My Women's History Month hero

Today, I celebrate an unsung hero, the proverbial “woman behind the man,” my mother, Angie Rose Alesia Annunzio (1912-1996). My mother’s family immigrated from Calabria, Italy to Oolitic, Indiana. She grew up on a farm, the sixth child of 10 siblings. At the age of 16 with her two sisters she came to Chicago to earn money for the family by working in a sweat shop. The prettiest and smartest girl on the block (even though she never graduated from high school), she met the man most likely to succeed, my dad, Frank.?He went on to become a United States Congressman for 32 years and was celebrated by the New York Times as the “consumer advocate of the 20th century” and honored by almost every ethnic and racial group as a champion of the underdog.?People came from all over to hear him speak but it was his secret weapon, Angie, who “worked the crowd.” She beguiled them with her authenticity — never losing her “farm girl” charm — even after dining at the White House and Buckingham Palace.?She was a magical, gravitational force whose full-time job became attending receptions, fundraisers, and political events. ?As a child I was awed by her. I remember attending political functions where important people, such as Teddy Kennedy and Henry Kissinger came up to her with huge smiles saying, “Angie, how are you.?I’ve missed you,” or asking Frank “where’s Angie?”?Not only did she take care of the house, the cooking, my siblings and myself, she also made my father more successful than he would have been without her.?

When my daughter was born, I named her Angie Rose to celebrate my mom.?I was tired of all the male babies, family or not, who were called “Frank Annunzio (Surname).”

My mom adored my Angie Rose and I am sure she is smiling down on her today, since she inherited her “Grammy’s” charming, magical ways. ?Next time you honor a great man, always remember the saying, “behind every great man is an even greater woman.”?Don’t forget to honor her, too.