Greater Boston Renaissance Lodge # 2614
On May 1, 1988, the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) installed the Greater Boston Renaissance Lodge # 2614. The new Lodge was designed specifically for Boston-area third and fourth generation Italian Americans. The Renaissance Lodge's first meetings were held at the Piemonte Room in Boston's City Hall. This was the result of the gracious sponsorship of Lodge member, then City Councilor Maura Hennigan, who is now the Clerk Magistrate of the Suffolk County Superior Court. In its early years the Renaissance Lodge was given guidance by OSIA State Officers such as Angelo Furnari, Joseph Russo, James Golini, Grace Restuccia and Josephine Falco.
On April 27, 1990, Dr. Dean Saluti became the president of the Renaissance Lodge. Under Dr. Saluti's leadership, the Lodge became more "non-traditional." The lodge established its trademark meetings that feature innovative functions/activities with diverse meeting locations. Meetings have been held at the Hall of Flags in the State House, the Bay Tower Room during the Tall Ships visit, Boston's Duck Tour, a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, the Copley Plaza, the Park Plaza, the Ritz-Carlton, the Ringling Brothers Circus, the Cirque du Soleil, the Suffolk Downs Racetrack, the Boston Public Library, the Kennedy Library for the Jaqueline Kennedy exhibit, the home of attorney Frank Privitera with Al Martino entertaining, Yolanda's in Waltham, the Wang Center for "The Phantom of the Opera", the Boston Holiday Pops, Shreve, Crump and Low, the new England Historic Genealogical Society, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Providence's water Fire, La Summa Restaurant's Saint Joseph's Day, Frank Sinatra concert, and the Boston University Trustee Ballroom.
The Renaissance Lodge has developed relationships with other major Boston Italian organizations. We have strong ties with the Pirandello Lyceum, the S.S. Cosmas and Damian Society, the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, the Dante Alighieri Society, Fieri Boston and the October Italian Heritage Month Committee.
Dr. Saluti continues to serve as the Lodge president. He resides in Boston's Back Bay with his wife Marjorie Cahn, who is the Treasurer of the Benefit Insurance Commission. Dean and Margie both serve on the board of the Pirandello Lyceum. They are active in the Algonquin Club, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, the Boston Area MG Club, the Jaguar Association of New England the the Friends of the Boston University Library. Dean is a retired US Army Reserve Colonel (MA) and serves on the board of the First Corps of Cadets Museum Association.
Other members who have been affiliated with the Grand Lodge include Dr. John Christoforo and John J. Silva Jr.
