On Wednesday, October 2, State President Arlene Nunziati and Past State President Maria Fassio Pignati attended the formal opening of Italian Heritage Month in San Francisco.  The Italian flag was raised on the balcony of Mayor London Breed’s office, which was followed by a special program on the marble balcony overlooking the gorgeous interior of City Hall.  MC was SF Supervisor Catherine Stefani, who introduced Maria

Mervin Lernhart
1936 - 2024

Mervin was a valued member of our Napa Lodge for over 55 years. He regularly attended our dinner dances and had a personality that was larger than life. His accomplishments within the Napa legal field

Birth Defects check presentation at Stanford, representing the Columbia Lodge #1940 and the Cornelia-Vita Nuova Lodge #1198.  Unfortunately, our Medical Charities/Birth Defects Library Chairperson Mary Lucido was unable to attend due to a work commitment, so I represented on her behalf.  Mary, you were missed.  This was a special event for us, as it marked the 50th Anniversary of the founding of our Birth Defects Library at Stanford, which was created on February 12, 1974 as the first Birth Defects Library in our Grand Lodge chain of libraries.

We were warmly greeted by Susan Schelley, MPH, LCGC, Senior Genetic Counselor and Dr. Jon Bernstein, MD, PhD, Chief, Division of Medical Genetics at Stanford Children’s Health.  Susan has been in the Genetics Department for over 40 years, and was hired by Dr. Luigi Luzzatti, who helped found the Pediatrics Birth Defect Center at Stanford.  I

Cooking with Nana

Nana Mary Lucido teaching granddaughter Katie Lucido how to make home made ravioli, meatballs and sauce.

On July 25, Paula Uccelli, our 2006 Western Foundation Humanitarian Award Honoree, presented the $2500 Pete & Paula Uccelli Foundation Scholarship to San Carlos resident Rose Lyra Boncimino, who graduated from Carlmont High School with a GPA of 4.4.   In her junior year,  Rose enrolled in the Middle College Program at Canada College, which allowed her to simultaneously take classes in high school and college. She also has assisted under-resourced Bay Area residents.  In addition, Rose works as a supervisor