IL PENSIERO “THE THOUGHT”
Office: 10001 Stonell Drive
Member of FUSIE (Federazione Italiana Stampa Unitaria all’Estero)
Febbraio 2026 THE ONLY ITALIAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI
NUMERO 2
NIAF Statement on the Passing of Congressman Doug LaMalfa
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) mourns the sudden passing of Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), who died on January 6, 2026, at the age of 65. Congressman LaMalfa was a proud member of the Italian American Congressional Delegation and a steadfast champion for Italian American values and heritage. Throughout his distinguished 13year career in Congress representing California’s 1st Congressional District, Congressman LaMalfa was a valued participant in NIAF events both on Capitol Hill and in Washington, D.C. As a member of the bicameral and bipartisan Italian American Congressional Delegation (IACD), he stood alongside his colleagues in celebrating and preserving Italian American contributions to our nation. Congressman LaMalfa exemplified the Italian American values of hard work, family, and service to community. As a fourth-generation rice farmer from Northern California, he brought the authentic voice of rural America to Congress while never forgetting his Italian heritage. “Doug LaMalfa was a true friend to the Italian American community,” said NIAF
An Italian American Publication
President and CEO Robert Allegrini. “His presence at our events and his commitment to the Italian American Congressional Delegation demonstrated his pride in his heritage and his dedication to strengthening the bonds between Italy and the United States. He will be deeply missed.” As Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, Congressman LaMalfa was a powerful advocate for the values and priorities that resonate throughout Italian American communities across the nation. His sudden passing is a tremendous loss not only for his constituents in Northern California but also for all who knew him as a man of principle, integrity, and genuine warmth. NIAF extends its deepest condolences to Congressman LaMalfa’s wife, Jill, their four children, and all who knew and loved him.
Carolyn Ranzini Stelzer Receives Award From Cuggiono
On January 10, 2026, during a video conference among the cities of Cuggiono (Lombardy), Herrin (IL), St. Paul (MN), and St. Louis (MO), the mayor of Cuggiono, Giovanni Cucchetti, along with Oreste Magni, president of the Ecoistituto della Valle del Ticino, a non-profit organization promoting cultural, social, and ecological initiatives in the Ticino River Valley in the
St. Louis, Missouri 63123
CONTINUOUS SERVICE AND ACTIVITY SINCE 1904
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northwest of Italy, awarded local resident Carolyn Ranzini Stelzer a Certificate of Merit for devotion to her Cuggiono roots and the friendship connections she has fostered over the years among the several generations of descendants of Cuggiono immigrants here in St. Louis. Carolyn Ranzini Stelzer, the daughter of Louise Garegnani and Ambrose Ranzini, was born and raised on The Hill. All four of her grandparents emigrated from towns in Lombardy, Italy–Cuggiono, Castelletto di Cuggiono, and Bernate. She married Jack Stelzer, and on and near The Hill, they Continued on page 5