The city of Taranto mourns the passing of Giuseppe Graniglia: his passing has left a huge void in the world of Taranto sport. An esteemed pharmacist and sports enthusiast, he has dedicated much of his life to promoting sporting values and improving the local sporting community. His passing has left a profound pain in all those who had the pleasure of knowing him and working with him.
Graniglia was a prominent figure in the local sports scene, especially in the world of tennis, where he held important roles in the Taranto Tennis Club. His participation in the New York marathon, which saw him win a bronze medal, is just one of the many successes he has achieved during his sporting career.
But Graniglia was not just a man of sport, he was also an intellectual who knew how to convey his passion for movement through writing: evidence of this remains through his book “Sport is life”, a true ode to sporting values and an invitation to live a healthy and active life. The book was written for his grandchildren, budding champions (for some years already), to leave a legacy he started, so that they continue to practice the sports to which they dedicate themselves.
His leadership within Coni Taranto was exceptional and left an indelible mark on the history of the organization. His election as President and appointment as President Emeritus testify to the respect and esteem he has earned over the years. The Coni Gold Star for Sporting Merit awarded to him by President Malagó is just a small tribute to his extraordinary career and his tireless commitment to promoting sport and its values.
The death of Doctor Graniglia is an enormous loss for the world of Taranto sport: «Taranto has lost a noble father of city sport, the dear Pinuccio Graniglia – says the vice mayor and sports councilor Gianni Azzaro to our microphones – we hoped until the last one who could see his dream come true: a city fully aware of its sporting vocation, European reference in the sector and home to the XX Mediterranean Games. Unfortunately this won’t be the case, but what he has sown will sprout in every initiative we carry out in the coming years. I am sure that, wherever he is now, he will be rooting for Taranto as he always did in life.”
«He was a historical figure for the city of Taranto. She will be missed by the entire sporting movement. Her human qualities characterized her life, full of exciting and unforgettable moments. In the name of healthy sporting values.” Francesco Toscano and Luca Balasco – respectively Regional Coordinator and Provincial Representative of Sport and Health, the public company that deals with the development of sport and correct lifestyles – thus remember “Pinuccio” Graniglia, with whom they shared the experience together at CONI .
Also remembered by Roberto De Lorenzo, creator of the Taranto Athlete Award event: «Talking about Graniglia at the moment is quite difficult. Peppino has always been close to the Award since its first edition in 2009, he has always believed in and supported every one of our projects. He was a great friend of our family. For me he was the Presidentissimo, I liked to call him that. Only last January did we go together to Bari for the awarding of stars of merit organized by the regional CONI. It seems so surreal to have to say goodbye to him tomorrow for the last time, we are all moved.”
