A rosary in the ‘Crema’ style, “to seek together a light that illuminates the darkness before us.” These are the words of Alberto Cremonini’s friends who, last night, gathered in large numbers at the church of San Nicolò di Calcara for the touching prayer vigil, interspersed with speeches and musical pieces. And with them many other people. In front of the church, there are two posters, with the words ’I am always me’ and ’you are always you’, with many attached photos. The vigil was organized by friends to specially remember the young man and was desired by his parents. At only 19 years old, Alberto died on Sunday in the hospital after being hit by a car in Bologna on July 2nd. That cursed day, the young man was struck on the crosswalk by a car on Viale Pepoli, near the Righi high school, where he had just taken the oral maturity exam. The driver of the car, a 59-year-old man, is now under investigation for vehicular manslaughter.
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The friends posted posters in the church with photos of ‘Crema’ and his world. A church filled with many young people, friends, classmates, and people who wanted to be there to support the family and remember Alberto. On the columns, the photographs tell pieces of his life: a trip, the music band, his 18th birthday, moments spent with friends. In all of them, one feature never changes: his smile. “Life – it reads on the back of the prayer card – with you was a wonderful journey, even if too short… We will carry you in our hearts and minds always, always, always.”
And again in the phrases written on the posters: “Hello Alberto. Your smile will continue to live in the memory of those who were lucky to meet you.” And then: “Teach the angels to play the guitar.” Present at the vigil was also Carmine Maddaloni, president of the social promotion association Fobes of Anzola, with which Alberto had collaborated last March during a charity dinner. Alberto attended the parish as an assistant catechist and as a member of the youth group, the ’Rebirth’.
The long day of remembrance began in the early afternoon, during the wake set up in Bazzano. And even there, fundamental elements were notes and images. The music he loved and the photos, many photos, scrolling on the large screen behind the coffin, the happiest shots to honor ’Crema’: there he is on stage with the ever-present guitar, then him hugging his parents, and again him proudly showing a bottle of amaro. Him smiling, calm, looking at the camera, with a small guitar tattooed on his forearm. In Bazzano, relatives and Alberto’s classmates take turns, a friend brings a rose. “Life with you was a wonderful journey, even if too short, through a blooming garden where you knew how to pick the most beautiful flowers for us. We will carry you in our hearts and minds always, always, always,” the phrase shared on Alberto’s prayer card.
“The school kids are devastated. How can you accept something like this? It’s impossible – recounts Max D’Adda, one of Alberto’s music teachers –. That’s why as soon as possible we will organize an event dedicated to him, to remember him together, to somehow celebrate all the good he left us. His serenity, his cheerfulness, his desire to do, to learn. I knew he had an accident, but nothing about how the situation then worsened.”
Music was his passion, which he also expressed by performing live, when he took the stage with his band. Next to the coffin is his electric guitar, wrapped around the neck with a light blue scarf. “I am devastated – the words of Sergio Altamura, the music teacher who saw Alberto grow up –. I still can’t believe it. My colleagues and I haven’t talked about anything else these days. I have followed him since he was 11 years old. He arrived when he was smaller than me and left when he was taller than me. And now Alberto is no longer here, it’s almost impossible to accept this.” Music, Altamura explains, was his life. He really felt it. For him, it was not just a hobby, but something more. It was something that made him feel good. When you are so young, music is also a way to express yourself, to be able to say your piece through the instrument.”
Outside the wake, also two former colleagues of Ivano, Alberto’s father, from Inps: “I called him at Ferragosto to wish him well – one of them recounts –, he told me that his son had been hit on the crosswalk and that he was unwell. We didn’t even know he had had an accident.” Yesterday, “Ivano kept his phone off all the time.” Alberto was an only child. His parents’ pain is unimaginable, but “very composed,” say the former colleagues, describing a beautiful family, very polite, reserved, religious.
The funeral will be tomorrow at 11 in the parish church of Calcara. The painful announcement was made by mother Roberta, father Ivano, grandmothers Ines and Chiara, and all relatives. The family has stated that donations to Ant are welcome.
