The
IALA's first general
meeting was held
July 20, 1977,
at Casa Italiana,
where its meetings
are still held.
Its first social
event was a State
Bar breakfast
in San Diego featuring
Court of Appeal
Presiding Justice
John Racanelli
of the First District.
On Oct. 12, 1977,
the forerunner
of the Bollettino
was published,
Newsletter of
Italian-American
Lawyers of California.
More than 200
persons attended
the first installation
ball held that
year, as it was
in numerous subsequent
years, at the
Friar's Club.
(Paul Caruso died
on Aug. 14, 2001.)
1978
Year
2
President:
Michael
Pontrelli
Speakers
included state
Attorney General
Evelle Younger,
U.S. Attorney
Andrea Ordin of
the Central District
of California,
District Attorney
John Van de Kamp,
Court of Appeal
Justices Leon
Thompson and Bernard
Jefferson, and
Los Angeles Mayor
Tom Bradley. More
than 600 attended
a meeting featuring
Gov. Jerry Brown.
And the room was
packed for a State
Bar lunch in San
Francisco with
Chief Justice
Rose Bird. The
IALA became affiliated
with the Los Angeles
County Bar Assn.
Robert Mallano
and Robert Fratianne
became the first
two IALA members
to gain appointment
to the bench,
each receiving
Municipal Court
slots.
1979
Year
3
President:
Richard
Cacioppo
Court
of Appeal Presiding
Justice John Racanelli
flew from San
Francisco to act
as installing
officer at the
installation ball,
held at the Friar's
Club. Speakers
during the year
included former
Gov. Edmund G.
"Pat"
Brown and legal
writer Bernard
Witkin. More than
350 attended a
retirement dinner
for Superior Court
Judge Alfred Peracca.
And nearly 700
were there when
the IALA joined
with the Japanese
and medical communities
for a tribute
to Los Angeles
County Chief Medical
Examiner Thomas
Noguchi. On hand
was actor Jack
Klugman, star
of television's
"Quincy,
M.E."
1980
Year
4
President:
Nicholas
Ciriello
The
installation ball
that year was
held at the Century
Plaza. The biggest
turn-out of any
IALA event to
date occurred
when co-founder
Mario Clinco,
a judge of the
Los Angeles Superior
Court, was honored.
More than 900
were in attendance.
1981
Year
5
President:
George
West
"Naturalized"
Italian George
O. West was installed
as president at
a ball at the
Beverly Wilshire.
Speakers that
year included
Attorney General
George Deukmejian,
District Attorney
John Van de Kamp,
Mayor Tom Bradley,
and Assembly Speaker
Willie Brown.
More than 600
witnessed Paul
Caruso being roasted
at the laugh-filled
November meeting.
(George West died
in May, 1997.)
