I was born in Buffalo, New York to parents who were both first generation citizens of the United States. All four of my grandparents were immigrants from Southern Italy, originating within 30 miles of Naples.
When I was 21 years old, my parents brought me with them on trip to Italy where they introduced me to extended family members. I met my father’s relatives in Naples and my mother’s in Roccapiemonte (near Sorrento). I... Show More I was born in Buffalo, New York to parents who were both first generation citizens of the United States. All four of my grandparents were immigrants from Southern Italy, originating within 30 miles of Naples.
When I was 21 years old, my parents brought me with them on trip to Italy where they introduced me to extended family members. I met my father’s relatives in Naples and my mother’s in Roccapiemonte (near Sorrento). I didn’t return for 30 years, but when I did, I was greeted like a long-lost son. My wife and I have been back multiple times in the past 20 years, and we always spend some time sightseeing and some time visiting the family.
I live with my wife Holli on the StoneWater golf course in Caledonia, Michigan. We moved here from Mexico in March of 2020 right before the State shut down for the pandemic. Prior to living in Mexico for 2 years, we lived in San Diego and San Francisco for nearly 30 years. We are delighted that two of our children and their significant others have followed us here and now live within 3 miles of us. Our first grandson was born here in 2021. In addition to living in California and New York, I also lived in the Philadelphia area for 17 years while I attended graduate school and earned a Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania in 1980.
Since 2001 I have operated a consulting firm called DeLauro and Associates working mostly with non profit healthcare clients around the country. Show Less
You are correct, my last name is not very Italian. In fact, it’s Slovak. However, I’m a 2nd generation Italian-American on my mother’s side of the family (née DiPiero) and I enjoy learning about my family’s Italian heritage. My grandmother’s family originated from Calabria and my grandfather’s family was from Abruzzi. I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio and moved to Grand Rapids for my pediatric internship and residency... Show More You are correct, my last name is not very Italian. In fact, it’s Slovak. However, I’m a 2nd generation Italian-American on my mother’s side of the family (née DiPiero) and I enjoy learning about my family’s Italian heritage. My grandmother’s family originated from Calabria and my grandfather’s family was from Abruzzi. I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio and moved to Grand Rapids for my pediatric internship and residency at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Currently, I am a general pediatrician with a special interest in sports medicine. During the fall, I am also the football team physician for Calvin Christian High School. I look forward to learning more about our Italian heritage and helping the Italian-American Club of West Michigan continue to grow and celebrate the Italian culture in this area. Ciao! Show Less
I am originally from Flint MI. My parents were Mike and Josephine Bellomo.
My father was born in Valenzano Puglia Italy to Nicola Bellomo and Francesca De Bellis. He came to America in 1921 and settled in Chicago. My mother’s parents, Antonino Manno and Cona Randazzo, came to America from San Cono Sicily in the Provence of Enna around 1906 and settled in Indiana where my mother was born shortly thereafter. My parents met ... Show More I am originally from Flint MI. My parents were Mike and Josephine Bellomo.
My father was born in Valenzano Puglia Italy to Nicola Bellomo and Francesca De Bellis. He came to America in 1921 and settled in Chicago. My mother’s parents, Antonino Manno and Cona Randazzo, came to America from San Cono Sicily in the Provence of Enna around 1906 and settled in Indiana where my mother was born shortly thereafter. My parents met and married in Chicago and then moved to Flint MI where my brother, Nicola and I were born.
It wasn’t until after my parents died that I became interested in my heritage and started my genealogical research. My parents never talked about their past so I basically started from ground zero. After some digging and help from friends in Chicago I was able to connect with my father’s family in Valenzano and meet my cousins and see my grandfather’s house. Through letters I discovered that my mother had kept I learned about her parents journey to America. I then traveled to Sicily where I met my Sicilian cousins. I have been to Italy many times to visit all my cousins and discover all Italy has to offer.
I have lived in Grand Rapids for the last 40 years and retired from Foremost/Farmers Insurance in 2018 after 31 years of services as a Software Asset Manager. Previously I lived in East Lansing and worked for Michigan Bell before transferring to Grand Rapids and working for AT&T.
In addition to being a member of IACWM , I am also a member of Club Italia and the Sister Cities Perugia Commitee . I now volunteer as an Election Worker in my local precinct and in my spare time I travel, play pickleball and chess and continue my genealogy research. Show Less
I was born and raised in the Detroit area to parents that immigrated from Italy in 1948, so I am a first-generation Italian-American. My father is from Bavaria, and my mother is from the neighboring town of Cusignana. Both towns are in the Province of Treviso, approximately 35 miles from Venice. When I was nine years old, my parents took my sister and me to Italy for an entire summer, where we stayed with family. Five ... Show More I was born and raised in the Detroit area to parents that immigrated from Italy in 1948, so I am a first-generation Italian-American. My father is from Bavaria, and my mother is from the neighboring town of Cusignana. Both towns are in the Province of Treviso, approximately 35 miles from Venice. When I was nine years old, my parents took my sister and me to Italy for an entire summer, where we stayed with family. Five of my father's nine siblings remained in Italy, so I was able to meet my aunts and uncles and several first cousins. On my mother’s side, while in Italy that summer, I was able to meet my maternal great-grandfather and many of my mother’s relatives. I’ve been back to Italy as an adult two more times, in 2013 and 2019, traveled around the country, and also connected with extended family near Treviso. After high school, I attended Michigan State University where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and after a brief stint as a 2nd grade teacher, I decided to change my career path, whereupon I graduated from Ferris State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. After college, I moved to the Grand Rapids area, and have lived in the West Michigan area ever since. I currently live in Caledonia with my husband Bob, and I have two adult sons who live in the Grand Rapids area. I’m retired from a 40-year career in Information Technology, having worked the last 15 years for the Department of Defense in Battle Creek doing SAP software sustainment. Show Less
I was born and raised in Grand Rapids Michigan. I am first generation Sicilian. My father was born in Montelepre, Sicily and my mother‘s parents were also born in Montelepre. When I was 15 years old my parents took me and my older sister to Sicily for the first time where we met a whole slew of aunts and uncles and cousins, it was amazing as well as a bit overwhelming.
I will never forget that first trip. Many more trips ... Show More I was born and raised in Grand Rapids Michigan. I am first generation Sicilian. My father was born in Montelepre, Sicily and my mother‘s parents were also born in Montelepre. When I was 15 years old my parents took me and my older sister to Sicily for the first time where we met a whole slew of aunts and uncles and cousins, it was amazing as well as a bit overwhelming.
I will never forget that first trip. Many more trips were to follow which I was so grateful for.
I live in Ada and I retired from the Gerald R Ford International Airport after 28 years of service. I currently serve as a board member for my condominium complex and I am also a volunteer for the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center for the last 20 years.
My passion is playing Pickleball, travel and also riding my electric bike. I also belong to a few social clubs in town. I look forward to serving on the Italian-American Club of West Michigan board and getting to know all the members. Show Less
I was born and raised in a small coal mining town in NE Pennsylvania to which my grandfather, Domenico, who was the first of seven brothers to emigrate to in the 1890’s. They were from the Trentino-Alto Adige region in the far northern and utterly beautiful Dolomite mountains (the southern Alps really.) My paternal grandmother was from that same area, but she emigrated many years later. There were nine in my father’s famil... Show More I was born and raised in a small coal mining town in NE Pennsylvania to which my grandfather, Domenico, who was the first of seven brothers to emigrate to in the 1890’s. They were from the Trentino-Alto Adige region in the far northern and utterly beautiful Dolomite mountains (the southern Alps really.) My paternal grandmother was from that same area, but she emigrated many years later. There were nine in my father’s family, and he had many American first cousins who were the offspring of his several uncles, as well as several Italian cousins who were the offspring of my grandfather’s sisters who did not emigrate. However, as is the case with some immigrants, they chose not to pass the language and culture on to their American children. So, none of my dad’s siblings or very few of his cousins had any interest in their Italian heritage. However, my father did have such an interest and even found a way to visit his parents’ birthplace and relatives when stationed in Italy during World War II thankfully after the Italian surrender to the Allies). He passed that love for his heritage on to me.
It wasn’t until after graduating from college and my grandmother passing away (my Italian grandfather died several years before I was born) that I developed an interest in my heritage and traveled to Italy to meet my cugini Italiani. I have made 6 visits there over the years, during one of which I studied Italian at La Universita’ per Stranieri a Perugia. This enabled me to communicate and develop real and lasting bonds with the relatives and land from which my paternal grandparents came.
In terms of my life in the US, I have an undergraduate degree from Boston College, the area where I lived until moving across the country to Portland, OR. I lived, got married (and later divorced), had four kids, co-founded a successful personal financial advisory firm, and generally had a good life for another 36 years there before moving back to Boston and Providence for five more. I moved to Grand Rapids in April of 2018 to live near my older son and his wife who have my first 3 grandchildren. Of my other 3 adult children, my two daughters still living in Portland and my younger son, Domenico is married and living in New Orleans. All four of them have been back to visit our Italian relatives in Trentino. I have one other grandchild, the daughter of my younger daughter, who is in this photo with me.
My wish in joining the IACWM Board is to draw on my love for, ties to and experience of Italy and Italian to the benefit of the membership and the Greater Grand Rapids community. Show Less
I grew up in Petoskey, Michigan and moved to Grand Rapids while attending Calvin College (now Calvin University). I fell in love with West Michigan and decided to stay in the area after I finished college. I have a master’s degree in clinical social work from Western Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree from Calvin in visual communications. I have been working at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services for ... Show More I grew up in Petoskey, Michigan and moved to Grand Rapids while attending Calvin College (now Calvin University). I fell in love with West Michigan and decided to stay in the area after I finished college. I have a master’s degree in clinical social work from Western Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree from Calvin in visual communications. I have been working at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services for over 20 years and I am now the Director of Grants there. My surname may be Italian, but my ancestry is certainly not. My heritage is mostly English, Dutch and Scotch/Irish but my DNA test does show that I have 2% Italian ancestry that seems to center around the regions of Toscana and Emilia-Romagna. I did a tour of Italy in 2011 and was able to visit Venice, Florence, Naples, Rome, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. I am planning on doing a tour of Sicily in the near future with my husband Jason. I love the Italian culture, heritage, and cuisine. In my spare time I enjoy reading, sewing, hiking, kayaking, antiquing, cooking, and travelling with my husband. Show Less
I was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and have lived in the metro area my entire life. My paternal ancestry is Sicilian, originating from Alcamo, Termini Imerese, Palermo and Cefalù. After graduating from Grandville High School, I studied automotive technology and photography at Grand Rapids Community College. I have been selling Ford and Mazda parts in the area for over 20 years and am currently employed at Borgman Ford... Show More I was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and have lived in the metro area my entire life. My paternal ancestry is Sicilian, originating from Alcamo, Termini Imerese, Palermo and Cefalù. After graduating from Grandville High School, I studied automotive technology and photography at Grand Rapids Community College. I have been selling Ford and Mazda parts in the area for over 20 years and am currently employed at Borgman Ford/Mazda. I was recently elected Vice President of the Grandville Historical Commission and enjoy studying the history of West Michigan. I am also a professional genealogist and have been working on my family tree for over 30 years. I have done extensive research about the history of the Italian community in the Grand Rapids area and I want to keep expanding my knowledge in that field. Other hobbies include attending and participating in car shows, drag racing, building Lego sets, collecting antiques and traveling with my wife. I have not been to Italy as of yet but my wife and I are planning a trip to Sicily in a few years. Show Less
Italian American Club of West Michigan
