Coccia
Coccia Foundation newsletter Winter2007_Jan24.qxp:Document June1.qxd
Volume 3 Issue 1
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Page 1
Foundation
Preserving Italian Culture
Filling the Need
Winter 2007/2008
Italian Studies Golf Classic and Casino Night
Following the Coccia Foundation’s annual Golf Classic, Cavaliere Joseph
Coccia, Jr., Founder of the non-profit Coccia Foundation, at podium, thanks
supporters and kicks off Casino Night at the Estate at Florentine Gardens.
The Coccia Foundation held the 2007 Italian Studies Golf Classic and Casino
Night, which will benefit Italian Studies programs at over twenty universities in
five states through various programs dedicated to Italian language and cultural
education.
Prominent members and supporters of the Italian American community
enjoyed a beautiful day of birdies, bogies and even a few pars at the White
Beeches Golf and Country Club in Haworth, NJ. Following a day of golf
there was an evening of cocktails and cards at Casino Night, held at the Estate
at Florentine Gardens in River Vale.
Honored at the evening reception was Gerry Bellotti, Vice President of
the Independent College Fund of New Jersey since 2001, and a longtime
member of Catholic Campus Ministry of the Archdioceses of Newark.
Bellotti, the son of Michaeleen and Salvatore Bellotti, grew up in Union
City, NJ. He attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Union City and St.
Joseph’s Boys High School in West New York, NJ. Upon graduation, he
Thomas Daidone Pledges Support to Coccia Foundation
At check presenatation are: trustee Ralph A. Contini, benefactor Thomas
Daidone, Co-founders Elda and Joseph Coccia, Jr.
Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr. has announced that Thomas Daidone,
proprietor of the Estate at Florentine Gardens in River Vale, NJ, is the
first person to officially pledge his continuous support of The Coccia
Foundation for years to come.
My friend and colleague Thomas Daidone has expressed his
commitment to the Coccia Foundation and has promised to aid our
members in their endeavors to increase public appreciation for Italian
heritage and culture, as well as to support the Foundation’s educational
programs and fundraising efforts in the capacity of a regular
benefactor. His patronage to the Coccia Foundation is most
(Continued on page 3)
appreciated and will play a significant role in the future of the
Foundation,” says Cav. Coccia.
Daidone, who recently presented a check for $7,875 to Joseph and
his wife Elda to benefit the Coccia Foundation’s scholarship program, has
been actively involved with various Foundation events and ventures over
the years.
Daidone says, “My commitment to the Coccia Foundation is a
testament to the memory of my parents, Ciro and Maria. Through my
work with the Foundation, I hope to carry on its legacy and the legacy of
all Italian immigrants who left their homeland to pursue a better life for
their children in the United States.”
Along with Coccia Foundation Trustee Ralph Contini, Mr. Daidone
has served as co-chair of the Foundation’s annual Golf Outing and
Casino Night for four years.
Additionally, Daidone’s elegant Florentine Gardens facility has been
the setting for the past five Golf Outing and Casino Night Galas, which
annually raises funds to sustain the Coccia Foundation’s educational
programs as well as to create new and exciting events and experiences for
its members.
Daidone and Contini came together almost five years ago with a
goal of increasing the prominence of the Golf Outing and Casino Night
in New Jersey and throughout the metropolitan area. They have proved
to be a dynamic pair, as the event has enjoyed increased attendance and
donations since its inception in 2002. Be sure to save the date for the
biggest and best Golf Outing yet, scheduled for June 23, 2008.
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Coccia Institute at MSU Names Director
Page 2
Coccia
COCCIA FOUNDATION
Founded 1994
“Preserving Italian Culture”
Dr. Elda M. Coccia
Cav/Dr. Joseph Coccia, Jr.
Founders
The Joseph and Elda Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America
welcomed Dr. Robert A. Freda as the new Director of the Institute, located at Montclair
State University in Montclair, NJ.
With 45 years of experience in the field of education, Dr. Freda will help to further
the Institute’s goal of advancing the growing interest in Italian and Italian American
studies through its current academic and public programs. He will also direct the
development of new and exciting Coccia Institute programs that will guide the Institute
to become a leader among prominent Italian and Italian American advocacy and service
organizations.
“Dr. Freda is an excellent choice and we know that he will lead the Coccia Institute
to its rightful position in the Italian American community. The members of the Coccia
Foundation, along with the Institute’s Advisory Board members, are 100 percent behind
him. We look forward to many exciting and fruitful collaborations with universities and
Italian organizations,” says Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr. who founded the Institute with his
wife Elda in 2003.
Cav. Coccia is also the founder of the Coccia Foundation, a non-profit family
foundation that works closely with the Institute. Foundation Trustee Elisa Coccia
presented the Foundation’s annual gift to Dr. Freda and Rudy Valli, Chair of the
Institute’s Advisory Board, who officially announced Freda’s appointment.
Dr. Freda is an Advisor to the New Jersey Italian and Italian American Heritage
Commission, headquartered in New Brunswick, and served as the Commission’s first
Executive Director from 2002 through 2004. He is currently an officer with the National
Italian American Foundation (NIAF).
Throughout his career, Dr. Freda worked in various capacities to promote the
positive aspects of multi-culturalism and ethnic pride. He co-produced the New Jersey
Network (NJN) documentary “The Italians of New Jersey” and was appointed a Charter
Member of the New Jersey Governors Ethnic Advisory Council, in addition to having
lectured on ethnicity and education at various universities and conferences throughout
the northeast.
Dr. Freda holds the title of “Cavaliere,” an honorific designation from the Italian
government. He earned a Doctorate of Education from Rutgers Graduate School and
Masters in Linguistics, Spanish, and History from Montclair State University.
For information about The Joseph and Elda Coccia Institute please visit the
Institute’s website at: http://chss2.montclair.edu/cocciainstitute.
2
Trustees
Elda M. Coccia
Elisa Coccia
Joseph Coccia, Jr.
Joseph Coccia, III
Ralph A. Contini
Genevieve Nicastro
Editor
Barbara Peirano, BA, MS
Copy Editors
Rachele D’Emidio Bennett
Kristen Kettelhut
Assistant Editor
Michael Grillo
Contributing Writers
Dr. Gilda Rorra Baldassari
Rachele D’Emidio Bennett
Michael Grillo
Visual Assistant
Vincent Coccia
Design by Man-Hon Kam
=================
Suggestions, additions, or
terminations please email
barbcocciafoundation@yahoo.com
or call Joseph at 201-712-5512
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Coming in the next issue:
• 2008 Italian Studies
Golf Classic Honoree...
• Winners of Sponsored Scholarships
• Winners of Special Awards
• LILL .... Little Italian
Language Lessons
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Foundation
Italian Studies Golf Classic Continues
(Continued from page 1)
Coccia Foundation members: Gene Santoli, Tom
Liquori, Phil Sergio, and Frank Bimonte.
checking in golfers at the golf course.
Due to no rain at this classic nothing hold these
golfers back.
Founder Joseph Coccia, Jr (c) pictured with
Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano (r) and Dr. Bellavia,
former Coccia Foundation honorees enjoying the
Golf Outings annual casino night.
Joining in the evening’s entertainment was
Carmen Jon.
won a football scholarship to Villanova
University and played quarterback for the
Wildcats for three years. Not long after Bellotti
decided that education was where he wanted to
stay and went back to his alma mater, St.
Joseph’s Boys HS, 1970 – 78, until he became
principal of St. Joseph’s Elementary School in
Union City.
As VP of the Independent College Fund,
2007 Coccia Foundation Honoree Gerry Bellotti
he brings more than 20 years of fundraising
and
wife Joan Marie.
experience to ICFNJ. He served at Fairleigh
Dickinson as director of alumni affairs and
athletic fundraising. Prior to FDU, he was
alumni director of Saint Peter’s Prep in NJ.
While at Saint Peter’s, he created the
development office which, during his tenure,
boasted a 42% annual fund participation rate
and raised over $750,000 annually. Billotti was
inducted into the Prep Legends (Prep’s highest
honor) in November 2005. Bellotti earned a BS
in economics from Villanova University in 1967
Joan Marie Bellotti (r), wife of honoree, after
and earned his principal certification from
being presented with flowers by Coccia
Jersey City State College, now Jersey City
University. He serves on the Advisory Board of Foundation Co-Founder Elda Coccia and
daughter, Elisa Coccia, Foundation Trustee.
St. Joseph’s HS.
Gerry is married to Joan Marie and has
resided in Rutherford for the last 25 years. The
couple have four children: Mary Vito and her
husband Andrew of Towaco, NJ, who have
four children; Gregory of Perrineville, NJ and
his wife Lisa, with two children; Christine
Palumbo, her husband Joseph and one child of
Nutley, NJ; and Jean Marie of Rutherford, NJ.
After presenting Bellotti with his award, Coccia
Foundation officers invited their guests to
participate in casino gaming, a raffle of
Founders Joseph and Elda Coccia’s granddaughter,
beautiful prizes and more. Generous sponsors Nicole, serenading the crowd at the Awards Dinner.
of the event include PSE&G, TD BankNorth,
Heights Medical, Valley National Bank, Sintro
Associates, Bildisco Mfg., Coccia Reality, The
Estate at Florentine Gardens, and Max Berlin.
The goal of the Coccia Foundation’s annual
Golf Classic, as well as of the Foundation’s
various fundraising efforts held throughout the
year, is to aid in furthering the main goal of the
organization: to ensure that the Italian
American Culture lives on through the next
generation in language, culture, art and history.
3
Amici members Anna Rose Ghione and Danielle
Ferrante manned the table where raffle tickets
were sold.
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Page 4
Coccia
Scholarship Fund Capped
NIAF Confernece Attended
Again this year the Coccia Foundation sent over 98 young
adults with a passion for Italian language and culture to the Hilton
Washington Towers in Washington DC host of the 32nd annual
National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) conference and gala
weekend. All of those in attendance are members of one of the 20
Amici della Cultura Italiana Clubs, the Coccia Foundation’s group
of young adult Italian Clubs throughout the country.
Amici della Cultura Italiana members could choose from an
array of conferences and seminars to attend beginning at 8 am
Friday morning. Members attended everything from a luncheon
and auction hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, to seminars on the
importance of the Italian American vote, and gelato making
demonstrations by gelato makers from Italy at the Piazza d’Italia, a
show case of Italian goods and services.
“One of my favorite parts of the NIAF weekend was strolling
through the Piazza d’Italia and sampling the delicious Italian
delicacies handed out by the Italian specialty shops, meeting with
the Italian dignitaries present, and of course, speaking Italian,” said
Marisa Bianco, Vice President of the Amici Club at New Jersey’s
Montclair State University.
Saturday began bright and early with the Youth Networking
Breakfast, Amici members mingled with a host of professionals
and young adults who share their love of Italian culture. NIAF’s
Italian Teacher of the Year award was given to Peter LoIacono at
the breakfast, where inspirational speeches were given by football
greats Vince Papale and Dick Vermeil. For Matthew Garcia, an
aspiring Italian teacher attending Rutgers University, and Football
enthusiast, this was the highlight of the weekend, “To see a teacher
who has inspired students to love the Italian language and culture
like Mr. LoIacano is a great inspiration to me, and the chance to
meet Dick Vermeil and Vince Papale was also very exciting.”
Later in the evening was the NIAF Youth Gala, which
coincided with the main gala in the next room. Amici members
had the chance to meet Italian American luminaries honored at the
Gala including Rudy Giuliani, Nancy Pelosi, Maria Bartiromo,
Martin Scorsese, Ellen Pompeo, Susan Lucci, and Gina
Lollobrigida.
“As an economics major, it was great to meet financial reporter
Maria Bartiromo and, of course, as an Italian American I was
honored to meet two high ranking Italian American politicians,”
said Roberto Casale, President of the Amici Club at Rutgers
University, New Brunswick. After enjoying the sumptuous dinner
and dancing, Amici members joined many of the others in
attendance in the lounge to sing Italian songs late into the evening.
The Amici members, all of whom study Italian at their
respective universities, are grateful to the Coccia Foundation and its
supporters for giving them the opportunity to see Italian language
and culture alive and thriving here in America.
Michael Grillo
Coccia Foundation representatives present capping gift to the members of the
Queensboro, NY UNICO Chapter.
Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr. announced that the Coccia Foundation is a
supporter of Hofstra University’s Distinguished Professorship of
Italian American Studies, which was created by the Queensboro
Chapter of UNICO National in an effort to preserve a positive
perception of Italian American culture for Hofstra students. The
Professorship will be dedicated at the Hofstra Campus in Hempstead,
Long Island.
“In our continuing effort to support Italian studies programs and
the preservation of Italian culture for young people, I am proud to be a
sponsor of the Distinguished Professorship at Hofstra. A collective
understanding of the contributions of Italy and Italians to American
society is a vital element in the effort to maintain pride in the Italian
American community for future generations,” says Cav. Coccia,
Founder of the Coccia Foundation.
UNICO is the largest Italian American service organizations in
the United States, comprised of over 125 chapters nationwide, one of
its primary goals is to establish Italian American Studies programs at
universities and colleges throughout the country. The Queensboro
Chapter is the first UNICO chapter to establish such a program alone.
In 2004, the project was conceived of by then Chapter President
Salvatore Mendolia and Lou DiRico, a member of UNICO National’s
Italian Studies Committee.
Over the next three years, Queensboro UNICO raised funds to
benefit the Italian American Studies Professorship. Cav. Coccia, a Past
National President of UNICO, offered the aid of the Coccia
Foundation by serving as a mentor during the project. The Coccia
Foundation also donated “the final $5,000” needed to make the
Professorship a reality.
The Italian American Studies Professorship is chaired by
Queensboro UNICO 2nd Vice President Frank Fabrico and will be
completed under the leadership of current Queensboro President
Joseph Corsini, who has been an active supporter of the project from
the very beginning.
“There’s a saying that ‘the measure of success is the legacy you
leave behind’, that legacy will reside at Hofstra University for
generations to come,” Fabrico said.
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4
Pictures on Page 5.
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Foundation
Amici della Cultura Italiana at
NIAF in Washington
Amici della Cultura Italiana members take a
moment from their busy NIAF Youth
Conference schedule to pose with Founder
Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr.
5
Page 5
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Page 6
Coccia
ITALIAN STUDIES SUMMIT HELD
AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
On November 16 and 17, an event was held at Clemson
University that may very well change the way Italian language,
culture, history, music, literature and cinema are studied and
learned throughout the Upstate of South Carolina and the
surrounding region. Clemson University’s Italian Studies faculty
convened a “Summit” of prominent Italian Studies faculty
from across the country, National
Italian American Foundation
leadership, and interested members
of the community and academy to
discuss ways that Clemson may
take its Italian Studies program to
the “next level”.
Participating in the Summit
were Clemson’s own Dr.
Constancio Nakuma, Chair of the
Department of Languages; Dr.
Barbara Zaczek, Professor of
Italian; Dr. Luca Barattoni,
Lecturer of Italian; Dr. Thomas
Kuehn, Chair of the Department
of History; Dan Nadenicek, Chair
of the Department of Planning
and Landscape Architecture; Dr.
Andrew Levin, Associate
Professor of Music and Conductor of the Clemson University
Symphony Orchestra; Rob Porter, Director of Development
for the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities and
several Clemson students from the Italian Studies program.
Also participating were Dr. Anthony Tamburri, Dean of
the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute of Queens
College of the City University of New York; Dr. Rosetta
D’Angelo, Professor of Italian at Ramapo College in New
Jersey; Dr. Christine Ristaino, Coordinator of Italian first year
classes and Teacher Training at Emory University; Dr. Dino
Cervigni, Professor of Italian and Comparative Literature at
the University of North Carolina Chapel-Hill; John Marino,
Managing Director, Government Relations and Public Policy,
National Italian American Foundation; and Paul Abenante,
former CEO of the American Bakers Association.
Clemson University takes its role in expanding the reach of
its Italian program very seriously. It not only aims to reach
more students on campus but also strives to impact the
surrounding community and the state’s secondary school
education, as well as link other universities and resources
together to formulate the best program that it can possibly be.
Simply stated, Clemson aspires to become a national leader in
advancing Italian language, culture, and history. And to think
this is happening in South Carolina – not exactly where one
would think this would be taking place!
The summit provided an excellent forum for discussing
ideas, formulating a strategy, and determining the next step for
accomplishing these goals.
None of this creative energy and dreams for the Italian
program would have been possible if
not for the support, inspiration and
leadership displayed by the Coccia
Foundation and Institute. Joseph
Coccia, Jr., his Board, and colleagues
have been enablers from the time they
first met the team at Clemson and have
been the most responsible for the
events leading up to the Summit.
“We believe that this was the firstever attempt to do anything of this
nature anywhere in the country,” said
Clemson’s Rob Porter. “Everyone who
participated came away energized and
inspired to do what they can to help
Clemson achieve this status. It was also
a way to share ideas of programs and
processes that can assist the other
schools represented at the summit.”
For more information on the Summit or if you are
interested in joining this group for future meetings and
discussions, please contact Dr. Barbra Zaczek at 864-656-3538
or bzaczek@clemson.edu.
Foundation Newsletter
6
Trustee Ralph Contini, NJ News 12 anchor Janine Strafaci (holding
newsletter) with Founders Cav. Joseph Jr. and Dr. Elda Coccia.
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Foundation
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Page 7
Coccia Foundation
Unveils Banner
Westchester Community
College
Coccia Foundation Co-Founder Dr. Elda Coccia and daughter, Trustee
Elisa Coccia, pose with the new Coccia Foundation banner at the Mercer
County Italian Festival in September.
Dr. Carlo Sclafani, Director of the Italian Program at the
Community College, and Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr. hold Stephen
J. Spignesi’s book, “The Italian 100”.
Focus on Sicily
Calandra
Institute
Born in Stamford, CT
(1949), ANTHONY JULIAN
TAMBURRI is dean of the John
D. Calandra Italian American
Institute and Professor of Italian
and Comparative Literature.
He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California,
Berkeley. He has held numerous administrative positions at
various universities nationwide. He is co-director of
Bordighera Press, past president of the American Italian
Historical Association and president-elect of the American
Association of Teachers of Italian.
His books include: Italian/American Short Films &
Music Videos. (2002) and Narrare altrove: diverse segnalature
letterarie (2007). He is also the new executive producer of
Italics, The Italian American TV Magazine.
Attendees at the Focus on Sicily held at Ellis Island are: Cav. Angelo
Morresi, Cav. Dr. Robert Freda, Cav. Mario Marano, Cav. Paul Di
Gaetano, and Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr.
Seton Hall University
Sightseeing
Excursion
Jennifer Alamia, Coccia
Foundation Study Abroad Award
recipient and former Vice
President of the Amici della
Cultura Italiana Club at Farleigh
Dickinson University, Madison
Campus enjoying a day in Pisa.
7
Representatives of a number of Italian American organzations joined forces to
make the Seton Hall Scholarship Night a success. In front, l-r, are: Michael
Genevrino, Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr., Joseph Quascione, Dr. Elda Coccia,
Pasquale Meola, guest, Dr. William Connell, Nick Vecchio and Charlie Alberto.
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Page 8
Coccia
ITALIAN COMMISSION LAUNCHES STATEWIDE
HERITAGE CURRICULUM
The Universality of Italian Heritage curriculum takes
teachers and students on a journey seldom traveled in the
realm of education. On 2 January 2007, all New Jersey county
and public school superintendents received a packet,
complete with a program CD, for integrating the new
curriculum.
This exciting and enriching educational tool was developed
by the Curriculum Development Committee of the New
Jersey Italian and Italian American Heritage Commission (the
first in the nation). It consists of a Curriculum Infusion Model
whereby Italian content is integrated into existing curricula
from kindergarten through
senior high school.
Italian Americans comprise
the largest ethnic group in New
Jersey, yet their voice is not
typically reflected in state or
national curricula. Students and
community are ceaselessly
exposed to negative stereotypes
of people of Italian heritage in
the media. New Jersey is the first
state to enact legislation to
combat the negativity and to
promote the myriad
contributions of Italian heritage
throughout the world.
Former Department of
Education (DOE) Commissioner of Education Dr. William
Librera generously shared two of his staff to serve on the
Curriculum Development Committee. Dr. Kevin Brady was
the curriculum writer. The committee is Chaired by this author
(a former NJDOE Director of the Office of Equal
Educational Opportunity).
The document is designed to infuse the contributions,
history, and achievement of Italian cultural heritage throughout
all curricular areas. Each lesson meets the DOE Core
Curriculm Content Standards and assessment requirements.
The content is informed by the classical period of Rome
to the present, including materials on Italian American history
in New Jersey. The lesson plans are divided into grades K-5
8
By Gilda Rorro Baldassari, Ed.D.
and 6-12, spanning a broad range of topics from Pinocchio to
Palladio.
On studying Pinocchio, students focus on the significance
of telling the truth and accepting responsibility. Pupils are
introduced to masters of the Renaissance via Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles: Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and
Raphael.
Romulus and Remus, the founding myth of ancient Rome,
contrasts stories of sibling rivalry in ancient Greece, Ireland,
and Israel. The destructive nature of sibling rivalry is
examined with strategies for easing tensions and developing
approaches to negotiating
settlements.
Middle and high school
students investigate episodes of
prejudice toward Italians and
other ethnic groups in the
United States.
The curriculum reveals the
profound influence of the
Italian architect Palladio on
Thomas Jefferson. Of great
significance to the founding of
our nation, Jefferson viewed as
political virtues the Italian use of
symmetry and order in
architecture, music, art, and law.
In sum, this curriculum
introduces the student to the great depth and richness of
Italian culture.
Each year, the committee develops new lesson plans. In
the 2007-08 school year, a new unit on Italians and the
Holocaust was finalized and was distributed in cooperation
with the New Jersey Holocaust Commission. The
Commission reached out to the Executive Director of the
Holocaust Commission, Dr. Paul Winkler, to collaborate
jointly to ensure extended outreach for this significant topic.
Achievement of Italian and Italian American Women
lessons are added for this school year. The documents include
women from the fifteenth century to the present day.
(Continued on page 10)
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Page 9
Foundation
9
Coccia Foundation Founders Cav. Joseph and Dr. Elda Coccia.
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Page 10
Coccia
Coccia Foundation Creates
Three New Scholarships
— NJ College Students to Benefit —
Attending NJ Heritage convoction are. Italian Intern Manuella Guiffre, Cav.
Joseph and Elda Coccia, Ralph Contini and Dr. Eileen L. Poiani.
(Continued from page 8)
The Commission is fortunate this year to have three quintessential
educator volunteers to assist in the statewide implementation of the
curriculum. They are the following:
Vito Gagliardi, Ed.D., Former
Commissioner of Education.
Ray Yannuzzi, Ph.D., President,
Camden County College.
Frederick L. Cappello, Dean,
Division of School and Community
Academic Programs.
The Commission would appreciate support from the Italian and Italian
American communities to provide meaningful, lasting implementation of
the curriculum. At last, we have an educationally outstanding document that
accurately reflects our heritage. We urge you to contact your local school
board and/or superintendent to ensure that the Italian cultural legacy be
passed on to this and future generations.
Copies of the curriculum can be downloaded at www.njitalia.nj.gov.
Go to "Resources" and click on "Curriculum."
Also available on this site is the AMICIZIA (Friendship) Program,
which is a pen-pal project between students in Italy and New Jersey.
Corresponding with counterparts in Italy gives our students insight into the
Italy of today.
For details on the Commission, call: 732.932.0670 or send an e-mail to
Executive Director Mary Ann Re, Ph.D., at maryannre@iahi.rutgers.edu.
Caldwell College
New Jersey Italian and
Italian American Heritage
CommissionExecutive
Director Mary Ann Re,
Ph.D., greets Garibaldi’s
granddaughter Anita at
Caldwell College.
10
Three new scholarships in the amount of $2,000
each have been established at New Jersey universities
by the Coccia Foundation, with the support of three
prominent Italian American families for whom the
endowments will be named.
“These three scholarships will aid students who
wish to further their higher education in pursuit of
their chosen careers. This new initiative is offered in
addition to other Coccia Foundation programs at
various universities throughout the metropolitan
area,” says Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr., Founder.
The three new scholarships to be initiated are:
The Nicastro Family Scholarship at Seton Hall
University in South Orange; The Manzetti Family
Scholarship at Montclair State University in
Montclair; and the Bimonte Family Scholarship at
Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Madison Campus.
Each of the three new scholarships will be
presented annually to an exceptional student who
wishes to further his or her education in a particular
field. The scholarship requirements will be designed
by faculty members from each university, who will
also select the recipients on a yearly basis.
The creation of the Nicastro, Manzetti, and
Bimonte Scholarships bolster the Coccia
Foundation’s efforts to promote higher and
continuing education among emerging adults, with
an ultimate goal of guiding these future leaders to
exhibit pride in their work, their values, and their
heritage as they become dynamic, prosperous
members of society. For more information on these
scholarships, visit www.coccia.org
Through the creation of scholarships, study
abroad programs, and cultural events, as well as
though the establishment of associations and
alliances between students, the Coccia Foundation
strives to develop and foster long-term relationships
between young people and society as a whole. The
Foundation’s programs aid these emerging adults as
they enter society with a sense of pride in their
heritage and with goals to continue the mission of
the Foundation as they embark on their adult lives.
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Page 11
Foundation
Hackensack UNICO Honors Contini
Author Anthony di Perno (center) presenting
his book "Adventures of Garibaldi" to Great
Granddaughter Anita Garibaldi as Great
Grandson looks on.
The Hackensack Chapter of UNICO
National honored Ralph A. Contini during
its annual Christopher Columbus Day
celebration at Columbus Park in
Hackensack.
Contini was presented with the
Christopher Columbus Distinguished
Community Service award at the 36th
annual celebration.
Contini has served as a past officer of
UNICO National, holding the position of
National Auditor for many years, as well as
District Governor and Eastern Regional
District Governor Chair.
He is a member of the Community
Advisory Board of the New Jersey Italian
American Heritage Commission. Contini is
the founding sponsor of a gubinatorial
proclamation designating October as Italian
Heritage Month in New Jersey.
Mr. Contini is also a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Coccia
Foundation.
Coccia Foundation Trustee Contini poses
with family, friends, and dignitaries at the
Columbus Day event.
LANZA INSTITUTE SCHOLARSHIP
The Mario Lanza Institute is very
happy to announce that the Coccia
Foundation has continued its partnership
with the Institute in its mission to keep
Mario Lanza’s dream alive by helping
young singers and has sponsoring the
$1,500 THIRD PLACE SCHOLARSHIP
AWARD IN THIS YEAR’S
COMPETITION.
The preliminaries of the competition
were conducted in Philadelphia during
the third week in October with the finals
taking place at the annual Mario Lanza
Ball at the Double Tree Hotel also in
Philadelphia. The scholarships were
awarded at the conclusion of the
evening.
Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr. and his wife
Elda founded the Coccia Foundation in
1994 with a mission to preserve, educate,
and promote awareness of the rich and
colorful Italian heritage. Since 2000, the
Foundation has intensified its efforts by
working with students in colleges,
universities, and with high school
students through the granting of
scholarships, grants and sponsorship of
many Italian events. With its sponsorship
of Mario Lanza Institute scholarships
this year and in 2006, the Foundation
expanded its list of activities to include
opera.
This year’s Mario Lanza Ball, the
46th annual event, has grown to an entire
weekend of festivities. It is a fundraiser
conducted by the Mario Lanza Institute
for its scholarship fund. To date, the
Institute has awarded over 200
scholarships since its inception in 1961.
Some of the more recent winners
include: Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego
Florez and James Valenti.
11
MSU Student Awarded
President Anna Rose Ghione of
the Amici della Cultura Italiana
Club at Montclair State receives
a scholarship from the
Federation of Italian American
Societies of New Jersey for her
dedication to the promotion of
the Italian culture and language.
With Anna Rose are Coccia
Foundation Founder Cav.
Joseph Coccia, Jr. and President
Pasquale Meola of the
Federation of Italian American
Societies of New Jersey.
Traditions: Through the
Generations
Cav. Joseph Coccia, Jr. just finishing the
traditional “tutza testa” with greatgrandson Michael Forte.
Coccia Foundation newsletter Winter2007_Jan24.qxp:Document June1.qxd
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Page 12
Coccia
University of Pennsylvania
Newsletter Responses
Congratulations for publishing the best Newsletter thus far,
in my humble opinion. The choice of topics and information
was superb.
Of special interest to me was John Perrella’ s article on
Angelo Patri. I was born and raised in that area of the Bronx
and even went to JHS for one year. I remember my mother
telling me how proud and blessed the community was that
we had such a great educator in Angelo Patri.
Tante Grazie,
Phil Sergio
Receiving the latest issue of the Foundation newsletter
prompts me to write to you, which I have been planning to
do for some time.
I see you have Barbara as the newsletter editor. She
should be very good for the publication. The issue has some
very impressive material on all that the Foundation is doing. I
was speaking to a high school teacher recently who tells me
Italian is flourishing in his school, though it has been offered
only these past two or three years.
I can provide profiles on notable Italian Americans if
copy is needed.
Cos Ferrara
Prof. Fabio Finotti, Italian Studies Chair at the University of Pennsylvania,
receives a $10,000 check from Ralph A. Contini, Trustee of the Coccia Foundation,
at the University’s 4th annual Joseph and Elda Coccia Centennial Celebration
Conference, “Italian Literature Between Philology and Theory”.
The Fourth Annual Joseph and Elda Coccia Centennial
Celebration Conference took place on Friday, November
30th and Saturday, December 1st at the Center for Italian
Studies at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
The conference, entitled, “Inventing History: Italian
Literature between Philology and Theory” commemorated
the centenary of Nobel Laureate Giosue Carducci (18351907) and examined the role of philology in Italian and
European civilization. Fourteen distinguished speakers came
from ten universities from across both the United States and
Italy to participate, making this conference an occasion for
an international collaboration between colleagues in fields as
diverse as Italian Studies, Classics, History, Religious Studies,
and Politics.
In funding this event, the Coccia Foundation
demonstrated its interest in examining the Italian influence
in its most prolific forms. Philology has been the foundation
for a modern science, politics, and even religion based on
experience rather than authority. The Conference has
brought to light, therefore, the role of Italian tradition in
shaping the History of Western Civilization. The audience
responded enthusiastically to the lectures of the speakers,
generating animated discussion throughout both the days of
the Conference. The proceedings will be published,
spreading the Conference and the name of the Coccia
Foundation all over the world.
Fabio Finotti Lorenzo Valterza
Director Assistant Director
Center for Italian Studies
University of Pennsylvania
1/30/08
Did You Know ?
12
Espresso was invented in
1903 by Luigi Bezzera, owner of
a manufacturing business. Mr.
Bazzera longed to find a way to
brew coffee faster. Investing his
time after work one day, he added
pressure to the coffee brewing
process, reducing brewing time.
The machine he later introduced
was termed the “Fast Coffee
Machine,” which is where the word espresso (fast) comes
from. Not only did his machine reduce brewing time, but it
also made a better cup of coffee. The quick brewing time
allowed the best qualities of the bean to be extracted,
avoiding some of the unfavorable qualities associated with
over-extraction. Bezzera, however, was not successful in
marketing the machine due to his lack of money.
Desidero Pavoni bought the rights to the espresso machine
patent in 1905 and successfully introduced espresso to the
Italian market. Photographs from the turn of the century
depict Pavoni being served coffee at cafes all over Italy.
Pavoni revolutionized the way Italians, and much of the
world, drinks coffee.
Coccia Foundation newsletter Winter2007_Jan24.qxp:Document June1.qxd
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10:56 AM
Page 13
Foundation
Amici della Cultura Italiana Say Grazie Mille
Spero che tutto vada bene. I want to
thank the Coccia Foundation for awarding
me a scholarship so that I could study
abroad in Urbino, Italy. I took Italian 101
and 102 because I only knew the
Molfetesse dialect (my parent’ s dialect),
which is completely different from standard
Italian.
I learned a lot and had a wonderful
time. I was able to go down to Molfetta
and see my family, I went to my cousin’ s
wedding, who had his reception at the same
place my parents had theirs, and met my
grandmother for only the second time in
my life.
Grazie Mille!
Paul deRobertis
NJIT Italian Club President
An Amici della Cultura Italiana Club
It is with immense gratitude I extend
my thanks to you. Thanks to the generosity
of people like you, our careers as students
become a pleasant road to success.
I recently took the OPI exam (Oral
Proficiency in Italian) required by the state
in order to receive my certification as an
Italian teacher, and, all honor and glory to
God, I passed it.
Thanks again for your support. May
God Bless you and allow you to continue
sponsoring other students. It really pays to
study Italian!!
Karelia Tejada
Montclair State
Amici della Cultura Italiana Club
I was one of the students chosen
to receive a scholarship to study abroad
in Urbino this summer, and I’ m very
excited!
I would like to thank you and the
Coccia Foundation for helping and
supporting the Rutgers Italian Club
(RICCA) and making it possible for
students to have the amazing
experience to study.
I have had so much fun and met so
many friends since joining the Amici
della Cultura Italiana Club at Rutgers.
I am majoring in Italian and I’ d
like to become an Italian teacher; going
to Italy this summer to study will help
me improve my speaking skills. I really
cannot wait.
Grazie,
Gina Montalto
Thank you so much for your
Foundation’ s contribution to the
Italian program at Clemson University,
South Carolina. This summer, I will be
using the Study Abroad Scholarship to
study at the University of Urbino.
During my six weeks in Italy, I will
take two Italian conversation classes
and spend my weekends visiting other
Italian cities. The scholarship has been
very helpful in making this trip a reality.
Grazie!
Allison Atkins
Clemson University Italian Club
13
Dear Mr. Coccia, Mr. Sergio, and
members of the Coccia Foundation,
This past May, I applied for a
scholarship to study abroad in Italy this
summer, in hopes of being able to afford
what seemed like an almost intangible
experience. A short time after, with much
help from Mr. Sergio in the application
process, I was thrilled and honored to find
out that I had been chosen as a recipient
for a $1,000 scholarship.
One month later, I boarded a plane
to Bologna, Italy to begin what would be
an unforgettable experience and the trip
of a lifetime. I had no idea what to
expect, and was quite nervous about being
away from home for such a long period of
time. When I disembarked the plane and
took my first steps in Italy, I never looked
back.
I absolutely loved being on my own
and learned so much about myself and
another culture. I was able to apply all of
the Italian language skills I had learned at
Ramapo, along with learning many new
ones. My interactions and relationships
that I formed with the people there will
stay with me forever.
I am very grateful to the Coccia
Foundation for granting me this
opportunity of a lifetime. I have
undoubtedly become more mature,
adaptive, and culturally aware as a result of
this trip. I cannot thank you enough.
-Matthew Sullivan, Ramapo college
chapter of Amici della Cultura Italiana
President, Amici della Cultura Italiana of
Ramapo University
Coccia Foundation newsletter Winter2007_Jan24.qxp:Document June1.qxd
Sunshine Foundation
Coccia Foundation Co-Founder Dr. Elda Coccia
presents a check to the President of the Mercer
County Sunshine Foundation, Cathy DiCostanzo.
During the Mercer County Italian Festival,
the Sunshine Foundation was positioned
across the way from the Coccia
Foundation booth. Curious, we went over
to find out more about it.
It is the original wish granting
organization, but now functions as a
foundation for children suffering from a
rare aging disease known as Progeria.
These children age 8-10 years for
every one of the average person. Three
times a year the Sunshine Foundation
takes about 100 special children to spend a
day at the Magic Kingdom in Disney
World.
They also have nine cottages in
Florida called Sunshine's Dream Village.
Each cottage has its own theme. They
offer these facilities to the children and
their families while visiting Disney World.
They also have an annual reunion where
they can be with other children like
themselves, and have a chance to feel
"normal."
Proverb
“Cour forte rompe cattiva
sorte.”
Nothing is impossible to
a willing heart.
1/30/08
10:56 AM
Page 14
Coccia
Italian Heritage Luncheon
At Luzerne County Community College are:
College President Thomas P. Leary,
Scholarship Recipient Matthew Kizis, Cav.
Joseph Coccia, Jr., and Phil Sergio.
The Italian Heritage Scholarship
luncheon was held at Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel Parish Center, Pittston, PA, with
over 100 guests in attendance. The
guests enjoyed a traditional Italian lunch
of dried cured cold cuts, aged cheeses,
tuna in olive oil, porkette, hot peppers,
anchovies, artichoke hearts, sliced
oranges with olive oil, crusty Italian
bread, and sumptuous desserts.
Matthew Kizis, the recipient of the
2007 Italian Scholarship, shared his
experiences and photos of the six weeks
he spent in Italy this summer studying
Italian culture and language.
Many American college students of
Italian heritage have not experienced the
beauty of the Italian language and the
grandeur of Italian culture. It’s
important to experience one’s ancestry
and heritage. One key to being a proud
Italian American is to learn Italian and
to experience and appreciate the rich and
vibrant Italian culture such as art, music,
history, food, architecture and literature.
The Luzerne County Community
College Italian Heritage Scholarship is
awarded each year to a student of Italian
ancestry who demonstrates interest and
commitment to learn the Italian
language and culture of Italy.
Ex. Dir. LCCC Peter J. Lello
(The Coccia Foundation is
a participating sponsor of
this scholarship.)
Resourse for Italian Majors
Kara Pontrelli, a 2006 Rutgers University
graduate and founding Executive Board
member of the Amici della Cultura
Italiana Club at Rutgers, knew she
wanted a career using her minor in
Italian but was not sure where to begin
looking. “I have a passion for Italian but
was not sure if teaching or translating
jobs were the right fit for me, right now.”
14
said Pontrelli. Ms. Pontrelli began doing
research and came across a company
called Bilingual Rescores.
Bilingual Rescores is a leading firm
focused on providing high caliber
bilingual candidates for multinational
corporations. The Bilingual Rescores
website is available for use by both
people searching for jobs and employers.
In addition to perspective employers
searching the site for qualified applicants,
Bilingual Rescores career counselors seek
the paramount employee/employer
relationship for their clients.
Within a few weeks of posting her
resume, Pontrelli landed a job working at
the Ferrari/Maserati showroom in
Manhattan.
“I have always wanted to work in
the city and my job at Ferrari/Maserati
affords me the opportunity to work in
the business world while utilizing my
background in the Italian language and
culture,” stated Pontrelli.
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Page 15
Foundation
Joseph and Elda Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America
2008 Spring Program Schedule
Montclair State University
Monday, February 25, 2008 – University Hall Conference Center, 6 – 8 PM
Annual Italian Cultural Heritage Anniversary Program
Italian Opera selections presented by
international conductor Maestro Fernando Raucci. With vocalists from The NJ Opera, The Metropolitan and New York Opera
Company.. In collaboration with The John R. Cali School of Music **
Friday, March 7, 2008 – University Hall Room 1020, 1 – 2:30 PM
Lecture and presentation, “The Influence and Themes of Italian Culture in English
and American Literature” Guest Speaker, Professor Emeritus of English Robert Lorenzi of Camden County
College. In collaboration with the English Dept. of Montclair State University **
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 – Student Center, 9AM – 3PM
Annual Student Heritage Celebration and Symposium – State wide New Jersey
High school students
of the Italian language - present interpretations of a wide range of topics relating to the culture, heritage, current events and
history of Italy. In collaboration with the Italian Teachers Association of New Jersey.
Monday, April 17, 2008 – Cohen Lounge, 8AM – 2PM
K – 12 Teacher Training hosted by The Coccia Institute for “The Universality of
sponsored curriculum project of NJ Italian and Italian American Heritage Commission.
Italian Heritage” the official state
Tuesday April 29, 2008 – University Hall Room 1030, 1 – 2:30 PM
Lecture and presentation: “The Peoples and Cultures of the Italian Peninsula before
Rome” Presented by Dr. Corey Brennen of Rutgers University in cooperation with the Montclair State University History
department. In collaboration with History Department of Montclair State University **
Fall 2008 – Montclair State University – Date and Time to Be Announced
Italian Language Instructional Methods and Materials Seminar Workshop.
A professionally developed review and call for papers of the most effective and current methods and
materials available for the teaching of the Italian language.
** These programs are provided by the Coccia Institute as a co-sponsor of the 2008 spring semester
“Italian Festival of the Arts and Humanities – An Italian Sense of Place: Land and Identity”
For further information visit: www.montclair.edu.coccia/
15
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Page 16
Coccia Foundation
Gli Studenti in Italia
Coccia Foundation
"preserving Italian culture"
Foundation Office
23 Leswing Avenue
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
Benvenuti...
To our AMICI and supporters.
Thank you for bringing our rich Italian
Culture and Heritage into your home.
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