The Guy Gagliardi Award
The Guy Gagliardi Award is intended to honor an individual who provided outstanding service to the Fratellanza Society and the Italian Community for many years. It is a lifetime achievement award that may only be presented to an individual that has been a member of the Fratellanza Society for at least ten years, and can only be presented to an individual once. The Guy Gagliardi Award is presented by the President of the Fratellanza Society each year at the Annual Banquet. Nominations are accepted from the membership and the awardee is selected by a committee of five that is chaired by the Immediate Past President of the Fratellanza Society.
The Guy Gagliardi Award was first presented at the 125th Anniversary Banquet of the Fratellanza Society which was held in November, 1991. It was meant to be a tribute to Guy Gagliardi. Guy was a member of the Fratellanza for over fifty years and a member of the Circolo Society. In that time, Guy was one of the most vocal advocates for the Fratellanza Society. He consistently was responsible for encouraging people to become active with the Fratellanza and attend the social functions. His devotion and dedication to this society should serve as an inspiration to us all.
Guy's service to the Italian American community did not stop with the Fratellanza. He was active in many other organizations. In the early 1970's he was responsible for starting Italian language classes on The Hill. He was founder of the North County Italian Seniors Club. He was an officer of the Italian Club of St. Louis and was a charter member of the Monsignor Palumbo Council of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the St. Louis Columbus Parade Committee and the St. Louis Bocce Club.
Guy Gagliardi Award Winners
Lifetime Achievement
1991 - Guy A. Gagliardi
1992 - Gino Mariani
1993 - Joseph Zucchero
1994 - Joseph C. Martorana
1995 - Joseph A. Bagatti
1996 - Joseph V. LaGreek, Sr.
1997 - Antonino Lombardo
1998 - Angelo Sita
1999 - Rev. Leo J. Spezia
2000 - William A. Vaccaro
2001 - John L. Vincenzo
2002 - Frank V. Biondo
2003 - Aldo Dela Croce
2005 - J. Kim Tucci
2006 - Joe Tucci
2007 - Paul J. Grundhauser
2008 - Robert M. Hawkins
The Antonio Curotto Award
The Antonio Curotto Award is intended to honor an individual who provided outstanding service to the Fratellanza Society during the past year. It is intended to be awarded as a member of the year award for a member of the Fratellanza Society, and therefore, prior accomplishments should not be brought into consideration during the deliberation for this award. The Antonio Curotto Award may be presented to someone for his service to the Fratellanza Society and/or the Italian American community, and may be presented to an individual more than one time. Nominations for the Antonio Curotto Award must be submitted by at least three members of the Fratellanza Society in good standing. The awardee is selected by a committee of five, chaired by the Immediate Past President of the Fratellanza Society. The Antonio Curotto Award is then presented by the President of the Fratellanza Society each year at the Annual Banquet.
The Antonio Curotto Award was first presented at the Annual Banquet of the Fratellanza Society in November, 1996. It is named in honor of Antonio Curotto, the first President of the Fratellanza Society. He was born in Genoa, Italy in 1840. In his early 20's he immigrated to the United States and settled in St. Louis. He was operating a restaurant and saloon which was located at 55 South Fourth Street. Antonio convinced several of his fellow Italian merchants into establishing an Italian benevolent society. This group met on October twenty-third, 1866, with subsequent meetings on October thirteenth, and again on November fifth. The fourth meeting was held on November twelfth, at which 101 men attended. This is the official birth date of the Fratellanza Society. The support from the Italian community was evident since there were approximately 600 Italians in St. Louis at that time.
Antonio Curotto was elected as the first President of the Fratellanza Society and he served three terms. He was instrumental in organizing the first Columbus Parade for St. Louis in 1867. Antonio Curotto helped establish the first school for Italians in St. Louis and he was responsible for convincing the Fratellanza to purchase a cemetary plot in Calvary Cemetary. Antonio died at the age of thirty-one on May 5, 1871. He was buried in the Fratellanza Society plot and most of the 104 members of the Fratellanza attended his funeral.
While he died an early death, his legacy, The Fratellanza Society lives on.
Antonio Curotto Award Winners
Member of the Year
1996 - Robert M. Hawkins
1997 - Dennis C. Deering
1998 - Dominic R. Vitale
1999 - Bernard H. Garvels, Jr.
2000 - John R. Guth
2001 - Paul J. Grundhauser
2002 - Angelo Sita
2003 - Joseph E. Moore
2004 - Paul J. Grundhauser
2005 - Antonino Lombardo
2006 - Raymond B. Garvels
2007 - Rev. Leo J. Spezia
2008 - Angelo Sita