(Editor’s Note — Our news items for this issue truly embody the name of this regular feature, covering life events from the joyous to the sorrowful. We are family. )

Omero Sabatini Celebrates 90TH Birthday in Style

Kirsten Keppel (standing left) serenades Omero Sabatini (center in red checkered vest) at his 90th birthday celebration.

“A good time was had by all” can truly be said about the party for our AMHS Past President Omero Sabatini who celebrated his 90th birthday in style on June 26, 2021. The party was outdoors in the back yard of his home in Alexandria, under a huge tent. The weather was beautiful, and everyone enjoyed a wonderful dinner catered by Aldo’s of Alexandria. The party was attended by family members of Omero and his wife Belinda, including Omero’s daughter Maria, who flew in from California, and his nephew Mike DeBonis who came with his wife Dena, his parents Tony and Sheila and his two kids, Rosie and George. Several of Belinda’s family members came down from Baltimore. Many of Omero’s friends attended as well, including some who had not seen each other in over a year due to the pandemic.

Among the friends celebrating with Omero were Lucio and Edvige D’Andrea, Maria D’Andrea-Yothers and Sam Yothers, Nancy DeSanti, Ennio DiTullio, Kirsten Keppel, Joe and Joann Novello, Dora Leo Santacroce, Roberto Severino, Lynn Sorbara and Lourdes Tinajero. A special guest was Father Andrei Zanon from Holy Rosary Church, who led the prayer before the meal and who kept an eye on the score of the Euro 2020 soccer game between Italy and Belgium. When Italy won, Father Andrei stood up and announced the score and there was loud cheering from the crowd, with none cheering louder than Ennio. Maybe that was because he used to play soccer himself, and in fact he met his late wife Emma when she came to the Holy Rosary soccer games.

Kirsten led the partygoers in singing “Vola, Vola, Vola,” the popular Abruzzese song. Kirsten passed out sheets with the words to the song, but it turned out that she did not need one herself — she had memorized the words. Towards the end of the event, Omero thanked everyone for coming and gave special thanks to his wife Belinda. Then Dora sang to Omero, the beautiful Neapolitan song ’Na sera ‘e maggio. It was truly a day to remember. ❚

Jeffrey Petrino Mourned

AMHS sends its sincerest condolences to Mary Petrino on the passing of her beloved husband, Jeffrey Peter Francis Petrino, on July 15, 2021 at his home in Alexandria, Va. He suffered from complications related to Alzheimer’s Disease. Mary and Jeff are long-time members of AMHS. Jeff was born in Trenton, New Jersey, the eldest child of Peter Francis and Geraldine Catherine (Lamsbach) Petrino. Jeffrey is survived by his wife, Mary, with whom he had one beloved daughter, Julia Kenney Teresa Petrino (1984 - 1999) who predeceased him from complications of Hodgkins Lymphoma. (Source: Demaine Funeral Home). Rest in peace. ❚

Stories Stir Memories of Baltimore

AMHS Board member Frank Bonsiero was moved by the recent series of articles in the past three issues of the Notiziario on “The Political Talented D’Alesandro Family.” Frank shared these memories: “From three years of age until I was almost eight years old, I was raised in an Italian orphanage one block immediately across the street from the Little Italy neighborhood in Baltimore. The orphanage, St. Leo’s, was attached to a Catholic Church through a second-story walkway. The church, St. Vincent de Paul, is still there. The orphanage is now a small park for toddlers. We were raised by the Pallottine nuns, who spoke Italian to each other, or whenever not speaking to the kids.

(I have no horror stories about these nuns; I loved them!) This all circa 1952-1956. I am 72 now. “The parish school was across the street from the orphanage; two blocks further in the same direction was President’s Street and the D’Alesandro residence. So while there was a 7-8 year age difference, Nancy Pelosi and I went to the same parochial school. There are always fond memories whenever I hear the name D’Alesandro or Pelosi!” ❚

D’Andreas Celebrate 62 Years of Marriage

Joining Edvige and Lucio D’Andrea (4th and 5th from left) at their 62nd anniversary celebration were: (from left) son-in-law Sam Yothers, Luciana Caleb, daughter Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, grandson Tyler and Albert Palantonio

On June 27, AM HS President Emeritus Lucio D’Andrea, and his wife Edvige, celebrated 62 years of wedded bliss. They day started with the 10 a.m. Mass at Holy Rosary Church, where Father Andrei Zanon called them to the altar, before the end of Mass, to bestow a blessing. All in attendance cheered for this wonderful milestone. Afterwards, Lucio and Edvige were taken out for a dinner celebration at A Modo Mio (formerly Joe’s Place) on Lee Highway in Arlington, Va. Lucio and Edvige were joined by their daughter Maria, their grandson Tyler, and AMHS members Luciana Caleb and Albert Paolantonio. Buona fortuna, Lucio and Edvige. Here’s to many more years of wedded happiness. ❚

Anniversary Rainbows and Smiles

SIAMO UNA FAMIGLIA

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