Fall 2008 Newsletter
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Justinian Society Fall 2008 Newsletter 734 N. Wells, Chicago, IL 60654 Phone 708.338.0760 Fax 708.401.0360 www.justinians.org It is with great pleasure that I welcome you Justice Thomas’ remarks were directly on to the 88th year of the Justinian Society of President's Message point when he spoke fondly of his Italian- Lawyers. It is with distinct pride that I serve American heritage. Justice Thomas is only as your president for the year 2008-2009. province of Palermo and the tiny Sicilian moun- the second Italian-American to achieve this “The achievements of an organization are tain village of San Mauro Castelverde, from highest judicial office in Illinois, the first the results of the combined effort of each which my name is derived. Many Glorioso’s being our dearly beloved brother Justice individual.” Vince Lombardi. These words still populate this village of but a few thousand Moses Harrison. of Lombardi, a true Italian-American icon as discovered on my return trip there with my The award was given to Chief Justice to this day, still echo close to 40 years after wife, Pearl, during our honeymoon 17 years ago. Thomas prior to dinner at our annual Jus- his death. His words are a fitting quote ap- My father, Mauro, the oldest son of my grand- tinian Society golf outing that took place propriate for the individuals that make up father Nicholas Glorioso, followed his father on June 30 at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott the Justinian Society-they are the success of in the liquor business and married my mother Resort. This year’s golf outing was a great the organization. The Justinian Society has Mary, of the Saracco clan; the Saracco family success. We have well over 100 golfers and been blessed these last 88 years with such also arrived here in the early 1900’s from Italy. dinner was attended by over 125 people. individuals, leaders that seek to advance Unfortunately, my father passed away 31 years We also had a large number of sponsors Italian-Americans both personally and profes- ago and my mother passed away 15 years ago. for the outing. Members, friends, business sionally. In an effort to maintain that same Nevertheless, my parents are still here with me associates, law students and friends of commitment to excellence that is part of our in spirit and they are the reason that I was able friends were in attendance. We were blessed Society, we have a wonderful year planned to achieve what I have. I have been immensely with beautiful weather and everyone had a for the membership. blessed with the birth of my two children: Mary, wonderful day of golf, giveaways, prizes As mentioned during my remarks at the 10-years-old and Nicholas, 7-years-old. I have and a delicious steak dinner with all the installation of new officers dinner at Tufano’s one sibling, a brother Nicholas. It is through the trimmings at the reception. This could not restaurant on May 8th, as your new president: hard work and dedication of the generations of have been done without the tireless efforts I am here to serve the organization. The Italian-American before us and the pride and of past presidents Sam Tornatore and Rich president is the one that merely happens to spirit of our families that we are able to achieve Caldarazzo, along with Executive Admin- be at the helm for but a single year, but it is whatever level of success we obtain. istrator Nina Albano Vidmer, and the rest the Society that endures year after year due During my opening remarks at the dinner of the members of the golf committee: our to the tremendous efforts and support of all on May 8, I explained how each president newest officer, Secretary Dennis Beninato, of its members. May 8th was indeed a special likens a theme to his or her term. The theme Anita DeCarlo and Frank Sommarrio. The day for me, since the morning began with the for this year is “Justinians for (Equal) Justice” day was made that much more successful privilege of representing the Justinian Soci- as I strive to open our doors to include more by the volunteer help of many Justinian ety at the swearing-in of the newly admitted members, including but not limited to those of Society law student members, organized attorneys in Cook County. It was with great Italian descent. To that end, my goal has been to and led by Carmen Forte. pride to be on stage with presidents of various embrace other organizations and their members Shortly, the Installation and Awards other bar groups as the three Justices of the by attending numerous bar dinners and events Dinner will be upon us. In addition to my Illinois Supreme Court from Cook County as an ambassador of the Justinian Society, in formal installation as president, during the administered the oath of office to this year’s an effort to be more inclusive. Throughout dinner the following officers will also be new attorneys. It was a far cry from where our 88 years we have strived for equal justice officially installed: Donald J. Storino Jr., my grandparents might have imagined their for our members and equal access to justice. 1st vice president; Cristina Mungai, 2nd grandson would be at upon their arrival in In recognition of this, I have established the vice president; Katherine A. Amari 3rd vice this country a century ago. “Justinians for Justice Equal Access Award.” president; Gregg A. Garofalo, treasurer; and Like all presidents before me, I have a This award was proudly bestowed upon our Dennis Beninato, secretary. This formal story to tell. My family came to this country Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and as immigrants in the early 1900’s from the fellow Italian-American, Robert R. Thomas. Continued, Page 6 Editor: Staff: Executive Administrator Nina Albano Vidmer Leonard F. Amari Margherita M. Albarello Michael Ori Michael F. Bonamarte IV Phil Salerno Richard Caifano Frank Sommario Executive Assistant: Associate Editor: Dion Davi Katherine A. Amari Vincent R. Vidmer Amanda Simkins William J. Davy Carmen Forte Jr. John F. Nocita PAGE 1 Justinian Society of Lawyers Mauro Glorioso, President Donald J. Storino Jr., 1st VP Cristina Mungai, 2nd VP Mauro Glorioso is proud to serve as Donald J. Storino II graduated from the Uni- Cristina Mungai is an associate attorney with president of the Justinian Society of versity of Notre Dame in 1995, and received his Johnson & Bell, Ltd. where she is engaged in law degree from DePaul Law in 1998. a diverse practice that includes the areas of in- Lawyers in its 88th year. After graduation, Donald joined the law firm surance defense, insurance coverage, products The Justinian Society of Lawyers, of Robert A. Clifford & Associates, where he liability, and construction negligence. In addi- founded in Chicago in 1921, with chap- handled personal injury litigation in Cook, Du tion, to her work in civil litigation, Cristina’s ters throughout the Midwest, has been a Page, Lake, and Kane Counties. In 2000 Mr. clients include Italian corporations involved in Storino joined Storino, Ramello & Durkin, commercial disputes in the United States. significant influence in the Illinois legal his father’s law firm in Rosemont where he is Cristina graduated from Loyola University community. The ceremonial installation engaged in a diverse litigation practice, special- in 1991 with Bachelors Degrees in political of new officers will take place at its gala izing in municipal law. He served as Village science, Italian language and literature and Installation and Awards Dinner on Sep- Prosecutor for the Villages of Elmwood Park English literature. In 1992, Cristina completed and Rosemont, and assistant legal counsel for a year of graduate studies in art history and tember 24 at the Palmer House, though ten other suburban municipalities. He also ap- Italian literature at the Universitá degli Studi di the official swearing-in of its 2008-2009 peared regularly before the Cook County Board Firenze, Florence, Italy. Cristina is a dual citizen officers took place on May 8th. of Review representing clients on real estate of the United States and Italy and speaks fluent Traditionally, once selected as secretary, tax issues. In 2001, he was appointed Special Italian. Counsel to the Illinois Racing Board, and in Cristina received her J.D. from IIT Chicago- officers of the Justinian Society work their 2005, the Cook County Board appointed him Kent College of Law in 1996 and was admitted way through the chairs to the position of to the Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board. to practice in Illinois that same year. She began president. As a result of the recommenda- Donald served as the Executive Director of her career at the City of Chicago Corporation tion of past president and highly respected both the West Central Municipal Conference Counsel’s Office in the Law Department, Mu- and the West Cook County Solid Waste Agency. nicipal Prosecution Division. As a prosecutor, Justinian, Tom Battista, Mauro Glorioso As Executive Director he represents 36 munici- Cristina represented the City of Chicago in traffic was selected as secretary in 2003. palities in Western Cook County on a myriad fatality cases and in matters involving adminis- Glorioso now becomes the 87th presi- of local government issues, including legisla- trative appeals. Cristina became involved in civil dent of this august group, the largest and tive advocacy, solid waste management, group litigation through her employment with the law purchasing, and transportation planning. firm of Ronald Gonsky, Ltd. She continued her the most impacting ethnic bar associa- In 2006, Donald co-founded Fidelity Consult- work in this area at Morici, Figlioli & Associates tion in the state of Illinois.