Iannelli, 95, helped start Festa Italiana
Few words, lots of action in man’s ‘amazing’ life
Paul Iannelli loved being Italian. “He was a family man. He was very proud of his Italian heritage,” his daughter Paulette Zizzo said. “And he was a man who wanted things done yesterday.”
His family remembers Iannelli as a man of few words but lots of action — from building a parking business with his brother to helping create the Italian Community Center and Festa Italiana.
Iannelli was surrounded by his family when he died Saturday at age 95.
The son of Sicilian immigrants, Iannelli faced hardship as a child, including the death of his father and the Great Depression.
“His dad had died when he was 8. And he had three brothers and one sister, and the brothers went into business together,” Zizzo said. “A single mom raising kids and during the Depression, they were all very successful men personally and financially, you know, so she did a good job.”
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Iannelli and his brother, business partners from the time they were very young, worked together to build Patsy & Paul Inc. into a successful parking business centered downtown and in the Historic Third Ward.
“He was driven,” his son-in-law Joe Zizzo said.
From those parking lots, Iannelli noticed another business growing in the area — Summerfest, which was first held in 1968 and moved to its current lakefront location two years later.
“During Summerfest, he had parking lots. And he could see what a great area this was for celebrations,” Paulette Zizzo said. “He went to Mayor Maier and said, ‘This is a better use, to keep the grounds open more than just the 10 days of Summerfest.’”
In a September 1977 letter to Maier, Iannelli wrote, “As your partner in Patsy & Paul’s, your parking concessionaire at Summerfest, I have seen firsthand the benefits of such celebrations to the city and our citizens, and, of course, the need for planning. It is our intention to sponsor a sort of Oktoberfest, Italian-style, for our community and hopefully, to begin a tradition as good and as strong as Summerfest.”
The first Festa Italiana was held the following year on the Summerfest grounds, now known as Henry Maier Festival Park. He and others, including his friend Tony Machi, worked to make sure Festa would flourish.
“So that’s basically the start,” Paulette Zizzo said. “And then you get all these energetic Italian men and everybody volunteered. It grew, and it was a big success.”
A July 1978 Milwaukee Sentinel article about the first Festa Italiana, which was held Aug. 4-6, quoted Iannelli saying, “We’re trying to get the Italian community working together again.”
Organizers were also hoping to bring people together again, after “urban renewal” drove many Italians out of the Historic Third Ward and freeway construction led to the 1967 razing of the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Catholic Church, or the “Little Pink Church,” which had been the spiritual heart of Milwaukee’s Italian community.
Festa Italiana also helped to inspire other ethnic festivals in Milwaukee, including Fiesta Mexicana (now Mexican Fiesta), German Fest, Irish Fest, Polish Fest and African World Festival.
Iannelli, Machi and others also helped create the Italian Community Center.
“Paul’s leadership enabled the ICC to enjoy many years of success. His memory will forever be etched in our hearts and his legacy is one of many accomplishments,” the ICC wrote Tuesday in an email to members. “Sending love and light to his family, and all who celebrate his amazing life.”
Mike Palmisano, a past ICC president, said, “Paulie was instrumental in helping to co-found Festa Italiana, and volunteered for many years. And he will be missed.
Iannelli was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalia (“Rosie”), his bride of 66 years.
He is the brother of Joseph (the late Grace) Iannelli, Rosemary (Ralph) Yob and Michael (the late Karen) Iannelli. Brother-in-law of Sr. Mary Agnes Dragotta, Theresa (his late brother, Pasquale) Iannelli, Beatrice (the late Dominic) Dragotta and Sr. Mary Agnes.
He is also survived by his daughters Paulette (Joe) Zizzo and Nancy Jo (Paul) Agnello, his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 24, at 11:30 a.m. at Mother of Perpetual Help - East Site, 2322 S. 106th St., West Allis. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Procession to Holy Cross Cemetery to follow Mass.