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Giorgio Riondino
Chief of Staff of Italy's Prime Minister's Office
I was supposed to meet him today. Elena [Caprile] called to tell me
that the meeting had become physically impossible. Like often in
these moments, many years of acquaintance and friendship flashed
through my mind, but one in particular: the memory of the fact that
it was he who made me bridge the distance between Italy and Canada.
First by letting me know about the Canadian reality and compare it
with Italy, also through Corriere Canadese; then with the interviews
to several Italian PMs, the organization of Toronto's G7 in 1987
(when Ciriaco De Mita was Prime Minister and Giulio Andreotti was
Foreign Minister); and then, a bit at a time, by leading me to
explore the world of Italian emigration, to the point where I now
have an Italian-Canadian granddaughter.
Dan's great, meritorious work was precisely of acting as a bridge
between these two shores, these two cultures, at a time when that
was not fashionable or even recognized.
My last goodbye to Dan, a hug to his wife Elena and son Michael, and
my condolences to the whole Corriere Canadese family.
Luca Brofferio
Consul General of Italy in Toronto
This morning I was saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dan
Iannuzzi, and I wish to express my deepest regret and most heartfelt
condolences.
Dan's death is a loss, professional as well as emotional, for the
whole Italian community in Canada, not just in Toronto. Thanks to
his active inventiveness and his innate entrepreneurial spirit, and
to a very solid bond with his country of origin, Mr. Iannuzzi gave a
fundamental contribution to the conservation of Italian culture,
even in its most recent developments, which was running the risk of
dispersing with time.
His most
important (and, to him, most beloved) "creation" was undoubtedly
Corriere Canadese, a formidable vehicle for knowledge, memory, and
update. For over 50 years, by entering every day the houses of
thousands of our fellow nationals who had immigrated here, it made
them feel Italy close and sharing in their individual and collective
experiences, despite the great distance - luckily, a distance that
was only geographic and not sentimental. His intuition of expanding
the reach of Corriere Canadese to encompass also Italians of more
recent generations, by creating Tandem, was great, too; that new
publication allowed - and still allows - the descendants of the
original immigrants to look with a balanced and modern eye at
today's Italy.
I remember
one of the last times I met Dan Iannuzzi. It happened here at the
Consulate, on the occasion of Italy's Republic Day, June 2. I called
him on the podium to tell us the story of his experience as the
publisher of a newspaper that, with determination and subtle
intelligence, managed to succeed in Italian-Canadian society, taking
roots in many hearts. That was a nice moment, quite intense, which I
consider one of the most significant of my experience here in
Toronto.
I'm writing... merely to say that we will all miss Dan Iannuzzi, for
many reasons. This great community will miss him, as it saw him as
an important reference.
Pal Di Iulio
Executive Director, Villa Charities
I have known and personally benefited from the late Dan Iannuzzi's
first creation, Corriere Canadese, since the early 1960s. It has
kept me informed and involved in local community and social events,
sports and politics, and more importantly, connected to a country
(Italy) that many of us left behind.
I have read almost every issue since then, and in addition to
helping me retain and enhance my Italian language, it inspired me to
live up to Corriere's motto of being "fiercely Canadian, proudly
Italian".
In the late '70s, Dan continued to contribute to multiculturalism
with his vision for a third language television station, CFMT (now
OMNI). The realization of this station further served and benefited
the Italian-Canadian community, as well as many additional groups,
and made for a more tolerant Canada.
At the same time, the community rallied together to realize their
first major project - Villa Colombo Home for the Aged - and together
with the support and commitment of a few inspired leaders from the
Italian media, particularly from Corriere Canadese and CFMT - Villa
Colombo came into existence.
Whether Dan was raising funds for us through Corriere's sponsorship
of the opening night of the film Love Story or putting Villa Colombo
in the community's consciousness through the broadcasting of our
"Mothers' Day Telethon", he was always there for us. And in a
community that is dynamic and at times fickle, 50 years of success
is quite a landmark! Dan truly survived the test of time.
I extend my sincere condolences, both personally and on behalf of
Villa Charities, to the Iannuzzi family. Thank you for sharing him
with us.
Grazie Dan.
Leonard Lombardi
President CHIN Radio/TV International
It was sad and shocking to hear of the news that Dan Iannuzzi has
passed away. Dan will always be remembered as one of the greats who
pioneered the ethnic press industry with the founding of the first
daily Italian language newspaper, Corriere Canadese, 50 years ago in
Toronto. It took great insight and courage to pursue vehicles of
expression for the emerging Italian immigrants who came to Canada
after the war. Dan saw the need to provide these new arrivals with
hope and understanding of their new chosen land.
Corriere Canadese filled the void in so many lives and gave a view
of Canadian society that welcomed and embraced new immigrants.
Corriere Canadese has helped shape the development of the Italian
community in Toronto, recorded its successes, championed countless
causes and brought rightful recognition in the articles and stories
of the many leaders who emerged throughout the years within the
Italian community. So many owe a debt of gratitude to Dan who
created an industry from humble beginnings and led the way through
example by promoting and encouraging the development of the ethnic
press for all multicultural communities to enjoy.
Throughout his life he dedicated his talent and enthusiasm to the
people and things that brought him great joy; multicultural
journalism. He has left a lasting legacy in Corriere Canadese and
the many other cultural newspapers he established. But most
importantly he gave opportunity to the many journalists within our
multicultural communities to write about their heroes, views and
life's challenges. He helped to shape Canada into the multicultural
society that is all the envy in the world. And for this great
contribution we thank him and we will miss him.
Angelo Infusino
Italian Trade Commissioner
I learned of the passing of dear Dan with great sorrow. I wish to
present my most heartfelt condolences, as well as those of the staff
of the Toronto office of ICE, to the Iannuzzi family and to the
staff of Corriere Canadese.
PETER DALDOSS
My sincere
condolences to the Iannuzzi family in the passing of Dan Iannuzzi.
Special thoughts are for Doreen in this difficult time.
Nicola De
Angelis
Bishop of Peterborough
I join the sorrow of the whole Italian-Canadian community and offer
my most heartfelt condolences.
Great people who distinguished themselves serving their community,
like Dan did, will be remembered forever. May Dan rest in
God's peace and joy.
Michael Di Biase
Mayor of Vaughan
It is with great sadness that we learned of the untimely passing,
this past Saturday November 20th, in Rome, of Corriere Canadese
Founder Daniel A. Iannuzzi.
Dan was a highly respected businessman, a pillar of our community
and a generous humanitarian. His passion for his heritage and his
fierce pride in his adopted homeland formed equal parts of the whole
that he expressed through such creations as the respected
publication he founded, the Corriere Canadese as well as through
innumerable other projects .
For thousands of people, the Corriere Canadese represents a daily
link to the land of their heritage, a way to communicate with each
other in the language they or their forefathers were born to, and
for the younger generation of readers, a way to learn about current
issues facing today's Italy.
Dan Iannuzzi's passing has left a void, not just in the Italian
Canadian community or in the Greater Toronto business community. We
have lost a great Canadian, a visionary leader whose contribution to
the rich fabric of our great nation will be felt for generations to
come. A Canadian who showed us how to be fiercely proud of the
country we call home while nurturing within us the passion for our
roots.
Grazie, Dan,
per averci regalato la tua passione per l'italianitą e per averci
dimostrato che č facile amare due paesi in parti uguali!
On behalf of
all the citizens of Vaughan and all members of Vaughan Council,
please accept our sincerest condolences for this great loss.
Alberto Di Giovanni
Director, Centro Scuola e Cultura Italiana; Councillor, CGIE;
Delegate, CONI-Canada
The news of Dan Iannuzzi's sudden death left us deeply saddened and
at the same time made us pause and reflect. Iannuzzi had all
the human, organizational, intellectual qualities of a community
leader; with his vision and his initiatives, Dan Iannuzzi was a true
leader, and now we've lost him.
We wish to remember dear Danny, the proponent of the first
multicultural TV station and someone who was always present in our
community's most important moments, especially for the contribution
he gave to the community through his newspaper, Corriere Canadese.
He always loved this newspaper, and led it in happy times and
difficult times, always managing to keep this Italian-Canadian voice
alive.
Impartial,
serene in his judgment, Danny often sided with the underdog, and saw
this as a duty for his newspaper.
He believed
like few others in the importance to conserve and expand the Italian
language and culture, always protecting the community's linguistic
and cultural values. Thank you, Danny, for everything you did for
our, for your community. Your loss opens a gap that will be very
hard to fill.
My deepest condolences to the family and to the staff of Corriere
Canadese.
Angelo Di Ianni
Mayor of Hamilton
Condolences to the family and to the staff of Corriere Canadese. A
great Italian-Canadian, a Canadian giant has passed away. Dan
Iannuzzi's presence and his progressive ideas will always be with
us.
Antonio Di Pietro
President of "Italia dei Valori"
I learned of the sudden death of dear friend Dan Iannuzzi with deep
and sincere emotion. Despite the time passed since our last meeting,
I still have a very vivid memory of his extraordinary figure and
strong personality, and of the human empathy and deep respect that
he knew how to raise right away.
His passing
is a great loss, not only for his family, which I wish to express my
most sincere and deeply felt condolences to, but also for all of
Canada, for the City of Toronto and in particular for his beloved
Italian-Canadian community, in the service of which he consecrated
his whole life.
Despite being a third-generation Italian, in fact, Dan Iannuzzi had
fully kept the essence of his Italian heritage and a genuine pride
for his roots.
Strengthened
by the values and principles derived from our history, culture and
tradition, Dan Iannuzzi turned his life into a mission; from the
pages of the glorious newspaper he founded, Corriere Canadese, he
always fought in defense of the many Italians living in Toronto,
working tirelessly to promote a healthy, clean image for our
nationals in Canada.
Those who
lived, even for a short time like I did, the sometimes tough
experience of emigrating, know that nothing is so important as
"feeling close to home". This is the reason why Dan Iannuzzi's
work will live forever: he was more than an illustrious and
enlightened member of a community; with his newspaper, an unequalled
reference point for the Italian-Canadian reality, he was daily in
contact with thousands of "common" Italians. This is what Dan
Iannuzzi did for 50 years: he brought to the Italians of Toronto the
flavours, tastes, joys, sorrows, and events of their faraway
homeland, making them feel "closer to home".
About Dan Iannuzzi, rivers of words will flow, and I feel sure that
every word of them will highlight his extraordinary talents.
Personally, I wish to remember his selflessness, his feeling an
integral part of a community that he devoted his dedication and love
to, and which will undoubtedly remember him.
Heartfelt condolences to Elena Caprile and to the rest of the
Iannuzzi family.
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