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Longtime educator’s idea for a book: A collection of Italian-themed memories

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Nancy Matteo is working on a collection of Italian-themed tales and memories.


By Al Kemp

NEWTOWN, Pennsylvania – Nancy Matteo loves to talk about her family’s trip to Sorrento, Italy, and the chance encounter in a restaurant with another family from, of all places, Philadelphia.

A meeting of strangers took on the mood of a family reunion, and before long before both families were serenading the entire dining room with a spirited rendition with “Fly Eagles, Fly.”

Hit ‘em low
Hit ‘em high
And watch our Eagles fight!
Fly Eagles Fly,
On the road to victory!
E-A-G-L-E-S!

Matteo, president and principal of St. Andrew Elementary School, figured she can’t be the only one with such happy memories connected to Italy.

She decided to crowd-source the concept by compiling a compendium of recipes, anecdotes and memories, and invites Italian-American Herald readers to share theirs with her.

On a recent Christmas Eve, Nancy Matteo used goldfish and gummies to create her own version of Feast  of the Seven Fishes.
On a recent Christmas Eve, Nancy Matteo used goldfish and gummies to create her own version of Feast of the Seven Fishes.

“I’m welcoming submissions about family, cultures, food, maybe Thanksgiving memories,” she said. “I do not speak Italian but I can understand a lot of Italian.”

Matteo said she has been in touch with publishers to tout her book idea, including the publisher of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series.

As of press time, the title “Pasta Fazool for the Soul” was still available.


GET INVOLVED
Send your fun memories and stories connected to Italy to nancymatteo@hotmail.com

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