SIAMO UNA FAMIGLIA
From left, AMHS members Peter Bell, Lucio & Edvige D’Andrea, Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, Father Ezio Marchetto, and Francesco Isgro (President & CEO of the CISC)
By Maria D’Andrea-Yothers
Founders Fund Brunch June 1, 2019
On Saturday, June 1, Peter Bell and Maria D’Andrea-Yothers attended a brunch at the Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center (CISC), to represent the Society as one of the 100 members of the CISC Capital Founders Fund. Hopefully our members recall that, the AMHS membership, as represented by those attending our January 27 general meeting, unanimously approved a decision by the AMHS Executive Committee to join the Founders, a group of committed individuals or organizations who have donated or pledged at least $5,000 to CISC, as the latter begins a new phase of its history and broadens its influence in the Italian and Italian-American communities.
The brunch was an opportunity to give thanks to the Founders as well as a status on the construction of the new CISC. Francesco Isgro, President and CEO of the CISC (and AMHS member) provided opening remarks, and Father Ezio Marchetto, Pastor of Holy Rosary Church, gave a powerpoint presentation which focused on the new construction, which will house the Robert Facchina Italian American Museum of D.C. (IAMDC); the Marconi project, an effort by the CISC to capture the memories and experiences of Italian immigrants in the greater Washington D.C. area; and a library, with more than 2500 books in Italian and a rich collection of Italian movie DVDs (there will also be a children’s library).
We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the opening of the new CISC is ahead of schedule, and we are looking at an opening date of September 2019. The AMHS sees its Capital Founders status as a way to give back to the Casa for its hospitality over the years, as a way to support and sustain CISC’s new programs and projects, and as a way to cement our relationship with CISC as the two organizations move forward in the coming years.
Edvige and Lucio D’Andrea toast their 60th wedding anniversary
Congratulations to Lucio & Edvige, 60 Years of Wedded Bliss!
By Maria D’Andrea-Yothers On June 27, Lucio and Edvige D’Andrea (my mother and father) will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. When their children asked what they would like to do for a celebration, Lucio and Edvige responded “we just want to have a dinner together with all our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren”.
Well, given the size of my family, where they are located, and summer job schedules … this was no easy task! However, we pulled it together and on Saturday, May 18, the entire D’Andrea family — all 27 of us, including one cousin and her family from Pittsburgh, Pa., — came together at Osteria da Nino in Shirlington, Va. I worked with the owner, Nino (a good friend to AMHS) to create a menu, and to hold our dinner in the private dining room.
Needless to say we enjoyed a wonderful dinner, and we were well taken care of by the owner and our private server, Sarah. Lucio and Edvige were feted with witticisms of “growing up D’Andrea” by eldest daughter Candida Pisoni; a prayer from their grandson Gabriel D’Andrea; and toasts from their son Paul and eldest granddaughter Angela Pisoni. Their grandson Tyler Alberico-Crump put together a photo presentation, to music, that spanned the entire 60 years of one of the greatest love stories of all, that of my most wonderful, kind, gracious, and loving parents, Lucio and Edvige.
Congratulazioni e buon anniversario mama e papa!