Celebrating Italian American heritage: Maria Fassio Pignati named Queen Isabella for Columbus Day festivities

Unlike in the past, when the queen was selected by ticket sales or a pageant-style contest, the selection of recent queens has been based mostly on civic activities.

“We finally came up with the idea that we wanted to honor a distinguished woman who has done something of significance for our community,” Event Chair Terry Anderlini said. “So based on their contribution to the community, their charitable activities, their leadership activities and their governmental activities we select our Queen Isabella.”

Pignati’s qualifications are many and varied. She has already been knighted by the Italian government for her work in the Italian community and, like past queens, she is highly involved in local Italian American clubs and organizations, most notably the Sons of Italy Grand Lodge of California.

“We’re extremely happy that she’s going to represent us,” said Arlene Nunziati, state recording secretary for the Grand Lodge of California. “She’s been in the order since she was a very, very young woman and she worked her way up through the offices.”

Pignati’s devotion to her heritage is not the only thing that has been with her since childhood.

“Maria Pignati is kind of an unusual candidate because she is also a fabulous singer,” Anderlini said. “She sings opera. She sings beautiful Italian songs. She’s a pro.”

Pignati’s love of music has been tied to her Italian roots since she was a child. She grew up living upstairs from the family restaurant, Leone’s, in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood where she played unofficial hostess.

“Can’t get more Italian than that,” said Pignati, 60. “We had stairs that took us from our kitchen downstairs to the restaurant, and I would go downstairs — I was a little girl, 5 or 6 years old — and I would talk to the customers and I would sing to them. At that age I probably did ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,’ and the alphabet song.”

The blend of music and Italian culture in Pignati’s life has come a long way since the alphabet song. She is an accomplished operatic soprano in the Trio Amore ensemble, and has sung the national anthem for the San Francisco Giants Italian Heritage Night, an event she co-chairs.

“I’ve been able to use my music to make myself happy,” Pignati said. “And more importantly, I hope, to make other people happy.”

Though Pignati’s life has been full of honors and achievements, this year’s celebration will bring her journey full circle. From her youth singing in the family restaurant and being crowned princess of the parade, she will now sing the anthems at the celebration where she will be crowned queen.

“I’ve been involved with Columbus Day in San Francisco for many years, so this was a real treat for me to be chosen Queen Isabella here in San Mateo where I live,” Pignati said. “I’m joyful that I’m Italian. I have a wonderful history behind me ... all these wonderful things that were handed down to me, and I pass these on to my son, and I hope that he passes them on to his children. There’s a lot of pride and a lot of joy in being Italian.”

Though Italian pride is of great importance to Pignati, and to the Columbus Day celebration, community is what makes that pride worthwhile. Italian or not, there’s room for everyone in la famiglia, and at the celebration. The event is about sharing Italian pride with, and expressing gratitude to the greater community, Anderlini said.

“We encourage non-Italians and anybody who wants to come down to come and join the fun,” Anderlini said. “I don’t think it’s important to us who discovered America — certainly we want to say Columbus did — but it’s more about having that one day to celebrate our Italian American heritage and do something worthy for the community and charitable endeavors.”

Last year, the event raised about $14,000 for the Peninsula Social Club Scholarship Fund, and this year, the proceeds will be split between that fund and the Sons of Italy Western Foundation Scholarship. The Sons of Italy fund awards monetary scholarships to outgoing high school seniors, and awards a trip to Italy to two students per year.

The celebration included a bocce ball tournament and cookout Saturday, Oct. 4. A dinner dance with traditional Italian cuisine and live music will be Saturday, Oct. 11, and the group will have a float in the San Francisco Columbus Day parade on Sunday, Oct. 12.

The Peninsula Italian American Social Club is 100 N. B St., in San Mateo. Its phone number is 343-7981. For reservations and event information please call Patsy Spiers at 212-0001.