ABRUZZESE NAMED HONORARY CONSUL IN CONNECTICUT
When Quintino Cianfaglione came to Hartford, Connecticut from Abruzzo as a 20-year-old searching for the American dream, he probably never imagined that 50 years later, on a day he called “one of the most important” of his life, the dream had finally come true. Cianfaglione was officially sworn in on November 21, 2017, as the honorary consul of Italy in Connecticut in a ceremony led by Armando Varricchio, the Italian ambassador to the United States. Cianfaglione’s appointment comes with a consulate on Trumbull Street, across from the XL Center.
“His presence shows how much Italy cares about its citizens in this state,” Cianfaglione said of Ambassador Varrichio. “Spreading and promoting our culture is the most important issue we have at the moment, not only for Italians living here, but the Italian-Americans who were born here.” As Ambassador Varricchio noted, “Such a large, active and well integrated community, among whose members towers Ella Grasso, one of the first women to be elected governor of a state in the U.S., warranted the re-opening of an honorary consulate in Hartford…
This will ensure that the relationship between Connecticut and Italy continues to develop and grow stronger to the benefit of our citizens. Among all states, Connecticut has the second-largest number of residents claiming to be of Italian origin in percent, trailing only Rhode Island. The University of Connecticut was the first college to offer a doctorate in Italian-American history in the United States,” The Ambassador added: “Connecticut, with its world class universities such as Yale and Trinity College, is in a unique position to meet the needs of forward-looking and innovative companies willing to compete and succeed not only in the United States but worldwide.
This is why many Italian businesses and entrepreneurs decided to invest here, from Hartford to New Haven, and harness Connecticut's remarkable economic performance, based on a strong focus on research and development. These are elements of the utmost importance in any entrepreneurial endeavor. Thanks to the region's assets, Italian companies based here are expanding their activities nationwide, from the mechanical sector to cutting-edge technology—not forgetting the food industry.” In addition to promoting Italian history and culture, the state’s honorary consulate will also provide wide-ranging services for expats living there. Beginning in 2018, the office will be able to issue Italian passports, a service that was previously only available in New York City.
It will also help Italian immigrants collect their social security payments from their homeland, a common issue for older Hartford residents, according to Cianfaglione. “Connecticut has an older population that needs to be assisted,” he said. “They cannot travel to New York anymore, and this will also save everybody money and time.” Those services, he stressed, are not exclusive to people residing in or near Hartford, and promised that some mobile services will circulate throughout the state when the consulate is fully operational. Catherine Flumiani, the First Counselor for Consular and Social Affairs of the Embassy of Italy, noted that “we have worked very hard to reopen our Honorary Consulate in Hartford, Following the announcement of the opening, AMHS Past President Emeritus Lucio D’Andrea spoke with Cianfaglione and congratulated him on his appointment.
Cianfaglione is originally from Pratola Peligna in the province of L’Aquila. He arrived in 1967 and settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where he hosted an Italian radio program after having obtained a degree in radio technology while in Italy. For many years, until his retirement, he managed his construction company and radio and televisions stations. Meanwhile, he served in leadership roles in the Comites in Connecticut and New York for the last 20 years and he is now president of the Comites of the tri-state area of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. In addition, Cianfaglione was the founder of the Madonna della Libera Title Holder Pratolana Society, a non-profit organization that promotes social activities for ItalianAmericans of Abruzzese heritage, organizes scholarships and carries out charitable activities on behalf of disabled children in Connecticut.
For the past 10 years, Cianfaglione has directed the Connecticut branch of the non-profit Associazione Cristiana Artigiani Italiani of U.S. Since 1973, he has coordinated the annual fundraiser for the orphans of Father Arturo D’Onofrio of Visciano (Napoli). We are pleased to offer him an honorary membership in AMHS.