Palermo loses a piece of its history. A piece of the restaurant history of an ancient Palermo, of a Palermo, that of the Borgo Vecchio, which today mourns the death of Pippo Corona, “Uncle Pippo”, as he was called. The owner of the Piccolo Napoli restaurant has left earthly life. Not only a restaurateur, but also a football lover and coach of the youngest in the neighborhood. He leaves behind two children, Davide and Ylenia, who announced the date of the funeral on Facebook, which will take place tomorrow, Monday 17 June.
«The Corona family – we read in the post – informs all of dad’s friends who would like to attend the funeral or attend the funeral home at home, at the Piccolo Napoli restaurant, throughout the day today. The funeral will be tomorrow, at 11, at the Santa Lucia church in Piazzetta della Pace, in Borgo Vecchio. We thank you for all the messages we are receiving, there are so many of us that we cannot respond. Dad had such a big heart that he loved you all as if you were his family. Thank you. Their children Davide and Ylenia. Have a good trip Dad, kiss Mum for us too.”
A big heart, who has always welcomed friends with a smile in his restaurant in Borgo Vecchio. As Massimo Rizzuto remembers: «You were a great veteran of the restaurant industry, a merchant of ancient times, a friend who welcomed everyone into his working habitat at the Borgo Vecchio in Palermo, like at home. Please feel condolences from me and from the entire Azzolino farms company who joins you in your condolences. Forty years of friendship, of respect that I cannot forget.”
Maria Fatina Spitaleri writes: «I don’t know why but I like to think of you with your little smile under your moustache, your shining eyes running towards Mary, I like this thought because now you too, together with her, protect Davide Corona and Ylenia Corona as you have always done. You left on a Saturday, because now in an extraordinary way, just like you, the place will be closed, that place that you cared so much about and which was not just a restaurant but a coming and going of young and old, who flocked to you and Mary for advice and for a simple greeting to you two who were two pillars and examples to follow. You left on the day of Italy’s first match at the European Championships, well after your family and the restaurant it’s obvious that football was coming, there wasn’t a Sunday without the air of football in the Corona house. Coach of many boys who adored you.”
Everyone remembers him fondly, a point of reference for the entire neighborhood. The memory of Giuseppe Scavone was also moving: «Even if you were a few years older, you were an older brother to me, growing up on the pavements of our Borgo Vecchio, how many games we played when we were young. You were a point of reference, your place was the meeting place for all of us
You were a point of reference for football for the boys of the Borgo. I am sure that in Paradise you found at the entrance our glorious and powerful mother Saint Anna, to whom you were very devoted.”
