Rose Sherini was a member of the Western Chapter, of the AIHA (American Italian Historical Association). This Chapter based in San Francisco, almost entirely on their own, bore the sole responsibility of this WWII I-A Internment Expose, Exhibit, and Book, which is an effort unequaled in the Association's 32 year history.

Rose's will requested that any Memorial contributions be made to the AIHA.

Scherini and DiStasi's efforts inspired Anthony LaPiana, President and Founder of NIAC (National Italian American Council, based in Chicago) and John Calvelli, now President/Chairman, Conference of Presidents of the Major Italian American Organizations, to have enacted after monumental efforts, "The Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act", passed by Congress on November 7, 2000.

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San Francisco Chronicle
Sunday, February 23, 2003

SCHERINI, Rose D. - 76, died February 19, 2003 in Greenbrae, California.

Born in San Rafael on June 1, 1926, to the family of Erminia and Marco Scherini, Rose attended St. Raphael's Parochial School, San Rafael High School and the College of Marin.

She then entered the University of California Berkeley as a social welfare major and graduated in 1946.

After working in the Probation Department and the Civil Service Commission of Alameda County, and at UC Berkeley, and organizing the first job placement center at Chabot College, she returned as a student to UC Berkeley where she received a PhD in Educational Anthropology in 1976.

She then worked as a Research Analyst at the University's Office of Student Research until she retired in 1986.

Always an activist, Rose gave her efforts to several causes. After her parents' deaths, she joined the Grey Panthers and worked for nursing home reform.

She delivered Meals on Wheels and taught courses in various nursing homes in the Bay Area.

But it was during her work on her dissertation, on the Italian American community of San Francisco, that Rose found the issue that was to occupy much of her retirement time.

It was through her research, interviews and investigations in the National Archives and the Presidential Library at Hyde Park, that the little-known story about the World War II classification of 600,000 Italian Americans (the largest foreign-born group in the country) as enemy aliens was revealed.

Several hundred were interned and thousands relocated from their homes.

Her research formed the basis of the exhibit "Una Storia Segreta:
When Italian Americans Were Enemy Aliens", which went on to travel to 40 cities
throughout the United States.

Several publications and radio and TV programs followed. Rose is survived by her sister Lena of San Rafael and by a large circle of friends.

Memorial contributions in her name can be made to the American Italian Historical Association, P.O. Box 533, Bolinas, California 94924, or to an organization of your choice.

A Memorial Mass will be said at St. Raphael's Mission Chapel, 1104 - 5th Avenue, San Rafael on March 1 at 11:00 a.m. A gathering in Rose's memory will be March 22 at 2:00 p.m. at the UC Faculty Club. For information call (510) 527-9968 or (415) 563-5976.

SCHERINI, Rose D.
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file=/chronicle/archive/2003/02/23/MNSCHERINI15.DTL