Of Catherine Benini
CASALGUIDI – Mauro Brancolini, a very well-known person in Serravalle Pistoiese, especially in Casalguidi where he lived with his family, passed away this morning at the age of 74.
For some years Brancolini had taken up the challenge of creating a listening center with the diocesan Caritas to help the most fragile families. Together with friends and collaborators he has grown this help desk that recently opened a branch in the hamlet of Masotti to cover the entire municipal territory. There are about 70 families in difficulty who turn to the help desk and receive help.
Brancolini was a precious reference for the Casalina community, always attentive to the needs of the most fragile, available to listen and discuss. A calm, kind, smiling man, capable of transmitting serenity. The disease arrived like a bolt of lightning and did not give Mauro much time to fight.
The news of his passing leaves not only his family but the entire community in shock. Brancolini, very young, taught for a year in the middle school of the village, a job he loved. After a short while, however, the opportunity to work in a bank arose and Mauro did not let the opportunity slip away. In 2010 he retired and dedicated all his free time to his loved ones and his interests.
A few days ago Mauro Brancolini had celebrated 50 years of marriage with Enrica, his lifelong partner, unfortunately not as they would have liked but honoring that promise made many years ago “in sickness and in health”. Enrica, in fact, never left him alone in these months of suffering. Mauro was the father of four children: Luca, Andrea, Scilla and Simone and proud grandfather of his grandchildren.
The community will certainly be able to take up the baton and carry forward the projects that Mauro has built with love and dedication.
