Giuseppe Bevilacqua, known on the island as zu Peppe, passed away yesterday at almost 101 years of age. He was one of the most well-known faces on the island, the historical memory of an entire community, the face of the celebrations of San Giuseppe during the Rite of the Lodging with the traditional “tuppuliata” of the Holy Family in the church door. Un zu Peppe was one of the sons of the island who represented its identity and the same bond that every seafarer has with his origins. A figure who will certainly remain forever in the hearts of the entire Egadine community, remembered thus by Vito Vaccaro.
THE MEMORY OF VITO VACCARO
The oldest person on the island of Marettimo, Giuseppe Bevilacqua, born in 1923, would have turned 101 on November 24th. “Zu Peppe”, for all of us on the island and for those who met him while staying in Marettimo. Or simply “Peppe di Pippineddra” (named after his beloved mother). He wasn’t just a sprightly centenarian, he was all about the island. The historical memory, the lay celebrant of the ancient rite of San Giuseppe, of the allogiate, of the admiration of the Saints in the square. “Musician” of ancient maritime “jazzband” groups. His presents of swordfish (swordfish), shells, starfish – a thought for everyone. And then there were his legendary stories of imprisonment during the Second World War, with the awarding of the Medal of Honor… and he was proud of them. It’s difficult to think that from today Zu Peppe will no longer be here. For all of us he was immortal and he will remain forever in the memory “of those who go and those who remain”.
THE STORY OF ZU PEPPE
Zu Peppe he was also known for a story that takes you back to 1943, during World War II. Peppe of Pippineddra, after having escaped the ferocity of the Germans in Greece, he was deported to Germany. But after various vicissitudes he managed to return to his Marettimo where he continued his mother’s devotion to Saint Joseph by creating the traditional altar set up in the month of March in her home and for over 40 years forty years he knocked on the door of the church of Marettimo during the Rite of the Lodging carried out on the morning of March 19th during the celebrations in honor of the patron saint of the island. At the end shouting that “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” greeted by the ringing and applause of the faithful. An appointment which he did not miss even this year at the venerable age of one hundred and taking part in the small celebrations in the square, from the Lodging to the invitation to the Saints by going up on stage. In January 2019 Giuseppe Bevilacqua was also awarded the medal of honor by the prefect Darco Pellos to Italian citizens deported and interned in Nazi concentration camps.
Mario Torrente
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THE INTERVIEW WITH GIUSEPPE BEVILACQUA OF 2019
Zu Peppe was interviewed by Telesud in March 2019 in a report on the celebrations in honor of San Giuseppe made for the news. In the link below you can listen to his interview and see the images of the Loggiate ritual.
