Henry Piano never forgot his roots. His parents immigrated to America from Italy in 1907 and raised a son who embraced his Italian-American heritage. Piano helped found the Italian Community Center and Festa Italiana. Piano, 86, died of cancer Oct. 24. "It was important for him to always remember where we came from," said his son Nick Piano. "He was also very proud to be an American."

Milwaukee's Third Ward was filled with Italian families and businesses for many years but eventually Our Lady of Pompeii Church was torn down for an expressway and folks moved to the suburbs. So when Festa Italiana started in 1978 it was a way to revive the street festivals held in the former Italian neighborhood. Festa Italiana was the first of many ethnic festivals that now grace Milwaukee's summer calendar at Maier Festival Park.