Credits
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Service Above Self UNICO National is the largest Italian American service organization in the United States. On October 10, 1922, Doctor Anthony Vastola of Waterbury, Connecticut met with some professional and businessmen to form an organization that was to be different from the usual fraternal, athletic or social societies that were found in most cities. It was to be the only one of its kind because it would unite all Italian Americans in a national unity that would give greater and more effective expression to their newly developed social awareness and civic mindedness. It was to be different because it would not be nationalistic—the kind that resists the molding forces of our American way of life. It would be different because while it admitted that each strain in the melting pot will eventually be assimilated into a greater pattern of Americanism, it would also recognize that each element—Italian, Irish, Jewish, Negro has the right to cultivate its own character and preserve the love for the land and the culture of its fathers. This organization would be different from others in that, for the first time, it would ask its members to make great sacrifice, not for personal material gain, but simply for the happiness found in service to others. This is way Dr. Vastola called the organization UNICO—unique—the only one of its kind in America and its motto would be Service Above Self. The initials were later to stand for Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity and Opportunity. To fulfill this unusual purpose, national expansion became inevitable. With the efforts of Dr. Joseph Pantaleone, who promoted the UNICO message by articles in newspapers and magazines, many chapters were formed on the east coast. A similar organization, the National Civic League, was founded in the midwest by Antonio Rizzuto and its first convention took place in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1932. In April, 1947, a merger was consummated linking UNICO and National Civic League chapters thus forming UNICO National. Today the UNICO banner is found coast to coast. To express a response of the Italian American for a personal responsibility towards the betterment of the community in which he lives and to obey that generous impulse found in every human heart to improve the quality of life of those less fortunate, UNICO National launched a program of charitable, civic and educational activities. UNICO National has been active in raising funds for relief programs for disasters in the United States and Italy. In 1952 there were floods that ravaged parts of Italy and UNICO helped provide financial relief for those in need. It was very active in helping the relief effort for the sever floods that destroyed hundreds of works of art in Florence and Venice, and, most recently, it was involved in helping victims of Hurricane Andrew. Money has been raised to help Boys Town in the United States and in Italy. The St. Louis Chapter was active in providing funds to build the St. Pious XII Library at St. Louis University. UNICO Chapters award scholarships annually on a national scale to worthy students and support youth clubs and many programs that benefit young people. Culturally, UNICO National has vigorously promoted the Italian language, history and arts at all levels of education. Ever conscious of our Italian heritage, UNICO has been a force in fighting the discrimination and defamation which has occurred frequently in this century. UNICO’s programs to commemorate and observe Columbus Day have been notable
throughout the country. In addition, many chapters have programs where
outstanding individuals are recognized and have thus illustrated the many
accomplishments of Italian Americans throughout the country. Thus the motto
"Service Above Self" has patterned the whole scope of activities of UNICO
National. The St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National is in its fifth decade of service to the St. Louis metropolitan area. The initial organizational meetings were held at the Vitale Medical Center in early 1953 and the first official meeting was at Ruggeri’s Restaurant. Dr. Nicholas S. Vitale was foremost in founding and organizing the St. Louis Chapter. He collaborated with Dr. D. M. Nigro of Kansas City in starting the Chapter. The St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National was incorporated in the State of Missouri on December 13, 1955. Currently there are 92 registered members. The motto of UNICO National is "Service Above Self" and the St. Louis Chapter has taken this phrase to heart. Since 1972 the chapter has been sponsoring the Italian American of the Year Award Banquet. The proceeds from this banquet are designated for charity. One of the primary goals of the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO is to assist handicapped children. The favorite charity of the chapter is St. Mary’s Special School. In the past twenty years over $150,000 has been donated to St. Mary’s. Other charities have benefitted from contributions and a partial list includes: the Archdiocesan Family Life office, Multiple Sclerosis, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Metropolitan School and the Variety Club of St. Louis. The St. Louis Chapter has been active in supporting the programs of
UNICO National. Some of these include: the Hi-Hopes University for musically
gifted but handicapped children, the Scholarship programs and the Italian
Anti-Defamation Committee.
Columbus Day Queens - Miss Italian St. Louis
1972 Stouffer’s Riverfront Hotel and the honorees were Gabriel Alberici, Joseph Garagiola, Professor Joseph Simone, Paul Berra, Joseph Salmeri, Dr. Andrew Signorelli, and Yogi Berra 1973 Chase Park Plaza Hotel and the honorees were Joseph L Badaracco, President of the Board of Alderman; Reverend Lawrence Chiuminatto, S. J., Spiritual Director of the White House Retreat. 1974 Chase Park Plaza Hotel and the honorees were Dr. Nicholas S. Vitale, founder of Vitale Medical Center and the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National; Richard Mantia, President of the Building and Construction Trades Union. 1975 Chase Park Plaza Hotel and the honorees were Fred Giacoma, Executive Vice President of Southwest Bank; and Charles Rallo, Jr., President of Rallo Construction Company. 1976 Chase Park Plaza Hotel and the honoree was Dr. Teresa J. Vietti, Professor of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine and Directory of Hematology and Oncology at St. Louis Children Hospital. 1977 Sheraton Hotel and the honoree was Jack Valenti, former president of the Retail Clerks Union, Local 655. 1979 St. Raymond’s Hall and the honoree was Joe Tangaro, former professional wrestler and owner of Joe Tangaro’s Chariton Restaurant. 1980 There was banquet honoring Philip Mazzei. Mazzei was an American patriot and friend of Thomas Jefferson. Many of Mazzei’s writings influenced Jefferson, most particularly the phrase "all men are created equal". Fred Giacoma was active in organizing this banquet. 1981 St. Raymond’s Hall and Vincent J. Bommarito of Tony’s Restaurant was honored. 1982 St. Raymond’s Hall and Dr. Anthony Berni, Radiologist was honored. Tony is on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Radiological Society. 1983 St. Raymond’s Hall and Alphonse Lordo, owner of Lordo’s Diamonds and Doctor Francis Paletta of St. Louis Medical Center were honored. 1984 St. Raymond’s Hall and Michael LaMonica, Vice President of Marketing, Anheuser Busch was honored. 1986 Chase Park Plaza Hotel and John P. Ferrara, J. Kim Tucci and Joseph Fresta owners of the Pasta House Company Restaurants were honored. 1987 Chase Park Plaza Hotel and Frank Bommarito, owner of Bommarito Oldsmobile and Charles Gitto, owner of Charlie Gitto’s restaurants were the honorees. 1988 Chase Park Plaza Hotel and the honorees were Ned Taddeucci, President of the St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association and Frank Leta of Frank Leta Honda and Accura. 1989 The Marriott Pavilion Hotel and the honorees were John Temporiti, former Chief of Staff for the Mayor of St. Louis and Richard Palazzolo, Senior, former owner of the Italo-American Importing Company. 1990 St. Louis Airport Marriott and Monsignor Salvatore Polizzi, pastor of St. Roch’s Catholic Church and State Representative Anthony Ribaudo were honored. 1992 Frontenac Grand Hotel and Patrick P. Caruana, Brigadier General of the United State Air Force and Cesare Vitale of Vee-Jay Cement Contracting Company were honored. The list of entertainers at these dinner include: the Four Step Brothers, Linda Leigh, Johnny Desmond, Pete Pettinelli, Corbett Monica, Julius LaRosa, the Gaylords, the Addrisi Brothers, Pete Flanders, Mario Fiorella, the Chicago Civic Opera Company, Rosemarie Brancato, Nick Noble, Buddy Greco and Pat Cooper. 1993 The banquet was held at the Frontenac Hilton Hotel and Charles (Chuck) N. Rallo of CMR Construction and Charles Fazio, Sr. of Joe Fazio's Bakery were honored. Dick Ford of Channel 2 served as Master of Cerimonies. Charles Rallo's father was honored by UNICO in 1975. National President Martin C. Picillo, of New Jersey attended and delivered the keynote address. 1994 The banquet was held at the Adam's Mark Hotel and Bartolino Saracino of Bartolino's Restaurant and Sam Di Gregorio of Di Gregorio Imported Foods were honored. Julius Hunter of Channel 4 was the Master of Cerimonies. Past UNICO National President Louis Badeen of Kansas City attended and delivered the keynote address. 1995 The banquet was held at the Frontenac Hilton Hotel. Joseph P. Castellano of Anheuser Busch and John Vitale of accounting firm of Rubin, Brown Gornstein and Company were honored. Jerry Berger, columnist of the Post Dispatch was also honored. Dick Ford of Channel 2 was once again Master of Cerimonies. 1996 The banquet was held at the Frontenac Hilton Hotel. Joseph Boccardi of Joe Boccardi's Restaurants and Joseph P. Castellano, Athletic Director of the University of Missouri - Colu.mbia and Peter Ferrara, Esquire, were honored Dick Ford served as Master of Cerimonies. UNICO National President Joseph Manganaro of Pennsylvania attended and delivered the keynote address. 1997 The banquet was held at St. Raymond's the Cedars Banquet Center. Samuel J. Temperato of Daity Queen and Andrew Signorelli's father was honored in 1972. UNICO National Presdient Leo Diana of Connecticut attended and delivered the keynote address. 1998 The St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National did not have a banquet this year. Instead, several members, with representatives from other Italian American associations in St. Louis, helped to organize an Italian Festival and banquet to raise money for the earthquake that hit the Assisi area of Italy in September, 1997. The festival was held at Berra Park in June and the banquet was held in September at the Frontemac Hilton Hotel. 1999 The banquet was held in the newly renovated Korissian Room of the Chase Park Plaza, home of many UNICO banquets of past years. Tina Lo Piccolo Niemann of Prudential Alliance Realtors and Sam, Joe and Charlie Vitale of Vee-Jay Cement Contractors were honored. Monsignor Salvatore Polizzi, pastor of St. Roch's Catholic Church was Master of Cerimonies. Cesare Vitale, father of Sam, Joe and Charlie was honored by UNICO in 1992. Past National President Angelo Sita of St. Louis delivered the keynote address. 2000
Two UNICO National Conventions were held in St. Louis. The 1958 and the 1989 conventions. The Thirtieth Annual Convention of 1958 was held at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel on August twenty-seventh through thirty-first. The Sixty-Seventh Annual Convention was held in 1989 at the Marriott Pavilion Hotel on August sixteenth through twentieth. In 1958, Eugene Boffa was president of UNICO National and in 1989, Frank Castrignano was president. Monsignor Salvatore Polizzi, Pastor of St. Roch’s Catholic Church, Reverend Leo J. Spezia, Pastor of St. Jude’s Catholic Church and the late Monsignor Carl C. Poelker, Pastor of Our Lady of Good Council, were the priests most often called upon to offer Innovations and Benedictions at the various functions of the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National. Bishop Charles Koester and Monsignor Elmer Behrmann also attended many of the functions. Before his death, Monsignor Poelker was the Chaplain. He was succeeded by Father Spezia who was a hard working chaplain for many years. The Chaplain in now Reverend Stephen Puricelli. St. Louis was the headquarters for UNICO National for a few years in the late 1950’s and the early 1960’s. Then the office was moved to its present location in New Jersey where the membership is concentrated. In 1990 a new program began for the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO when a Member of the Year Award was presented at the Christmas Party. Every year since then this award was given to the member that the President feels have exemplified the high standards of UNICO National. The following have receive this award: 1990 - Baldo Gandolfo; 1991- Anthony Lucido; 1992 - George A. Stark John Passanante died on December twenty-ninth, 1986 at the age of seventy-two. He began working for Stix, Baer and Fuller after High School, but shortly thereafter he formed his own company, the Montezuma Coffee and Spice Company. He was in this business forty years. John was a charter member of the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National and served as secretary for thirty consecutive years. He served in the Armed Forces during World War II and received his honorable discharge with the rank of Staff Sergeant. John was a translator for captured Italian prisoners. In 1978, John received the Dr. Nicholas Vitale Distinguished Service Award, presented by the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National. He received a certificate of Accomplishment Award from Nicholas Quercetti, National President of UNICO National shortly before his death. Then on October eighth, John was presented, posthumously, with a certificate from the St. Louis Columbus Day Parade Committee for his dedication to the promotion of Columbus Day. The St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National takes great pride in the celebration of our fortieth anniversary. Our thanks are extended to all the Italian Societies for their kind contributions to the various committees who have had a hand in making this celebration a success. Thanks are also shared with our President and Officers who contributed very much in making this anniversary successful. We would like to thank our advertisers, guests and supporters who attended this banquet. We, especially add thanks to Commendatore Mario Pertici and the board members who spent many hours in the writing and editing of this history. Angelo Sita was the first St. Louisan to be elected National President of UNICO, in 1998. For the year 2000-2001, the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National has elected its first woman president. She is Nina Lancia Held of Prudential Alliance Realtors. Ms. Held joined the St. Louis Chapter as soon as membership was opened to women and has served as Secretary until her recent election as President. She was installed at a special dinner on July 8, 2000 at Kemoll's restaurant.
The following charities have received funds from the St. Louis Chapter of UNICO National:
This document was created by the late Comm. Mario Pertici in occasion of the 1993 Awards Banquet and was further revised by the board members of the St. Louis Chapter of Unico. It is currently edited and maintained for the web by members and past presidents Franco Giannotti and Angelo Sita  |