TONY CAMPITELLI’S MASTERPIECES STILL MUCH ADMIRED
When we pass the beautiful belltower (campanile) on the way into Holy Rosary Church, or admire the impressive marble façade of Casa Italiana as we enter for an event or a class, many of us may not realize that they have an Abruzzese “Renaissance man” to thank. Anthony Campitelli, known as Tony, was an architect, artist, sculptor and musician. And besides having a deep appreciation for the arts, Campitelli was an architect who designed churches, shopping centers and office buildings. Campitelli, who died in 2004, grew up in the town of Castel Frentano in the Chieti province (see related article in this Notiziario).
He came here at the age of 16 - a familiar immigrant story of no money and no English. He painted acrylic landscapes and sculpted the bas-relief plaque of Father Nicholas De Carlo, the founder and first pastor of Holy Rosary Church. The beautiful plaque which is on display in the church was made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Father De Carlo’s ordination and it was unveiled in 1955. The plaque was commissioned by the Lido Civic Club, of which Campitelli was president from 1955 to 1957.
Campitelli also commissioned the portrait of Giulio Andreotti, the long-time Italian prime minister who was a key benefactor of Casa Italiana, as well as the portrait of Father Caesar Donanzan. Campitelli was a close friend of both Father De Carlo and Father Donanzan and a pallbearer at Father Donanzan’s funeral. Casa Italiana was dedicated on March 22, 1981, and the marble façade which Campitelli designed was added in 1989 to beautify the Casa.
Together with a partner who was also an immigrant, Campitelli had formed a company that built thousands of houses, apartment buildings, shopping centers and office buildings over a 50-year period. But his favorite project was his Renaissance-style renovation of Casa Italiana. Campitelli maintained a strong interest in Italian culture and was awarded the Star of Solidarity by the Italian government. But the story began years before when Father De Carlo turned to Campitelli to assist him in designing the church's belltower. Campitelli had immigrated with his family during World War I.
His father was a builder by trade and Tony entered his father’s profession and then became a licensed architect. He stopped by Holy Rosary Church one day when he was out driving around, and the intriguing architecture caught his eye. Realizing he was at an Italian Catholic church, he began coming to Sunday Mass, eventually meeting Father De Carlo who asked him to design the belltower. So he drew up the plans for the belltower in 1941 and Father De Carlo raised the funds.
Campitelli used to drive Father De Carlo on his rounds to visit the sick members of the parish, and the priest became concerned about his parishioners’ later years. In 1952, he began working out plans for a rest home and figuring out a way to finance the home, which he named Villa Rosa after his mother. The architect for Villa Rosa was Tony Campitelli, and ground was broken in September 1963. A few days after the groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by the Italian ambassador and the Apostolic Delegate, the first Villa Rosa Festival was held, and it was called “as authentic an Italian festival as can be expected outside Italy.” That festival continues to this day, and will be held again on September 11, 2016. SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!