Happy 40 Years NOIAW!
Looking Back at the Beginning with NOIAW Founder, Aileen Riotto Sirey Ph.D.

In my early work with patients, I became curious about the effects of culture on personality and values. There was little in the literature except a few articles about African Americans and Hispanics. I was looking for answers about Italian Americans…and coincidentally, missing the big family I left behind in Brooklyn 20 years earlier. My parents had seven siblings each; that’s 14 aunts and uncles, each of whom married! So, you can imagine how many aunts, uncles and cousins I left behind.

In 1979, I began attending a few meetings in the Italian American community…still curious! Sometime in the spring of 1980, I attended a panel discussion with elected Italian American politicians from different political parties. Cerf Maltese, Mario Biaggi and Geraldine Ferraro were three that were on that panel. When the panel concluded, I approached Congresswoman Ferraro and introduced myself. I asked her if there were any groups for Italian American women.

She responded, “The only groups I know are of men and women, where the men make the speeches and the women make the coffee. Why don’t you start one?” I remained with my mouth open for a few moments. She then quickly added, “Why don’t you come to Queens and we can talk about it?”

Gerry Ferraro was very persuasive. Besides suggesting I start our organization; she and I developed a long and close friendship that ended when she died in 2011.

I did go to Queens, and on Gerry’s advice spoke with Rosemary Stigliano. The two provided a list of prominent Italian American women to invite to a first meeting at my apartment on July 15, 1980. Matilda Cuomo named our organization, and I was designated President. Shortly after, I recruited Mary DePiano Rothlein Goldstein, Provost of John Jay College, and Jan Zarro, Esq., an Executive at Avon, as Vice Presidents.

During those early years, I remained curious about the psychological benefits of belonging to such a cultural group, so I teamed with a co-leader and a research person to design a study. We recruited 3 groups of Italian American men and women, ages 26 to 72 and met with each group for two plus hours for 10 weeks. Members had the opportunity to discuss their issues and experiences as Italian Americans. We tested participants before and after the group experience. The post group tests showed participants had a statistically stronger sense of group belonging, a greater sense of control in their lives and a marked increase in self-esteem than when the study began. This was a strong proof of what participation in the community can mean to individuals.

After serving the National Organization of Italian American Women for 32 years, 7 years as first President and 25 years as Chair, I retired in 2012. I am very grateful to all of the woman who have and continue to work to build and support our group. In 2018, I became the first woman President of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations.

There is little question that service to my community helped to emotionally reunite me with the supportive family of my childhood. It continues to enrich my life immeasurably. And perhaps, as with those in the group study, it has increased my self-esteem, my feelings of group belonging, and my feelings of control in my life. In addition, I have met and become friends with many wonderful, accomplished women and men… and I will continue to learn and appreciate my Italian culture and history.