Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
October 4, 2000
Church, family formed Italian American honoree
By Jeff Richmond
The media delights in portraying Italian Americans in negative stereotypes on programs such as "The Sopranos." As far as George Vendegnia is concerned, the new generation of Italian Americans deserve better.
Vendegnia along with "C.M." Margiaracina has been co-named this year's Denver Catholic Register's Italian American of the Year. The resident of north Denver said, "I think it's one of the greatest things that could have happen to me and I'm just in awe."
Vendegnia who owns two hair salons and a car wash in north Denver was named for the award through his efforts to organize the "Columbus Day Parade," along with Margiaracina and The Sons of Italy New Generation.
The parade will take place Oct. 7 beginning at 10 a.m. in downtown Denver and will conclude with an Italian American cultural festival held at the Rocky Mountain Lake Park.
Much of Vendegnia's zeal about his Italian American roots came from the grandfather for whom he was named.
He was truly a pioneer for his time, said Vendegnia. He believes his grandparents, like other immigrants, came to America for the opportunities, but to also seek a better future for their children.
"No matter how you look at it, America is still the greatest country in the world," he said.
His grandfather was a fruit peddler for years and would take Vendegnia to work at Denargo Markets. He was a hard working man who ruled the roost with four kids. "And just like all the old time Italians," Vendegnia said with a chuckle, "he liked his wine, and he liked his spaghetti."
This is where Vendegnia says he saw the Italian American community and the, "old ways," he thinks are so important. His favorite memories were the families playing boccie-ball, eating, and just being together. It is here, he says, he also saw these men — who like his grandfather — were warm, loving, and always respectful of others, he explained. These were the values he believes they were taught back in Italy.
His grandmother was the same way, he added, a very loving woman.
"And very Italian. Like all Italian Grandma's, if you weren't eating, the grandmas weren't happy—real simple," he pointed out.
"God bless both their hearts," says Vendegnia, "I miss them to death now. I really looked up to them."
He hopes his three daughters and four grandchildren will have the same memory of him.
This is one of the reasons Vendegnia has organized the parade, he said. Before moving out to other cities, Vendegnia believes, the Italian American community living in north Denver used to be close-knit. And he believes this has impacted this generation. "We lost seeing what we were taught in our homes, in the larger community," he said.
The Italian American heritage is slipping away, "and all our kids see is the false image portrayed on television and in movies, which isn't what Italian people are about," he added.
He hopes the parade and festival will show the young Italian Americans that they are more than that. Vendegnia explained, "We're about family, being warm with each other, about togetherness. This is what we want our kids to see," he continued, "along with the fun of celebrating our traditions."
"Hopefully, everyone will come to share our culture as well," he said excitedly. "We want others to watch our dances and hear our songs, to taste our food and play our games, and to celebrate with us what Italian Americans are all about."
Vendegnia is a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Denver. It's the same parish he said he was baptized in and served as an altar boy in 1956. He says it was the Church, along with his family, who made him an honest and hardworking man with family values.
"I remember the times I have struggled and would sit and pray in the church with questions," said Vendegnia. "Each time, through the hands of Christ, I would eventually get answers." It's these traditions, he said, he also wants to pass down to his children.
He said his eldest daughter, Deana Vessa and her husband Frank, have already continued that tradition by being active at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. And he now says he has the honor of his four grandchildren being baptized in the same church he was, "many, many," years ago.
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