Three area residents were recently honored with Leonardo da Vinci awards, an annual recognition given to Italian-Americans of achievement. Honored were Kankakee cardiologist Dr. Mario Massullo; Bert Jacobson, who as been president for six years of the Americo Vespucci Lodge of the Sons of Italy in Kankakee County; and Marie Marsalli, president of the Grand Lodge of Illinois and Wisconsin for the Sons of Italy.

The awards are given once a year at a joint banquet honoring persons from Illinois and Wisconsin. This year’s ceremony was held at White Eagle Banquets in Niles. They are the highest individual awards given by the Italian-American organization and go to a dozen people in the fields of public service, community, medicine, education, jurisprudence, communications, performing arts, science and entrepreneurship.