He wanted with all his strength to set himself a goal and he succeeded, despite everything. “You know, I hope to get to 14“, Gianni Novella confided to his many friends a month ago. He presented his “Rainbow. And in a flash I saw all the colors of life” (ed. Saggese), a somewhat autobiographical book written with Federica Costanzo, then he passed away. Salerno and all Granata fans are mourning the passing of Gianni Novellaa very popular face in the world of cheering through the Salernitana Clubs Coordination Center and also on local television: for decades he was the host of the programs created by the CCSC until the last episode, at the end of May, and of the Miss Granata beauty contest.
After a very long fight against an illness that had recurred more aggressively and a life that had already reserved him the sad losses first of the love of his life, then of a brother, Novella didn’t make it. He had 62 years old and leaves in the Salerno community at the same time a huge void but also a very high example of the desire to live, dignity, tenacity in facing greater evils. Just two days ago he had recounted, in a faint voice, his suffering. He knew he didn’t have much time left. Yesterday morning his condition had further and irremediably worsened. Transported to the Ruggi hospital, he died in the late afternoon. Especially in recent times he has lived with atrocious pain which he however overcame with the affection of his many friends and with the enthusiasm created by Salernitana, despite a disastrous year from a sporting point of view.
The story of Novella, “intriguing and beautiful, yet tortuous” – as he himself defined – teaches a lot. It is and will always be a hymn to life, to hope, to values. Those who met him on the Granata pitch, those at the stadium, those who met him in his beloved gyms or those who just saw him on television screens at least once: everyone will only be able to say “thank you”. The editorial staff of SalernitanaNews.it joins in the pain that has affected Gianni’s family and closest friends.
