About Me

Tonya Russo Hamilton is a teacher and author in the greater Portland area. Her first published work, ‘Wrestling with the Devil; A Story of Sacrifice, Survival, & Triumph, from the Hills of Naples to the Hall of Fame,’ is an inspirational memoir inspired by her father's journey from a small town in southern Italy to Brooklyn, New York and eventually Portland, Oregon. Her illustrated children's book, titled, ‘Tino and the Pomodori’ is about a young boy who plants and harvests tomatoes with his grandfather every year in a small town just outside of Naples, Italy. This story celebrates the wonders and beauty of Italian culture and the extraordinary bonds of family. Tonya is also on the Board of Directors at Italian Portland, a fully volunteer, 501c3 non-profit organization that celebrates and promotes Italian culture.