In Memory Of Carlo "Romano" Donatella

[San Paolo]

R.I.P. Zio Carlo, you were like an uncle and a best friend to me, i cannot put into words how much i will miss you.
i'll miss how you used to let 6 or 7 people post then one by one in one post address everybody and putting everybodys name before their paragraph in italics.
i'll miss your clipart collection you often dipped into to add to your posts
i'll miss your cooking and humour in the offtopics
but most of all i'll miss you, for the truely wonderful and honest person you were.
you may be gone but i promise you amico mio, you will never ever be forgotten.

[RomaShield27]

RIP Carlo, our dear friend.

Carlo was more than just another member here with us. He was, in many ways, the life and soul of the forum. The life and soul of the community. I've never come across a man so dedicated to forum life, so enthusiastic and willing and appreciative of the ways in which we can express ourselves here, and I have to say I loved that about him. I am bit quirky in that way, as a designer, I suppose, and I appreciate when things are formatted with bold, italics, links, colours etc, all that jazz, and Carlo was the King of posts. He had a great liking for the forum here and spent hours on end making his posts, collecting information and stories, and would do anything for the sake of the forum here and to make it a better place, and he will be very much missed in that regard.

He was, of course, also such a pure gentleman in everything that he done. A very kind and honest person, he would often go out of his way to do whatever he could to help or talk to another person. I can't ever really recall him in a bad mood, even when Roma lost, even when he was not feeling well, and always raised the spirits of those around him. He will be sorely missed here. Rest in peace, Carlo, our friend.

BTW, lovely graphic, Greg – Carlo would of dearly appreciated it.

[maro]

Ciao, Carlo. We miss you. The hardest thing about death, from our side of things, at least, is that it seems so absolute. I hope there's an afterlife where you're happy, smiling affectionately down on us, but very contented to be where you are. I'm sorry to have been such a pain in the arse. Things seem very hollow without you.

manibus date lilia plenis.

[RomaShield27]

Lads, I saved the conversation (what I could) from the SB last night, just after the time when news first broke of what happened. I also felt I had to spend the time to format and clean it up a little, rather that just a copy/paste job, as that is the way Carlo would of done it, and the way he would of wanted it.

Times from 10 Jan 2011, 10:05 pm – 10:38 pm

• ASR1927: I off to bed lads and lady. I hope I wake up and this is all a mistake. Very sad news indeed. He was a lovely person.
• vtec: see, lupa, that's another comment for the thread. very touching and personal
• stefano: yeah, i had suspected it for the past few days. i had hoped and continue to hope to be wrong.
• Shield: Donatella, yes, thanks Jeff.
• Shield: We were only discussing the other day how he must be still stuck in the hospital with no online access.
• vtec: greg confirmed that the last name was carlo's italian lastname anglicized
• Jeff:Donatella I believe.
• vtec:greg didn't find anything, but the i tried, despite not knowing his last name and that came up
• Lupa:How sad that he didn't get to go back to Rome for Christmas another time. He said that he wanted to do that as it was very special to him.
• vtec:a few hours later, after i had left work, gone for a workout and come back home, i suggested in the shoutbox that whoever knew his real name maybe do a google search for his name
• Shield:I also suspected it, unfortunately. What did Greg say Carlo's full second name was?
• Lupa: I've been asking, too. It seemed far too long not to have heard anything, but this is dreadful.
• vtec: i suspected it. i think stef suspected it too
• vtec: i asked sp earlier this afternoon if he had any information from carlo, as it was getting worrying that he was gone for so long
• Shield: I hope its all a mistake too. Poor fella. I am saving all these shouts and will quote them there (i will, in his honour, spend the time to format them a bit, first). Agreed, 'tec.
• Lupa: How did this information come today? Was someone searching the Scottish obits? Did someone hear from somewhere that he had died?
• vtec: tom was here. yes. i actually posted the obituary link right after he made another silly joke
• marco: agreed, mi. we need to capture these spontaneous comments and then can add some well-crafted tributes as well to the eventual thread...although i am still clinging onto the very little hope i have of this being a big mistake on our part.
• vtec: i'm just glad that if that really is carlo's obituary, then we all got to find out about it. i think it would have been sad for him had he gone and nobody had known
• Shield: Yes tec, I agree. We can all share our stories of him there. I'll PM Greg and ask him to create a thread in the morning.
• Shield: Lupa, in his last PM to me, on 21 Dec, he said: "I'm very ill, kidney problems. Going into hospital just as soon as ambulance arrives. More when I know... "
• vtec: i think, and i hope i am not wrong, that those who shared their respects here will do so again once the thread is created by greg
• stefano: i wonder if there is a way to set up a webcam for the funeral?
• vtec: very sad evening here.
• Messinese Interista: everything we mention here perhaps should be in the memorial thread just as a quote. and from there we can continue to leave comments
• Shield: Yes, they have a website. http://www.broadwoodcars.com/ Doesnt sound like Carlo's sort of placem but i can give it a call tomorrow
• ASR1927: He definately worked at a Taxi garage.
  ASR1927
• Messinese Interista: "i am still in a state of disbelief if not utter shock. the lines from carlo's email to ed sent shivers up me spine while reading them." +1
• stefano: right. that seems to be more of an auto dealership than a taxi garage, however.
• vtec: somebody can call that ian guy on that number there
• ASR1927: I don't know that doesn't look like a Taxi garage.
• stefano: i think he was at least a partial owner of his garage, edzo.
• Lupa: What was in his email?
• marco:
  i am still in a state of disbelief if not utter shock. the lines from carlo's email to ed sent shivers up me spine while reading them.
• Lupa:
  I think he owned a garage, Shield, from something he said not that long ago.
• ASR1927:
• Shield: Lads, I know Carlo was a driver and worked in a garage, but did he own the garage? I found this: http://www.autocardealers.co.uk/company ... r-stadium/
• Lupa: What?!?! That's really sad. How do you know? I've been wondering, thinking we should have heard something.
• Shield: We believe this to be he: http://www.yourannouncement.co.uk/78779 ... e=nqgl_evt
• stefano: yes, lupa. all signs seems to indicate that carlo is no longer with us.
• Shield: Very sad news, Lupa. It appears that Carlo has passed away.
• Shield: lol. He would indeed, Stef, he would indeed.
• Lupa: What's going on? Someone has news of Carlo? Bad news from the sound of it
• stefano: edzo, you may want to do that for now, but i think carlo would want it to look neater than does a quoted
• vtec: yeah, once the memorial thread is up, we can all share our memories and respects in there
• Shield: I can save it, and 'quote' it there, I guess.
• Shield: Stef is right, a lot of this should be saved in a memorial thread for him. But it is also right that Greg should start the thread.
• stefano: i would think that greg would have more personal information on carlo than anyone else here.
• Messinese Interista: if need be, I will create a facebook page just to keep in touch with everyone here on the forum.
• vtec: listening to this in honour of the guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E67KkPNc6Dc beautifully depressing
• Shield: I know he did post here often enough: http://www.xtratime.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=17 But no sign of anything there.
• ASR1927: No worries I thought you'd want to know.
• Shield: Good idea, Jeff (and thanks for the message). It might be hard as he actually never revealed too many personal details.
• vtec: a couple of us are on facebook, mi, i know how you feel about that
• ASR1927: Anyone know the name of the Taxi garage he worked at.? They might be able to confirm for us.
• Shield: There was a time on RA, when i was more active there, that a member said that another member who he claimed he knew in real life had died in a motorbike accident. Everyone offered their condolences and it was all very sombre, but then the member came back and said it was all a joke. Needless to say they were slaughtered and both banned. I keep thinking this is happening here. I wish it were.
• Messinese Interista: I am always inclined to keep to myself on the interwebs. not release personal information, even not reveal my first and last name. Perhaps we should have a private section in our profiles that only members can see our real first and last names just in case of future situations...
• ASR1927: It is a great little community here for sure.
• vtec: lupa's online. she probably doesn't know yet
• vtec: yeah, some of us have known each other for years, some others we will know for years to come. we have been growing up with each other, in a sense. we've all changed so much since we first joined yet we remain
• Messinese Interista: tbh i always wondered, if you were part of a forum, and a unfortunate event was to happen, how would the people on the forum know. I guess the good thing about this forum is even though its quite small, we look out for each other like an extended family.
• vtec: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=658&p=97251#p97251 and after that, tom, sp and i took it to the shoutbox where tom and i were being our usual dicks and sp defended him like a good friend
• stefano: let's let greg do it. i just want to make sure that the memories come easily when it is open.
• Shield: Night, Greg, take care. Should we do that thread now Stef, or let Greg do it in the morning?
• vtec: good night, greg
• stefano: which post was that, 'tec?
• San Paolo: when i was at work today i saw a woman crying and i thought to myself i can't remember the last time i cried, i think tomorrow may be the answer to my question.
• ASR1927: Niht Greg.
• stefano: good night, greg.
• San Paolo: night guys
• San Paolo: i'm gonna bed, i'll sort something out for him tomorrow when my head is a little clearer
• vtec: i feel really bad because the last time he was online was when i got pissed off at him for that post in the announcements thread
• stefano: open up that in memoriam threads now after all. this is the kind of stuff that should be saved there.
• Messinese Interista: These kidney problems. Did he have them for a while?
• ASR1927: God he joked with me and Gio one night on the SB about his kidney's failing.. at least we though he was joking.
• San Paolo: i think he was 66 but that is a guess
• Messinese Interista: Anyone know his age?
• Shield: "More when I know... " is his last line. He also said previously he was working over-time a lot in the garage, what with the garage being busy due to the weather, he must of over done it.
• ASR1927: Have to drink some Jack Daniels in his honour. He always mentioned Mr Daniels in is posts.
• Shield: Jesus, I've just been looking at my last PM from Carlo, sent on 21 Dec , in which he said "I'm very ill, kidney problems. Going into hospital just as soon as ambulance arrives."

There is more, from today, if anyone would like to see it.

[vtec]

rest in peace, carluccio.

i hope that you are in a better place with the loved ones who left before you. it seems surreal that you will not grace this forum any longer.

thank you for your tireless effort and many contributions to our community.

we lost a family member.

[ASR1927]

Rest in Peace, Carlo.

Thank you for all your enthusiasm and friendship you brought to the Roma threads and to the forums as a whole. Like Greg said above I loved the way you replied to everyone who posted in a thread and encouraged me to continue to do so... even when I beat you to posting something first. You were a die-hard Romanista and a friend.

God bless you I know you are in a better place.

[Lombardiamia]

RIP is all I can say. Never really had any decent conversation with him unfortunately or none that I recall. RIP.

[juventino_italiano]

RIP Carlo.

A great contributor to the forum, always had interesting and insightful things to say.
A good friend.

RIP

[romawi]

we lost a family member.

Couldn't have said that better. RIP Carlo, and I hope you're in a better place.

[stefano]

Carlo, I hope that your final days were as peaceful as can be and that you left us untroubled by major regrets. Next time I find myself with your dear Reverend Jack I'll raise a toast in your honor. May you rest in peace.

[maro]

Okay, we have some flowers that should be there with the message "Dear Carlo, you will be deeply missed. You have touched all of our lives. Love Tom, Greg, and all your distant friends." Apologies for headlining my name there but if it means his friend gets in touch I think it's probably worth it. I will, of course, let you guys all know if I do hear from Carlo's friend.

[San Paolo]

Tom would you mind relaying the convo you had regarding the flowers?, i must have missed it when i went out for a while.

[maro]

Nothing too interesting there, I think, gregorio. One of the Funeral Directors gave me the details of the florist they deal with and so I did it all through them. I also asked him if he might pass on my details to the friend who was arranging the funeral (his turn of phrase in response to an earlier request of mine for a copy of the order of service or memorial notice or any such thing which might be being produced for the occasion) or, if it were simpler, pass her (as it turns out) details onto me. He replied quite quickly to say he'd pass on my address and email address but that he couldn't pass on the details of his client (which I imagined would be his response). So I've put my name in the note in the hope that it might further encourage the friend to get in touch with me (on the basis that she might manage to put chew and chew chewgether).

[pocari_fenrir]

Carlo, It will be hard saying goodbye to a fellow gentleman of our forum.
You were more than a simple forum moderator. Your dedication and enthusiasm make you more youthful than we realize.
To lose you, would be to lose family. You have become the heart of our humble abode here.
I will miss the neatness in your posts. I will miss your bolds and italics.
I will miss your constant news updates. I will miss the cynicism that followed.
May you live on in our memories, come game time, as you watch over our beloved Roma from the skies.
RIP dear friend.

[marco]

goodbye, carlo.

apart from being such a dedicated contributer to this forum over the years, i found you to be such a thoughtful, gentle and kind-hearted person which are enviable traits to possess. the world could use many more like you but, unfortunately, the world (and particularly this forum) now has one less. if one's life is to be measured by their genuine respect and benevolence toward others, then i am sure you have lived a fuitful and successful life.

may you rest in peace, carlo donatella.


"The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity."
-seneca

[Giacomo]

I feel genuine pain reading this.

I felt I actually knew him because of the way he communicated with us on the Forum which will never be the same again without him for me.

I feel so upset that he has lost his life. Genuinely shocking.

I am so sorry for Carlo.

[Lupa]

Caro Carlo,

This is a very sad day today, having read the confirmed news that I hoped against hope was some sort of a mistake. I was hoping that 'il miraggio' was due for a return one more time. I will really miss your kindness, your thoughtfulness and your sense of humour. Every forum could only hope for someone like you, not only for the information you brought, but for the richness of your posts and your genial presence.

As I said yesterday, I know you had mentioned how special Christmas in Rome was and that you looked forward to returning there one day. I wish that you had had that chance, but I hope that wherever you are is like Christmas in Rome for you, possibly with the inevitable Jack Daniels (Reverend Jack) in your hand.

Riposa in pace, amico mio.

[Messinterista]

R.I.P. Carlo.

We hardly spoke but it was like I had knew for quite a while from the way you responded to my comments. I will remember the way you would always used emoticons in your replies and how you liked to browse the interwebs and find new ones to use apart from the ones we had here. I will remember your PC desktop too.

I will miss you mate, always. Hope everything is well for you up there.

Mi dispiace.

[SPqR]

I always felt the need to mind my p's and q's around Carlo as I had great respect for his presence in this forum. He commanded it as a true gentleman; always kind, cheerful and willing to engage in a thoughtful discussion on everything under the sun. Never met the man in person but I feel genuine sorrow for his loss as though he was a dear and close friend or family member.

You will be deeply missed Carlo, RIP.

[Jamoldo]

May you rest in peace Carlo. We'll miss your class and passion for all things Roma and for life in general.