A Letter from the President

      Beatrice Colagè-Zukowski,
President 2019-2021

It is with sincere pleasure and continued dedication that I serve as President of Il Cenacolo Italiano di Cleveland, a cultural club in which I have been an active member since 1986.

From its inception in 1928 as Il Circolo Italiano, the mission of Il Cenacolo has always been to unite its members in an intimate circle of friends for the promotion of the Italian culture and language.

In June of 2018, Il Cenacolo proudly celebrated its 90th anniversary recognizing prominent figures of Cleveland who were instrumental in the founding and the longevity of this organization.

Among the departed dear friends and outstanding leaders of Il Cenacolo’s past, in my vivid memory remain in particular: Mr. Gene Zannoni and Mrs. Stella Zannoni, honorary Consul of Italy; Mrs. Bette Spetrino; Miss Mary Louise Comella; Mrs. Rita Giordano Kelly; and Mr. Alfonso D’Emilia, Cavaliere della Repubblica d’Italia.

As Il Cenacolo moves toward its centennial, may this unique organization continue to be a cultural beacon for those who seek to gather for the purpose of learning of the arts, sciences and literature of Italy.

My desire is to spur the mission of Il Cenacolo by highlighting the valuable role it has within the City of Cleveland and the Italian American Community. Il Cenacolo will continue to offer quality programs for its members and guests, as well as elevate its noteworthy aims and accomplishments through its presence in public forums and social media.

Via the various pages of Il Cenacolo’s website, I encourage you to discover more about this non-profit organization that grants scholarships for the academic enrichment of high school and college students through the Ferdinand and Ina Fournier Fund. I also encourage you to further explore Il Cenacolo’s rich history that is preserved in the archives of the Italian American Collection of the Western Reserve Historical Society.

The members of Il Cenacolo meet once a month on the second Monday during two semesters of the academic year – from September to December and March to June.

I look forward to a future of vibrant activities and shared friendships.