Thank you to the powerhouse Italian Americans: Louisa Ermelino, Mary Pipino, Joe Ciancaglini, Robin and Dan Napoli, Mario Cantone and Jerry Dixon （IBM）， Gina Casella of AT Escapes, Angelo and Denise Vivolo, Anthony and Maria Tamburri, Aileen Sirey, Eileen Condon, Pat Tinto, Rossella Rago Pesce and Nick Pesce, Brenda Vaccaro, Lorraine Bracco, John Melfi and Andrew Egan （IBM）， Joanne LaMarca, Caroline Giovannini, Mary A. Vetri, Ed and Chris （Pipino） Muransky, Gina Vechiarelli, Beth Vechiarelli Cooper, Dominic and Carol Vechiarelli, Denise Spatafora, Lora Minichillo, Dolores Alfieri Taranto, Dominic Candeloro, Marolyn Ferragamo Senay, Theresa Guarnieri, Carla Simonini, Donna DeSanctis, Marisa Acocella, Violetta Acocella, Susan Paolercio, Regina Ciarleglio, Josephine Pellegrino, Florence Marchi, Anthony Giordano, Lisa Ackerman, Christine Freglette, Miles Fisher, the women of NOIAW, the Sons and Daughters of Italy, and the Columbus Citizens Foundation. The incomparable author David Baldacci is my honorary brother and coach—there is no one better.
In this era of loss and suffering, so many magnificent family and friends have passed to the next life, and we mourn them in this one. My family mourns our cousins Bobby Ferris, Ignatius Farino, Eva Palermo, Constance Ciliberti Bath, Constance Rose Ruggiero, Connie Butler, and Catherine “Kitty” Calzetti. We also mourn Great Aunt Lavinia Perin Spadoni and Aunt Peggy McBain.
The Virginians: From Big Stone Gap to the capitol, we remember Senator John Warner, Carolyn Bloomer, Dr. Henry David Patterson, Ginny Patterson, Ben Allen, Midge Hall, Paula Sue Gillespie Isaac, David Isaac Jr., Morris Burchette, Johnny Cubine, Butch Lyke, and N. Brent Kennedy. The Miss Americas: Phyllis George and Leanza Cornett. They were beauties inside and out, and loving mothers. Glenmary priest/pastor/writer/rabble rouser: Father John Rausch was my spiritual counselor since I was a girl. I was blessed to know him.
Beloved actors/artists/writers/designers （and not just by me）： James Hampton, Leila Meacham, Ed Stern, Mary Pat Gleason, Walter Hicklin, Jay Sandrich, Lynn Cohen, Robert Hogan, Alice Spivak, Rebecca Luker, Monty and Marilyn Hall, Dorothea Benton Frank, and Willie Garson. Angels: Melissa Smith’s son and Susan Sanders’s grandson; Logan Smith, Shannon DeHart, Patricia Lynn McMahon Vogelsang, Aunt Pauline “Polly” Harold, and James Natel Gomes de Oliveira Filho.
The New Yorkers: Bunny Grossinger, the great Charlie Weiner （Lynn’s husband, generous and kind）， Sonny Grosso （half of The French Connection and full stop Italian American）， Dorothy Tota of Long Island and Cartier’s, and Dr. Emil Pascarelli （Dee’s husband and as fine a man as ever lived）。
The Fathers, good and kind men: Victor Peccioli, Dr. Vincent DeFranco, Marvin Gilliam, Vincent Festa, Joseph V. Trigiani, Jordan Barnette, Bruce Kerner, Jack Carrao, Alfred Shelton, Dennis Richard Myers, Joseph B. Rienzi, Eddie Mugavero, Gregory Piontek, Robert E. Isaac, Sr., Joe Toney, Ronnie Coughlin, L. C. Coughlin, Steven Goffredo, Jack Hurd, and Bernard Passarelli.
We will hold these beautiful mothers in our hearts forever: Doris Emmerson, Betty Joyce Ball, Patti Webb Cornett, Marie Castellano, Barbara Ann Festa, Nellie Millet Williams, Esther D. Wing, Jean Hendrick, Evadean Church, Carlotta Browder, Janet Salerno Bellanca, Nancy Cline Toney, Eleanor “Fitz” King, Ardeth Fissé, Dolores “Dee” Losapio, Marie Trigiani, Rita Joan Holwager, Susan Cooperman Tannenbaum, Theresa Joan Winiecki, Portia McClenny, Marie Salerno, Cheryl Scarelli, Rosalyn Mugavero, Nina Coughlin, Martha Bolling Wren Ford, Billie Louise Peters Gabriele, Norma A. Siemen, Jean DeVault Hendrich, Rosalia Helen LaValley Pentecost, and Marie Casavecchia.
The loss of Shirley Cavallo, visionary/chef/designer and owner of La Locanda Del Cavallo in Easton, Pennsylvania, is enormous. I learned a great deal from her sumptuous and gorgeous largesse at the table, in the garden, and in her home. Her beloved son Brondo, my honorary brother, carries on her spectacular work.
James Huber Varner drove the Wise County Bookmobile. When I was a girl and he stopped in Big Stone Gap, it was always an event. He was never without a smile or a recommendation for this young reader. I adored him.
The wonderful educators changed the world and live on in the keen intellects of the students they taught: Dorothy Ruggiero, Dr. George Vaughn, Peggy Vaughn, Connie Clark, and Anthony Baratta will be missed.
The Origin Project serves over 2,500 students in grades 1 through 12 in my home state, Virginia. The program’s Appalachian roots have grown a garden of talented young, published writers. The in-school writing program would not exist without executive director and co-founder Nancy Bolmeier Fisher’s vision and pluck. Our deepest gratitude to Ian Fisher and Ryan Fisher. Linda Woodward keeps the wheels on the bus, and Rhonda Carper rotates the tires when we need it most.