LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the
Abruzzese Social Club of Binghamton, New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those organiza-
tions which foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural
diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York
State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 75th Anniversary of the Abruzzese Social Club of Binghamton,
New York; and
WHEREAS, This year, the Abruzzese Social Club will give special recog-
nition to 19 extraordinary individuals for their outstanding dedicated
service to both the Club and the community, as well as for their ethical
standards and unblemished conduct; the individuals include: Carmuele Di
Loreto, President; Dr. Sandro Sticca, Vice President; Gino D'Alessandro;
Angelo De Vincentis; Giuseppe De Vincentis; Antonio Di Mascio; Camillo
Di Rado; Antonio Giammarino; Pantaleone Iuliani; Antonio Marcello; Giov-
anni Mennucci; Alfonso Monaco; Leonardo Piccirilli; Guido Tucci; Donald
Puglisi; Joseph Pauline; Nicola Ioannisci and Pietro Palombaro; and
WHEREAS, The Abruzzese Social Club's official records, written in
Italian, indicate its birth took place on the day of May 31, 1937, when
a group of Abruzzesi residing in Binghamton discussed the formation of a
club composed of Abruzzesi originating from the five provinces of Abruz-
zo or of citizens born of Abruzzesi parents; and
WHEREAS, The Club's fundamental purposes were to unite, through
fraternal bonds, to educate and to instruct all its members; three of
the principal goals the Club's founders proclaimed for its members were
to fully integrate themselves in American society, to respect and to
obey the laws of the great country which generously welcomed them, and
to retain and foster among its members the use of their mother tongue;
and
WHEREAS, The first four meetings, May 31, June 6, June 13 and June 20,
1937 intended to discuss the Club's foundation and to redact its stat-
ute, took place at the home of Pantaleone Marsolino; at the meeting of
May 31, Armand De Ritis had been nominated President Pro Tempore to
guide the members in their initial discussions so important to the
Club's future; and
WHEREAS, At the historic meeting of June 6, it was decided and unan-
imously approved that the Club should be called Abruzzese Social Club;
discussions on the statute's various articles took three years of care-
ful reflection and the official statute was finally unanimously approved
in the special meeting of December 13, 1940; and
WHEREAS, Beginning with the meeting of July 4, 1937, all subsequent
meetings were held in the basement of the Irish church of St. Mary of
the Assumption; the Italian immigrants decided, in 1913, to build their
own church, which was completed in 1917, with the name of The Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church; the Club was able to secure the priv-
ilege of using the basement for its meetings through the courtesy of the
Church's pastor, the Reverend Matthew Pellegrini; and
WHEREAS, The Club's first officers were elected in the historic meet-
ing of July 4, 1937; Gino Parisio was elected President, Antonio De
Ritis, Vice President, Aristide D'Aristotile, Secretary, and Arturo
Marcheggiani, Finance Secretary; and
WHEREAS, Four years would pass from that memorable founding day
before, through monthly dues, charity banquets, lotteries, modest and

continuous donations by its members, the Club would be finally able to
raise enough funds in May of 1941, to acquire the building where the
Club is presently housed; and
WHEREAS, Desiring to confer on the Club a more official look, the
members initiated a special collection with the intention of buying an
American and an Italian flag; thanks to the generous support of two of
its members, attorneys Thomas Stento and John Romagnoli, the flags were
presented to the Club in May of 1938; and
WHEREAS, For the Club's standard, the members engaged the services of
Nunzio Sossi of Brooklyn; its first official banquet, just for its
members, took place on November 28, 1937; the first Christmas party for
the Abruzzesi children was given in December of that year; and
WHEREAS, By 1941, the Club boasted a membership of 300 people; against
the background of the activities of the Abruzzese Social Club, a male
association, looms the founding of the Women's Abruzzese Club, a most
successful society which, organized in 1942, was then incorporated on
October 10, 1943; and
WHEREAS, In the wake of the women's petition, submitted to the male
club since 1940, their intent was to cooperate fully with the men's club
in every way to promote its activities and further its projects; and
WHEREAS, From its early beginnings in 1937, and its first activities
in the basement of the church of St. Mary's, the Abruzzese Social Club
has played a recognizable role within the local American society, Broome
County, as an entrepreneurial and dynamic ethnic force in the land that
welcomed them; and
WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction provided by such past club pres-
idents such as Joseph Trovalli, Rocco De Vincentiis, Guerino De Rosa,
Serafino LaViola, Aristide D'Aristotile, Raimondo De Vincentis, Carmuele
Di Loreto, Antonio De Vincentis, Bruno Nanni, Anthony Di Mascio, Camillo
Di Rado and Tommaso Montefusco, these immigrants have fully and totally
integrated into our society and our Nation; and
WHEREAS, The Abruzzesi ancestors hail from the ancient region of Apru-
tium, the heirs of the Samnites, the Sabines, the Peligni, the Marsi,
the Frentani and the Equi, the heirs of a cultural and intellectual
tradition which includes writers such as Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid),
Caius Sallustius, Barbato of Sulmona, friend of Petrarch, Benedetto
Croce, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Ignazio Silone, Gennaro Manna, Mario Pomi-
lio, painters such as Francesco Paolo Michetti, Teofilo Patini, Basilio
and Tommaso Cascella, musicians such as Francesco Paolo Tosti, and sing-
ers such as Mario Lanza and Perry Como; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy accom-
plishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the
citizens of the State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Abruzzese Social Club of Bing-
hamton, New York, fully confident it will continue to enjoy the sparkl-
ing success it has experienced thus far; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the aforementioned honorees and the Abruzzese Social Club of
Binghamton, New York.