The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Soliani named Italian ‘Mayor of the Day’
TORRINGTON — Marie P. Soliani says it’s an honor to be able to show respect for her Italian heritage.
Soliani will get to do that in a big way this month as she has been Italian “Mayor Of The Day.”
Soliani said she was initially “shocked” to learn she was receiving the award.
“Then I felt gratitude,” she said, noting she is “very honored to be chosen.”
The Torrington Chapter of UNICO National and the city hold its Columbus and Italian Mayor of the Day Celebration at 9 a.m. Oct. 12 at Coe Memorial Park’s civic center, with Soliani as this year’s honoree.
This week Soliani spoke this week at a forum held by “Vote Yes New School Bright Future”, a group promoting the approval of a project to build a new middle-high school in the city. “I guess this is my headline week, between being on Zoom for the THS building project, which absolutely needs to be done, and then to be called about the Italian Mayor. It’s a great honor.”
“Marie has long advocated for
Torrington and has always been a positive voice for Torrington,” said UNICO chapter member Peggy Hotchkiss.”She continues to serve and volunteer in our community.”
Soliani was born and raised in Torrington by her parents Daniel and Josephine (Cerminaro) Pietrafesa. She is the granddaughter of Dominic and Maria G. (Pace)
Pietrafesa. Her siblings include Genevieve Pietrefase and Audrey Feuerstein, both of Torrington, and a brother, retired Torrington police officer Domenic Pietrafesa of Florida.
Soliani worked part time during her high school years before graduation, then worked for an insurance company in Hartford after graduating from Torrington High School.
In 1961, she married Rico Soliani. The couple had two children; Lisa Soliani-Croci and Michael Jon Soliani. After her children were enrolled in school, she worked at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, and took an active role in creating groups and committees in collaboration with national organizations as they related to the positions she held in the hospital. She was also involved in local committees working on issues of interest to her, according to UNICO.
She was a 16-year member of the Torrington City Council, and was appointed to serve on the city’s last three Charter Revision Commissions. She is a member of the Torrington Development Commission, the Torrington Economic Development Commission and the Christmastime in Torrington CT Committee, according to UNICO.
During her time on the City Council, Soliani supported initiatives that were focused on improving the city’s image. Franklin Square Plaza, a recently completed development of city and business properties behind East Main Street, is one of those efforts.
“I am very proud of that,” Soliani said. “I supported the mayor’s initiative to get that area done ... We had
workshops over the last couple of years, and we were able to give our input. I was happy to support the mayor while I was on the council, and after I retired.
“Franklin Square has come to fruition, and it’s been a long time coming,” she said. “I hope things like that continue, to help the city put our best foot forward. I was always told, your front door is what you’re judged by. Torrington High School is a front door, and Franklin Plaza is a front door, to attract more people, businesses, to Torrington. The city deserves it. That area’s not even recognizable now. It looks completely different.”
Soliani said she envisions the Franklin Square Plaza as an area that will be used by the community. She also hopes more businesses will rent spaces in the buildings there.
“I see people doing outside events there, from fundraisers to private gatherings,” she said. “I have already seen the Nutmeg (Ballet) out there, and yoga classes. There’s so much more that can be done, once people get used to the fact that it’s there. Hopefully, we can get the Army Corps of Engineers to make the river a river, instead of a creek, so it can be part of the river walk area.”
Soliani’s family, and her husband’s family, all represent Italians that helped build Connecticut, she said. “The Italian culture literally built this town,” she said. “Not only did the Italian immigrants — my grandfather was one of them when he came here in 1891 — work in the factories and started businesses here. The family I married into, the Solianis, literally built the buildings. They were stone masons, and workers, and their need for perfection and their skills helped
build Connecticut. So there’s a lot to be proud of, of our ancestors and what they did.”
Soliani’s father and her son were both captains in the Torrington Fire Department. Her mother was a factory worker in the city. “My mom was from Scranton, Pa., but my dad was born here,” she said. “They were proud people. They weren’t fancy people with fancy jobs; but they were amazing parents and amazing people.”
The city’s history holds many stories of the people who built it, she said. “There are some really great stories about the great people, ordinary, everyday people, who are still here, working for the city,” she said. “I appreciate that. I’m proud of it.”
Most of all, Soliani wants people to share that pride. “People who have a love for this city and insight are the ones who can keep that pride going,” she said. “I’m an eternal optimist, and I have been all my life. If people put a little more effort into coming here and promoting what’s here, things will just blossom. We’ll get the support we deserve.”
Monday’s ceremony will feature Chris Cogliano playing the National Anthem, an invocation by the Rev. Emmanuel Ihemedu of St. John Paul the Great Parish, and a state proclamation declaring October ItalianAmerican Heritage Month by state Rep Michelle Cook, D-Torrington. Citations will be presented to Soliani from the state and Mayor Elinor Carbone.
The chapter is also honoring member Brian Mattiello with a 25-year pin for his years of service.
COVID-19 guidelines including masks and social distancing will be in place.