Lionello Perera | |
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| Born | June 25, 1871 Venice, Italy |
| Died | April 26, 1942 (aged 70) New York, United States |
| Alma mater | Royal High School of Commerce, (today’s Ca' Foscari University of Venice) |
| Spouse | Carolyn Allen Perera |
| Parents |
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Lionello Arturo Lopes Perera (né Leone Arturo Perera Lopez; June 25, 1871 – April 26, 1942)[1] was a banker, philanthropist and patron of the arts and music, active in New York at the beginning of the 20th century.
Lionello Perera was born and grew up in Venice, Italy. He studied commerce there, and then emigrated to the USA at the invitation of his uncle, the banker Salvatore Cantoni. He continued his career in New York where he participated in the foundation of Bank of America together with Amadeo Peter Giannini. Furthermore, Lionello founded and was involved in many charities which gave aid to Italian immigrants on the East Coast.[2] He was also a passionate patron of the arts, supporting many artists and musicians including Arturo Toscanini and Gian Carlo Menotti.[3] He helped Fiorello La Guardia run for the office of mayor of New York, leaning on his influence in the Italian American community.[4]
- ^ "Bollettino degli Antichi Studenti". Bollettino degli Antichi Studenti. 1 (January). Venice: Ca' Foscari. 1899.
- ^ "Our History". IWL. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
- ^ "Tradition of International Banking Carried on in the Perera Family". American Review. 1 (4): 29–31. Winter 1959.
- ^ Luconi, Stefano (2003). "Forging an Ethnic Identity: The Case of Italian Americans". Revue Française d'Études Américaines. 96 (2): 89. doi:10.3917/rfea.096.0089. ISSN 0397-7870.