Page 7 - Italian American Herald - March 2020

MILESTONES
SouthPhiladelphiacentenarian
Anna Melone honored
RiccardoLongohonored for excellence in food and wine tourism
Italian-American Herald
ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
MARCH2020 | ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM 7
Italian-American Herald
PHILADELPHIA – Anna Melone, a resident of South Philadelphia, celebrated her 102nd birthday on Feb. 22. Born in Rome, Signora Melone was honored alongside more than 120 fellow Philadelphians at the city’s Centenarian Celebration.
Signora Melone grew up in a mountainside town about 15 miles outside of the Italian capital city. In her early 20s she married a stone mason from Abruzzo named Romolo. After seven months of dating, the couple was married in January 1940 with their first child expected in November of that year.
While in Italy, the Melones ran a small business and had three children – Bruno, Giulio and Gina.
In World War II, like other Italian families, the Melones were forced to hide in forests as the Americans bombed Italy in an attempt to strike against the German Army.
About a decade after the war ended,
Anna Melone and her children Bruno, Gina, & Giulio.
Romolo and Bruno were sponsored by
a family in the United States to move to South Philadelphia, where the men found local work.
Two years later, in 1957, Melone, Giulio and Gina followed the rest of the family to their new home at Ninth and Fitzwater streets.
After a couple of years in that tiny home, the family purchased a spacious home at 18th and Wolf streets in 1959, where they still live.
Anna remains healthy, and attributes her longevity to not smoking, only occasionally drinking, and consuming natural foods throughout her life. IAH
Riccardo Longo, founding partner of Gran Caffe L’Aquila, is the first Italian in the United States to win the Eccellenze Italiane award for his work in food and wine tourism
– a field known as enogastronomy. The honor recognizes his work in
spreading authentic Italian culture through enogastronomy and education in the United States.
A day after accepting the award, Longo presented the story of Gran Caffe L’Aquila at the Italian Parliament.
Longo was singled out for his career with the Gran Caffe L’Aquila, which he operates with award-winning chef partner Stefano Bisaini.
Over the past five years, thousands of Italian-Americans and lovers of Italian culture have taken classes at the culture school which
Riccardo Longo accepts his award from
Piero Muscari, director of Eccellenze Italiane.
Gran Caffe L’Aquila runs in conjunction with the Italy-America society and taken part in special cultural events such as art exhibits, wine tastings, aperitivos and concerts sponsored and/or hosted by Gran Caffe L’Aquila. IAH
Make education your new resolution.
WilmU works in 2020.
Find out why at
Nadia G. Class of 2019
wilmu.edu/WilmUWorks
WilmU is a registered trademark of Wilmington University. All rights reserved. ©Wilmington University 2019