New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, joined by Dr. Danielle Jones, Assistant Comptroller, and Alfred Gryszkiewicz, Assistant Comptroller for Downstate Affairs, celebrated Italian Heritage Month on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the Italian American Museum, marking one year since its grand reopening in the heart of Little Italy.
The evening featured a special performance by acclaimed Italian tenor Luciano Lamonarca, accompanied by an array of exquisite Italian delicacies.
Maria Marinello, Esq., Vice President of the prestigious Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York, represented President Comm. Joseph Sciame in presenting Comptroller DiNapoli with the 2025 Italian Heritage and Culture Month poster. This year’s theme honors Michelangelo: An Italian Genius, commemorating the 550th anniversary of his birth in the Tuscan hills of Caprese, Italy.
Esteemed Board Members in attendance included Nancy Indelicato, Head of Public Relations; Rosa Cassiello O’Day, Head of Marketing; Joseph DiPietro, President of the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens; Cav. Josephine Maietta, President of AIEA and host of the Marconi Award-winning Sabato Italiano; Uff. Cav. Mico Delianova Licastro, U.S. Representative, Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI USA); and Jennifer Adriana LaDelfa, City Hall Journalist and Founder of La Media New York.
Notable guests Jim Lisa, Chairman and Founding Member of the Petrosino Association and Publisher of Giornale Italo Americano and Queens Times for over 25 years, and Bob Fonti, Vice President of New York’s Italian American Political Action Committee and President of the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association presented Comptroller DiNapoli with a custom Italian flag sash bearing his official title.
A distinguished dais of honorees was recognized during one of the most heartfelt ceremonies in recent years. Their speeches were deeply moving, reflecting on the sacrifices their parents made upon arriving in the New World and the enduring importance of preserving Italian heritage for future generations—and, above all, for humanity.
Honorees included:
- Hon. Angie Carpenter, Supervisor, Town of Islip
- Biagio J. Isgro, Jr., Immediate Past President, NYS OSDIA
- Vincent F. Pitta, Chairman/Managing Partner, Pitta LLP
- Thomas Quackenbush, President, Teamsters Local 294
- Angelo Vivolo, President, National Columbus Education Foundation
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Monsignor Hilary C. Franco, Prelate of His Holiness and Advisor to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations
Special recognition was given to Uff. Cav. Dr. Joseph Scelsa and his dedicated team—Bryan González, Building Manager; Christian Vega, Archivist; and Marie Palladino, Head of Education—for their warm hospitality. Visiting the museum is an invitation to rediscover the past, an essential journey toward understanding and shaping one’s future.
Happy Italian Heritage Month!
