The kickoff event for the 2014 Cleveland Italian American Heritage Month took place in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall on October 4, 2014. The recognition ceremony was sponsored by the Cleveland Italian American Heritage Committee with Mayor Frank Jackson and Cleveland Councilman Matt Zone serving as Honorary Co-Chairs.

Matt Zone

Councilman Zone welcomed the crowd to the celebration and introduced Father Richard Rasch from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish for the invocation.

Father Richard Rasch gives invocation

Then Andrea Anelli of Opera per Tutti sang both the Italian and US national anthems.

Crowd as Andrea Anelli sings national anthem

Councilman Zone introduced Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson who thanked the people who worked so hard to make the event happen. He also praised the diversity of Cleveland and congratulated the Italian community for their contributions.

Mayor Frank Jackson

Italian American Heritage Committee member Rose Zitiello introduced the rest of the committee and also thanked Umberto Fedeli for providing the dinner.

Rose Zitiello

Then Matt Zone introduced Basil Russo, the National President of Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA).

Basil Russo

Three Italian American Heritage Committee Awards were presented. The first was to Connie Sancetta who has been president of the Italian American Cultural Foundation since 2007. She is also secretary of the Cleveland Italian Ancestral Organization and holds other positions as well. She was honored in the Individual category.

Connie Sancetta

Mayor Jackson, Connie Sancetta and Matt Zone

Joe Marinucci was honored next. Joe currently serves as the president and CEO of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. Joseph was born in Giuliano Teatino in Abruzzo Italy and his family migrated to the Little Italy section of Cleveland in 1956. Joe was honored in the Public Service category.

Joe Marinucci

Mayor Jackson, Joe Marinucci and Matt Zone

Italian born artist Marcello Mellino, M.D., was the third honoree. The Consulate of Italy in Detroit is presenting 'Savoring EATalia', an exhibit of Mellino's photographs. Marcello was honored in the Artist category.

Mayor Jackson and Marcello Mellino

Serena Scaiola, Honorary Consul of Italy in Cleveland, said that 5% of Cleveland's population has Italian heritage.

Italian Consul Serena Scaiola

Enjoy these other images from the event.

(As always if we made a mistake with a name or you can help ID someone please
let us know.)

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Is that Christopher Columbus?

Consul Serena Scaiola and ISDA President Basil Russo

Passing bread after dinner

Rose Zitiello, Serena Scaiola and Councilman Dona Brady

Councilman Joe Cimperman and son

Connie Sancetta, Rose Zitiello,
Andrea Anelli and Father Richard Rasch