Columbus Triangle To Be Renamed For Vincent Iannece

On Sunday, September 30 the corner of 32nd Street and Astoria Boulevard at the apex of Columbus Triangle in Astoria will be officially dedicated and co-named as Cav. Vincenzo Iannece Corner in memory of the late Vincent Iannece. The dedication will take place on the Feast Day of St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of Senerchia in the Province of Avellino, Iannece's hometown in Italy. The renaming was initiated by local residents and the Italian-American community and was supported by Community Board 1 and sponsored in the City Council by Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr.

The ceremony will commence with an Italian Mass at St. Margaret Mary Church at 9-18 27th Ave, Astoria at 1:30 p.m. with the actual street naming at 3 p.m. at Columbus Triangle, the site of Astoria's statue of Christopher Columbus and for more than 75 years the terminus of the annual Columbus Parade. Iannece had presided at the parade since he founded the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens in 1972. Many local elected officials, as well as area residents, family and friends are expected to be present.

Iannece, the father of former Community Board 11 Chair Jerry Iannece and the founder, president and executive chairman of the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens, died on September 29, 2005. He was a longtime member of Community Board 1 and the Astoria Civic Association and was an outspoken advocate and sponsor of many local, civic, cultural, ethnic, athletic and political projects and events. For his dedication and accomplishments, the Republic of Italy bestowed the title of Cavaliere on Iannece, and he was given a City Council Proclamation during Italian Culture Month in 2004.

For more information call Jerry M. Iannece at 718-961-5550.