Camillo - 1931-2009

Voglio ingraziare tutti per avere venuti oggi per il mio nonno Camillo Miccuci.

Il mio nonno Camillo Micucci…stop and think, when I say the name, Camillo Micucci, what do you think of?...I think of immense power and immeasurable strength, I think of a man who fought for his country, who fought for his rights and for equality…and conquered those battles! At the same time, I think of a man as gentile as a butterfly, a man full of compassion, love, romance and poetry. I think of a true family man, a big brother, a role model, a provider who’s work ethic had no boundaries! I think of a man with a fountain of knowledge, full of experience, traditions, culture and good values. Another thing that I think of, is that he was a man with a tremendous GIARDINO, bigger and better than any other giardino ever!

As kids my nonno’s tremendous yard and giardino was like another world to us. I would scatter though the tall fava bean plants to hide when nonno was angry and looking for me. I will NEVER EVER forget the feeling of fear I had when nonno started chasing me around the outside of the house with a sandal in his right hand, raised above his head…So far, to this day, I have by no means experience a sense of panic like I did that day.

I remember playing with nonno, he would exhibit his power to us by doing push-ups with my very small younger sister Rosamaria on his back…. then of course, we didn’t let him stop there, we wanted to see if can do the same with us and he managed to do so, never letting us down. We have always looked up to him as such a strong, powerful man. Plus he loved to watch the old school WWF wrestling…as kids what more can we ask for out of our nonno!!

At intimate family gatherings my nonno would always like get out his portable video camera to capture the precious times we had together as a family. I remember him doing so even this past Christmas….which was our last Christmas with nonno. Even though the battery for his portable video camera wouldn’t last for more than 2 min without it needing to be plugged into the wall because it was soo old, he constantly insisted on getting the moments on his video camera…Now, today, without nonno anymore, im very happy he was so persistent and that we have those everlasting moments on tape!

If any of you ever have had the privilege to receive a greeting’s card from my nonno, you would automatically come to see the abundance amount of compassion and love my nonno had to give.

I have prepared a few words for today, that I would like to say to my nonno Camillo because we know that he is here now with all of us. Grazie nonno, thank you for being the grandfather you were. Growing up, you taught us so much about culture, tradition, values... about discipline, respect, loyalty, dedication and hard work and im certain that you will continue to teach us and lead us though our lives ahead.

Your famous words, handwritten in every card you ever gave us, whether it was Easter, Christmas or our birthday was a message that will stick with us for the rest of our lives; “noi nonni ti vogliamo bene e iddio ti benedica”

Growing up, we always looked up to you as one of the strongest men in world. As an indestructible man with great power, knowledge and experience…a man of war, a man who conquered profound hardship and fulfilled great achievements, all while being calm, patient, understanding, considerate & compassionate.

We know u are in a better place now, with grandenonno, grandenonna, with Rosamaria, your daughter you never had a chance to know and with all the other family and friends that have passed along the way. Pass on your endless and immense strength and will power to your wife Maria, my nonna.. as well as to the rest of us to move forward. You will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

Io ti vogio bene, noi ti vogliamo bene, e iddio ti benedica