The 2016 Lina Tonello Scholarship

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Daniela Cavallero and her mother Lina Tonello.

In 2009, on September 27th, Daniela Cavallero’s mother passed away. Lina Tonello was a woman who strongly encouraged Daniela throughout her life. This inspiration and support lead Daniela to open the Italian school known to all of us as Sentieri.

In 2009, to honor her mother’s memory, Daniela had instituted an annual scholarship for a free Italian class here at Sentieri.

The upcoming scholarship’s requirements for application are for a student, or potential student, to submit to daniela@sentieri.com, a brief paragraph about his or her own mother (in Italian or English). All applications must be submitted for review by September 27th, 2015. The recipient of the scholarship may use it towards a class in the 2016 year. Thank you for helping us honor a great woman.

The 2015 scholarship was split between two recipients who both wrote such a wonderful tribute to their mothers. The recipient were Eric Manabat and Lisa Pitler. Below are their entries.

By Eric Manabat

Manabat

A painting by Eric Manabat of his mother Filipinas

In July of 1997 I lost my Mom, Filipinas, to cancer. She was 57 years-old. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 2 years earlier and the doctors said she had 10 years to live. Her chemotherapy compromised her immune system and she was gone before I ever thought of losing her. My Mom endured her treatment with quiet stoicism, never revealing to me how much pain she was in. As always she wanted me to not worry about her. She was the most brave and compassionate person I ever knew. In 1971 she immigrated to the US with our family to begin new lives in a foreign country with strange customs. In 1978 my parents divorced. As a single parent she put herself through college and received another degree, moved to Chicago and worked with low-income residents, providing new mothers with nutrition for their families. She was deeply religious and led a life of service to others. Our home was the first stop for many of our new immigrant relatives. Everyone knew they had a place there to begin their new lives. She never had a savings, always giving extra money to her church, our relatives, and charity. Though she served others, she loved to laugh, and her infectious sense of humor made ordinary life so much fun. At the time of her passing I was 31 years-old and still partying and staying out late. When she died, I lost that sense of security which I had taken for granted since she was always there to help me no matter what. I wish she could see how my life has turned out and how much I’ve changed. I was in many ways a troubling child and gave her so much anxiety and worry. Now I try to live my life in a way that would make her proud, to know that her sacrifices meant something. A painting of the two of us at Manila airport immigrating to the US, taken from a photograph, hangs in my home. I painted it after she passed away to honor her of the unconditional love she gave me. It was a gift that I will always carry the rest of my life.

 

“A Tribute to my beautiful mom, Frances Rosen on what would have been her 76 birthday.” By Lisa Pitler

My mom was my best friend, cheerleader, confidant and travel companion.  Sadly, after a 3.5 month battle with cancer, I lost her on April 28, 2013. What can I say, mom and I had a special bond and while she was my mom, she was also my friend.  We spent a lot of time together (we usually spent every Sunday together) and talked all the time.  Mom had an amazing work ethic, a heart of gold and was kind to all. She was also very very generous.  When I wanted to drop out of college (due to finances), she moved heaven and earth to pay my tuition, send me money and care packages filled with surprises.  I know she went without, so I would stay in school.  She was ever so proud when I graduated.  She encouraged my continued education and was proud of my accomplishments.  She loved her family and absolutely adored her two grandchildren.  Life was not always easy for mom, but she constantly put one foot forward and paved new paths.  She raised my sister and me to be independent.  She never was sad or depressed and she loved life and the outdoors. She was also funny and quirky, and we all would tease her with her “Bubbie moments.”  Mom was a class act, always dressed impeccably and was fashion forward, but at the same time, if she could take off her shoes and walk around barefoot, she was ever so happy.  My mom had a lot of energy and was constantly on the move. We had many wonderful years of vacations and always went somewhere warm in the winter.  Mom always wanted to go to Italy and while the trip was planned, we were unable to share the adventure.  We had a lot of laughs, a lot of tears and of course the usual fights, but in the end, all was forgiven and our bond became stronger. I miss my mom every single day.  I am so fortunate she was my mom and best friend and cherish the time we had together.

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