ANNA SCIANNA-BURRELL – RAMO SALERNO Honoree
From 1972 -1980 she worked at Arrow Foods in all areas of management. From 1980-1993, she worked at Grand Trunk Railroad/Canadian National North America in the Freight Claims and Loss and Damage Prevention Department.
Anna Scianna-Burrell, born to Thomas and the late Pearl (Parisi) Scianna attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic School, Bishop Gallagher High School, and Macomb County Community College.
Since 2001, she has worked at San Francesco (Italian) Parish, Clinton Twp. where she assists in many areas including: CCD Coordinator (coordinates teachings of the catechism of the Catholic Church), assists with yearly celebration of First Holy Communion, assists with the collection and distribution of food supply or gift cards for the annual food drive, assists the Giving Tree Project (for “Mothers who Choose Life”), Chairs the yearly fundraiser dinner dance committee, chairs the picnic committee, organizes and purchases supplies (American Coffee, Espresso and desserts) to offer fellowship after each Sunday Mass and special Feast Days, prepares for Italian celebrations and processions honoring Italian Feast Days along with arranging participation from the various clubs to participate as the Italian community would in Italy and organizes the Feast of San Francesco. She is also Chair of The Parish Financial and handles directives (along with pastor) of the Archdiocese of Detroit conforming directives to “Personal Parish” status.
“I enjoy giving back to the community and San Francesco Parish and keeping the Italian Traditions alive,” she says. “People do not realize San Francesco Parish has been in existence since 1898. The first steps in founding the parish were taken in 1896 and what a precious gem was created and hopefully will continue with participation.
She has been married for 45 years to Richard Burrell and they have one daughter, Maria Alexandra Burrell.
FRANK DE LUCA – Italian American Club of Lansing Honoree
Judge DeLuca was the longest serving member of the Ingham County-City of Lansing Community Corrections Advisory Board. He has been a career long member of the Ingham County Bar Association and supporter of the Bar Foundation. He was selected as Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation. In 2022 he was humbled to receive the Ingham County Bar Association Life Time Achievement Award.
DeLuca served as an Assistant Ingham County Prosecutor and Chief Trial Attorney from 1971 through 1975. He engaged in the private practice of law in Lansing for nearly 25 years before his election to the 54-A District Court where he served the citizens for 18 years. The Supreme Court of Michigan appointed Judge DeLuca Chief Judge of the District Court for nearly 7 years. He currently serves as visiting Judge in various courts.
He has been an active member of the Italian American Club of Lansing for well over 50 years serving as an officer or a director of the club. He was elected president on multiple occasions. Additionally, he has chaired numerous events including the very successful and profitable ethnic festivals that were popular in Lansing in the 70’s and 80’s and chair or co-chair of the Annual Columbus Day Banquets.
He also volunteers at Advent House Ministries and the Mobile Food Pantry distributing food to the needy and serves at his parish on finance council and as a lecturer. He attends annually the Feast of St. Ippolito, held in Bunker Hill.
Judge DeLuca has been married for 44 years to Madeline DeLuca, whose parents were both immigrants from southern Italy. They have two children and three grandchildren.
GINO’S PIZZARIA AND RESTAURANT – RAMO SALERNO Honoree
Gino and Irene Santia, owners of Gino’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, were born to Ezio Santia and Cataldina Mancina who emigrated from Supino, Frosinone, Italy.
Irene (Santia) and her husband Neil Meredith started Gino’s Pizzeria Carry Out in 1969 in Keego Harbor. Gino served in the US Army but upon his return in 1970, he joined the restaurant. By 1970, business was flourishing and they opened “Gino’s Restaurant” in 1971, which expanded in 1975, and in 1979 they bought the building next door and opened Santia Banquet Center.
Gino’s has been in business for 56 years with the same family in charge. They have been involved in many charity events such as Rescue Dogs, an Annual Tiger’s Bus Trip, Fork & Pint (after their fire loss), Giving Tree, sponsored school activities and donated to local parades, fireworks displays and the local annual classic car show. Gino Santia has served on the Keego Harbor Planning Commission for 35 years, 20 years as chair, and TIFA Board and is an Arch Review Board member. He has three children and nine grandchildren
GEORGIA SCAPPATICCI –Italian American Club of Livonia Honoree
Georgia Scappaticci was born in Detroit, to devoted Catholic parents, Mable and George Schorr.
At just 16 years old, she met the love of her life, Silvio Scappaticci, a proud Italian immigrant. They married when she was 18, and from that moment, “my life became deeply intertwined with Italian culture and tradition,” she says. Together, they raised three daughters—Gina (Vaughn), Sandra (Gene), and Cristina.
She has volunteered at several parishes including St. Dunstan, St. Robert Bellarmine, Our Lady of Sorrows, Holy Family, and currently, Our Lady of Good Counsel, sung in choirs, supported Catholic school programs, and served as both a hospice and bereavement volunteer.
She has been a member of the Italian American Club of Livonia for over 50 years. Her contributions include planning and organizing cultural events such as La Befana Dinners, Regional Dinners showcasing the diverse cuisines of Italy’s regions, Columbus Day Dinners and the Christmas Breakfast for Young Italians. She also serves on the Verdi Opera Committee.
CATERINA WAGNER–Italian American Cultural Society Honoree
Caterina Wagner has dedicated her life to serving others as a Physical Therapist Assistant, working for over 35 years at St. John Hospital (now Henry Ford) and, for the past eight and a half years, at PACE of Southeast Michigan. She has showcased a blend of dedication, compassion, and community spirit that mirrors the values and traditions of the Italian-American community.
As an active member of the Italian American Cultural Society in Clinton Township, she continues to inspire others through her service, generosity, and commitment to preserving her heritage.
Beyond her professional career, she has contributed to numerous charitable causes, including the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, the Leukemia Foundation, and the Congenital Heart Walk, which she also sponsored.
Among all the causes dear to her heart, the most precious is the St. Louis Center, a home for individuals with special needs. Every year, she helps organize a benefit dinner at the IACL to raise critical funds and awareness for their mission.
ROSELLI WHOLESALE FOODS – RAMO SALERNO Honoree
Roselli Wholesale Foods is a company built on family roots and traditions. They are a second-generation company that has been family-owned and operated for over 50 years.
When Tony Roselli first came to American from Italy at age 13 he started selling watermelons from the back of his uncle’s truck to make a living.
Roselli Wholesale Foods started in 1971. Tony Roselli started the business along with his mother, father, wife and even his young son. Roselli was founded by a family working together. Tony’s wife Nancy did all of the office work on a “desk” of an old door laid on four stacks of 6/10 tomato products. Salminia, Tony’s mother, would help out with cleaning and cooking, while his father Ercole ran the warehouse with a helper. Tony wore a couple hats, selling before changing into his work clothes and delivering in the truck.
Even Tony’s young son Anthony helped out, riding along with his dad in the truck to help with deliveries. While Anthony was too young to pick up inventory, he would help his dad by sliding it to the back of the truck. When Anthony was older, he graduated from Eastern Michigan University before returning to the company. Anthony now runs Roselli Wholesale Foods with the aid of lifetime valued employees and continued support from other family members such as his sister Sally, wife Lisa, daughters Isabella Roselli and Lexi Albo and Anthony’s son, Anthony David, meaning a third-generation is on the horizon for Roselli.
For 20 years, they have put on the Roselli Golf Outing that raises monies for research to fight cancer, donated to the Cleveland Clinic, where Anthony’s Brother Eric Roselli, director of Cardio-Thoracis Surgery, puts them to good use.
They also contribute to many noteworthy charities including: Fraser Community Outreach Program, Italian American Delegates, Supporting Independence in Michigan, Alhambra Galicia Caravan #77, De La Salle Collegiate – Christian Brothers, Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, Rugiero Promise Foundation, Wertz Warriors, Friends of Foster Kids, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Marfan Founation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Knights of Columbus.