SICILIAN STIRRINGS

The late Dominic DiFrisco, president emeritus of Chicago’s Italian American cultural organization the JCCIA (Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans), was originally from New York (the Bronx) and came to the Windy City in 1962, representing Alitalia Airlines (ah, memories). He was sent here to ask the original Mayor Daley (M as opposed to his son J) to help commemorate aviator Italo Balbo’s famous 1934 flight from Rome to Chicago in 1934. “Da Mare” (“The Mayor” in Chicago dialect) loved the idea. He assured him that Balbo, and his monument, would always have a key spot near Lake Michigan.

Well, Balbo does, sort of. The classical monument (over 2,000 years old!), which a grateful Mussolini sent the city afterward, still stands, albeit looking lonely and forlorn, surrounded by a small, enclosed fence. It is within eyeshot of Soldier Field, home to the Chicago Bears, but perhaps not for long—the team is considering a possible move to next-door Indiana. If the Bears leave, so may Balbo’s statue. Political activists still have it on their hit list. 

DiFrisco stayed in Chicago after meeting Mayor Daley and became a passionate defender of Balbo. Thirty years later (early 90s), when Christopher Columbus began being removed (like Balbo) from his rightful place in human history, DiFrisco stood his ground and defended him, too. One has to give DiFrisco credit: He was a true Italian American leader—fluent in the language, well-versed in Italic history, and beloved by local media for his eloquence. 

His love of Italy was genuine—but so was his love of his beloved Sicily, from whence his ancestors came. As a skilled PR guy, “Dom” (as he was affectionately referred to by friends and family) had a favorite phrase: He always called Sicily “that sun-kissed island in the Mediterranean.” That phrase has always stuck with me. Whether Dom read it in a book or came up with it himself doesn’t matter. It perfectly expresses that largest region of Italy. 

I thought of Dom and his catch-phrase as Sicily has made the news a lot recently. 

One item was a sad one: A 29-year-old American tourist from Kansas, hiking near Mt. Etna, was struck and killed by lighting. Apparently, such a thing happens fairly often. News reports said that more people have been killed on Mt. Etna by lightning strikes than lava explosions. Who knew? 

Another item was more positive: The remains of a Roman shipwreck was discovered off of Sicily’s coast, Mazala del Vallo, to be exact. Like Balbo’s monument, the ship is also dated to be about 2,000 years old. It transported items like wine and olive oil, and shows the importance of Sicily as a major trade center. Italy’s Culture Minister, Alessandro Giuli, called the find “one of the most important underwater archeological discoveries of recent years.” 

Yet another item was similarly tied into Sicily’s classical past, to wit: Articles on Christopher Nolan’s new version of The Odyssey noted that this “Greek epic” benefitted visually from its various Sicilian locations. Castello di Santa Caterina, the magnificent 15th century hilltop fortress, located on the island of Favignana, doubled as Odysseus’s home. And the Aeolian islands of Lipari, Vulcano, and Basiluzzo contributed to many of the water-shot scenes. 

I am sure Signor DiFrisco is looking down from his seat at the Heavenly table, enjoying his pasta while still marveling at his “sun-kissed island.” –BDC