Since his wife died a year ago, he had never been the same. Even though he tried to appear in a good mood, those who knew him understood that the loss of his wife had affected him deeply. So much so that he decided that there was no point in living without her anymore. This is how General Claudio Graziano, 71 years old, president of Fincantieri and former chief of the Defense Staff, passed away on Sunday night.
He was found yesterday morning by a policeman from the escort, who had the keys to his house in Rome, in the Rione Celio, the same one where he had lived with his wife, Maria Luisa Lanucara, who passed away in the spring of 2023 at the end of a serious illness. He was lying on the bed, the weapon next to him. Before shooting himself in the head, Graziano had written a note to his family to explain the reasons for his action, with an explicit reference to his wife and the lack of meaning in his life without her: «After Marisa’s death I lost my street”. The couple had no children, the general did not find the strength to react to the pain. The Rome Prosecutor’s Office has opened a case for incitement to suicide and has entrusted the investigation to the Carabinieri, but this is only a necessary act to be able to carry out the usual investigations. It is not yet clear when the funeral will be celebrated, but it seems certain that the Army will take care of the ceremony.
The news of the death of the president of Fincantieri had a strong impact on politics and institutions and repercussions on the stock market, where the stock reacted with a dive into the red, below 5 euros and down by more than 3 percent. Countless messages of condolence. President Sergio Mattarella recalls «his figure as a generous and loyal man of the institutions, capable of always putting his competence and professionalism at the service of the Republic, qualities demonstrated in the important national and international top roles held during his tenure. long career.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was shocked by the news: «He leaves us with an upright servant of the State, who throughout his life brought honor to the nation, the Armed Forces and the institutions with dedication, competence and professionalism». On «A servant of the State, a pro-European Piedmontese, a friend. Goodbye Claudio, rest in peace”, writes the EU Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, in X. The CEO and CEO of Fincantieri Pierroberto Folgiero remembers not only a “great leader, who dedicated his entire life to Italy, but also a great manager and friend”.
Graziano was also a friend of the former Defense Minister, Roberta Pinotti, who had wanted him as Chief of Staff: «In addition to the esteem for a great man of the institutions, solid and very careful to keep all the complexities in mind, a ‘friendship. We had also dated his wife when she was still alive, we often went with my girls to have dinner with them. I’m touched, it was an affection for me.”
