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Having spent more than 60 years as a City employee, Verna serves as a testament to putting one’s all into a passion. The Point Breeze product retired last year after a 13-year stint as Philadelphia’s first female City Council president and a 37-year tenure as the 2nd District councilwoman, the latter office allowing her to promote the welfare of multiple South Philly communities.
Entered into the municipality’s annals as the longest-serving City worker, council member and president, the Packer Park resident often fought for better senior housing and secured a citywide ban on public drinking, the reduction of vacant spaces and the expansion of The Philadelphia Naval Business Center. Also eager to show pride in her Italian ancestry, she acted as the chairwoman for the Columbus Day Parade, which husband Cavalier Severino Verna co-founded in 1957, for 35 years.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
The South Philadelphia Walk of Fame 2013 inductees
/ Marian Anderson / Paul Arizin / Frankie Avalon / Joey Bishop / John Chaney /
/ James Darren / Angelo Dundee / Fabian / Larry Fine / Eddie Fisher /
/ Kenny Gamble / Frank Gasparro / Joey Giardello / Stephen Girard / Sherman Hemsley /
/ Irvin Kershner / Jack Klugman / Eddie Lang / Mario Lanza / Rob McElhenney /
/ Joe Medeiros / Earl "The Pearl" Monroe / Nathan Morris / Michelle Nader / Gene Perret /
/ Frank Rizzo / Bobby Rydell / Lisa Scottoline / Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter / Anna Verna /
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