Save the Date - August 20-24, 2025

Antonia (Tonina) Mammoliti Chieffalo was born in Italy, like many people in the Danbury, CT area. She was born in the Decollatura province of Catanzaro, Calabria, to Michele and Maria Mammoliti in 1937. When she was a young girl, her father was called to serve in WWII. At the end of the war, when her father came home, they contracted the measles. Tonina and her sister Louisa survived, however her brother Domenico died September 1, 1946. Domenico’s death devastated them greatly. After the war, her family moved to northern Italy, Valle d’Aosta, for her father to find steady work. Tonina and her sister Louisa also received a better education, including learning to speak French. Speaking French came in handy when they decided to move to Montreal, Canada, in 1955.

In 1956 living in Montreal, they found a nice “grouppetto” of “paesani” (group of Italians). Through mutual connections, she met her husband Salvatore Chieffalo from Norwalk, CT. In 1958, Tonina and Salvatore married and settled in Danbury, CT, and spent a wonderful life together with fifty-eight years of marriage. After fifty-eight years of marriage, Salvatore passed away on February 4, 2018. Tonina and Salvatore Chieffalo had three children, Francine, Domenico and Salvatore Jr.; three grandchildren, a set of twins, Maria LoStocco and Joseph LoStocco IV, and Parker Chieffalo; and one great grandchild, Lorenzo LoStocco Palmares.

In the mid 1960’s, Tonina worked at Davis and Geck in Danbury and had a career there for 30 years. She started as a piece worker, putting together surgical sutures and worked in all the departments there. After 5 years, she was promoted to group leader and was responsible for delegating work. Towards the end of her career, she was promoted to the night shift supervisor at a time when those positions were mostly occupied by men. She worked the night shift, sacrificing time with her family to provide a better life for them. She retired after a 30-year career and wanted to spend time volunteering in the community.

Up until 1990, the Danbury Lodge of the Sons of Italy was all men under the name Amerigo Vespucci Lodge. The women had their own smaller lodge called Colonna Lodge. Tonina was instrumental in helping to join the men and women’s lodge to form one lodge. In the early 1990’s the lodge had a real festival, with food, carnival rides, dessert and homemade pizza fritta. Tonina always took pride in running the pizza fritta stand for many years.

Tonina has been a member of the Amerigo Vespucci Lodge in Danbury, CT, for around 60 years and involved for 30 years of service. She held offices over the years, including Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. She also held titles of being the official delegate to the Italian Consulates in Hartford and New York, coordinator of cultural and heritage programs, and Chairperson of the House Committee of the Lodge. She was honored twice by the Amerigo Vespucci Lodge in Danbury at its annual Columbus Day Dinner Dance for her years of service to the lodge. She was also honored by the Grand Lodge in Hartford, CT (The Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy). Tonina volunteered her services to teach Italian classes at the lodge for five years. She organized countless trips for members of the Lodge, including a trip to the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Opera House. She also organized the Lodge’s annual Columbus Day Dinner Dance and Christmas Party for many years, along with many other events to enjoy and learn about Italian heritage. 

Tonina also participated in all the Italian flag raising ceremonies at Danbury City Hall and enjoys hearing her granddaughter sing the American and Italian national anthems. Tonina was also given several mayor’s proclamations from the City of Danbury for her years of dedication to preserving Italian Heritage in the community. Tonina is now 87 years of age, and enjoys travel, good food, language, community service, her Italian heritage and most of all her family. 

Frank Peter Molinaro, of Bridgewater, CT, was born on the 11th of September 1940 to Frank W. Molinaro and Lucille L. Tomaino, and passed peacefully on February 12, 2025, at the age of 84. Frank was the oldest of three children, a sister Linda A. Molinaro, with whom he shared ownership of the Frank W. Molinaro Insurance Agency and a brother Peter A. Molinaro, who is a retired executive from Dow Chemical and lives in Oakton, Virginia.  Frank graduated from Danbury High School in the class of 1958 and attended the University of Bridgeport until transferring to Danbury State Teachers College where he met his future wife, Holly Jane Finley.  Frank and Holly married in 1963 and following a short stint in the army National Guard joined his father in his Insurance Agency.  Frank and Holly have one child and two grandchildren.

Frank was a true leader in the Danbury community and we were proud to honor him at the 2024 San Gennaro Festival.