CyberFair 2000 Project
Main School
Carpinteria, California, USA

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Project Narrative Information Sources

Rosemarie Fanucchi

By Ms. Nakasone's class

Q: What is your full name?

A: Rosemarie Fanucchi

Q: Were you named after anyone?

A: I was named after the movie actress Rose Marie and my paternal grandmother Rose.

Q: Where were you born?

A: I was born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Q: What are your parent's names?

A: My parents were Louis Orrico and Adeline Principe Orrico

Q: What do you remember most about you childhood?

A: I remember making snowmen in the winter and spending wonderful holidays with a lot of family and friends.

Q: Tell me about your family?

A: I had a happy family of my mom, dad and two sisters. I am the youngest child. There was lots of music (my dad played the accordion an mandolin) and a lot of company for Sunday dinner. My mom was a nurse and my dad had three jobs - working at a factory making items from tin, as a musician playing in a band and a barber. He worked 6 days and 5 evenings each week for many years. My mother always shared our food with the neighbors.

Q: What is your family background, personal history (grandparents, great grandparents, relatives) and their roles in the community?

A: My father came from Italy when he was 15 years old. He learned English, became a citizen and graduated from barber college. His father came from Italy around 1900. His mother died in Italy. He volunteered his time to the political party of his choice as well as volunteering his barber talents at hospitals. My mother was born in Kenosha shortly after her parents came from Italy. She was active in PTA and president of the Italian American Women's Auxiliary.

Q: Who had the biggest influence on your life? How have they influenced you?

A: My parents were the biggest influence. I learned from them to honor my family, love my country and to share what I have to make someone else's life better.

Q: Could you describe your profession to me? What do you do at your job?

A: As editor of the Coastal View I write stories. Also I review and decide what events we should write about to make the paper interesting to read. I review mail, file papers and attend lots and lots of meetings and events.

Q: Describe the activities in which you are currently involved?

A: Currently, I serve on the Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Carpinteria Salvation Board of Directors. I am also involved in MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

Q: What path did you take to become a leader?

A: First, I became involved in causes that I felt were important to the community. I also worked on state and federal candidate programs. I wrote letters to elected officials expressing my views and ideas. I joined organizations and worked my way to leadership positions as I worked to further the ideals of the club.

Q: What does the term "Civic Leadership" mean to you?

A: Civic leadership is a person who puts her or his community in a prominent position. That is done by volunteering time to the community to make it a better place (like helping out at the annual cleanup day), belonging to organizations that do things like raise money for scholarships, assisting elected officials in making the community (or state and country) a good place to live and raise children and to work toward it being a good place for people in the future.

Q: Could you list and describe the changes or contributions you have made to the community?

A: Currently I am a member of the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center helping men to recover from alcohol and drug addiction, Rotary of Carpinteria which is a club that helps in many community events, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors which works to bring business to our community. I helped start Seaside Theater. I sing in the Carpinteria Community Church Choir and I have taught Sunday and Vacation Bible School. I worked to incorporate Carpinteria into a city. I co-developed the Santa Barbara County Designated Driver Program aimed at educating people not to drink alcohol and drive. I was a charter member of the Santa Barbara County Film Festival and worked to bring movie making to the area. And I started a local paper.

Q: How long have you been involved with the community?

A: 1961

Q: How can we contact you?

A: You can contact me through our web site at the Coastal View.

Q: Tell me something unusual that has happened to you?

A: I had Abraham Lincoln's bed at my house.

This leader profile was written by Mrs. Nakasone's class.

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