A couple of weeks ago, Paolo Barucchieri passed away of cancer in Rome. Today was his memorial at the airport in Castiglion Fiorentino. Now you are probably wondering why I am writing about this person passing away. He is the one who started the Santa Chiara program as well as opened an airport, started another study abroad facility, and a facility for the physically disabled. The Santa Chiara program is a facility in Italy where students come from all over the United States to stay while studying architecture, art, education, and much more. Without this man, my life would not be the same. Through this program, I have changed so much and experienced many great things. Not only has he changed my life, but he changed many people’s lives.
Unfortunately, I was not able to meet Paolo because he was in the hospital in Rome the whole semester. During the memorial, I had the opportunity to know how much of an impact Paolo had on people. Pretty much the whole community, family, friends, and former and current students of the program came. They expressed how enthusiastic Paolo was about life. He loved to fly his airplane and take students in it. He loved talking about art and was a great artist. He talked to each student in the program individually and taught them about how to live life to the fullest. He was an adventurer and not afraid to take risks. I want to impact people like he did. I know he would have been someone that I would have looked up to during my time here. I wish I could have met him, but I am thankful for the program that he made.
Thank you Paolo for everything that you have done. You have made a true impact in this world.
Ciao
Thank you Tess,
ReplyDeletefor your caring words in memory of a man you didn't even have the chance to meet.
He is missed dearly, and I as many still cannot believe such an immortal soul is gone from our dimension. It is such a loss for all.
It helps lessen the pain to see how much he has left in all those he touched, in whatever dimension. I am so glad you too, at least to some extent, managed to take in his energy.
I am one of his daughters, blessed by the gift of having grown up with him.
Suffering deeply in the silence he left.
Your words healed a bit of the pain tonight.
Cheers and honor to life, and to enjoying every single moment!
As he would so often say, 'your character is your destiny', and then, 'andiamo a prendere un cappuccino!'
un bacio dall'Italia!
Elisa Barucchieri