|
Inside
This Issue
2005-2006
Executive Board
President
Maria
Di Stefano
Vice
President
Sal
Di Stefano
Secretary
Bob
Yantosca
Treasurer
Doug Mavilia
Director
of Social Events
Annie
Marascia
Director
of Public Relations
David
Spada
Director
of Culture & Education
Doreen
Giammarco
Upcoming
Fieri Boston Events
Date
Event
4.02.05
FIERI Boston's 9th Annual Pasquetta Scholarship Awards Gala
Event
4.08.05
Docufilm: Killing Silence @ Dante Alighieri Society
4.09.05
Musical recital in Belmont MA featuring FIERI Boston's own
Gary Gengo!
4.30.05
FIERI Boston Dance Party
06.16-19.05
FIERI International Convention in NYC
For
more information on events visit our website: www.fieri-
boston.org/news.htm
Mille
Grazie:
Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

Massachusetts
School of Law
Mr. Joseph Filippetti
Admissions Officer
978.681.0800
JoeF@mslaw.edu

Noddle
Island Soaps
All Natural Just Like
Nonna Used to Make!
info@noddleisland.com

ALL
THINGS SICILIAN
1-866-GO SICILY
4 Union Street, Lawrence MA
978-686-7667
300 Andover Street, Peabody, MA 978-977-7787
433 Amherst Steet, Nashua, NH
603-882-1133
Cambridge
Watch and
Jewelry Buyers
303 Washington St
Room 421B
Boston MA, 02108
617-263-7766
cjwb1@aol.com
Caffe
Toscana
4100 Mystic Valley Pkwy
Wellington Circle Plaza
Medford, MA 02155
781-391-8255
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Home
Improvements and Repairs
By Sam Brusco
617.407.0276
sbrusco@yahoo.com
Editor:
David Spada
pr@fieri-boston.org
Visit
Us Online!
http://www.fieri-boston.org
|
Fieri
Boston's 9th Annual Pasquetta Scholarship Gala April 2, 2005
FIERI Boston's 9th Annual Pasquetta Scholarship Awards Gala
will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2005 at the Boston Logan
Airport Hilton, starting at 7 PM.
At
Pasquetta, FIERI Boston will present its 2005 Scholarship
Awards to the following graduating high- school seniors:
- Christina
Patti (Revere High School)
- Anthony
Bova Jr. (Masconomet Regional High School)
We
hope that you will join us in congratulating Christina and
Anthony and their families on their outstanding achievements.
Auguri!
Ticket
prices for Pasquetta are $55 for FIERI members and $65 for
non-members and guests. Entertainment will be provided by
DJ Lou Auciello. Please contact Annie Marascia, FIERI Boston
Director of Social Events, for tickets or for more information
at social@fieri-boston.org
Pasquetta
is FIERI Boston's major fundraiser of the year. Please invite
your family and friends to attend...the more the merrier!
We appreciate your support.
Cultura:
La Festa di San Giuseppe
By: Doreen Giammarco
Two
days after the feast of the great Irish Saint, Patrick comes
the feast day of Saint Joseph, "the just man". Saint
Joseph's day is celebrated by generations of Italians and
Italian Americans on March 19. Saint Joseph is the patron
saint of many places and many trades. He is the guardian of
the spiritual home of Christians, the church as well as their
material home. He is also known as the protector of Mother
Mary and her child, Jesus. It is also known as father's day
in Italy.
The
tradition of Saint Joseph's day began in the middle ages when
there was a severe drought in Sicily. The people asked Saint
Joseph, their patron saint to intervene. They promised Saint
Joseph a big feast in return for rain. Their prayers were
answered with rain. As a sign of gratitude the people prepared
a big feast and all were invited to celebrate.
Today
many Italians and Italian Americans continue to celebrate
Saint Joseph's Day. In many Italian villages, especially in
Sicily, many people contribute food to a table spread in the
public square as an offering for favors received from Saint
Joseph. The bread that is made resembles a scepter or a beard.
Many people celebrate by going to mass. In other Sicilian
villages a unique minestrone is made with various vegetables
and is served with toasted bread crumbs instead of grated
cheese. This is the origin of the Sicilian expression, minestra
di San Giuse. (signifies confusion or chaos.). Other foods
eaten on Saint Joseph's feast day are lentils, dried beans.
In other parts of Italy Saint Joseph's day is celebrated by
making zeppole. These are delicious round, fried pastries
filled with cream. Saint Joseph's Day is also the onomastico
or name day of anyone named Joseph, or any derivative of that
name; Giuseppe, Giuseppina, Josephine, Pino, Pina, Peppe.
Growing
up in an Italian family Saint Joseph's Day was always a special
day for us since my father's name is Giuseppe. My family usually
celebrates by having dinner together and then indulging in
some delicious zeppole for dessert. I associate the name Joseph
with strength, virtue and loyalty because of its association
with Saint Joseph and all of the remarkable people I know
who possess that name. Buon Onomastico to all Giuseppes and
Giuseppinas!
Mangia: Recipes Courtesy of All Things
Sicilian
Sausage & Peppers Pasta
This is sausage and peppers in a flash. I add a sliced onion
to the sausages, but you can leave it out if you want to.
By the time the pasta is done, so is the rest. When you put
the pasta in the water, start cooking the sausage.
2 large Italian sausages, hot or sweet to taste
1/2 jar Mediterraneo Tomato & Pepper Sauce
½ pound any pasta you like
Grated cheese to serve, optional
1 small onion, sliced
Cook pasta until al dente in lots of boiling salted water.
While the pasta cooks, sauté the sausages, sliced into
pieces, in a little olive oil until browned. Add onions and
any additional veggies and cook until softened. Add sauce.
When pasta is done, drain quickly and toss with the pasta.
Serve with grated cheese if desired.
Phyllo
Dessert "Purses"
These are like mini cheesecakes with jam, wrapped in phyllo
dough.
16
oz. cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/4 cup melted butter
6-8 sheets phyllo dough, thawed
½ cup Fattoria Sicilsole Blood Orange Marmalade
Preheat oven to 375. In a mixer, beat the cream cheese until
light and fluffy. Add the egg, sugar and orange zest and beat
until smooth. Spread thawed phyllo on a work surface and cover
with a damp towel to keep from drying out. Lay one sheet to
the side and brush it with melted butter, then cover it with
a second sheet. Dab tablespoons of filling over the sheet
with about two inches space between placements. Dab a teaspoon
of marmalade over the cream cheese filling. Cut into squares
around filling with a pizza cutter. Gather the sides of each
square together and draw up over the filling, pinching them
together in the middle. Use damp hands to make the dough pinch
together well. Ruffle the top of each purse to separate the
pastry, and then brush a little butter on each one. Bake on
a greased baking sheet or one lined with baking parchment
for about 8-10 minutes or until golden. Repeat until all dough
is used.
Variation:
Add lemon zest and 1 teaspoon lemon juice to the cream cheese
filling; omit the orange zest. Use Fig or Blackberry jam instead.
OR Keep the orange zest, but use Cherry or Strawberry jam
instead of the Red Orange Marmalade.
Pasta
Primavera with Spring Lamb & Herb Meatballs "Primavera"
is, of course, the Italian word for "spring." In
light of the spring theme, the meatballs for this dish are
made with ground lamb and seasoned with mint, parsley, rosemary
and a little oregano. The lamb makes a nice addition to classic
pasta primavera, loaded with fresh veggies and a sauce with
a touch of cream. Serves 4 to 6.
For
Meatballs:
1
pound ground lamb
3 cloves garlic
1 egg
1/2 cup seasoned or plain dried breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon each dried mint, rosemary, parsley, sea salt
1/2 teaspoon each ground pepper, dried oregano
1/4 cup Mediterraneo Rosmarino Olive Oil
In a food processor, pulse garlic. Add lamb and pulse to blend.
With The machine running, add breadcrumbs, then egg and seasonings.
Shape into balls no larger than 1/2 inch in diameter. This
can be done up to 4
8
hours ahead -- wrap the meatballs well and refrigerate, covered,
until cooking time. Heat the Rosemary olive oil in a frying
pan and cook the meatballs Until well browned on all sides.
Remove from oil and set aside.
For
Pasta:
1 carrot, sliced thinly
1 small zucchini, sliced thinly
1 cup fresh or frozen asparagus, chopped into 1/2" pieces
4 green onions, white and light green parts only, sliced
1 jar Mediterraneo Artichoke Hearts in Oil, drained well and
rinsed,
1/2 jar Mediterraneo Seasoned Peppers in Oil, drained and
chopped
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 Tablespoons Mediterraneo Rosmarino Olive Oil
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon each dried basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary,
mint -- any combination you like
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 pound Fettuccine
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
Cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water until al
dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and add to finished sauce.
For
sauce
Heat Rosemary Olive Oil in a large pan big enough to hold
The pasta (I recommend a stove top wok pan.) When oil is hot,
add garlic. When garlic is fragrant, add carrots, onions,
asparagus and zucchini. Sauté over medium heat until
softened, about 8 minutes.
Add
the artichokes and peppers. Add the broth and raise the heat
to high. Add salt and pepper to taste, along with dried herbs.
Let sauce reduce 10 minutes, then reduce heat to low. Add
cream, meatballs and pasta; toss while heating through to
blend. Sprinkle with cheese and toss again. Servewith freshly
ground black pepper and more cheese, if desired.
Learn
to cook at All Things Sicilian!
One
Sunday afternoon each month, come to a cooking class using
All Things Sicilian products hosted at our stores.
In
March welcome Spring with "Flavors of Spring & Easter
Customs" April features Mother's Day Brunch ideas *Special
Enrollment Price - 2 for $25" All those who enjoy the
class will also be treated to samples of the goodies prepared
and a 20% off "student" coupon for use in any of
the All Things Sicilian stores. Classes will begin at 3 pm
and go for about one hour. Recipes and tips will be provided
on paper.
Time:
3 - 4pm
Day of the week: Sunday
Dates:
March
20th - Nashua-Flavors of Spring & Easter Customs
April
3 - Lawrence-Mother's day Brunch Ideas * Special Enrollment
Price 2 students for $25
April
10 - Lawrence-Mother's day Brunch Ideas * Special Enrollment
Price 2 students for $25
April
17 - Nashua-Mother's day Brunch Ideas * Special Enrollment
Price 2 students for $25
Also,
students will receive a discount shopping pass good at any
of our stores or on-line! To sign up or for questions, contact
Christine in Lawrence:(978) 978-7667 Lindsay/Meg in Peabody
(978)877-7787 Lindsay/Yana in Nashua: (603) 882-1133
Enroll
today!!! Limited Class Size!
www.allthings
sicilian.com
Editors
Note:
All
Things Sicilian has generously offered a 20% discount to Fieri
Boston Members at any of their locations.
On
behalf of Fieri Boston we thank All Things Sicilian for their
support!
Viaggia
Il Mondo: Egypt-- The Birthplace of Western Civilization
By: Theresa Consoli
Alexander
the Great and Julius Cesar once walked in the shadows of the
great pyramids and gazed up at them in awe. Egypt is a land
of wonder where each day you see and learn something new and
amazing. I sat down to speak with my sister Rachael and brothers
David, Edward and William about their recent trip to Egypt.
T:
What would you say was your favorite moment in Egypt?
R: It was all so amazing, it's hard to pick! I really liked
the sound and light show they had at night at the pyramids.
They had the "voice" of the sphinx telling the story
of the pyramids while you watched the show. I thought it was
awesome when the sphinx mentioned all the great rulers and
leaders who gazed on him such as Cesar, Alexander the Great,
and Napoleon's French Army who destroyed his nose and used
him as target practice.
E: Yes that was very cool, but my favorite was riding a camel.
They smell horrible but it was so cool!
W: I liked it when we were cruising along the Nile and when
we saw Tutankhamen's grave.
D: And all of his treasures in the museum too, that was incredible
to look at that golden mask. The eyes looked so intent!
R: There was just so much to see! Another favorite was the
temple of Queen Nefertari, whose husband Ramesses II said
she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Their temples
are in Abu Simbel. That's where they rebuilt the temple with
colossal statues of Ramesses II when they had to move it because
of the Aswan Dam.
T:
What information would be helpful to others who want to travel
to Egypt?
R: If you are interested in seeing all the ancient sites then
the best way to do it is by taking a Nile cruise, so you make
daily stops seeing different temples, tombs and sites. Also,
dress modestly- no sleeveless shirts, shorts or short skirts.
To go into the mosque of Mohammed Ali if you aren't dressed
properly they will cover you in a huge cape- but throughout
all of Egypt everyone, even those in Western clothes, is dressed
very modestly. And I wouldn't recommend that women travel
there alone.
D: Yes that's true because everyone would speak and address
themselves to me or one of the boys. Men- and they are the
ones handling most of the business- would not really address
Rachael. Even when she asked questions they would direct their
answers to me. And several shop owners asked me how much they
would have to give me for her- one man offered 10,000 camels
for her.... I did consider it for a moment!
W: And guys should never approach or speak to Egyptian women,
especially if they are wearing a head covering which means
they are more traditional. One man on our Nile cruise went
up to this woman just being friendly and her brother ran over
and asked him what he wanted and told him he could speak to
him instead! Our tour guide also warned us about that and
told us not to approach or speak to them.
E: Yes, the one place where the women didn't have head coverings
was at the Hard Rock Café in Cairo, they were wearing
regular clothes and dancing there too.
R: We had a great time. There are millions of tourists that
visit Egypt each year, so you'll see people from around the
world there. Most Egyptians speak English, Italian, Spanish
and other languages too. The Egyptians were friendly and very
proud of their country; they kept saying, "Welcome to
Egypt!" I think it is a trip everyone should take at
least once in their lifetime.
Divertimento:
Battle of The Italians
Authentic vs. Wannabees
By:
Nicole Vellucci
| A
True Italian... |
A
Faux Italian... |
| eats
pasta on a daily basis (and we are not talking about the
low-carb kind) |
eats
pasta on certain days |
jars
their own sauce (like Nonna made)
|
uses
sauce out of a jar |
| enjoys
a fresh Romaine salad after the meal (never during) |
enjoys
an iceberg lettuce salad before their meal |
| cooks
pasta "al dente" (overcooking is a sin) |
can
say "al dente," but not sure of its meaning
(they heard it on the Sopranos) |
| prepares
Sunday dinner at home with their whole family (because
if you don't, they will talk about you until next week)
|
goes
to one of those "family style" Italian chain
restaurants (please, they just want your money) |
| prays
to St. Anthony when something is missing (a small meaningful
prayer) |
thinks
St. Anthony throws one great festival (it's the only one
with alcohol) |
| has
at least one small cross or religious figure in their
home (to keep out the evil spirits) |
decorates
their front lawn with plastic statues of the Blessed Mother
(think blow up dolls) |
| uses
their hands to give a story life (because it's a form
of self-_expression) |
uses
three fingers to give a story life (saw it on a Bronx
Tale) |
| at
least one elderly member of your family wears black (average
mourning period is twenty years) |
everyone
in your family wears black (it's slimming) |
| belongs
to the Sons of Italy "Club" (great place to
speak Italian) |
belongs
to the Roxy "Club" (great place to learn slang)
|
Sport: Bruschi, the Idol of American
Fans
By
Matteo Scipioni, Gazzetta di Parma, 02/13/05, translated by
Donna Bottari

By
winning three Superbowl championships in four years, the New
England Patriots have made history, adding themselves to the
list of American sports' dynasties.
Part
of the New England Patriots' dynasty speaks Italian-more precisely
"Parmigiano." Tedy Bruschi is one of New England's
patriarchs. Even though playing a defensive position is not
center stage, Bruschi, who is a linebacker, is definitely
one of the idols at Foxboro Stadium. His number, 54, is one
of the best-selling T-shirts. His autograph is the most requested
and his name is the one fans scream for the most.
Although
his small build may not be ideal for a linebacker, Bruschi
has become one of the best in his role - - thanks to his fortitude
and what we Italians call heart. He's comparable to Italy's
Paolo Maldini or Frank Baresi of the oval shaped ball.
With
a mix of charisma and competition, he has the skills to also
be an astute businessman. Bruschi does not have a manager.
In fact he negotiates his own contracts and concludes them
in little time.
With
more than a decent grasp of Italian and quite a good pronunciation,
Bruschi spoke to the Gazzetta di Parma as a sort of "tribute
to his father." Bruschi's father, Anthony, with whom
he was very close, passed away in 2001 and had held on fondly
to his family roots. "My grandparents Giovanni and Adele,"
Bruschi recounts with visible emotion, "met and married
at Casa Brina in Pontestrambo, where my sister, Maria, lives
now and where my brother Giovanni lived for some time. From
there, my grandparents immigrated to New York, and there my
father was born."
It
is both interesting and touching to hear a sports star enthusiastically
talk about his experience in Parma, where he lived in 1999
for a short time with his wife, Heidi.
"I
was very impressed and excited to read that the newspaper
from my hometown, the Gazzetta, wanted to tell my story."
(Throughout the interview he refers to Parma as his hometown)
"Visiting Parma had been a trip for me to rediscover
my origins. My father had told me many family stories and
he showed me my grandparents' house and the many places from
their childhood. It was an unforgettable experience. I firmly
believe that one should never forget their roots. Your roots
mold you into the person that you are and they form your character.
After that trip, I began to ask all my teammates about their
roots and their family history."
Bruschi
found out that the history of his teammates came from Italy.
Besides Bruschi, other players like Andruzzi, Fauria, Izzo,
Nimmo and Vinatieri also have Italian roots.
"The
desire, the passion, the determination and the emotions that
I demonstrate on the field during a game," confirms Bruschi
"Are most definitely attributed to me being Italian."
For
Bruschi, playing football started for fun. Yet thanks to the
persistence of his father, football coaches and talent scouts
it became more. He began in high school not only to play a
sport, but also to make his father happy. From there, he says
"it all happened so fast."
"Even
when I had difficulty convincing the various coaches because
of my smaller physique, my father always believed that not
only would I play in the NFL but that I would one day win
the Super bowl," Bruschi says.
He
has played nine years for the Patriots and has just signed
on for another four years.
"For
me football doesn't last only the length of my career, it's
for a lifetime," Bruschi says. "My father told me
that I was born to play football. I believe that I will continue
even after I retire, maybe as a college coach. But for now
I want to remain here, with the Patriots: I'd like to remain
loyal to this team."
And
what about returning to Parma? "Since my father passed
away, I have not been back to visit and I have not been in
contact with my siblings. However, I do miss my father a lot,
and I would like to return to Parma also for him. It is a
place that will always be in my heart," Bruschi, excitedly,
with his charming nature concludes.
"Want
to know the secret of my success?" he asks. "To
eat pasta, lots of pasta. I love it; I eat it all the time
before and after every game and I will never stop eating it."
Casa: Organize Your Closet Once and
For All
By: Sam Brusco
Not
enough space in your closet? Can't find that particular shirt
that you wanted to wear? Maybe it's time to systemize your
closet. A good way to create space and bring order to that
mess behind the door is to replace that wasteful single shelf
and single rod, that's about to fall down, with a closet organizer.
If
you want improved functionality at a low, low price, wire
shelving is the way to go. For about $25, you can increase
the hanging space in almost any closet by 50%. Add the optional
shelf for $10, and you've just increased the shelf space in
your closet by the same 50%. You can do this by taking a "split-
level" approach - the left side of the closet is devoted
to two rows of short hanging items and the right side is reserved
for tall items, like dresses or full- length coats. You can
do 60-40 or 70-30 if you like, but do reserve some space for
long things. Thankfully, this paradigm forces you to categorize
your clothes. For another ten or fifteen dollars, you can
get a nice tie/belt organizer. But follow the directions carefully,
or all your clothes will be on the closet floor the next morning.
Now,
if you're a homeowner and you want to raise the value of your
house or condo, you should use "wood" shelving (melamine
covered particleboard). There are several advantages to "wood"
shelving. It's adjustable; it's washable; it looks really
nice; and it's appealing to potential buyers. It says "I
took pride and care in this place." You can even add
drawers and there are more accessories to choose from. It
is more expensive though; the same 60 inch closet with optional
shelf would cost $160 . The labor is about the same for wire
or wood.
Here
are some things to consider if you want to do "wood"
yourself. Some of the individual pieces are heavy and unwieldy;
the boxes can be up to 70 pounds and 7 feet long, and there
can be a lot of boxes. Are you confident in your mechanical
abilities? Are you certain that you can find a stud in the
wall? Do you have wood or metal studs in your wall? What's
a stud? (The 2x4's in the wall that hold up the wall.) If
you put drawers in your closet, make sure that walls and doors
won't get in the way of their operation. A word on drawers:
my feeling is that you should use your limited closet space
for hanging clothes and shelves. If you have room for a bureau
in your room, use furniture for drawer space.
If
you think you may want to hire a professional, remember this.
He or she will come to your house, measure everything, and
probably give you a few different designs to choose from.
Since they've done this before, they can get the optimal use
of the space, and install it for you before you get home from
work with no problems. Professionals tend to get a discount
on materials which is part of their compensation, so let them
buy the materials. For ideas, you can take a look at my web
site www.homestead.com/improvements to see some of the closets
that I've designed and installed.
Since
you're going to have more room, there's not much reason to
"cull" your possessions, but if you feel compelled
to, here's how to do it. Take all of your stuff out of the
closet all at once; don't stop to think about it. Before you
put your possessions back in, separate them into 3 piles:
"definitely keep", "maybe" and "give
away". Notice that I didn't say "throw away"
- most of us have trouble trashing perfectly functional clothing
that we've outgrown or no longer wear. Instead of feeling
guilty, giving it away will make you feel good. Bring the
give away items to your favorite charity or relative or friend
before you have a chance to rethink your decisions. Go with
your gut; you would have at least put it in the "maybe"
pile if you wanted it. Put the maybes into a big trash bag
and save them. After one month, if you haven't yearned for
something from that bag, you probably don't need it or want
it. Bring the bag to your favorite charity or relative or
friend before you have a chance to rethink your decisions;
go with your gut.
After
you've installed your organizer, obviously you'll put your
shirts in the top-left quadrant and so on (see above). But
within those grand classifications, I suggest creating sub-categories.
I have created a spectrum of formality for myself with painting
shirts on the left, informal shirts to the right of that,
nice shirts and finally tuxedo shirts all the way to the right.
I go one step further and break them into short-sleeve and
long-sleeve within each section. Same thing goes for my pants
on the rack below. If you go with wire shelving, those one-foot
segments in the rods make great category dividers. Now you'll
know exactly where to look to put together an outfit for any
occasion.
Sam
Brusco is a licensed general contractor who designs, builds
and installs closets. He also performs other home improvements
such as bathroom renovations, kitchen remodeling and deck
building. To learn more, go to
www.homestead.com/improvements
or call 617-407- 0276.
In Memory: Nature was Liburdi's favorite
artist Painter's work graced billboards, stamps, walls
By DAVE SHEELEY
From
the March 4, 2005, editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Menomonee Falls - Louis Liburdi Sr.'s artwork had landed in
the top 10 of state and federal waterfowl stamp contests.
But it wasn't until 1985 that he took first place with his
oil painting of two wild turkeys that was designated the Wisconsin
stamp for turkey hunters. That painting wasn't the only mark
left by Liburdi, an artist whose portfolio stretches from
paintings of wildlife and religious scenes to scores of billboards
throughout the Milwaukee area, including one portraying the
Mona Lisa wearing headphones. Liburdi, of Menomonee Falls,
died Monday at the Woodland Health Care Center in Brookfield
after suffering a series of strokes. He was 84. Inspiration
for his winning stamp came after Liburdi spent several mornings
waiting for a flock of turkeys to photograph. "I finally
got the picture I wanted," Liburdi told a Milwaukee Journal
reporter in 1985. He said he crouched with a camera in the
early morning waiting for the flock to get close enough to
snap a photo. The painting was reproduced on stamps the state
required with small-game hunting licenses and permits for
turkey hunters. It was the winning entry in the state's first
turkey stamp contest. Throughout his life, Liburdi, whose
name as an artist was Peter Anthony, painted duck, deer, horses,
geese, cowboys and mountain men in outdoor scenes. Walls in
the basement of his home were painted with panoramic scenes
of wildlife. "He made sceneries in the house as if he's
sitting in his cabin up north," said his daughter Christine
Barham. His children described him as a quiet, modest and
humorous family man who was loyal to his wife, Lucille, and
protective of his family. "He was the most talented artist
in the area, but he never bragged," said his daughter
Catherine. He was born the son of Pietro and Domenica Liburdi
in Ceccano, Italy, on Aug. 19, 1920. At age 6, Liburdi moved
to America with his siblings and soon after made his way to
the Waukesha area. A hunter and conservationist, Liburdi developed
a love for wildlife while growing up in rural Waukesha County
in the 1930s. Liburdi attended the old Layton School of Art
in Milwaukee and took private art lessons in the United States
and abroad. He also served in World War II as a topographical
engineer. His commercial artwork for outdoor advertising companies
was likely seen by thousands of people. Billboards advertising
dairy and insurance companies and car dealerships could be
viewed throughout the Milwaukee area. The art director and
freelance commercial illustrator for various firms sometimes
incorporated his children into billboards, flashing his daughter
Catherine's "megawatt" smile across a sign promoting
the goodness of milk, she said. The Mona Lisa billboard was
an advertisement for the Koss Corp., and it asked readers
if they wondered why the Mona Lisa was smiling, according
to Christine Barham, of Pleasantville, N.J. Barham remembered
when her father blended her features with those of her sister
Elizabeth for a billboard depicting a girl with pigtails next
to a cow in a dairy company advertisement. "He would
use us kids as a model," she said. In those days, Louis
Liburdi stroked his paintbrush against the billboard while
hanging from a swing stage in all types of weather. "He'd
paint by hand those wonderful paintings," Barham said.
By 1980, he quit commercial art and reserved his time for
wildlife painting. Louis Liburdi told The Journal in 1985
that he admired wildlife, describing nature as the "supreme"
artist. "When I see something in nature - whether it
be a beautiful deer, a duck or a sunset - it inspires me to
paint," he said. His daughter could attest to that motivation.
"His main passion was his artwork," Barham said.
Louis
Liburdi was the maternal grandfather of Fieri Boston Vice
President Sal Di Stefano.
Fieri
Boston would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Sal and
his family.
|