SILVIO PRONIO: The LOSS OF A TREASURED MEMBER OF AMHS
Silvio Pronio, a longtime supporter of AMHS, passed away on July 23, 2015, at the age of 86. Silvio was born in Maglianico, in the province of Chieti, and came to America in 1947.
Silvio and Lina, his wife of 53 years, have been devoted parishioners of Holy Rosary Church, attending the 9 am Mass for many years. Silvio was a member of the Holy Name Society and Lina is director/president of the Altar Society. Silvio and his wife Lina have been members of AMHS from the beginning and often attended the many various events.
He was a consistent supporter of our scholarship program, giving generously for ads for the Gala every year. Silvio owned Northeast Iron Works, Inc., and through his company, he gave jobs to many Italians just coming from Italy. As his friend Ennio DiTulliio said, “Silvio was a true gentleman with a big heart.” And Lucio D’Andrea had this to say about Silvio: “As founder of the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society, I recall with fond memories and appreciation having Silvio be among the first group of Abruzzesi who stepped forward to embrace the Society and give it his wholehearted support.
He was a very gentle, unassuming man with strong faith and devotion to his Abruzzesi heritage.” Our sincerest condolences to the Pronio family on the loss of a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, and a friend to many people. (Submitted by Nancy DeSanti).
ANGELO PUGLISI HONORED BY CONSERVATION GROUP
Longtime AMHS member Angelo Puglisi was recently honored for enabling the famous Natural Bridge, which he owned, to become a Virginia state park. Natural Bridge may well become one of the most visited state parks in Virginia. Located in the historic Shenandoah Valley, Natural Bridge is one of the most recognized and visited geologic landmarks in the country. It was often regarded as the “8th natural wonder of the world” during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Natural Bridge is a massive 90-foot-wide arch of rock more than 25 feet thick that spans Cedar Creek, over 200 feet below. Natural Bridge was surveyed by George Washington (who may have carved his initials into the rock) and owned by King George III and then by Thomas Jefferson, who called it “the most sublime of nature’s wonders.” It’s the largest natural land bridge in North America, and the nearby Natural Bridge Caverns are the deepest caves on the East Coast. Angelo says that it was this history that fascinated him and prompted him to want to buy it in 1988. For years, he and Millie, his wife of 67 years, enjoyed visiting Natural Bridge and walking the nearby trails.
With Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and other state officials looking on, Angelo was recently honored as “2014 Conservator of the Year” by the Izaak Walton League, a national conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of America’s natural resources.
The crowd of 200 was on hand to thank Angelo for his generosity in arranging for Natural Bridge to be transferred to the Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund Inc. Governor McAuliffe had signed the transfer in a ceremony on May 12, 2014. In a complicated real estate transaction last year, Angelo donated the 215-foot limestone arch and 188 surrounding acres to the newly formed Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund, because his goal was for the national historic landmark to become a state park so that future generations could stand in awe of Thomas Jefferson’s bridge—a generous act that would surely have made Jefferson proud. Visitors can also view the light show
“The Drama of Creation,” which is the longest continuously running light show in the U.S. Angelo’s friends at Holy Rosary and Casa Italiana had no idea about any of this until an article appeared in the Washington Post in December 2013, which was not surprising to those who know him to be a modest man who likes to talk about how he was born a few blocks from Holy Rosary Church over top of his parents’ grocery store. Angelo’s parents came here from Sicily in 1901 and his father was a laborer who helped build Union Station. Angelo has been in the real estate business for over 60 years, and he attributes whatever success he has had to his determination, hard work, “and some luck, and the fact that the good Lord has put a lot of wonderful people in my path.”
He still goes to the office several days a week, where his daughter, who is one of his four adult children, also works. Angelo, who has been an AMHS member for years, noted that his wife Millie’s family is Abruzzese, from Spoltore near Pescara, an area they visited together years ago. Angelo’s own family is from Sicily in the area near Messina (Fondachelli on his father’s side) and near Catania (Zaffarena on his mother’s side). To Angelo, we say congratulations and “grazie mille” from all your AMHS friends. (Submitted by Nancy DeSanti).