L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano H ave you ever t h o u g h t a b o u t h o w some people find a place in our lives, and become part of our routines and rhythms, e v e n i f w e ' v e n e v e r m e t them? Their words feel like familiar voices that stay with us through our days. For so m a n y r e a d e r s , i n c l u d i n g myself, Maria Gloria has been one of those voices: week after week, her words were there, like a trusted companion. As I read her stories, I couldn't help but feel a deep connection to her—a connection that reach- es back to the generation of my grandparents, whom I love still, and miss dearly, a n d h e r t a l e s h a v e o f t e n s t i r r e d i n m e t h e s a m e warmth and sense of wonder I felt when I'd sit, wide-eyed, l i s t e n i n g t o t h e m t a l k i n g about their youth and experi- ences. The Italian Connec- tion, Maria Gloria's column, h a s b e e n a f i x t u r e i n o u r paper for 47 years, but now, after so many editions and so many changes – both for L'I- talo Americano and for the world—she has decided it's time to retire. For our editor- ial team, it's a bittersweet moment. We're glad that she can enjoy the time to rest and relax, but we know her presence will be missed on our pages. At the same time, we are certain she'll remain one of our most loyal readers a n d w i l l k e e p s e n d i n g u s ideas and suggestions, or so we hope. Maria Gloria's journey w i t h L ' I t a l o A m e r i c a n o b e g a n b e f o r e I w a s e v e n born, starting in 1977 and continuing for nearly half a century. When I joined the paper in 2016, her column quickly became a part of my weekly rhythm. As an Italian with many American friends, I thought I had a solid grasp of both Italian and US cul- tures; yet, Maria Gloria's col- umn was crucial in helping m e t r u l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e unique history and experi- ences of Italian Americans — s o m e t h i n g I h a d n ' t f u l l y appreciated before. Her writ- i n g o f f e r e d a f r e s h l e n s through which I could view the diaspora and revealed to me what bound this commu- nity together across genera- tions; her words brought their experiences to life and made me connect for the first time to a shared heritage. For someone who loves his- tory like me, her insights were invaluable because they allowed me to see the Italian- American experience not as s o m e t h i n g d i s t a n t b u t a s something close, profound, and resonant. When we sat down with her to discuss her experi- e n c e s a n d t h e l e g a c y s h e l e a v e s b e h i n d , i t w a s a d e l i g h t , n o t o n l y f o r t h e things she told us but also for the clear awareness that she is a precious part of the histo- ry of our paper, she is our "living memory." Reflect- ing on the early years, Maria Gloria recalls how "the Ital- ian papers throughout the US, both religious and pri- vate, were mostly founded in the early part of the 20th century and served as a cru- c i a l m e d i u m f o r I t a l i a n immigrants." These papers, she explained, were lifelines for Italians looking to under- s t a n d t h e i r n e w c o u n t r y while staying connected to their homeland. For Maria Gloria, L'Italo Americano r e p r e s e n t e d a n e s s e n t i a l "platform for discussions on immigration," especially for Italians finding their identity in a foreign land and con- tributing to American soci- ety. Interestingly, she con- f i r m e d t h a t t h e s e p a p e r s were originally written only in Italian and added English sections later — a reflection of the evolving needs and identity of Italian-American readers. Over the years, she's seen m a n y c h a n g e s w i t h i n t h e Italian-American community and in the publication itself. She fondly notes that "many Italian newspapers founded on the East Coast, like in Boston, New Jersey, and New York, in the early 1900s, are still around, published by rel- atives of the founders." Her own paper, L'Italo Ameri- cano, first published in 1908 by the Scalabrini fathers, was meant to help early arrivals settle into their new lives. "In 2 0 0 2 , R o b e r t B a r b e r a b e c a m e p u b l i s h e r , " s h e recalls, marking another shift as the paper continued to grow and adapt. One of her most cherished memories involves her con- n e c t i o n t o t h e N a t i o n a l Italian-American Foun- d a t i o n ( N I A F ) . S h e remembers with pride how Jeno Paolucci's vision for the foundation "took off," bring- ing together Italian-Ameri- cans in a way that was both unifying and empowering. By 1978, the NIAF dinner held a t t h e W a s h i n g t o n , D C Hilton attracted nearly 2,000 guests, including President J i m m y C a r t e r . S h e l o v e d Advancing our Legacy: Italian Community Services CASA FUGAZI If you know of any senior of Italian descent in San Francisco needing assistance, please contact: ItalianCS.org | (415) 362-6423 | info@italiancs.com Italian Community Services continues to assist Bay Area Italian-American seniors and their families navigate and manage the resources needed to live healthy, independent and productive lives. Since Shelter-in-Place began in San Francisco, Italian Community Services has delivered over 240 meals, over 900 care packages and made over 2000 phone wellness checks for our seniors. attending these events, even though it wasn't always pos- sible to do so; on those occa- s i o n s , h e r h u s b a n d , a n d mother-in-law would attend o n h e r b e h a l f w h i l e s h e s t a y e d b a c k t o f u l f i l l h e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t e a c h i n g grade school. But even from afar, she felt the power of that moment. "For me, it has been a joy meeting Italian- Americans throughout the US via groups and conven- tions," she reflects. This joy, she notes, kept her grounded and motivated, even when she couldn't attend every event herself. For Maria Gloria, these gatherings and moments of community unity were the lifeblood of a shared experi- ence. "Both in the US and Canada, there were groups of people with Italian connec- tions, some coming together for the common goods," she says. It was through these connections that she wit- nessed the resilience and vitality of Italian-American culture, and its ability to adapt, grow, and maintain relevance across generations. After so many years of chronicling Italian-American life, Maria Gloria's words still carry the same authen- ticity and warmth that have endeared her to readers. Her dedication to our pages mir- r o r s h e r c o m m i t m e n t t o sharing the stories, chal- lenges, and triumphs of a community she treasures. As she steps back from her role, s h e l e a v e s w i t h a s i m p l e p i e c e o f a d v i c e : " M o v e around more when you're young, as you've got more energy!" It's a reminder to k e e p e n g a g i n g w i t h t h e world, with what interests us, what makes our hearts beat faster. As we say "goodbye" to her column, we're reminded of how one person's voice can shape the way a commu- nity sees itself, and this is why we can say that Maria Gloria's work with L'Italo A m e r i c a n o h a s n o t o n l y chronicled Italian-American history but has also con - tributed a little to it. Her retirement marks the end of an era for us, yet her legacy will remain embedded in the stories she has shared and in the community she has con- nected. We wish her all the best as s h e m o v e s i n t o t h i s n e x t chapter, knowing she has left an indelible mark on both our paper and the readers who have followed her words for decades. Grazie Maria Gloria! Grazie a Maria Gloria, the l i v i n g m e m o r y o f L ' I t a l o Americano FRANCESCA BEZZONE LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE TRADITIONS

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