Filippo Palma (1935-2020) passed away
By Anna Gudge In Archive, News, Tribute On 10th January 2020
The World Bridge Federation is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Filippo Palma from Italy.
He was a member of the WBF Senior Committee from 2010-2012 and he was also member of the EBL Executive Committee from 2010 – 2018, when he retired.
Our condolences go to his family and the people who loved him in this sad moment.
The funeral will be held on Saturday 11 January at 11.00 at Chiesa di Santa Maria Incoronata – Corso Garibaldi 116, Milan.
Filippo Palma at the bridge table
Il ricordo di Gianarrigo Rona
In this moment, it is not easy for me to express the feelings and especially the sadness that surrounds me as I stay still incredulous thinking that Filippo is no longer here with us.
The fate decided that I had to be with him, at home for dinner, when he had the stroke and when at doorway, waiting for the ambulance that would have brought him to a fist-aid center, he collapsed. It’s the same destiny that fifty years ago brought us together and thanks to it a fraternal friendship allowed us for more than forty years to live together marvellous experiences into the world of bridge and above all into our everyday life. Filippo was for me, Cippi and Carlotta more than a brother, a loyal, generous, always available companion, and our point of reference in all our decision, a strong and unwavering support in time of difficulties. We were seeing each other almost every day, as we lived one right on top of the other in the same building and we told each other our thoughts. To say what Filippo has been in bridge and what he did for bridge in Italy, in Europe in the World, hundreds of pages should be written. For the Italian Federation, the WBF and EBL he did an outstanding support in the administration and a significant contribution to the enhancement and growth of bridge. The public part, his position and his career are well known to all those who knew and esteemed him. As word spread, I have personally received and I am still receiving effective, touching and grateful thoughts from everywhere in the world, yes because Filippo had friends and admirers everywhere. But the private part is for me the most important. The part that’s lesser known, out of the limelight, the most generous, spontaneous and unselfish, built in silence and without exteriority, with the confidentiality that distinguished his lifestyle. This part , that helped our movement to grow and develop. Filippo was a gentleman, adjective that was once used, but for him is still true today.
Dear Filippo, you will be always with me, beside me, not only in my heart. When we will meet again it will be as if we did it the day before.
An endless abbraccio.
Gianarrigo