Fortunato Anselmo facts for kids

Fortunato Anselmo (born October 1, 1883 – died July 15, 1965) was an important Italian-American leader. He served as the Vice Consul of Italy in Salt Lake City for many years. He was known for helping Italian immigrants in Utah. Fortunato played a key role in connecting the Italian community with the wider society.

Early Life and Moving to America

Fortunato Anselmo was born in Grimaldi, Italy, on October 1, 1883. He moved to the United States in the early 1900s. He first lived in Pueblo, Colorado. There, he worked as a reporter for an Italian-American newspaper called Il Vindice. He also worked in the business world. In 1909, Fortunato married Anna Pagano in Pueblo. They had three daughters: Annette, Gilda, and Emma.

In 1911, Fortunato and his family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. He started a business selling imported food. He also opened another store in Carbon County, Utah, where many Italian immigrants lived. In 1912, he started a newspaper in Salt Lake called La Gazzetta Italiana. This helped him become a voice for the Italian community in Utah. He later sold his newspaper when he became a vice consul.

Becoming a Vice Consul

Fortunato Anselmo was appointed the Vice Consul of Italy in Salt Lake City on April 20, 1915. This made him the official advisor for Italians living in Utah and Wyoming. His office helped people with important documents. They handled requests for passports, visas, and other papers from the Italian government.

He also worked for the Bank of Naples, a large Italian bank. In this role, he helped local Italians send money to their families in Italy. He also provided tickets for immigrants traveling to or from Italy.

Helping the Community

Fortunato was very active in the community. He worked to make Columbus Day a legal holiday in Utah. This effort succeeded in 1919. On October 13, 1919, Salt Lake City held a huge Columbus Day celebration. It was described as one of the biggest parades ever in the city. Everyone in the community enjoyed the event.

Anselmo cared deeply about the immigrants and their families. People often asked him for help with daily problems. He helped bring relatives from Italy to Utah. He translated Italian into English. He also gave advice on legal matters. One of his hardest duties was helping after a coal mine explosion in 1924. This tragedy in Carbon County killed 172 men, including 22 Italians.

Welcoming Important Guests

Fortunato and Anna Anselmo often welcomed important people to their home. In 1920, they entertained the Italian ambassador to the United States. In 1930, famous Italian boxer Primo Carnera visited them. In 1936, Fortunato greeted Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli. This cardinal later became Pope Pius XII.

Honors and Later Years

The Italian government honored Fortunato Anselmo for his service. He received two awards: Knight of the Crown of Italy and Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy.

In 1923, Fortunato became a United States citizen. Because of this, the Italian government asked him to resign as vice consul. However, no one was appointed to replace him. So, Fortunato continued his work until 1941. At that time, the U.S. government closed the office due to World War II starting between the United States and Italy.

But in 1950, Fortunato was reappointed as the Italian vice consul. He continued in this role until he passed away on July 15, 1965.