On the occasion of today’s evening investiture ceremony and charity gala in New York City, USA, this Saturday March 31st, 2007 at the Lotus Club — in the heart of New York City’s most exclusive and fashionable Manhattan’s Upper East Side — apart from having personally invested H.E. Ambassador Nebojša Kaluđerović, Montenegro’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, with the insignia of Grand Cross in the Order of Danilo I, His Royal Highness Prince Nicolas Petrovitch Njegosh also rewarded upon recommendation of the Grand Chancellery, a number of proeminent Americans from the Italian community, representatives of the House of Savoy in the United States of America.

Among the renowned recipients of the Order of Danilo I were notably New York Attorney John Leopoldo Fiorilla, main representative and member of the Board of Directors of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, and Borough Attorney Pasquale Menna, Democrat Mayor of Red Bank, New Jersey, Public Relations Advisor and Regional Representative for New Jersey of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders.

The Grand Chancellery proposed for decoration both Uff. Avv. Fiorilla and Menna for “outstanding and meritorious service rendered to the Republic of Montenegro”; Uff. Avv. John Leopoldo Fiorilla for “helping the new Montenegrin Mission to the United Nations in finding its way around Manhattan” and Uff. Avv. Pasquale Menna for “providing legal assistance, along with human rights attorneys and others in the New York area, as part of Montenegro’s petition for recognition by the United Nations in the summer 2006” [1] [2].

Uff. Avv. John Leopoldo Fiorilla, 42, is the son of Mary Fiorilla from Highland Beach, Florida, and the late Giovanni Fiorilla. Principal and General Counsel of Elysium Group International — a private investment firm in New York founded by his father, he also served for over ten years as advisor in public international law to the Holy See Mission to the United Nations. Graduated from Seton Hall University, he received a Law degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Laws degree from the New York University.
Uff. Avv. Fiorilla married Annie Borello, 38, daughter of Emma Pratis and Paolo Borello, both from Turin, Italy, Councel in the New York law firm Fox Horan & Camerini LLP. Mrs. Borello’s father, now retired, was the President of S.p.a. Juvenilia, a fashion house in Turin; her mother owns and develops residential real estate.
In 2005, Uff. Avv. John Leopoldo Fiorilla was granted by the Grand Chancellery of the Royal House Orders of Montenegro the delegation of the Order of Danilo I for the United States of America.

Uff. Avv. Pasquale Menna, 53, was born in Montefalcone nel Sannio, Province of Campobasso, Italy. In 1963, his family emigrated to Montreal, Canada where his mother had relatives. Two years later, they moved again, now to Red Bank, New Jersey to be near his father’s family [3]. After being educated at old River Street School and Red Bank High School (1972), he studied in Washington, D.C., at the George Washington University where he was majored in international affairs, and graduated in three years. Joining first the Asbury Park firm headed by Mr. Thomas Shebell, he then spent three years at the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co. in Newark, New Jersey. Back in Red Bank, Uff. Avv. Menna formed a firm with Mr. Frank Pallone — now Republican Congressman representing the 6th District of New Jersey — and two other partners, before leaving few years later to form his own company.
After serving almost 20 years as Councilman in the Red Bank’s municipal government, much of that time as Council President, Uff. Avv. Menna was elected on January 1st, 2006, Mayor of Red Bank, succeeding Mr. Edward McKenna.
Uff. Avv. Menna is a close to the Savoy Royal Family, and especially to H.R.H. Prince Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, regularly attending in Switzerland and Italy receptions hosted by the Royal Prince.
On the occasion of Pasquale Menna’s investiture as Mayor of Red Bank, were present in the attendance Gr. Uff. Dott. Robert dei Baroni La Rocca, representing Prince Ferdinand of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, and Uff. Avv. David V. Skoblow, who came to the ceremony to represent H.R.H. Prince Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia.