Longtime Londonderry resident Patricia Verani has crafted many wonderful works during her time as an artist. With sculpting as her medium, she has brought many works of art into the third dimension.
Verani (née Lewis) was born Jan. 2, 1927 in Long Island, New York. She graduated with honors from the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts in 1948, and won a scholarship to study in Paris under sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, who constructed such works as the Monument of Gratitude to France in Belgrade, and The Bowman and The Spearman in Chicago.
After World War II, she met Osvaldo Verani, whom she would marry on April 24, 1950. The couple moved to New Hampshire in the early 50’s, and opened Verani’s Restaurant in Manchester in 1955, closing in 1965 when they would start Verani Real Estate in Londonderry.
Verani began freelance sculpting in 1978, and created several noteworthy projects, such as the 8-foot bronze Fighting Black Bear of the University of Maine in 1979. She also designed the U.S. Commemorative Silver Dollar in 1987, the Olympic U.S. Commemorative Silver Dollar in 1988, the Commemorative Half Dollar for Congress in 1989, and the Flagbearer Olympic Coin in 1996.
Among her many artistic achievements include works done for the Town of Londonderry. She is the sculptor of the Johnny Appleseed statue that greets residents at the Leach Library, the creator of Bicentennial coins for the town and designer of the town’s 250th Anniversary commemorative coin. She designed the sign for the Londonderry Historical Museum, and she has also created designs featured in the Londonderry Commons, such as the Minuteman bronze dedicated to the Londonderry citizens who fought for our freedoms in the Revolutionary War, and the emblem of a dove emerging from wreckage in remembrance of those lost on Sept 11.
Verani had also designed the Verani Realty floats for past Old Home Day parades. According to her daughter, Margherita Verani, “They were really a work of art versus a (parade) float.” Margherita Verani is now owner of Verani Realty with her brother, Gianni.
Patricia Verani has long been dedicated to the town of Londonderry, holding the position of treasurer of the Londonderry Parent-Teachers Association from 1961 to 1965, being the volunteer artist for the Londonderry Historical Society in 1979, 1994 to 1997, and then from 2003 to 2004, and being an adviser to the Londonderry Commons Committee since 1995.
Verani is now in her retirement years and won’t be designing any future pieces, according to her daughter.
However, the work she has done for the town will be admired and appreciated for many years to come.
Revolutionary War Monument: The minuteman bronze on the Revolutionary War Commemorative Monument in the Londonderry Commons.
The statue of Johnny Appleseed at the Leach Library was created by Patricia Veran