Julia V. Grilli
American lawyer and singer (1893–1991)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Julia Veronica Grilli (March 14, 1893 – December 6, 1991), also seen as Giulia Grilli, was an American lawyer and concert singer.
March 14, 1893
Julia V. Grilli | |
|---|---|
Giulia Grilli, from a 1921 publication. | |
| Born | Julia Veronica Grilli March 14, 1893 New York City, US |
| Died | December 6, 1991 (aged 98) West Palm Beach, Florida, US |
| Other names | Giulia Grilli, Julia Angelone |
| Occupations | Lawyer, singer |
| Spouse | Romolo Angelone (married 1928) |
Early life
Julia Veronica Grilli was born in New York, the daughter of Nicola Grilli and Rosina (Rose) Trippitelli Grilli. Her parents were immigrants from Sulmona in Abruzzo.[1] Her father was a columnist in Italian-language newspapers.[2][3] She graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1914. She trained as a singer in New York, with Alfredo Martino and Albert Wolff.[4]
Career
Law
Grilli passed the New York bar examination in 1914, and opened her own practice as a trial lawyer[5] in the Wall Street district. She was a suffragist, and advocated jury service for women.[6] She served as legal counsel for the Italian Welfare League and the Italian Hospital. She was one of the founders of the Brooklyn Women Lawyers Association.[4][7] In 1921, she was promoted by the Women's Democratic Club as a candidate for judge.[1]
Music
Grilli, a mezzo-soprano[8] or contralto,[9] and became familiar to New York audiences during World War I, when she sang at concerts to benefit causes in the Italian-American community.[10] She gave a professional recital in New York's Aeolian Hall in 1921, accompanied by Albert Wolff.[11] Commenting on coverage of her as a lawyer turned singer, she exclaimed, "I have never been able to discover... whether it is considered strange that a singer should be a lawyer, or that a lawyer should sing!" She was active in the Italian Music League.[12]
Personal life
In 1928, Grilli married Romolo Angelone (1897–1991), who was also from Sulmona, and worked at the Italian embassy.[13] The Italian ambassador to the United States served as best man at their wedding.[14] She had a son, Luigi Paolo (Louis), and a daughter, Elisabeth. Romolo Angelone became Italy's commercial attaché in Shanghai and Tokyo during World War II. Julia Grilli Angelone died in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1991, aged 98 years.[15]
