccirilli” inscribed on the pedestal of the Lincoln Memorial.

In fact, it was unusual for the Piccirilli name to be inscribed anywhere. The brothers often toiled in anonymity, and as