June, 30, 2008
New York, New York
A professor and Italian-American Scholar, died of complications of open-heart surgery June 30th. He received a Ph.D. from Columbia University and was Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of Anthropology and Sociology at St. John's University where he retired after 30 years. He established the Institute of Italian American Studies (INIAS), Pontes International, International Association for Magna Grecia, American-Italian Historical Association, etc. He published a ten-year sociological study on 42 villages ravaged by the earthquake in Southern Italy. He leaves his wife, Taina Elg, daughter Catherine Caporale, Ph.D., son-in-law, Jay Cordes, step-son Raoul Bjorkenheim and two grandchildren, Cosmo Bjorkenheim and Jacqueline Cordes, a sister Jolanda, and four nieces with families in Italy.