Marconi

After the death of Steve Jobs my sister received an email from a friend of hers likening the death of Steve Jobs to that of Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of long distance radio transmission, from Bologna.

“When I told Charles that my grandson was saddened and upset by the death of Steve Jobs, he told me that he remembers having a similar reaction when Marconi died.  Charles’s father was very interested in radios.  He was building a radio when he heard, over the radio that Marconi had died, so he stopped everything, bent his head and prayed, in silence, for a few minutes.  He was not a very religious man, but he admired Marconi very much and was saddened to learn of his death.  So he understands my grandson’s feelings.

I remember that day too and very clearly.  Uncle Peppino, Maria, Gina, Alfonso, only 3 years old, and I, 8 years old, were going to the beach in Castellamare di Stabia, when our train stopped at the railroad station in Pompei.  Several boys, selling newspapers, were yelling very loudly “La morte di Marconi!” (the death of Marconi).

In our life we never forget some moments even if they are very brief.