Professor Philip J. DiNovo is the Founder and
President of the esteemed American Italian Heritage
Association and the American Italian Heritage Museum
in Albany, New York. He has also been knighted by
the Italian Government and is a respected figure in
America’s Italian community
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
March 2025
In the morning while eating breakfast I enjoy looking out of the window at my backyard. In the winter a blanket of snow covers the ground, the trees are bare and most of the plants have shriveled up and died. Then, a miracle takes place with the arrival of spring. We are once again experiencing a new beginning ~ nature comes alive! Subsequently, we hold more museum events, including new and exciting ones as we welcome back our dedicated snowbirds who are gradually returning home from warmer climates. It truly is an exhilarating time of the year. With your participation and support we can look forward to a busy and productive spring and summer season.
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we embrace getting older is during early childhood? If you are under 10 years old, you’re so excited about aging that you think in terms of fractions; i.e., question: “How old are you?” typical answer: “I am four and half.” All of a sudden, you turn 21, then 30, then, you’re pushing 40. Before you know it, you reach the golden age of 50 after which you soon face being 60. You didn’t think you would. You build up so much speed that you hit 70 before you even know it! You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle. Into the 90s you start going backward. FYI ~ I was just 92!
The older you get the faster time goes by becomes the mantra of many. Each of us has limited time. So, what will be your legacy? Your age does not
matter to us because it is your time and talent that we are seeking and where the need is great. Age is just a number. The fact is that people who take part in volunteering live longer lives, thus giving them a true sense of purpose. Our mission is so important and we are only able to be successful with your time, talent and financial support.
From darkness to light, spring is here affording us the opportunity to start anew. Get involved this spring. Grow, make new friends, feel a part of something very important and gain a sense of accomplishment. Be an active member!
During Holy Week many of us will be attending services and celebrating Easter with family and friends. This is a wonderful time of the year. Our cherished culture has given us so many wonderful Italian Easter traditions that aren’t just about going through the motions. They are more about embracing our values, keeping our roots alive, and most importantly, having the very best of times in the process. They’re about celebrating our Italian heritage and culture and are a testament to the enduring significance of these values in our lives. Our hope is that you avail yourself of some of our traditions which can be found in this newsletter. Please keep our beliefs alive and pass them on to the next generation.
In closing, I wish each of you a very blessed Buona Pasqua!
Prof./Cav. Philip J. DiNovo
In honor of the Italian immigrants who came to the United States of America, we are committed to record and preserve the contributions of our Italian Heritage and culture to our society through our newsletter, cultural programs, activities, exhibits, and outreach programs.