L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 www.italoamericano.com 16 Dick Marconi: On being Numero Uno Italians celebrate the return of the Swallows If the name Dick Marconi does not ring a bell, then his accom- plishments surely will. Race car driver, humanitarian, artist, and the co-founder of a billion dollar nutrition business. Most would be satisfied in accomplishing one or two of Dick's achievements- but not Dick. For as amazing as this list may be, you get a sense when talking to him that he is ready to do even more in order to make the world a better place in which to live. Richard "Dick" Marconi was born in Gary, Indiana in 1934, one of four children. With an Italian-American father, and his grandparents from the cities of Ancona and San Benedetto del Tronto, Dick grew up hear- ing Italian around the house and enjoying big Sunday gatherings with his aunts, uncles, and cousins. Still today, he cherishes his Italian roots and travels year- ly to Italy with his wife, Bo Growing up with two brothers and a baby sister, Dick has many fond memories: he recalls build- ing a soap box derby car with his brothers, and having his brother, Ray, win the family's first car, a 1951 Chevrolet. Dick also remembers how hard his father, John, worked. In the eleventh grade, Dick's father dropped out of school and worked at a steel mill earning $7.50 a week "The harder you work, the luckier you get," John would tell his chil- dren. Eventually, John's hard work paid off as he eventually became general superintendent, managing thousands of employ- ees. Just like his father, Dick too wanted to become a success story. His mother also had a huge role in Dick's upbringing. She fostered independence, and instilled in Dick the importance of being resilient. When Dick was just twelve, he was involved in a chemical bomb accident that left him completely blind in his left eye and sixty percent deaf in one ear. But this did not stop Dick. He later played varsity football as a quarterback in both highschool and college, and also won the Golden Glove Boxing Championship in Illinois In 1959, Dick took his '54 Chevy and headed to California with a brand new bride, a year old baby, and five hundred dol- lars in his pocket. As soon he set foot in the sun kissed state, Dick sent out a hundred letters he typed out on his Remington to different companies. Soon, he landed a sales position with a pharmaceutical giant. Not only was Dick a tremendous sales- man, but he also possessed busi- ness skills and knew about medi- cine from his pre-med days in college. As he moved his way up the corporate ladder, a thought came to him: "Why do we wait until people get sick before we treat them?" Though this ques- tion would later pave the way for his vitamin and wellness compa- ny, back then, it was not well received in an industry that had based its success on its treatment of diseases. Dick was soon let go. While he began work at anoth- er company, Dick met Mark Hughes, a troubled but brilliant What started 56 years ago in picturesque San Juan Capistrano as a small carnival has now grown into the largest non- motorized parade in the country with more entries than the Rose Parade and over 30,000 parade watchers! The parade cele- brates the return of the swallows with all of the fanfare and excitement a small town can muster for one day. For the past eight years, the Italian entry has become one of the most enthusiastic parade entries. Proud Italian Americans hand carry the Italian, American and California flags followed by the 20 regional flags of Italy. Enough flags to rival the open- ing ceremony of the Olympics!...and that is just the beginning! Pizza tossers, an accordion player, a Sicilian don- key and goats, I bambini Italiani pushed in strollers and decorated wagons, and a horse drawn trol- ley filled with excited flag wav- ing Italian Americans. To keep our entry in order and proper formation, the Legion Six Roman Soldiers march alongside us in full authentic Roman uni- forms. This year's event will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2014. All Italian clubs are welcome to participate and carry their club banners. Over 100 members of Italian clubs from Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego counties participate. In true Italian style, a post parade party will be held at Zoomars Petting Zoo, owned and operated by Carolyn Franks, a spicy Italian from New Jersey who loves promoting and sup- porting all things Italian. The Italian entry represents San Juan Capistrano's Sister City relationship with Capestrano, Italy, which was officially formed in 1999 with the help of the Abruzzesi e Molisani Club of Los Angeles. The original relationship began in 1776 when Fr. Junipero Serra founded the Mission and named it after his favorite saint, San Giovanni da Capestrano. Because it was a Spanish Mission it was given the Spanish name. Ironically, San Giovanni's feast day is celebrated the day he died, October 23rd…the same day as the swallows leave San Juan Capistrano! Dress in Italian colors red, white, and green and come join us to celebrate our Italian her- itage at the Swallow's Day Parade. For more information about the parade, parking etc. go to http://www.swallowsparade.com /parade.aspx. For more informa- tion about participating in the Italian entry and post parade party at Zoomars email vcarabi- ni@cox.net. Vicky Carabini, Ambassador to Capestrano, Italy. Carabini has coordinated the Italian entry for the past eight years. seventeen year old, who despite his troubled past, was one of the most charismatic men Dick had ever met. Wanting to start his own business, Hughes came to Dick one day and said, "I want you to help me." Dick agreed and with his help and guidance, together they would build what would later become Herbalife, a multi billion dollar vitamin and wellness company. A very successful businessman, and with a beautiful wife, a grown son and daughter and five grandchildren, Dick had reached the pinnacle of success, and had brought his mother's words into fruition. "Being second in any- thing," she often said, "is being first in a long line of losers." Dick was no loser. He went on to drive cars (at 60, he was the oldest race car driver at the Long Beach Grand Prix), and purchased and devel- oped a large Tuscan inspired estate with an authorized replica of Michelangelo's la Pietà, miles of lemon trees, and acres of land that house giraffes, zebras, and many other wild ani- mals. The estate is nestled over- looking the hills of San Juan Capistrano. There, he spends time managing his business, and painting in his studio. His abstract art is shown across the southland and even in Italy. He is accredited for the use of a new technique he developed called "Color Fusion" which involves the melding of many kinds of paints. Although his painting is one of his greatest passions, it is his Museum Auto Marconi which is probably one of his greatest gifts to the world. His father often taught Dick that in life, one must "Learn, earn, and return." (This would later become Dick's mantra) The return came into the form of Dick's donation of the land, building, and many millions of dollars worth of cars which includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis' Muscle Cars and Race cars. The Marconis have raised millions for local Orange and L.A.County Children's Charities. Often seen walking around the museum, Dick inspires the children by giving advice in the same fashion as his parents once did with him. "If you want one of these," he says, "you can have one or all. All you have to do is stay off drugs, have a dream, stay at school and work your butt off." GAYA lYNN VICKY CARABINI Dick and Bo Marconi at the Marconi Auto Museum in Tustin, California Feb. 16, Sun.,- Italian Movie Bowers Museum 1:30pm recep- tion/2:00pm screening of Si può fare (We Can Do That) (2008) Italian with English subtitles. For directions and more info go to: http://www.bowers.org/ or call (714) 567-3600. Feb. 27, Thurs.- Ties That Bind: The Folk Roots of Italian Music 7:00pm - 9:00pm Chapman University, Salmon Recital Hall. Alessandro Carrera, Professor of Italian at the University of Houston, will show how the best song writers, popular musicians and classical composers have often incorporated key elements of folk and traditional music in their work. Come learn and sample the folk roots of Italian music. Open to the public. For more information contact: Federico Pacchioni pac- chion@chapman.edu Mar. 1, Sat.- Ballo in Maschera Carnevale (Mardi Gras) Dinner Dance - 6:30pm Mesa Verde Country Club. Reservations on or before February 24th. $45 per person. For more info contact: marioguardi@cox.net or (949)533-9272. Mesa Verde Country Club (1701 Golf Course Dr. Costa Mesa (714) 549-0377). Dress like a Venetian - Wear a costume or mask. Mar. 13, Thurs. - The Question of Italian Citizenship" with Italian-Ghanaian director Fred Kuwornu Chapman University. Open to the public. For more information contact: Federico Pacchioni pacchion@chapman.edu Mar. 15, Sat.- Cascade of Fashions – 10:30am Orange County Italian American Women at the Oak Creek Golf Club, Irvine. $35 per person. Send check to: Lucy Gallo 21736 Newvale Dr. Lake Forest 92630. Proceeds benefit Guide Dogs for the Blind for more information: 949-837-1198 or anneruggera@cox.net

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