Denise Iarossi Taylor & Mike Bellomo

Denise Iarossi Taylor is President of the Perugia, Italy committee, one of the six sister cities for Grand Rapids. A semester abroad in Athens and Rome during college whetted Denise’s appetite for language and travel. After earning her BA in French and Political Science from DePauw University, she worked as an “au pair” in Paris where she fell in love with the many bookstores scattered throughout the city. Before retiring, her love of books inspired her to become a bookseller for more than thirty years. Now, she is a member of the Grand Rapids Sister Cities International Board. Denise’s maternal grandparents were from L’Aquila in Abruzzo, thus her interest in our Italian sister city of Perugia.

Mike Bellomo is a first-generation Italian American. Mike’s father was from Valenzano Puglia, Italy and his mother’s family has roots in San Cono, Sicily. He is passionate about traveling and has been to Europe and Italy many times. After researching both sides of his family’s history, he’s had the privilege of visiting and connecting with Italian cousins in Valenzano and San Cono. Maintaining a strong connection to his heritage, he has served as a proud member of Club Italia and the West Michigan Italian American Club.