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Newsmakers
Spring
2005
Millions
of women might be spared the tragedy of breast cancer,
thanks to MASSIMO CRISTOFANILLI,
M.D., who is working on a cure for this
dread disease that strikes more than 200,000 women annually
in the U.S. alone. A researcher at the University of
Texas M.D Cancer Center in Houston, Cristofanilli led
a research team that discovered Advexin, a gene-based
therapy, that can reduce tumor size in patients with
locally advanced breast cancer by nearly 80 percent when
injected into the tumor before surgery.
Football legend DAN MARINO was
elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February. When Marino left the Dolphins
after the 1999 season, he had NFL bests of 4,967 completions, 8,358 passes, 61,361
yards and 420 touchdowns. Although he never won a Super Bowl, Marino was the
1984 league MVP, made three All-Pro teams and nine Pro Bowls.
Her investigative reporting has helped put countless con artists behind bars
and earned MARY GAROFALO the nickname "electronic
pit bull." Garofalo has been a TV reporter with WNYW-Fox in New York City
since 1996. Her reports for FOX 5 Investigates have earned her four
Emmy awards and a reputation for being one of New York City's toughest reporters.
MIKE D'ANTONI coaches
the Phoenix Suns which have excelled under his leadership
earning the club's best record. He has a 30-year professional
basketball career including the NBA, ABA and the Italian
League. Born in Mullins, West Virginia D'Antoni became
one of Italy's fiercest soccer coaches before coming
to the Suns.
ROBERTA GAMBARINI is
considered by many as one of today's finest young jazz
singers and a successor to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan
and Carmen McRae. This Italian native is known for her
near-flawless pitch and vast range. Her first American
CD, Easy to Love, is scheduled to be released
this year.
SUSAN NIGRO GELSOMINO is
one of the world's few contrabassoon soloists. In 2004,
she had several world premieres playing music written
specifically for her. For recital dates, to hear audio
clips or order cd's, visit www.bigbassoon.com.
NICHOLAS P. GODICI retired
as the Commissioner for Patents on March 29. He is the
only Italian American ever to serve in the post in the
215-year history of the U.S. Patent Office.
MARIO LANZA was
honored by the Met's Opera News magazine with
a Lincoln Center gala tribute last January. Lanza's career
lasted only seventeen years, but by the age thirty he
was one of the world's best-known operatic tenors. He
appeared in five Hollywood films and died in Rome in
1959 at age thirty-eight.
GENESIO MORLACCI,
former dry cleaners owner and part-time janitor, passed
away last October in Great Falls, Montana leaving $2.3
million to the local university, University of Great
Falls. The endowment will generate about $100,000 a year
for scholarships at the Roman Catholic university with
around 800 students. The Italian immigrant worked 18
to 20 hour days and had no children. He was 102.
PAUL S. OTELLINI,
president and CEO of Intel Corp, is the first non-engineer
in the position for the huge communications firm's 36-year
history. Otellini oversaw the introduction of the Pentium
processor in 1993 and has spent 30 years with Intel witnessing
its rise to the world's largest computer-chip maker.
Otellini is the first Intel leader with an MBA and the
first without a Ph.D.
JOHN SPEZIALE, former Connecticut
chief justice, lost his battle with cancer in January. He was 82. A son of Sicilian
immigrants, Speziale served in all three branches of the state government and
helped modernize the Connecticut court systems during his term as chief justice
in the 1980's.
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