Maria Laurino

Maria Laurino (April 24, 1959) is an American journalist, essayist, memoirist, and former political speechwriter.

Maria Laurino
Born
North Jersey, U.S.
Alma materGeorgetown University (BA)
New York University (MA)
Spouse(s)Anthony Shorris
Children1

Early life and education

Maria Laurino, a third generation Italian-American, grew up in North Jersey.[1] She graduated from Georgetown University and received her graduate degree in English literature from New York University. In 2018, Laurino was honored as a Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy) by the Italian Consul General Francesco Genuardi on behalf of Italian President Sergio Mattarella.[2]

Career

Laurino began her career as a journalist at The Village Voice, where she covered local and state politics and social issues, such as New York's housing market and the resulting surge in its homeless population.[3] In 1989, Laurino left the Village Voice to become the Chief Speechwriter for New York City Mayor David Dinkins, serving until the end of his term in 1993. After leaving government, Laurino returned to freelance journalism, writing for numerous publications, including The New York Times; and her essays have been widely anthologized, including in the Norton Reader. Her first memoir, Were You Always an Italian?, was a national bestseller and explored the issue of ethnic identity among Italian-Americans.[4] Her second memoir, Old World Daughter, New World Mother, examined the pull and tug the author experienced between Old World traditions that valued familial dependence and a New World feminism that prized female autonomy. In 2014, she published The Italian Americans: A History, chronicling the Italian-American experience from 1860 to the present day (companion book to the PBS series of the same name).[5]

Personal life

Laurino is married to Anthony Shorris, a civil servant who served as First Deputy Mayor of New York City and Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. They have one son and live in New York City.[6][7]

References
  1. Growing Up Italian in America, San Francisco Chronicle, August 7, 2000 -- URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2000/08/07/DD11314.DTL
  2. "Festa della Repubblica" in New York: Tributes, Concerts, Food and Much More". i-Italy. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  3. Tales of the City, The Village Voice, October 2005 -- URL: www.villagevoice.com/2005-10-18/specials/tales-of-the-city/
  4. "When the Old Country is New Jersey, The New York Times, November 26, 2000". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  5. The Italian Americans. URL: http://books.wwnorton.com/books/The-Italian-Americans/
  6. Brady, Lois Smith (1993-12-19). "WEDDINGS/VOWS; Maria Laurino and Anthony Shorris". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  7. "Maria Laurino | W. W. Norton & Company". wwnorton.com. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
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