‘Herk’ Sparachane Named Italian-American of the Year | News, Sports, Jobs

Festival President Michele Fabbro said Sparachane was voted unanimously by the festival’s board as the honoree. The Italian-American of the Year, she said, is one who supports both their community and the Italian heritage in many different ways.

Sparachane said he has been a longtime supporter of the festival, and that he continued to carry on what his father, Anthony “Undo” Sparachane, had taught him.

“I think Italian heritage is a lot of giving,” he said. “I’ve been in charge of a lot of fundraisers, several businesses. The most important thing my dad taught me was to always treat someone with respect.

“It’s unreal. I was at the first Italian Festival we ever had, when there were 10 of us there,” he said. “I know, today, my mom and dad are having a big party up in heaven.”

photo by: Alan Olson

Members of the Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival join Italian-American of the Year Herk Sparachane. Pictured, from left, are Gay Lucci, Michele Fabero, Anthony “Herk” Sparachane, Janice Whipkey and Tony Filberto.

Tony Filberto, a longtime board member, was also named chairman of the festival’s board Monday. His father had served on the original board in 1983, and Filberto’s son also currently serves on the board, making it a multi-generational affair for the Filbertos.

“We have three generations of our family on the board of directors. This is a wonderful organization to work with, and our man of the year, Herk Sparachane, is very well deserving,” he said.

The Italian Festival, scheduled for July 29, 30 and 31, will see the return of fan-favorite “Little Italy,” a section of the festival set aside exclusively for Italian food, including pastas, pastries, gelato and more.

Sparachane added that the thing he was most looking forward to with the Italian Festival was that it was returning at all. For many people, he said, the event serves as as good a reason as any to reunite with old friends and family.

“After we got hit hard with COVID, last year, it was really good to see all the people come together,” he said. “… We always called it a big reunion. I know a lot of people from out of town, they call me asking, ‘When is it this year?’ It’s always the same – fourth weekend (of July). There’s so many people coming back to see their old friends. It’s a really special time of the year.”

photo by: Alan Olson

Members of the Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival join Italian-American of the Year Herk Sparachane. Pictured, from left, are Gay Lucci, Michele Fabero, Anthony “Herk” Sparachane, Janice Whipkey and Tony Filberto.

Fabbro said the board was thrilled, as they are every year, to bring their big summer event back this year.

“It always makes us feel good. We promote Italian-American heritage, but we have people from all heritages that come,” she said. “There’s Italian music, Italian food, but just being together is the big thing.

“We’re pretty excited and we hope people show up, because that weekend, everyone’s Italian.”

Members of the Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival join Italian-American of the Year Herk Sparachane. Pictured, from left, are Gay Lucci, Michele Fabero, Anthony “Herk” Sparachane, Janice Whipkey and Tony Filberto.