L to R: Judy Friedman, Melinda Kresek, Kay Skripka, Bev Buck, Viki Nickels, Shelly Carnevale, Kathy Bozzo, Pat Hacker, Shoray Wolfe
Bob Marchese
Seventy-five lady members and guests attended a luncheon in the Chianti Room hosted by Shelly Carnevale, Director of Social Events for the Pebble Creek Italian American Club, and sponsored by Mary Ann Fusco. Attendees were introduced or re-introduced to 38 remarkable women, from the 16th to 21st century, who left their indelible mark upon world history.
They were wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, partners, career women, homemakers, caretakers, inventors, designers—all dynamic, fearless, powerful and smart. They were all Wonderful Wise Women.
To mention a few, they were Elizabeth I; Catherine de’ Medici; Mary, Queen of Scots; Elena Piscopia, a Venetian philosopher and the first woman ever to receive a PhD from a university. The first female newspaper publisher in the American Colonies was Elizabeth Timothy. In the 19th century, those of famous notoriety profiled were Susan B. Anthony, Florence Nightingale, Mary Shelley, and Clara Barton.
But who knew of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States (Geneva Medical College, New York), graduating first in her class of all men. Or Kate Warne, the first ever female detective who worked for the distinguished Pinkerton Detective Agency.
Next, Coco Chanel, who was probably the most influential fashion designer of the 20th century. Lucille Ball was a genius in entertainment. Her Desilu Productions studios generated billions of dollars, including $10 billion from Star Trek, $3 billion from Mission Impossible, and so on.
How about Eleanor Roosevelt, Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir? And there is Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Enterprises; Mary Barra, first female Chief Executive of a major automotive manufacturer (GM); and Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, guiding it from a startup to the global media giant it is today.
To pause and ponder about these and many other women’s contributions over the centuries, to the betterment of the world, is truly remarkable. All those mentioned here, were pioneers who carved the way for many who came after them.
But there are two more Wonderful Wise Women who must be recognized.
One of 10 children, at age 12 she worked as a maid to help support her family and married a farmer at age 27. She was a wife, mother, farmer, a good friend to everyone in her circle; she was just an upright decent common woman. Eventually her arthritis progressed to the point she could no longer tend to the rigors of farming. So at the young age of 78, Anna Mary Robertson Moses, took up painting to pass the time. And what a time she had, for 23 years. Grandma Moses, world renowned artist, died at the age of 101!
And now, who did invent the dishwasher? You know it wasn’t a man! As so often is the case, out of necessity, due to her husband’s death and being left in debt, Josephine Cochran’s invention received a patent on her design in 1886. Eventually, she opened Cochran’s Crescent Washing Machine Company, and the rest is history.
Anyone can join the PebbleCreek Italian American Club (PCIAC). No need to be of Italian heritage, just a “wanna be.” Our Fall/Winter events include the annual Poinsettia Ball, aperitivos at members’ homes, president’s monthly luncheons at local restaurants, and more. Contact president Ken Minichiello at kenminichiello@gmail.com or visit the club website at pciacaz.org.
Ciao!