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Home Information Events Rentals Sponsors Join Genealogy | Directory Presidents
presidents of the Joanne Coccia Lodge 2553
from 1984 to the present
Sister Dorothy Rathfelder
President Jan 2005 - Dec 2008
Dorothy Rathfelder was born in Racine Wisconsin and
moved to California at the age of eight.
Her family settled in the East of Los Angeles/ Montebello area where she
graduated from
Sacred Heart of Mary High Schools for Girls, in Montebello, CA. She and
her late husband Charles
(Chuck) Rathfelder met at Sears Roebuck Mail
Order Plant in Los Angeles where they were both employed. They were
married in 1962 while Chuck was on leave from the Air Force. Dorothy was
employed the DuPoint Company at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.
Their first child was born a son named Chuck Jr. Then came Karen born in
Montebello, CA. Later Dorothy became a homemaker and her husband resumed
his employment with Sears. Marianne was their third child. They
moved to the Inland Empire in 1962 Dorothy went to work for Morris Plan in 1966
and retired in 1992 as an Assistant Manager. Dorothy has always been
active in the Fontana Community. She was a volunteer at Kaiser Hospital.
She was active with the school Parent Teacher Group at Resurrection Academy.
Dorothy and Chuck received the highest honor in 1999 of the lodge being named
the "Honoree of the Year." Dorothy is extremely involved with the success
of the lodge by being the hall coordinator. She is at the lodge almost on
a daily basis booking the hall for many parties. Through her hard work and
effort her goal was to see that
the hall would be paid off during her administration. This was
accomplished in May 2008. Thank you Dorothy for everything you have
done for the Joanne Coccia Lodge #2553
Brother Anthony
N. Finazzo
President Jan 2003 - Dec 2004
Anthony N. Finazzo was the second born of five children
in 1933 in Wyandotte, Michigan. His father and mother were immigrants
from Cinisi, near Palermo, Italy. Anthony was elected president in November
2001 and will serve his term for two years. Anthony met his beautiful wife
Marie in Detroit, Michigan and were married on September 1, 1956. They
have two children, Marie Elizabeth, (married to John M. Johnson) and Frank
Finazzo, (married to Wendi Huckebey). They have four beautiful
grandchildren, Tre and A.J. Johnson, Dominic and Breanna Finazzo. Anthony has been very involved
with the community of Fontana. He has served as the President for the
Fontana Chamber of Commerce, the Fontana Exchange Club and was Chairman for the
United Way. He is currently working on the website for our lodge. His
goal is to continue the growth of the lodge, increase donations to our charities
and bring our membership to 300 strong over the next two years. Anthony
loves fundraising activities for the lodge and worthwhile charities. He
has chaired four successful golf tournaments; raised funds for Juvenile Diabetes
Research, Columbus Day Festival and many other functions. He
is deeply grateful to all of his committee people and volunteers who help out
when these functions are held. He is especially thankful for the team
leaders who work diligently to make each event successful. Brother Al Coccia, Sister Martha Nagy, Anna Watts and his wife, Marie, are the four people who cannot be
thanked enough. They are always there when you need them.
Brother Manny Finazzo
Immediate Past President Jan 2001 - Dec 2002
Manny (Emanuel) Finazzo is the youngest brother in
a family of five children. He was born in St. Louis,
Missouri in 1937. His parents were
Frank and Maria Finazzo who were immigrants from Palermo, Italy. Manny has been
involved in many community activities. Manny is a charter member of the lodge
and has served as a Trustee, Vice-President, Master of Ceremonies and served our
lodge prior as President for four years from 1986 - 1990. Manny, along with Ron
Bitonti and Joe Balsano were able to get Bingo started in 1989. The bingo was
very successful and helped serve all our Charity needs. He worked with Clara and
Joe Sacco, Bob and Mary Abbruzzese and many other members to keep our Fireworks
booths going. The profits from these activities that helped us purchase our
present building. Manny has served our lodge faithfully as president for three
terms and is currently serving our lodge as Hall Manager. He was very
instrumental in acquiring the new hall on Sierra Avenue. Brothers Manny, Ron
Bitonti, Rick Masotto, Frank P. Finazzo, Jr., Al and Ray Coccia and many member
volunteers spearheaded the renovation of the hall. The charities have grown
tremendously under his leadership. The lodge balance sheets continued to
increase with the goal to someday burn the mortgage on the building. A lot of
activities have been instituted under his administration and his committee
appointments have increased with lots of enthusiasm.
Brother Ron
Bitonti
Past President from
Jan 1997 - Dec 2000
Ron Bitonti was born in Morgantown, West Virginia. He was the
7th born of 9 children. His father was from Calabria, Italy and his mother
was from Windsor, England. There were 6 sons and 3 daughters. Ron Bitonti was our fifth President of the lodge. Ron served
as Vice President for one term and is a Charter member. He was very instrumental
getting Bingo started for our Lodge. Ron had worked very hard for the lodge
during negotiations of our Hall with the City and his Presidency. He put
together a great building committee with a lot of volunteers for the hall and
together they were able to bring the hall to its present condition. The
renovation of the building took many days and hours but together it stands as a
beautiful facility that is the envy of many of our filial lodges.
Ron had the ability with his leadership and contacts to acquire many things for
the hall at little or no cost. His administration was able to
accomplish many of the goals that was set out for the lodge during his four year
term. Everyone appreciated his dedication and superb job for the Good of
the Order.
He was elected Vice President again in 2005 and serves on the board for
the lodge
Brother Rick
Masotto (Deceased)
Past President Jan 1995- Dec 1996
Camillo "Rick"
Masotto was born and raised in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn, New York.
He was one of six children born to two Italian immigrants from Palermo, Italy.
Rick was very instrumental during the procurement phase of acquiring our new
lodge hall. His great desire to see this lodge's dream become a reality
eventually spilled over to all the members. He completely supported this
hall lodge project which was always quite evident with all his enthusiasm that
he showed. His leadership and desire to insure that everything went right
were always at the forefront, especially during his term of office. On
February 15, 1997 he was given the honor and named the "Honoree of the Year," of the Joanne Coccia
Lodge. We will always have wonderful memories of our dearly beloved
Brother, Rick Masotto.
Brother Frank
Paul Finazzo, Jr.
Past President from Jan 1991 to Dec 1994
Frank Paul
Finazzo was born in St Louis, Missouri. He was the first born and one of five
children to Frank P. & Maria Finazzo. His parents were both from Cinisi,
Palermo, Italy. Frank and his wife Frances have four children. Frank is a very
strong supporter of our lodge and can be found at the lodge almost on a daily
basis. Frank has many talents and was there for the Lodge’s renovation. His
electrical skills, and general maintenance skills has saved our hall many
dollars. He continues to maintain the financial records of the organization with
the goal of someday paying off the mortgage. Under his leadership, the lodge
worked diligently to accomplish all the goals established by our Charter with a
high degree of professionalism. When Frank is not working on the books, he can
be found doing electrical work throughout the building.
Emanuel (Manny) Finazzo took over the Presidency of our Lodge under difficult
times. The road was rough and rocky in the early days but under Manny's
leadership he was able to upright the ship to recovery and steered it in the
right direction. His dream and the dream for many of the members were to
build a solid foundation and work towards owing our own lodge someday.
Through hard work of many of the members, that dream has become a realty.
More details about Manny's Presidency can be found above when he served as
President from January 2001 to December 2000.
Sister Grace Brazell
Past President from Feb 19, 1984 to Dec 1986
Grace Brazell was our very first President. Bringing the Order Sons
of Italy to the Inland Empire was a dream shared by Grace C. Brazell and many
Italians-Americans living in Fontana. Our State President, Lawrence
Romanazzi, Ex-Grand President, Peter Tubiolo, Supreme Officers, Grand Officers,
Presidents of Commissions and the Officers of the Madrina Lodge and the West
Covina Lodge were all in attendance to installed our Great Lodge into the Order
Sons of Italy in America and made this dream come true.