We are deeply saddened to report the passing of Joseph N. Grano, an icon of the Italian American community in Washington and more. The Washington Post identified him as a "Godfly."

Joe was born and raised in the Bronx, the son of immigrants from near Cosenza, Calabria. Joe graduated from St. John's University (Queens, NY) and received his J.D. from St John's University School of Law. After receiving his law degree, Joe moved to Washington, DC, where he started a career with the Board of Veterans Appeals. He subsequently left the Board and became a solo practitioner.

Joe loved Washington. He even created his own course called "Discover Washington," in which he taught American history, government and law to advanced English speakers and then arranged field trips to various sites in Washington, including the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the National Gallery of Art. Through his tours of Washington he realized how much of Italy was reflected in its streets, buildings, and art museums. In Washington, he saw Palladio, Michelangelo, Rome--the great Italian legacy that built our Nation's Capital.

In 2000, Joe and several others interested in the U.S. Capitol Building and Italian art formed The Constantino Brumidi Society. He was fervent and passionate about giving proper recognition to the Italian-born "Artist of the Capitol," Constantino Brumidi. In 2005, the Society, along with other Italian American groups, successfully urged Congress to honor Brumidi in the Rotunda of the Capitol, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth. The Society also asked Congress to award Brumidi the Congressional Gold Medal; legislation to do so was passed by Congress in 2008 and signed by former President George Bush that year. The Medal was formally presented on July 11, 2012.

Joe was also largely responsible for uniting Washington D.C. and Rome as sister cities a few years ago. His latest effort was to get the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp in Brumidi's honor, a request that is currently pending. Joe would very much have loved to see a Brumidi stamp issued. His untimely death makes it incumbent on the rest of us to carry out that mission. Joe's passion and determination to Italian American causes was unparalleled. He will be greatly missed.

Source: Ciao America