In this column La Gazzetta will introduce notable members of our local Italian American community. We will hear from men and women whose ancestors’ contributions have resulted in today’s outstanding, productive citizens.

Married couple Michael and Rosanne Dando have given years of service and leadership in Warren, Ohio’s Italian American community. They are regular volunteers at the annual Warren Italian-American Heritage Festival that draws thousands to the four-day celebration on the grounds of the historic Trumbull County Court House. Let’s get to know them. 

La Gazzetta (LG): Benvenuti, Mike and Rosanne! Can you start by sharing where your roots are in Italy?

Rosanne (RD): It is our pleasure to share our story and to jump start memories, so the past is valued and never forgotten. Mike (MD): The sixth of seven children, I was brought up in Niles, OH. My father’s family came from San Marco in Lamas, Foggia, to Brier Hill. My mother’s people came from Stio, in Salerno before arriving in Ellwood City, PA. After marrying, my parents moved to Niles, Ohio.

RD: The oldest of three children, I was born on Youngstown’s Southside. My paternal roots are from Lucca, in Tuscany. From there, the family moved to Pittsburgh and then to Youngstown. On the maternal side, my grandfather hailed from Pietrabbondante. My grandmother was from Civitanova del Sanio, both in today’s region of Molise. They married in Italy and later reunited on Youngstown’s Eastside.

LG: What do you both recall from your Italian American childhood? 

MD: Becoming an uncle at the age of two gave me immediate responsibilities! We lived in a two-bedroom home where every inch was organized, all the way down to the fruit cellar next to mom’s Italian kitchen. In the winter, we hung wash in the basement, that busy space served for multitasking: washing, ironing, making pasta, baking bread, or cleaning. From there Dad had his exit to the driveway. He and my older brothers taught me to work on cars, cut grass, weed the garden, and prune our fruit trees. We enjoyed traditional holiday and Sunday get togethers for dinners and celebrations. My neighborhood was predominately Italian. Friends were plenty and we knew each other. Any day of the week you could smell cooking coming from the neighbors’ kitchens. 

RD: Dad moved to Youngstown as a young man. He helped his grandfather in the family’s Italian meat market on the Southside. Mom’s father found work at Truscon Steel, then later he sent for my grandmother in Italy. My parents married while Dad was serving in the Marines. They bought a duplex on the Southside. Our neighborhood was an ethnic mix of kind and generous families. My friends from the block were German, Irish, Polish, but no Italians. I felt welcomed and safe while enjoying their foods and customs. I heard different languages and tasted dishes that were new to my diet. I learned that the neighbors did what I did but with a different twist! I was gaining the ability to celebrate cultural uniqueness. Celebrations at our home were accompanied by good Italian and American food. Weddings, an all-day affair, were the best: church, breakfast, lunch, and a reception with a great band. This is where I got to dance the “Italian” polka with my dad. Italian was rarely spoken unless an elder member of the family didn’t understand English. Sundays included church and afternoon visits to my grandfather’s, where we would occasionally meet up with cousins, aunts and uncles. About four times a year we took a two-hour journey to see my grandmother in Pittsburgh. 

LG: Can you tell us about your visits to Italy?

MD: Rosanne and I traveled to our ancestral towns. My dad’s village of San Marco was exactly the way he described it to me. The street is a set of steps at least a half-mile long connecting to a main road on both ends. He lived not far from today’s Padre Pio shrine in San Giovanni Rotondo. Stio is what I would call a real mountain town. We passed through many villages to get to our storybook destination. We walked the streets and found the ancient family home. We were even welcomed by townspeople to celebrate a birthday. No traffic, maybe one or two cars. The icing on the cake was finding out that the assistant mayor was a cousin! 

RD: We have been to Italy twice to visit the ancestral villages. Once with a tour group and the other time on our own with a translator and driver. There are benefits to both experiences. Tours provide the “strength in numbers” mentality. And better bargaining power when shopping! On our own, however, the experience was charming and personalized. In Lucca, I noticed stores with my father’s surname. A distant cousin led us through tunnels built by the ancient Romans when they constructed the city’s walls.

LG: Let’s talk about the Warren Italian-American Heritage Festival, one of the largest in the area. 

RD: The Festival began in 1985, with the cultural exhibits beginning around 1992. Our veteran organizers say that it took the efforts of many people to get the festival started. Eventually, the educational displays moved into the large Cultural Tent in front of the Warren Courthouse, below the clock at the Square. I began helping Mary Anne Kieffer, then a teacher of Italian, who has shared a wealth of knowledge and materials in this area. When she stepped down, I took over. 

As with anything, education is the key. Our Cultural Tent is a free exhibit. We have had everything: from YSU student displays of museum quality, to classroom projects, bread making demos, and talks from local authors, and travel agents. We offer crafting for the young at heart. In this big tent you’ll find resources such as issues of La Gazzetta Italiana, maps, books, and genealogists to help with ancestry searches–all emphasizing Italian American history and traditions. 

MD: I’ve been with the festival for about 14 years. We are run by a board of directors on which I sit. My job is to coordinate the vendors along with helping to set up and take down the tents. 

LG: What is your vision for the Warren festival?

RD: As members of the festival planning group, it’s our hope that the attendees discover a positive memory or leave with the enthusiasm to share family stories. Keeping our culture and heritage growing from generation to generation is important. 

LG: Grazie tante for sharing stories of your work and dedication. You’ve given so much to the Italian American community. Thank you for passing the torch to the next generation.

RD & MD: We appreciate sharing the “behind the scenes”. It’s just a fraction of what the Warren Italian-American Heritage Festival has to offer. Come celebrate with us, August 10-13, 2023.