La Gazzetta Italiana 14 | 15 | 16 The Next Generation 2016 | Page 2

Welcome to La Gazzetta Italiana Benvenuto! A first job I had in the media business was an overnight radio newsman. I was not a rip and read guy off the AP and UP wire services, so there was plenty of writing in packaging fiveminute, hourly newscasts. In between there were local rounds calls – checking with police, fire and area departments – and if breaking stories occurred, taping interviews with newsmakers because the a.m. news teams would need those interview recordings. There was even more to the all-night job. The dee-jay, Joe Mulvihill, hosted a record request show and listeners telegrammed their requests. Guess who ran to the record library on the second floor to get the record? Me! However, that all-night music show was novel because you never knew who would come calling to plug their record. One night, a young girl walked in with her father. He wanted air play of a song his daughter recorded. It became a national hit. The song was “Who’s Sorry Now,” and this young, shy, lady was Connie Franconero – better known as Connie Francis. Another time, on a windy winter night, someone banged on the back newsroom window to let me know they wanted in. I went to the heavy, metal backdoor, swung it open and the wind blew it wide open. I heard someone crying and I looked out to see a woman drenched in a snowbank. It was Edith Gormezano, better known as Eydie Gorme, the Sicilian/Turkish wife of singer Steve Lawrence. Yet another night, a young man came in to plug his record. Mulvihill played it and asked me later what I thought. It sounded like a hit to me. And, it was! The guy? Johnny Mathis! The record? “Wonderful! Wonderful!” One night, the jock got sick and I sat in as the dee jay. I’ll never forget my opening… “Sit back and relax as I spin the wax!” And, I proceeded to play all my favorite songs. Years later, I experienced multiple joys on-the-scene as a reporter and investigator: interviewing Richard Nixon in a hotel elevator as I was pushed in by friendly, guarding police security getting me an exclusive one-on-one chat, dancing with Teamster chief Jimmy Hoffa’s wife, Josephine, and interviewing a long-haired Englishman named Ringo Starr. Every day was a labor of love. We prayerful y support faith, guide hope, and foster remembrance of loved ones. Your Trusted Family of Catholic Cemeteries All Saints, Northfield All Souls, Chardon Assumption of Mary, Brook Park Calvary, Cleveland Calvary, Lorain Elmhurst Park, Avon Holy Cross, Akron Holy Cross, Brook Park Holy Trinity, Avon Resurrection, Valley City Saint John, Cleveland Saint Joseph, Avon Saint Joseph, Cleveland Saint Mary, Berea Saint Mary, Cleveland Saint Mary, Cuyahoga Heights Saint Mary, Elyria Saint Paul, Euclid SUBSCRIBE TO LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA Take out a subscription to La Gazzetta Italiana! It's a great gift idea... Sign up today at www.LaGazzettaItaliana. com.... Share with family and friends! SUBSCRIBE ONLINE Catholic Cemeteries Association DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND Faith, Hope and Remembrance www.clecem.org ­2 Paul Sciria, Managing Editor LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | MAY 2016 THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS Jennifer Spitalieri Ben Lariccia Serena Scaiola Anne Robichaud Pamela Dorazio Dean Tony Marotta Guiomar Barbi Ochoa OTHER WRITERS IN THIS ISSUE www.LaGazzettaItaliana.com Computer Tablet Margie Miklas Prof. Philip DiNovo Ilaria Massacesi Smart Phone LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | MAY 2016 ­3