Joining the Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge 2805 began as a family affair for Mark DeFranco. Mark, the group’s treasurer, who joined in 2004 to be with his cousin and the group’s founder Neil Velleca, Sr., saw it as an opportunity to socialize and work with other Italian-Americans.

“My cousin, Neil Sr., thought it would be a great idea to have a Sons and Daughter chapter in North Haven,” Mark says. “I’ve been in there since the beginning. I’ve been the treasurer the whole time, the whole 19 years. I think because it’s quite a bit of work.”