Cico is no longer with us... (*)

         Friday February 20th 2004 - around 4:00 PM

         A call on the phone and Gabriella's  voice filled with deep emotion tells us: "Cico, Cico is dead".

         In these occasions one is shocked and touched and for a while there are no words; then one asks "when, where, how, of what?"

         "About an hour ago at the Hospital San Camillo where he had been admitted yesterday; death caused by an internal hemorrhage as a result of a perforated ulcer for which he had undergone an operation this morning". This in brief is what we find out at first.

         As in a filmed sequence, an entire life comes to mind: beginning with the photos of Cico as a boy at the Boys' Republic, up to the day before yesterday, Cico walking along the streets at Boys' Town with his most faithful little dog, "Nina". Memories of more than 50 years...

         Who does not remember for example Cico in the Ceramics laboratory, on the lathe as he gives a touch of clay, "forms" a vase; or sitting in the painting area, in front of a ceramic plate, as he "creates" the decoration and the pictures and the designs; or in front of the kiln, as he puts in and takes out the vases, plates and other material. Cico the artist and the teacher of ceramic art for so many boys; Cico whose plates can be found in many parts of the United States plates for the "Man of the Year", for the "Golf Tournament" and for many other occasions.

         Or Cico on the streets of Boys' Town; or on the soccer field during training or watching his team play a match. Or Cico in the Assembly. Or, again, as always, near Monsignor, in the office, driving, or traveling with a group of the boys.

         His characteristic smile, big, open and noisy; at the various Boys' Town parties, Cico's "touch" was always present: a song in the Roman dialect, or one from Romagna, a joke at times even a little "spicy".

         I remember the Mass celebrated before Cico's wedding, Monsignor's beautiful words, then the party "in the garden", outside the restaurant, when the boys gave him "their" wedding gift, a television; the filmed sequence of the wedding at San Marino. Then the news of the birth of his son Patrizio and afterwards that of his daughter Marina, and so many moments of everyday life. How many memories!

         And just a little while ago, Cico and his Paola, had become grandfather and grandmother of Marina's baby girl, Irene.

         Now, Cico, the ceramic artist, the smiling face, the friend, the father and grandfather, is no longer with us!

         Monday February 23rd at 10:00, in the Boys' Town Church of Saint Jude Thaddeus, where, when Monsignor was alive, so many joyful occasions had been celebrated - the weddings of so many ex-Citizens, the baptisms of their children, the First Communions and the Confirmations of many boys of the Town, the visit of Pope Paul VI - but also so many painful events - the funerals of friends and cooperators and that of  Monsignor - and now Cico's funeral too. But,  Monsignor this time is not physically here; He is surely present in spirit with us all, as always.

         There are many ex-Citizens present, who have come from far, Venice, Pesaro, Massa Martana, Civitavecchia, Velletri and many other places.

         Msgr. Vincenzo Che, the Chaplain of Boys' Town; says Mass together  with the "ex-citizen" Fr. Paolo Marino. Fr. Alceo Grazioli, the Parish priest of  Ponte Galeria, Don Marcello of the Boys' Republic.

         Msgr. Vincenzo in his sermon gives a brief but touching memorial of Cico; when the Mass is over, Pietro Giambalvo and Antonio Spagnolo, on behalf of the ex- Citizens, give their last goodbye with a few but moving words. The present President of the Opera, Dott. Grazioli, also recalls Cico reminding us that "up there" another Boys' Town has formed, with the participation and under vigilance of Monsignor, of many ex-Citizens (from what we know, now more that fifty) that have left this world as well as many friends and coworkers, including Miss. Lucia the secretary, Belisario the ceramist, the driver Memmo, Loris the mechanic, Pennoni the bailiff, Maria Pia Grazioli the secretary, Aldimiro the cook, Mario Alleva and Maggiorino Charrier the laundry room attendants, Romano the assistant and so many others that it would take too long to recall with the risk of forgetting someone.

         Dott. Grazioli notes that the family wishes to create a "foundation" with the name and in memory of Cico to help support the functioning and continuation of "Ceramics". The touching words of the daughter Marina, to thank everyone, on behalf of family and relatives, conclude the speeches.

         After the blessing of the body, the coffin is slowly put on the hearse and leaves Boys' Town for the final dwelling place.

         Cico another "institution", another characteristic personage of Boys' Town, is no longer here: he has left us forever! and yet we feel his presence as we delight in so many memories of his life-giving spirit.

                 February 23, 2004                                                                                   E.L.  (translation Ms. Rosaria)

(*) The voice in the background is that of Monsignor in his "omelia" in the year 1970, during Holy Mass, celebrated in the Church of the City, for Cico, a few days before his wedding in San Marino.