September Gathering

We send a big shout out of appreciation to Ralph and Rosie Yob for organizing a super
event at their residence in Menlo Park in September. There were several delicacies on
hand to tempt the palate. As usual, Rosie’s exquisite canederli and Tarcisio Pedrotti’s
divine strudel were devoured quickly to the dismay of those who acted too slowly.
Matteo Baceda’s parents were visiting from Trento at the time, and Matteo’s mother
whipped up a gigantic pot of very tasty crauti, enough for many to take home.

Grazie Mille 🙂

Coro Brenta di Tione

ponteSFThe last week of April, our club assisted Consul General Mauro Battocchi in hosting the Brenta Chorus from his hometown of Tione, Trentino.
They performed at Mission Dolores Basilica, St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Italian  American Heritage Foundation in San Jose, Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in  Sonoma and in Santa Rosa. They also spent a day each in Santa Cruz and Las Vegas before returning to Trentino. They received accolades from all. They sang wherever and whenever they could. You could not help but be moved by their voices and their spirit, whether you understood Italian or not.

Many of our club members contributed to the success of this tour. A special grazie goes out to one of our newest members, Mary Elmstrom, and her sister from Montana, Eileen Freller. They accompanied the group of 48 from the time they arrived at the hotel in San Francisco till they left Santa Cruz.

Santa CrusIn the pic on the right: Coro Brenta at the Marriott Fairfield in Capitola. Circolo members from left to right,Rino Zueck, Gemma Angeli Zueck, Luca Dorigatti, Dan Aspromonte, Rinaldo Cis, Eileen Freller, Mary Elmstrom, Silvia Torresani Prevedelli. Coro President Giuseppe
(Pino) Stefenelli between Rinaldo and Eileen. After an impromptu concert, he resented handsome wooden plaques of appreciation adorned with the tour logo.

Club member Luca Dorigatti, first on the left, visiting in June the Coro Brenta in Tione. Second on left, President Giuseppe  Stefenelli. First on right, Musical Director Leone Pellegrini.
Club member Luca Dorigatti, first on the left, visiting in June the Coro Brenta in Tione.

We established close bonds of friendship with the Coro. This past summer club members Luca Dorigatti and Rinaldo Cis both paid
visits to the Coro in Tione. Then, in September club member Mary (Boni) Elmstrom and her husband Gary spent 4 days with the maestro of the Coro, Leone Pellegrini, and his wife Giuliana. They hiked with chorus members to the Rifugio Val di Fumo and had many splendid meals. They got to know them much better and learned a bit more about the history and culture of the region. As Mary says: These people are so gracious, honest and caring! I am happy to share with them a Trentino heritage.

Stefenelli wrote an article about the experience (in Italian)…read more here

Club member Rinaldo Cis, hiking with Giuseppe Stefenelli and son, in July
Club member Rinaldo Cis, hiking with Giuseppe Stefenelli and son, in July

Trentino Thunderbolt (il Fulmine Trentino) Strikes Again

Club members Rinaldo “Fulmine Trentino” Cis and Dan Aspromonte celebrate with fellow Italians  Elena Fasolo and Mattia,Borsalino at the Santa  Cruz Harbor after the Wharf-to-Wharf Race
Club members Rinaldo “Fulmine Trentino” Cis and Dan Aspromonte celebrate with fellow Italian friends Elena Fasolo and Mattia Borsalino at the Santa Cruz Harbor after the Wharf-to-Wharf Race

As many of you may remember, a few years ago club member Rinaldo Cis had his number retired at the 100th Bay-to-Breakers in San Francisco because he beat the record established in the first race. At the end  of July in Santa Cruz, Rinaldo ran the  6-mile Wharf-to-Wharf in 34:57, placing him in the top 100 male finishers out of approximately 16,000 runners. He was in the elite division along with the Kenyans and Ethiopians who typically win the event. Congratulations to Rinaldo!

Rinaldo’s greatest joy comes in running the mountain trails of Trentino. This past summer he participated in the grueling Dolomite Sky Race, a 10k up and 12k down race that starts and ends in Canazei in the Val di Fassa. The race is part of the Skyrunner World Series.

Visitors from Trentino in Spring 2014

 Luca Cattoi and Colleagues

L to R: New club member Walter Pezzini, Luca’s colleague Andrea with the leather jacket, Luca’s colleague Lorenzo  with the beanie, Maico Campilongo, owner of Terún  Pizzeria, club member Matteo Baceda with the Trento jacket,  Luca Cattoi, Davide Carmeci, Luca Dorigatti, Rinaldo Cis,  Alice Amigassi, Christine Bologna and Tarcisio Pedrotti.
L to R: New club member Walter P., Luca’s colleagues Andrea  and Lorenzo, Maico C., Matteo B.,Luca C., Davide C., Luca D., Rinaldo C.,
Alice A., Christine B. and Tarcisio P.

We first met Luca Cattoi in 2012. He  was travelling with a group, composed primarily of Trentini, visiting the high tech industries of Silicon Valley. Luca’s company based in Arco,
Trentino: http://www.graffiti2000.com.

His clients include such big names as Bianchi, Barilla, Microsoft, Giro d’Italia and Confindustria, just to name a few. Luca has now become a regular visitor to the area. In January he came with 3 colleagues and dinner was organized at the Terún Pizzeria in Palo Alto. Several of our club members were in attendance.

Federica Mandato from Pergine

Chiara Lazzeri teaches at a high school in Borgo Valsugana. She has accompanied students to the Bay Area on two occasions, and her students have interviewed members of our Circolo. She also invited Michael Job to be a guest lecturer at her high school.
Towards the beginning of April, Chiara’s childhood friend, Federica Mandato,
visited California to attend a scientific conference. Federica lives in Pergine, but works as an administrative assistant for Fondazione Pezcoller in Trento, a foundation that promotes biomedical research in the field of cancer. Chiara had Federica contact Michael in San Francisco. As always, Michael was a gracious host. Federica truly enjoyed her time here and promised to be back soon.

Michael Job & Federica Mandato in San Francisco
Michael Job & Federica Mandato in San Francisco

Lara Olivetti and Rickard Olseke

Lara Olivetti worked as an attorney for several  years at the Association Trentino nel Mondo, giving free legal advice on Italian citizenship and other matters. She received the admiration of Trentini the world over for her kindness and empathy. She has assisted many of our own club members with her expertise.

Lara now lives in Sweden with her partner Rickard Olseke. Rickard works on immigration and asylum cases. In mid-April they came to Northern California on vacation. It was a pleasure to spend time with Lara and Rickard and to get to know them better.
We found out that Lara is related to the founder of Olivetti, the computer, typewriter, etc. manufacturer, and her family endured hardship when anti-Semitism was in full force in Italy.

Coro (Chorus) Brenta of Tione

Cari Trentini,
At the end of this month, the Coro (Chorus) Brenta of Tione di Trento will perform in San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Rosa.  This is a rare occasion not to be missed!

Program:
– Saturday, 4/26 – Mission Dolores Basilica – 6pm
3321 16th Street, San Francisco. Free event.

– Sunday, 4/27 – St. Mary’s Cathedral – 10:30am-11 concert
1111 Gough Street, San Francisco. The chorus will also sing during the 11am
mass celebrating the canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul II.

– Sunday, 4/27 – San Jose – 5pm
Italian American Heritage Foundation (IAHF)
425 North Fourth Street, San Jose
4-5pm social hour; 5pm concert; 6:30 Trentino dinner
Cost: $20 adults; children 12 & under $10. Beverages extra.
See the attached flier OR go to the IAHF WEB PAGE:

Coro Brenta 2014

– Monday, 4/28 – Sonoma – 3pm
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards 24724 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. Free public concert.
WEB SITE

– Monday, 4/28 – Santa Rosa – 6pm
Oakmont Village Active Adult Retirement Community
Oakmont Recreational Facility, 7902 Oakmont Dr. Santa Rosa
5-6pm social hour; 6pm concert; 7 dinner
Donation: $20 and includes wine
to make a reservation write to:
info@trentinisanfrancisco.org

 

 

ITTONA Convention 2014 – OGDEN UTAH

ITTONA Convention 2014 Information
JULY 17 – JULY 20, 2014

Thursday, July 17, 2014
Fly into the Salt Lake City International Airport, located at  the base of the Wasatch Mountains, home of the 2002  Winter Olympics. As you arrive, proceed to the baggage claim area to be met by our 2014 Convention Hosts. As you get your luggage, volunteers will be there to tag and load your luggage. Then they will transport it directly to your Hotel. Our hosts will then escort you to the Trax light rail system for a short 10 minute ride where you will connect with the Frontrunner for a quiet 40 minute train ride North to Ogden, Utah, site of the 2014 ITTONA Convention. Check in at the David Eccles Convention center for all of your Convention Information. We will then direct you to one of the 4 beautiful downtown Hotels. The Radisson Suites is connected to the Convention center, so for those of you that don’t want to walk much it is your best choice. The recently renovated Historic Ben Lomond Hotel, the new Hilton Garden Inn and The Summit Hotel are all a short half-block walk to the Convention Center. Check the link to the left for more hotel information. After you are checked in, you are free to enjoy the evening. Walking maps and Convention Hosts will be available to help direct you to different activities and any one of over 20 restaurants all with in a 2 block walk. Dinner and all activities Thursday evening are at your own expense.

Friday, July 18, 2014

A hot breakfast will be provided at your individual Hotel, then meet at the Convention Center to board the busses to Salt Lake City. There you will take a walking tour of  the Cathedral of the Madalene, Salt Lake City’s oldest Cathedral. A short walk will take you to the world-renowned LDS Church History center. Here we will have computers setup and volunteers to help you search your family history. Bring your parent’s birth dates and any other information that will help you start your search. At noon, we will guide you to the City Creek Mall just across the street for some free time for lunch at one of the 18 restaurants available. You can do some shopping or take a leisurely stroll through the outdoor mall, recently opened, it is home of some of the finest name brand stores. City Creek Mall is one of the largest open air malls built in the U.S. in the last ten years. For those desiring to go back for more work at the family history center, it will be open and available for the rest of the afternoon. Board busses back to the Convention Center for a few hours of leisure to prepare for our Traditional Tyrolean Dinner and dancing. Great food, conversation and dancing await. A cash bar will also be provided.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Again, a wonderful hot breakfast is provided at your Hotel. The morning will be spent in downtown Ogden with a variety of events available for you. Walk the outdoor farmers market on Historic 25th street also lined with all kinds of shops. Enjoy the Browning Arms historic museum and a classic car display, located in the Historic Union Pacific Train Station. For those who desire, there is an optional tour this morning to the Hill Air Force Bases Plane museum. This is an optional tour and is explained later. At 12:30 gather at the Convention Center for light lunch and a short presentation by Trentini nel Mondo. After lunch, relax and get ready for a great event. We will board busses for a short 15 minute ride to the base of Ogden Canyon. Located by a beautiful river, you will enjoy a western cookout and then enter one of the few historic outdoor Rodeo venues left in the West you, will enjoy a world class Rodeo, outdoors at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. After, board the bus back to the convention center to unwind and enjoy some great conversation and possibly some singing.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Breakfast again at your Hotel (we don’t want anyone to go hungry). Board the bus once more for a 30 minute ride up Ogden Canyon to Ogden Valley. Here we will celebrate an outdoor mass and then be treated to a traditional western Dutch oven meal, cooked in the old traditional Dutch ovens used by the early cowboys. Relax and enjoy the mountain air before we board the busses back to the Hotels. Following lunch, the convention will be concluded. Dinner and all other meals will be your responsibility. You can head back to the airport for a later flight out of SLC or enjoy the final evening in Ogden before we take you back to the Airport on Monday, or your depart for additional travel in the West. Information will be provided for many great extended trips. We will take care of all your transportation needs from the time you arrive at the airport until we drop you back at the airport. For those that desire, car rentals are available at the airport (we will provide driving instructions). Parking is available at all of the Hotels.

If you plan to go e-mail to:
info@trentinisanfrancisco.org
we will send you the registration package.
Grazie !!

 

Christmas Lunch 2013 – Pictures are here

2013, New members:

Matteo Baceda and Family
Matteo Baceda also attended the picnic along with his wife Jennifer, nearly 7-year-old daughter Stella and 18-month-old twins Oliver and Camilla. They brought along their homemade strudel. Yum! Matteo is from Trento, but he has lived in the Bay Area since 2001. He founded Modernus, a company born “out of a love for what Italy does best, manufacture and design products that are in
our daily lives.” They mainly work on commercial projects. Recently they entered the demountable wall market, with a product inspired by feedback they received from architects and designers around the country. His small, self-financed company is always looking for new talent to bring onboard.
Matteo studied at the University of Trento and then worked in London. After that, he attained an MBA at Dartmouth College in New
Hampshire. Then he landed a job in credit derivatives at JP Morgan Chase in New York. It was there that he met his wife Jenn. In 2001 the
Gap offered to relocate Jenn to San Francisco. They gladly accepted the move. Matteo, Jenn e famiglia, benvenuti al Circolo Trentino di San Francisco!

Mary Elmstrom
Mary Elmstrom recently found out about our club through the Trentini nel Mondo website. She says her grandmother was a regular subscriber of the Trentini nel Mondo magazine. Her maternal grandfather, August Boni, was born in 1897 in Pennsylvania. His parents were Fioravante Boni and Paola Gallazzini from Villa Rendena. Her maternal grandmother, Lena Schivalocchi, was born in Alliance, Ohio. Her parents were Francesco Giuseppe Schivalocchi from Darzo and Maria Stenico from Trento. Mary travelled to Val Rendena twice about 10-12 years ago and met cousins from the Gallazzini family. Since then she has been studying Italian and improving “piano, piano”.
Mary grew up in Berkeley. She met her husband Gary while attending UC Davis. They raised 3 children in Leesburg, Florida, where Gary was a research Professor of Horticulture for 26 years. They transferred to Woodland, California in 1995 and to San Rafael 3 years ago. They are delighted to be back in the Bay Area. Their daughter Kris, son-in-law Aaron and grandson Jax live nearby, and Mary is enjoying her role as “nonna.”
The Val Rendena is well known for its knife sharpeners. We have other club members with origins in the Val Rendena: Ben Maganzini, Maria Mortati (Polli) and Bruce Cozzini. Mary
looks forward to meeting them and the rest of us.

Frank Giunta
Some new members attended the picnic in Alameda. The first was Frank (Franco) Giunta. Frank is originally from Western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. He has lived in the Berkeley/Oakland hills for the past 40 plus years, but he had no idea there was a Trentino club. He found out about our club from Debbie Corradi, President of the club in Minnesota. He descends from the Serafini family of Bleggio in the Valli Giudicarie, about
20 miles west of Trento. Frank’s first visit to the area was in 1969, and he has been back
many times since. He knows other Trentini that are not part of our club, and he plans to recruit them. Benvenuto Franco!!

Federico Menapace
Federico Menapace has been in the MBA program at Stanford University for the past few years. He also has various degrees in civil engineering from the Universities of Trento, Michigan and Trieste. He is working on several projects, including one with Luca Cattoi, a developer and entrepreneur from Arco, Trentino. Luca has visited the Bay Area on several occasions and has become friends with several of our club members. Luca, Federico and others have created a travel reservation program, www.TravelNuts.com. They are currently testing the program out at a hotel operated in Santa Cruz by club members, Dan and Elena Aspromonte. The Aspromontes have been delighted with the results.

Carmella Weintraub
Carmella Weintraub lives in Santa Cruz. Her Trentino ancestors, Zanoni, Bergamo, etc., came from Campodenno and Denno in the Val di Non. Carmella studied child psychology at San Jose State, married and had children before embarking on a career in art and fashion. She learned to sew at a young age from her grandmother. She runs sewing and design classes for youngsters in the Santa Cruz area.

 

 

Passages 2013, Remembering those we lost.

Giacinto, aka Gino, Galliani
Gino Galliani, a founding member of our club in 1980, passed away on July 17th in San Jose. He was born in Lardaro in the Valle del Chiese, which is part of the Valli
Giudicarie. july_17_2013He was the first in his family to receive an education beyond high school. He had a promising career in the Italian forestry service, but his mother encouraged him to seek a life of greater opportunity with his 2 brothers in Canada. On the trip to
New York, he met Paula who was headed to LA. They stayed in touch and married in 1958. Soon later they had son Richard and daughter Aurelia, both residents of
the South Bay. At the young age of  37, Gino became a widower and had to raise the children on his own. Gino worked for Italian Swiss Colony, where he put to use training he received in Italy as an enologist. In the 1960s the winery was the second most visited tourist spot in California next to Disneyland. As we all recall, Gino was a talented speaker and loved to socialize.
So, he became a tour guide at the winery. In his off-time he worked fixing up
his real estate investments. Gino lived in Cloverdale for 50 years. He spent the last couple of years in Lardaro where he remodeled the house he inherited from his parents. Gino always brought cheerfulness and humor to our club events. His presence will be sorely missed. Our sincere condolences go out to Richard and Aurelia and their respective families.

Passing of Nadia Holober, Vice-Mayor of Millbrae
Nadia Holober passed away on May 8th at the age of 54 from a private battle with cancer.
Her parents, Antonio Vitlacil and Laura Floriani Vitlacil, immigrated from the Valsugana
to Canada, where Nadia was born. May_8_2013When Nadia was 4, the family moved to the Bay
Area. She graduated from the University of California Berkeley and the Hastings School
of Law. She was a firm believer in social justice and worked tirelessly for her local
community. In 1982 she met her husband, Richard Holober, while working on a political
campaign. They had two boys, Reuben, 25, and Evan, 21. In 1991 the family settled in Millbrae where Nadia volunteered to put on the city’s 50th anniversary.
She served on the city council from 1999 till her passing except for a 2-year gap
caused by term limits. From 2003- 04 she served as mayor. Accomplishments included Millbrae’s landmark new library, sister-city relationships with
Malta, Chile and China, the town’s acclaimed grease cogeneration plant and a balanced budget. Nadia was also a Eucharist minister at her church and an avid gardener. We send our heartfelt condolences to Nadia’s friends and relatives, and in particular to Antonio, Laura, Richard, Reuben, Evan and her siblings.

Kelly Kielar Sessi
Kelly Kielar Sessi passed away on May 3rd from a long battle with cancer. She was
delighted to witness her 2 oldest daughters get married last year. She also celebrated her
only grandchild’s first birthday and took her on a trip to Disneyland. Our club sends
profound condolences to her husband Martin Sessi, to their 4 children, Nicole, Kaitlin,
Kyler and Isabella, to their granddaughter Adrienna, and to all other family members.