CREMONA – «They asked me to speak and give a speech, but there is only one word I can say: thank you!». They are words of sincere thanks, flowing from a heart full of emotion, those pronounced by father of Massimo Puerari, the Cremonese teacher and coach who passed away prematurely just a year ago. In memory of him, in recent days the oratory of Cristo Re, his ‘second home’, hosted an afternoon of sport and solidarity with the emblematic title: one day… at the Massimo. The oratory, the base of the Polisportiva Corona of which Puerari was a cornerstone, the Society and his fraternal friends wanted to remember him with a volleyball tournament between parents and coaches, right in the oratory gym.
Many very young people were involved and were trained by ‘Pue’ in a quadrangular of football, volleyball, basketball and table tennis. Lots of fun, joy and also a moment of reflection, led by the bishop Antonio Napolioni, who had words of encouragement for the boys and words of tenderness for Massimo’s parents. A beautiful blow-up of him has been hung in the gym, so that he can always ‘give his opinion’ and supervise all the teams that will train and play matches.
At the end, a tasty snack, offered by many Cremonese activities that wanted to contribute to the realization of this day, delighted the palates of all those present, with the tacit agreement to meet again next year and keep faith with the promise that the organizers have made to Massimo’s parents: always remember their son, “because he was truly a nice person…”. It was a beautiful afternoon of sport but also of solidarity. In the oratory, donations were collected for the projects promoted by the Thisability and Accendi il Buio associations.
Massimo Puerari was for many years a professor of physical education at the Torriani institute, a physical education teacher at the Beata Vergine Institute and – last but not least – an instructor and educator at the Corona multi-sports club, which is based right in the oratory of Cristo Re. A task that quickly turned into a ‘mission’: «The most difficult task – he said – is that of education through sport, integration through play, respect for others through respect for the rules, psychosocial development thanks to physical exercise». His words were his daily bread, and which remained in the hearts of those who knew him.
