Joe Garbarino honored as the Ligurian Man of the Year

The evening of Saturday, April 2, 2011, the Associazione Liguri nel Mondo of San Francisco held its 25th annual Festa dei Fiori. The event, held at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco, was attended by 100 guests. The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers supplied by Angelo and Irma Ferro of the decorating emporium, Fantastico. The Associazione was honored by the presence of the Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, the Honorable Fabrizio Marcelli and by Dottore Ferdinando Molteni, the Assessore della Cultura of Savona, Italy.

The national anthems of Italy, “Fratelli D’Italia”, and the American “Star Spangled Banner” were beautifully sung by Soprano Maria Fassio Pignati, the California State Chairman of the Order Sons of Italy in America and a Board Member of the San Francisco Chapter of the Liguri nel Mondo.

The special guest of the evening was Joseph Garbarino, who was honored as the Ligurian Man of the Year. Mr. Garbarino came to the United States as a young man just in time to become an American GI during World War II. He was born in the small hill town of Casanova, close to Varazze, on the Riviera dei Fiori in the Ligurian Province of Savona. With his intelligence, honesty and very hard work he became an owner of one of California’s largest, privately owned, disposal and recycling companies, Marin Sanitary Services.

Joe, as he is known by his family, friends and business associates, has been a strong supporter of the Italian Community in the Bay Area and a very strong supporter of the Liguri nel Mondo’s Scholarship Program. He was given a plaque with the following inscription:

Associazione Liguri nel Mondo - Ligurians in the World Association of San Francisco presents this testimonial to Ligurian man of the year in recognition of your constant and loyal support of the principles of the Associazione Liguri nel Mondo and your significant contribution to the well being and stability of our communities. April2, 2011
A much deserved honor for a generous Ligurian!