Favignana and beyond mourn the passing of Clemente Ventrone, an iconic figure known affectionately as “the last giant” or “the last samurai”. His life was a tribute to the history and tradition of Favignana tuna, and his absence will leave a deep void in the hearts of those who knew him.
Clemente Ventrone was not just a man, but a keeper of the memory and passion for tuna fishing. His commanding presence and generosity have inspired and touched the lives of many people, imparting wisdom that goes beyond words.
His figure evoked the greatness of Sicily itself, with his strength and kindness manifested in every gesture. With his blond hair shining in the sun, Clemente embodied the authentic spirit of the island, the one that Arthur Miller described so well in his writings.
For Clemente, Favignana was not just a geographical place, but the beating heart of the tuna culture. His dedication to representing the island in the world, through his work and his warm welcome to visitors, has contributed to making the beauty and traditions of Favignana known and appreciated throughout the world.
The research and historical testimonies dedicated to him, also the subject of a recent speech by the Hon. In Easter Day, they demonstrate the respect and admiration that his community had towards him. His commitment to preserving and enhancing local history and traditions has left an indelible mark on the history of Favignana and the whole of Sicily. We hope that we can continue in this direction.
Many memories on social media. We present a moving one taken from the social page And that’s how we fish curated by Nando Sessa
The last giant. There is no more.
The last samurai, that’s what I used to call him.
The great Clemente VENTRONE
The last one who wrote the story, the true story of tuna.
His food, his face, his simple and gigantic goodness, won over his muscles and his boundless strength.
His good heart that was able to win an unequal battle for anyone, he won them and, precisely that heart and his illness brought him to the glory of heaven.
A giant of example and colour, of goodness and hospitality,
He, like the most noble and historically known of the Florio family, in the world and in the Mediterranean Sea, in my opinion represents the capital of the Egadi Islands: FAVIGNANA.
But as regards tuna, tuna fishing, traps and slaughter, that face, that name, that particular image which for those who know Arthur Miller’s literature seems to be found in some formidable passages of dramaturgy when he described the true Sicilian and the exemplary Sicilian outside the box: “I had curly hair, but blond… what do you mean blond, I mean yellow precisely, like gold, let me explain?'”. This is how the good Miller described the Sicilians of special rank, who in some works knew the Sicilian nature well. And Clemente VENTRONE (father of my brotherly friend Leonardo Ventrone) had been the subject of institutional and historical research for months by another great nobleman and lover of his Sicily, the Hon Nello Dipasquale, in order to pay homage with public and institutional praise the great Clemente who represented Favignana in the world and how with his work he was able, better than any politician, to represent Favignana to tourists who loved history and traditions.
The historical depth, both at sea and in civil and welcoming relationships, left to us as a legacy by Clemente, will lead each of us, especially those who had the privilege of being his friend, but a true friend, to be a better man and a measured fisherman. in fishing.
Hello my friend, hello, but in any case know that, although I still don’t know how, but sooner or later, just as I told you when I didn’t yet have the courage to make a film and above all to do it as a historical biography of a friend, I promise you that I will work on it. But the story and the film that you, as an actor and director and author and protagonist, have created in your life, not even 100 Spielbergs will be able to create better than you yourself did.
Thank you for what you taught us and left us.
