New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli was selected for the Guglielmo Marconi Award, the highest award given by the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America.
Prior recipients of this award include a U.S. President, ambassadors, congress members, astronauts, actors and playwrights. He was presented this award at the organization’s 59th national convention.
“I am truly honored to receive the Guglielmo Marconi Award. I was raised by parents and immigrant grandparents who were deeply proud of being Italian Americans and believed that success would be achieved through hard work and determination,” DiNapoli said. “Thanks to their love, support and teachings, I achieved my dream of a career in public service, culminating in being elected State Comptroller of New York. It is with great pride that I accept this high honor, and I know my parents and grandparents would be so very proud of this recognition.”
DiNapoli is the 54th Comptroller of the State of New York, the first Italian-American to serve in this position in the state's history. He entered public service after being elected the first 18-year-old in New York to hold public office as a trustee on the Mineola school board. He later served as a New York State Assemblyman and has been State Comptroller since 2007.
His mother's family immigrated from Sturno, Avellino Province and his father's family is from Paduli in the Benevento Province. He was named an Honorary Citizen of Paduli and Cavaliere by the Italian Republic.
While in the State Assembly, DiNapoli served a term as president of the New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators. He been a member of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, Cellini Lodge #2206, since October 1983. He also edited a book entitled “The Italian Jewish Experience,” which examined the role of Italians who rescued Jews during World War II and the history of the Jewish community on the Italian peninsula.
Since 1955, the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy, with more than 30,000 members and 150,000 family and friend affiliates, has presented the Guglielmo Marconi Award to an individual for his or her contributions to the nation and record of accomplishments.