PISTOIA. The world of culture is mourning the death of the professor after a brief illness Stefano Zamponi, from Pistoia, emeritus professor of paleography and codicology at the University of Florence. He was 75 years old. Mayor Alessandro Tomasi and the municipal council of Pistoia «learned with pain the news of the sudden death of the professor, a highly refined Pistoian intellectual, owner of a culture that was never bookish and always attentive to critical discussion and the point of view of young people».
The carreer
He was frequently encountered in the manuscript room of the Forteguerriana library, a few steps away from the papers of “his” Sozomenos, intent on new research which – he had announced to the librarians – would last for the whole summer. Professor emeritus of paleography and codicology at the University of Florence, during his very intense career he has focused his studies on the themes of writing and books in the Middle Ages, coordinating numerous projects for the census of Italian manuscripts and holding important scientific positions in the international field on the subject of Latin paleography.
Memories
«As director of the Chapter Archive of Pistoia – the mayor and council recall – he was able to combine his precious wisdom with clear attention towards technological innovation, making the digital version of ancient archive documents available to scholars many years in advance compared to large digitalization campaigns. His curriculum as a scholar saw him for years also president of the Giovanni Boccaccio Institute of Certaldo, where he exercised an important teaching role towards young scholars. But, beyond his everlasting scientific merits, today the city of Pistoia remembers Stefano Zamponi for his profound humanity, his always polite trait, his natural kindness, which made him first and foremost a beautiful person.”
The Boccaccio House
And also the Giovanni Boccaccio national body and the Municipality of Certaldo express deep condolences for the passing of Professor Zamponi, who had held the position of president of the body from October 2010 to February 2023. We owe him a constant commitment to the the scientific activity of Casa Boccaccio, a strong impulse on the literary research front, the diffusion of the figure and work of Boccaccio especially on the occasion of the celebrations of the seventh centenary of the writer’s birth and, on the teaching front, the international seminar and the summer school aimed at young scholars.
The president’s memory
«Stefano Zamponi gave the organization its current structure and the scientific qualification of an active promoter of studies on Boccaccio and his time. But above all he inspired and guided with his firm and gentle character its deepest soul, of support for young researchers, of a place of meeting and free, open and friendly discussion. The organization will always be grateful to him for this”, recalls the president of the organization Boccaccio, Giovanna Frosini. «I feel profound regret for the sudden passing of Stefano Zamponi, with whom I collaborated for the entire duration of his mandate as president – adds Giacomo Cucini, Councilor for Culture of the Municipality of Certaldo from 2009 to 2014 and Mayor of Certaldo from 2014 and until a few days ago – A person of great culture and humanity, to whom we owe an important increase in the level of organization of the Boccaccio Institution and the qualification of its activities, at a national and international level».
«The Municipality of Certaldo is close to family members and colleagues in this moment of pain – he says Giovanni Campatelli, current mayor – and expresses profound gratitude for the work he has done over the many years of activity. His figure will always remain in the history of the institution’s activities and of the valorisation of the Casa di Boccaccio, the heritage of Certaldo and of humanity.” Stefano Zamponi leaves behind his wife, children and grandchildren. The funeral will be celebrated today, Saturday 15 June, at 3pm in the church of San Paolo.
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