- Franca Fiacconi, the top female finisher in the 29th New York City Marathon (1998). She
kept up a steady pace and eventually dropped favorite Tegla Loroupe and surprise
second-place finisher Adriana Fernandez with about six miles to go and crossed the tape in
2:25:17, the second-fastest time in course history.
New
York Daily News Article
- The first American to be named a saint was the Italian American nun, Mother Frances
Cabrini, who was canonized in 1946.
 Maria Montessori (educator), b. 1870 d. 1952, was born in Ancona,
Italy and was the first woman to attend medical school in Italy. Achieved a doctor of
medicine and surgery in 1896.
She was an Italian educator, who invented/developed many ideas, techniques and objects
familiar to everyone in the field of childhood education today.
In 1912, she traveled to the United States and her method of teaching, the Montessori
Method, became known. Shortly afterwards schools using her method opened. The American
Montessori Society was formed in 1960 and Montessori schools grew rapidly. Her educational
practices are still widely used today.
(information courtesy of, The Italian 100, by Stephen Spignesi)
 1.
for a listing of Montessori schools in your area and much more.
2. An Historical Perspective.
Montessori Essays
- Geraldine Ferraro (Politics-ran for VP of U.S.A.)
Another Geraldine Ferraro link
- Rita Levi-Montalcini (medicine), born in 1909 in Turin, Italy. Won the nobel prize in 1986 in
Physiology/Medicine for her work with tumor and nerve-cell growth research.
In 1948 she discovered that a certain type of mouse tumor stimulated new nerve growth when
the tumor was implanted in chick embryos. The tumor contained a protein identified as NGF.
This discovery is aiding researchers to one day be able to regenerate new nerve pathways
in people with severed nerve damage. The discovery has also provided information into the
nature of tumors as well as aid with treatments. It may also lead to transplanting nerves,
thus, reversing paralysis. She came to the United States in 1947 and returned to Rome
Italy in 1961 and is still researching in this field today.
(information courtesy of, The Italian 100, by Stephen Spignesi)
Ella Tambussi Grasso (Politician - D) , b. 1919 d. 1981, was
elected as Governor in 1974 and re-elected in 1978. Grasso defeated her House colleague,
Representative Robert Steele to win the gubernatorial race and become the first woman in
the nation to do so.
Daughter of Italian immigrant parents, Ella Tambussi attended St. Mary's parochial school,
Chaffee School and Mount Holyoke College, where she earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees. Ella
was a gifted student who graduated with highest honors (Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum
laude).
In 1952 she was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives and served until 1957.
There followed a 12-year stint as Connecticut's Secretary of State, after which she was
elected to the United States Congress and re-elected in 1972.
Another Grasso Link
A greatwomen.org grasso link
- Sophia Loren (actress),b. September 20, 1934 in Rome, Italy
- Camille Paglia (Social Philosopher???), b. 1947, in New York
- Madonna Louise Ciccone (Music), b. August 16, 1958, in Michigan
- Anne Attura Paolucci, nominated last year for the Pulitzer Prize in poetry and is
the CUNY Board Chairwoman
- Rosa Ponselle -
Official
web site dedicated to the legendary opera singer, Rosa Ponselle.
After a brilliant stage and recording career, Rosa Ponselle dedicated her
later years to helping aspiring young singers reach their potential.
In her will, Mme. Ponselle provided for the establishment of the Rosa
Ponselle Charitable Foundation.
Enter the
site to learn more about Rosa
Ponselle's life, listen
to her music, view a documentary
film and much more.
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Rosa
Ponselle singing "Ernani! . . . Ernani involami"
from Giuseppe Verdi's Ernani, recorded January 17, 1928
Brief excerpt (1 min 6 sec; 717 K) au
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Extended excerpt (4 min 22 sec; 5.5 MB) au
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- Elena
Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia
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