Assembly Resolution No. 480
BY: M. of A. Ra
COMMEMORATING the 40th Anniversary of the American
Italian Heritage Association
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body, in keeping with
its time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those
organizations and individuals who 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
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the American Italian Heritage
Association, the 10th Anniversary of the Museum being located in Albany,
and the 5th Anniversary of the Cultural Center, to be celebrated with a
Gala on Thursday, September 12, 2019; Ronald Canestrari, NYS Assemblyman
from 1989-2012 and Victoria Graffeo, Associate Justice, NYS Court of
Appeals from 2000-2014, will serve as Dinner Co-Chairs; and
WHEREAS, The seeds for the American Italian Heritage Association,
Museum and Cultural Center were planted 40 years ago when, at the
request of Philip DiNovo, eight professors gathered at the Syracuse
University Law Department lounge to discuss the best way to preserve the
Italian culture, ethnicity and history for future generations to
cultivate; and
WHEREAS, The American Italian Heritage Association was chartered and
formally established on June 12, 1979, in the Madison County Village of
Morrisville, Town of Eaton, New York, with the expressed purpose and
mission to record and preserve the blessed Italian heritage; Philip
DiNovo is the first and current President of the association; and
WHEREAS, While Philip DiNovo was living in Morrisville, the largest
Italian population was 30 miles away in Utica; he thought this would be
the perfect place to begin building the first incarnation of the
American Italian Museum; he found a former church in Utica's Little
Italy section and this was the home of the museum for 13 years from 1985
to 1998; and
WHEREAS, For 32 years, Philip DiNovo was chairman of the department
and a professor of Business Administration at Morrisville State College,
then known as Morrisville Agricultural and Technical College; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, Philip DiNovo retired from teaching and moved to
Albany; the artifacts he collected and displayed at the museum in Utica
were moved with him and plans for a national museum began; the precious
artifacts were mothballed in storage as the museum began a rebirth and
took root at its current spot in the Town of Colonie; and
WHEREAS, Purchased in 2004, it took five years to restore the first
floor of the building as the museum, which was opened after an 11-year
hiatus, on October 4, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The Cultural Center opened five years ago on August 21,
2014, after another five year renovation effort to bring the second
floor of the structure up to building code standards; and
WHEREAS, An art gallery, memorial chapel, meeting space, library and
classroom occupy the 1900 square-foot cultural center; Italian language
courses, cultural genealogy and cooking classes are also offered at the
site; and
WHEREAS, The American Italian Heritage Association is proud to honor
its 2019 award recipients: Dominick Patrignani, Labor Rights Defenders
Award; Thomas Nardacci, Business Leadership Award; Command Sergeant
Major Tom Ciampolillo, Veterans' Bravery Award; La Rabinessa Liora
Koen-Sarano Kelman, Religion Unity Award; Ron and Michele Riggi,
Humanitarian Award; Professor Philip DiNovo, Public Service Dedication
Award; Giovanni Virgiglio, Education Achievement Award; Terisina Cosma
Mazzara-Boor, Arts Appreciation Award; and Ric Orlando, Culinary Arts
Award; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
associations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the American Italian Heritage
Association; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the American Italian Heritage Association.