Heritage, honor part of Columbus Day celebration at Italian American Citizens Club

LYNN – Leo Feldman takes the cigar out of his mouth, sips from his vodka-and-orange juice and explains why he enjoys a seat of honor in the Italian American Citizens Club.?I?ll be 91 in a few days and I?ve been sitting in the same seat for 65 years,” he said.The Harbor Street club with its small patio and bocce courts is a shrine to Italian-American history and accomplishment: Boxer Rocky Marciano?s picture hangs over the bar along with a tribute to the late Enzo “Bocce” DeNino, a former club president. Feldman is part of the heritage immortalized on the club?s walls.?He?s our oldest member – he?s here every day,” said member Paul Calvani.Feldman plans to accept birthday greetings on Sunday when the club hosts its annual pre-Columbus Day celebration at 1 p.m. with food, kids? games and a film crew on hand documenting life in the multi-ethnic Brickyard neighborhood before it fell five decades ago to urban renewal wrecking balls.Calvani said the documentary will chronicle the Citizens Club?s origins in the 1930s and recall Columbus Day celebrations similar to ones he remembered from his childhood in East Boston. Columbus Day parades shifted from one year to the next between East Boston and Boston?s North End and included a large banquet honoring parade organizers and participants.?To us kids, it was a big deal,” Calvani said.Ricci Ruocco said Sunday afternoon?s Citizens Club festivities are a chance to recall a family history he can trace back to Naples, Italy where his grandfather created stained glass windows.?It?s our heritage,” said Ruocco.Feldman was born on Flint Street when the surrounding neighborhood was “one half Greek, the other half Jewish.” Families flocked from around The Brickyard to Harbor Street for the Citizen Club?s Columbus Day celebrations and DeNino brought his horses to the club.?It was a really big time and, in the old days, they all made wine,” he said.Columbus Day underscores Italian-American pride, but Calvani said it is a day for all Americans to celebrate.?Columbus discovered this country – what better praise can you offer someone?” he said.