Italian-American Herald - July 2024

Where have you gone, Joe DiPinto?
Enigmatic mover and shaker with a giving heart will be sorely missed
By Ciro Poppiti
Where have you gone, Joe DiPinto? You were the standard of an era that is sorely missed: Lifetime employee of the DuPont Co. An elected official who believed in service above strife. Internationalist but proud Italian American. Devoted husband and family man. Kind friend to all he met.
Joe DiPinto, a man who devoted his life’s work to the state of Delaware, especially the Italian-American community, died on May 13 at the age of 92. Joltin’ Joe was absolutely unique: A Republican politician in the heavily Democratic city of Wilmington; a man of great power who was a kind and gentle soul; and a busy achiever who nonetheless took time to mentor generations of aspirants.
Joe was not a partisan politician. He was certainly a proud Republican, first serving on Wilmington City Council and then spending
See DIPINTO - page 7
The right impression
Concept of la bella figura entails appearance, behavior, manners
HAPPENINGS
Catch the vibe of local festivals with our galleries
16-17
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A courtyard in Umbria showcases the pride of residents in their neighborhood. | ADOBE STOCK
By Jeanne Outlaw-Cannavo
The Italian expression fare la bella figura may not be taught in classrooms but it is key to understanding some customs of Italian culture. It literally means to make
a beautiful figure, but in terms we might recognize it means to put your best foot forward in everything you do. The concept covers everything from fashion and food to
behavior and speech. It is the art of living well and goes beyond just making a good impression. It is reflected in how you treat others, how one dresses and the manner in which one speaks. It dictates the choice of food prepared for an event and how it is presented, or the choice of a gift and how it is wrapped. It is the art of living elegantly even with limited means.
Italians are known for their refined and
elegant style. Italian fashion is famous the world over and Italians are no strangers to dressing to make a good impression. You will often see Italians lined up at bars in the morning for their breakfast expresso and pastry and may be surprised how many are “dressed to the nines” compared to
our more casual style of dress. Evenings
See IMPRESSIONS - page 4
Journalist thrives on discovering the extraordinary in what’s ordinary
By Ken Mammarella
When Natalie Pompilio was ready to introduce boyfriend Jordan Barnett to her parents, “their first question was ‘Where is he from?’ Meaning ‘Is he Italian?’ And I kept thinking that I should say just lie and say his name was ‘Barnetti.’ Instead, I said ‘He really doesn’t know.’ That confused them
completely. ‘How can he not know?’” Barnett, who thinks he has Scottish-Irish
heritage, is now her husband, but “I’ve really trained him to the point that he now refers to [Italy as] the old country.”
Her Italian heritage – which goes back to scattered areas of Italy – starts with her
See POMPILIO - page 8
JULY 2024
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Vol. 11 / No. 7
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