Deaths in 2020: great people who left us, from Moricon to Maradona and Pablito

2020 was the year of Kovid, but among the keywords of the year we’re leaving behind (the most “sad” ever, according to an algorithm) are those Many famous people who have left us. The protagonists of entertainment, cinema, sports, but above the world that no longer exists, symbolically (or in some cases indeed, as for Chilean writer Luis Cipulveda) swept away the virus that forever left us. Has disturbed existence. In addition to the work of these characters, some of them global in scope, others closely linked to Italian culture, we will remember the world they represent: a piece of our lives, which we have, as of this year Has not felt uncertain and insecure.

After making a maiden name, as Italians we cannot fail to pay tribute to the disappearance Ennio Morricone. The great musician died in Rome at the age of 91 on 6 July. In his long career, closely associated with cinema: Moricon’s music has been used in more than 60 award-winning films. His compositions of The Mission (1986) and Once in America (1984) are unforgettable. He won the 2016 Academy Award for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight and in 2007 the “Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to the art of film music”.

It represents a cinema that is no longer mythological. Sir Sean Connery: The Scottish actor won the Oscar for The Untouchables in 1987, but had become a legend long ago for his unsurpassed interpretation of James Bond’s character, which he played in seven films from 1962 to 1971. Remember her roles in the roles above, but also in The Name of the Rose (based on the novel of the same name, written by Uberto Eco, in which she played Guglielmo di Baskerville), Indiana Jones And Hunt in Red October.

Moving to Italy, but remaining in the entertainment and music world, 2020 unfortunately forced us to say goodbye to two veterans: Gigi properties, Who died in Rome on 2 September on his birthday at the age of 80, e Ageo boso, The conductor who died in Bologna on 15 May. Proenity was a symbol of the Roman world, a successor to holy demons such as Nino Manfredi and Alberto Sordi: he was an actor, comedian, voice actor, stand-up comedian, television host, director, singer, and artistic director. We remember his cinematic consolation in 1976 in the role of the legendary Mandarake with his horse fever, but also with several dramatic performances. Bosso was a great musician and also an icon for the world of disability: suffering from a neurodegenerative disease since 2011, he continued to express his talent until his premature death. The entertainment world also cries Franca valerie, Actress and Milanese playwright, an unforgettable cast of characters such as Miss Snob and Sister Cecioni.

The world of literature has lost some big names. It was Kovid that took us away Luis Sepulveda, A Chilean poet who died on 16 April and was an eternal symbol of resistance to the rule of General Augusto Pinochet. She published a collection of several novels, short stories and travel books, including the story of a seagull and a cat that taught her to fly which stood out, but Sipuleva will be remembered above all for her political activism: of Pinoche’s military coup On 1973, the writer was in the President’s Palace (where Allende died) and was arrested and tortured. He spent seven months in prison before being released and seeking political asylum in many European countries (he is French). On 12 December he said goodbye John le carre, Author of dozens of best-selling detective novels: “The Spy Who Can in the Cold” is considered his masterpiece.

Famous deaths in the world of economics and politics, Italian and otherwise: The historic Fiat executive died in Milan on 18 August Sisare Romiti. He arrived in Lingoto in 1974, only 25 years later, to leave it at the end of 1998: he was Avocato Agnelli’s right-hand man and the hero – albeit controversial – of an entire political and industrial season. He is remembered for Fiat’s historic march of 40,000 on October 14, 1980, as well as a close relationship with the head of Mediobanca Enrico Cuccia. Most recently, on 2 December, the former President of the French Republic also died at the age of 93 Valerie Giscard D’estang, Considered among the founding fathers of Europe.

Last but not least, the great grief of the sports world. Which probably involve us the most. One immediately thinks of the disappearance of what is considered to be Argentina’s strongest footballer Diego Armando Maradona. Idolized in Naples, Argentina, but at the age of 60, Maradona died at his home in Tigray on 25 November, a month later. The undisputed performer of the ball, he was a character who instead garnered much discussion outside the green rectangle, but eventually entire generations identified themselves: a champion capable of giving Argentina a world victory and Naples two historic championships.

World victory for Italy, perhaps the most beautiful of the four, was given instead Paolo RosiMundiale 82’s hero in Spain, National Pablito, where he was the top scorer (and Ballon d’Or at the end of the year). He died on December 9 at the age of 64: We will never forget his kindness, the 1982 World Cup and many goals with the national team, but also with Vicenza, Perugia and Juventus. In legend, a hat-trick against Brazil by Zico, Socrates and Falcao: 3-2 led to the final victory and reminds us of a football that probably no longer exists and a period of the ’80s, with great enthusiasm. in country.

The year began with another famous sports death: On January 26 in Calabasas, California, he died badly in a helicopter crash with his 13-year-old daughter, the basketball champion. Kobe Bryant. Bryant grew up in Italy, where his father used to play, and where he took his first steps on a parquet (all his life he remained connected to our country and still speaks Italian), he is an NBA legend: He The Lakers, who were the Los Angeles star for twenty years, drag them to victory over 5 NBA titles. He is considered one of the best athletes in history and before his death, at the age of 41, he also had time to win an Academy Award in the category of Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball.