Seventy years and counting. The Leonardo da Vinci Society of San Francisco celebrates its birthday after its creation in 1949. Three women - Countess Lillian Dandini, Mrs. Dobbins D’Anneo, Mrs. Louis Piccirillo - wanted to form a non-profit, not-political organization to promote a broad and deep understanding and appreciation of Italian contributions to art, literature, and culture.

They tried to achieve those objectives through the presentation of lectures, concerts, exhibits, and receptions honoring distinguished people. This year, the Leonardo Society is also celebrating the genius of the Italian Renaissance five hundred years after his death.