Italo-American Club installs new officers

By Pete Fontaine
Posted 1/19/17

The importance of the Italo-American Club in Rhode Island as well as its ongoing popularity was apparent Monday night in Providence. The one-time Berarducci Funeral Home at 477 Broadway, now the nations oldest operating Italian

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Italo-American Club installs new officers

Posted

The importance of the Italo-American Club in Rhode Island as well as its ongoing popularity was apparent Monday night in Providence.

The one-time Berarducci Funeral Home at 477 Broadway, now the nations oldest operating Italian organization that was founded back in 1896, was filled with high-ranking federal and state officials. U.S. Congressman David Cicilline served as master of ceremonies during the clubs annual swearing-in of officers and board of directors.

Gov. Gina Raimondo led the states delegation and swore in the ever-popular and smiling Anthony Nappy Napolitano of North Providence for his third term as club president while Steven Pare, former R.I. State Police Colonel who serves as Providence Public Safety Commissioner, gave the Vice Presidents Oath of Office to George Lazzareschi, a Johnston resident who has been a club member for two decades.

George is Superintendent of Public Safety for the town, Pare told an attentive crowd, while noting he is also a two-time bench presser and has two rings to prove it.

Donna Folcarelli, another Johnston resident who serves as secretary, and Treasurer Michael Damiani of Cranston were administered their respective oaths of office by North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi.

This is without question a great night for our Italian heritage, Mayor Joseph Polisena said prior to swearing in the clubs board of directors. Its also a proud night for this club, which is and has been an important part of the fabric in Rhode Island for years.

Polisena swore in board members Thomas Norato along with Johnston residents Peter Montaquila Jr. and Peter Lombardi, who he praised for their outstanding work with this club and also in the community.

Ex-officer Joseph Rendine, who served as the clubs president prior to Napolitanos induction, didnt require an oath because of his past presidents status.

Other board members who make up the clubs 2017 slate but could not attend the nights festivities are Richard Colasanti of Barrington, Robert DeSimone of Cranston and David Coppola of North Providence. Among the list of Rhode Island dignitaries was Nellie Gorbea, Secretary of State; Seth Magaziner, State Treasurer; Nicholas Mattielo, Speaker of the House; Arthur Corvese, North Providence Rep; and Associate Justice Daniel Procaccini.

Napolitano, meanwhile, issued a huge thank you to everyone in the overflowed crowd for making tonight special and your tremendous support of this great Italian-American club.

Nappy, as the highly-respected club president has been known for years, is a lifelong Rhode Island resident who was born on Providences Federal Hill and has been an Italo-American Club member for upwards of 10 years. Before moving into the presidents chair, he served as vice president in 2014.  

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