L'Italo-Americano

Silicon Valley. This hub will b e h o m e t o I t a l i a n b u s i n e s s e s , r e s e a r c h e r s , universities, and the Italian C u l t u r a l I n s t i t u t e . I l o o k forward to cheering for it, when the official opening h a p p e n s i n t h e F a l l . O n e more joyful memory is the 1 5 0 t h I t a l i a n H e r i t a g e Parade in 2018 when, after a l l d i f f i c u l t i e s r e l a t e d t o C o l u m b u s D a y , w e c o u l d p r o u d l y c e l e b r a t e t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f I t a l i a n - Americans to this country. What is your proudest accomplishment from these past five years? W h a t m a d e m e v e r y happy was the opportunity to a n n o u n c e P r e s i d e n t Mattarella to the community at the Fairmont Hotel. It was i n c r e d i b l e t o s e e p e o p l e s m i l i n g a t m e a n d b e i n g excited. Additionally, the R e f e t t o r i o o f M a s s i m o Bottura opened on June 7th, a place to host individuals and families in need, give them a meal and a network of people. Bottura's NGO, Food for Soul, comes to San Francisco, second place in the US after New York City, to help and give hope to locals in need. Last but not least, I am also very proud of the work Sheila and I did to restore the courtyard of the Consulate: with the pizza o v e n a n d t h e k i t c h e n , w e h o p e e v e r y o n e i n t h e community will be able to enjoy this little jewel. As you look back, is there anything you wish y o u c o u l d h a v e d o n e differently or you wish it had a different outcome? A f t e r I s a w N o r w e g i a n and AirItaly launching direct f l i g h t s t o I t a l y , I w a s supposed to cut the ribbon of a Rome-SFO Alitalia flight in J u n e 2 0 2 0 . W i t h t h e p a n d e m i c , a l l n e w connections were frozen and t h e p r o j e c t c a n c e l l e d , however I hope it'll come back on the table some time soon. In the last year of your mandate, the pandemic has changed the way we live both as individuals and as a community. As w e c o m e c l o s e r t o t h e end of it, what made a d i f f e r e n c e i n t h i s community? I a m v e r y p r o u d o f t h e Italians in the Bay Area and how they came together as a community. I saw restaurant o w n e r s b a t t l i n g a g a i n s t difficult times, yet cooking food for health workers and f i r s t r e s p o n d e r s . T h o s e s t o r i e s a r e m o v i n g a n d inspiring, they didn't know what would happen to their business, nevertheless they w e r e w i l l i n g t o s u p p o r t others. Also, ICS prepared hundreds of warm meals and b o x e s f o r e l d e r l y p e o p l e . M a n y w e r e c a l l i n g t h e Consulate to ask how to help - it proved that, in difficult times, Italians can really give their best. T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a C o n s u l m a y c o m e t o g e t h e r w i t h o n e o f family members. In your case, your wife, Sheila, and your children, Sofia and Luca, were with you d u r i n g t h i s j o u r n e y . What's their mood these d a y s ? A n d w h a t ' s t h e biggest memory they'll get of San Francisco? It's sour and sweet. We k n e w w e ' d h a v e t o l e a v e , however five years is a long time. We made friends that we won't be able to see that often. San Francisco is so far from Italy... It's difficult for Sofia and Luca, they were just kids when we came here a n d n o w t h e y ' v e b e c o m e young adults who have to say goodbye to many friends. Now, I'd love to ask a few, quick questions to k n o w w h a t " L o r e n z o " will remember about his time in San Francisco. T h e f i r s t m e m o r y you've of San Francisco. A f t e r w e l a n d e d , s t i l l holding our carry-ons, we w a l k e d d o w n t o t h e Fisherman's Wharf to eat the local cioppino. The last thing you'll do b e f o r e g e t t i n g o n t h e plane! I'll finally take my tie off. The happiest moment o f y o u r t i m e i n S a n Francisco. W h e n I w e l c o m e d President Mattarella who was about to step into the room at the Fairmont Hotel, t o m e e t w i t h m y f e l l o w Italians. The most challenging t h i n g o r m o m e n t t h a t you faced. The pandemic, for sure. My focus those months was to keep my family and staff s a f e w h i l e s e r v i n g t h e community at the best of my possibility. The moment you had the most fun. We organized a night of P i z z i c a d a n c i n g i n t h e courtyard of the Consulate w i t h a l o c a l g r o u p f r o m Puglia. That was lots of fun. The moment you wish y o u c o u l d h a v e l i v e d twice. D u r i n g P r e s i d e n t Mattarella's visit, we crossed a n e m p t y G o l d e n G a t e Bridge, closed for security purposes, on the way to Muir W o o d s t o m e e t G o v e r n o r Newsom. T h e m o s t f a v o r i t e t h i n g a b o u t S a n Francisco. Our walks at Crissy Fields. The favorite tradition you got to discover that you really enjoyed? Celebrating Thanksgiving in America. The favorite place you v i s i t e d w h i l e l i v i n g i n California. Yosemite Park. The thing you dislike about San Francisco. I t ' s t o o f a r a w a y f r o m Rome and Italy. T h e t h i n g y o u w i l l definitely not miss. The cold summers. T h e t h i n g y o u w i s h you could take with you to Italy. The Golden Gate Bridge! Consul General Ortona cuts the ribbon for AirItaly's flight to Milan (Photo: Peter Biaggi SFO) THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 www.italoamericano.org 30 L'Italo-Americano During his time in California, Consul Ortona has been fully engaged and involved in a community he immediately fell in love with and that loved him back. Consul Ortona with his family, wife Sheila Pierce, daughter Sophia and son Luca, during one of their trips together (Photo: Lorenzo Ortona) SAN FRANCISCO ITALIAN COMMUNITY Continued from page 28

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