OfGiovanna Cavalli
In the beautiful Roman house on Cassia, he is surrounded by the affection of his dearest people. His closest friends were with him at dinner at home when the interview with Fabio Fazio was broadcast on TV
«I have a beautiful life, you know? I’m with the people I love.” Despite everything, Franco Di Mare considers himself a lucky man. Because he did the job he dreamed of. And because, in the good times and now, in the most difficult ones, he always had his loved ones, family members and true friends by his sideto which the former Rai correspondent and presenter, 68 years old, dedicates the last chapter of his book “Le parole per dirlo” (Sem-Feltrinelli), a small existential dictionary (“My testament”, he defined it in the interview with Courier with which he revealed he had a very aggressive tumor, mesothelioma).
In the beautiful Roman house just off Via Cassia, surrounded by greenery, I am with him the two younger sisters (Franco is the eldest son of a close-knit Neapolitan family).
Here you are Luciaseen by him: «The wise, square one, always generous with good advice (never followed)».
AND Will be: «Refined and cultured reader, who brings a zen look at the world. If it weren’t for her stubborn obstinacy in teaching me the hypnotic mantra nam myoho renge kyo.”
Then, there is Luigi, known as Ginoa journalist specializing in health and healthcare «who comforted and protected me, even though I was the older one (and in Naples these things have their relevance)».
For them (and for those lucky enough to be invited to dinner), Franco prepares a perfect aubergine parmigiana, as mother Maria made it. «You don’t have to eat it right away, you have to rest, so it becomes better».
There is a special place in his heart for his daughter Stella, now thirty years old: “The person who gave meaning and purpose to my entire life.” Di Mare adopted her in Sarajevo when she was very small, taking her from an orphanage and taking her on a Red Cross flight to Italy. In 2015, a Raiuno drama was filmed about their touching story with Beppe Fiorello, loosely based on the journalist’s novel “Don’t ask why”. «There is Stella behind every line I wrote, she is the one who straightened the path of my life and saved it. And now, every time I watch her walk free through the world, I am moved.”
For eight years, it has also entered Franco Di Mare’s life Giulia Berdini, 33 years old, his partner, beautiful and kind. “My love, the woman who had the strength to put up with me even when I couldn’t stand myself.” They met in the RAI headquarters in Saxa Rubra, between a chat and a coffee. Giulia was the catering manager of the internal bar. Franco, who had previously been married to Alessandra, had already been separated for a few years. Giulia brightens his days. «He infected me with his cheerful outlook on life that I feared had been lost. Getting bored next to her has never been possible.”
One day Giulia told him a lie: “I found this abandoned dog on the street, it was in the rubbish bin, I couldn’t leave it there.” It wasn’t true, he had gone to get him from a litter. A cute male chihuahua called Lili (“Yes, I know, he has a girl’s name, but we don’t care”) and he celebrates hoping for some biscuits and a scratch on the head. Lie soon forgiven: «Today Lili is the sugar with which we season our days». Last summer, when Franco’s health conditions still allowed it, they all went to Puglia, to his brother Gino’s house.
He doesn’t lack dear friends. There are certainly some in the smaller circle Pietro Raschillà and Paola Miletich, historic authors of Di Mare, a thirty-year partnership. «Animators of magnificent culinary evenings where you can bite each other while discussing politics and current affairs».
Rosa Anna Pastore «my right armsometimes even sinister, when I was director of Rai3.”
AND Jean Pierre El Kozeh – who is also his agent – «for which I struggle to find an exhaustive definition: the ones available do not hold together what our friendship has been and is, a human and professional partnership that is difficult to find around».
They were all at dinner together, at the Di Mare house, also on Sunday, immediately after the TV interview with Fabio Fazio. Because, as he writes almost at the end of the book «I, who have always run alone, now walk with others, to doctors, to the sick, to friends, to my family. Frankly, I can’t say if I’ll get far, but it doesn’t matter. I learned that the most important part of journey #2It’s not the finish line but the path».
Go to all the news of Rome
If you want to stay updated on the news of Rome, subscribe for free to the newsletter “The seven hills of Rome”. Arrives in your inbox at 7am every day. Enough click here.
April 29, 2024 (modified April 29, 2024 | 11:21 pm)
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
