Body
WHEREAS, in 1897, Santo Bonadio immigrated to Pittsburgh from the side of a mountain in Calabria in southern Italy, and in 1903, built a house on the side of a mountain in Beechview in southern Pittsburgh, and
WHEREAS, Joseph Bonadio was raised by his parents, Santo and Angelina, in the same Canton Avenue home that he occupies today, having grown up there with 3 brothers and 6 sisters, and
WHEREAS, Canton Avenue is currently known as the world's second steepest public street, the steepest street in the Western Hemisphere, and is the top feature in the “Dirty Dozen” bicycle race, where crowds, including Mr. Bonadio, gather annually to watch cyclists race up the hill, often to fall back down, and
WHEREAS, Joe's own stamina, talents, and commitment to public service are unparalleled, as he has loyally cared for his neighborhood for the better part of a century, taking it upon himself to independently maintain a garden that spans seven city lots, and beautify and regularly repair Canton Avenue, a dirt road with wooden steps for most of its existence, until his sister Catherine petitioned the city to get it paved, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bonadio is a certified electrician, for, as a schoolboy, he made the commute - a 45-minute walk through the Liberty Tubes - to the Connelley Trade School in the Hill District from which he graduated, and
WHEREAS, Joe is an extremely talented musician, as he plays the violin, tenor saxophone, clarinet, and bass, having performed alongside such luminaries as Henry Mancini. He has played with the Butler Symphony Orchestra after choosing to begin flute lessons with the Pittsburgh Flute Academy at age 79, and
WHEREAS, Joe is life member of the Professional Golf Association for over 50 years and now a member of their Centennial Club, at one time even providing a golf lesson to jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, and
WHEREAS, Joe is a true Renaissance man and has used his many talents to make Pittsburgh a better place, whether ...
Click here for full text