By Rosalyn Queen
The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival will honor one of its own this year—educator, cultural ambassador, and lifelong supporter of Italian traditions, Professoressa Rose A. Mazza. Her journey from a small town in Calabria to becoming a distinguished language educator in North Central West Virginia is a story woven with heritage, dedication, and community pride.
Born in San Giovanni in Fiore, Calabria, Italy, Rose Mazza immigrated to the United States at the age of twelve. Her connection to the Italian Heritage Festival began almost by chance. As a sophomore in 1975 at West Virginia University, she received a summer work-study placement at the Clarksburg Public Library, where she worked under Merle Moore, the visionary who initiated the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival.
Each day at lunch, Moore peppered Mazza with questions about her homeland—its regions, foods, literature, music, dances, customs, and traditions. Mazza recalls answering questions about everything from folk songs to regional costumes. Eventually, she asked Moore why she was so deeply interested in Italian culture. Moore explained that she and several local business leaders were studying Italian heritage as they contemplated launching a festival that could celebrate culture while revitalizing downtown Clarksburg, which at the time was beginning to decline. Mazza admits she was skeptical, but also excited. That early conversation marked the beginning of her decades-long involvement with the festival.
Today, Rose Mazza is a respected Professoressa of World Languages at Robert C. Byrd High School, where she teaches Italian, Spanish, and French. Her teaching career has also included positions at WVU, Fairmont State University, University High School in Morgantown, Liberty High School, and South Harrison High School.
Her commitment to education and cultural preservation has made her a beloved figure among students and colleagues alike.
This year, the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival has nominated Mazza as the 2026 Honoree for Excellence in Education. She will be recognized at the Honoree’s Dinner on September 3, 2026, at the Bridgeport Conference Center. In addition, she has been invited to ride in the festival parade, representing both her Italian heritage and Robert C. Byrd High School, where she currently teaches Italian I, II, and III.
Visitors to her classroom immediately notice the large Italian flag displayed across the back wall—a symbol of pride that has inspired her newest festival contribution. Mazza has chosen the flag’s iconic colors—green, white, and red—as the theme for creating what may be the longest Italian flag in West Virginia, or possibly the United States, to accompany her in the parade. The flag, measuring over 100 yards, was lovingly sewn by her cousin, Maria Teresa Destito, who recently returned to West Virginia from Italy.
Mazza has invited her Italian students to carry this massive flag behind her in what she affectionately calls her “Italian Flag Wave.” She hopes the display will serve as a vibrant tribute to Italian culture and a celebration of the students who are learning to preserve it.
In her classroom, Mazza teaches the meaning of Il Tricolore—the Italian flag with its vertical stripes of green, white, and red—just as she learned it in elementary school in Italy. Green represents Italy’s hills, fields, and natural beauty, symbolizing hope. White stands for the snow-capped Alps and represents faith. Red honors the bloodshed of those who fought for freedom and unity, symbolizing love and strength. On a lighter note, she tells her students the colors also represent basilico, mozzarella, and pomodori—the beloved ingredients of Italian cuisine.
She often shares the story of Pizza Margherita, one of the world’s most cherished foods. Created in 1889 by Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito for Queen Margherita of Savoy, the dish was designed to mirror the Italian flag with its basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes. It remains a symbol of national pride and culinary tradition.
As the festival approaches, Mazza hopes the community will come out to witness the spectacular flag and celebrate the heritage that has shaped her life and the lives of so many Italian families in West Virginia.
This year’s parade promises a breathtaking display of culture, color, and pride—one you won’t want to miss.
