177. Goodbye Mike!

Posted by Eva Ulian September 16, 2009

177. Goodbye Mike!

What is known about Mike Bongiorno is that he was born in New York in 1924, died at Monaco on September 8^th 2009, was buried in Milan. Apart from these basic facts there lies an entire world. He was imprisoned in the largest jail in Italy, San Vittore for his part in the Italian Resistance. He had been a National quiz Master and renown Master of Ceremonies in particular presenting the Italian Song Contest at San Remo. He is known to have said “Remember, there is a God,” “God will always give you a hand” and his unforgettable “Allegria!” with his hand raised in a sort of Roman salute, meaning “cheer”, “joy” or the like.

After a religious ceremony imparted with the Ambrosian rite he wanted only one politician to make a commemoration speech, he who for him was hardly a politician but had been his historic employer of Italian national TV, namely Silvio Berlusconi. Therefore I have taken it upon myself to record such, then with care and patience transcribe it here.

Photo:Berlusconi and behind, Fiorello & Fazio

Silvio Berlusconi: Speech of Goodbye to Mike

I wanted to let only the men of his world, the world of television, of show business, Fiorello, Fazio, Baudo, who had in the recent past been much closer to him than I had been. I cannot however, forget a lifetime, I should say a lifetime of work in common, of friendship, of enthusiasms, and of passions that we have shared together.

Of him, of that man whose simplicity was an overriding characteristic in him, only simple words are on this occasion fitting. He was a good man, profoundly good. He was a just man. He was a man who considered that to respect others, starting from the most humble, was his way of being.

Photo Mike’s sons and wife

He was a man who looked on the future with optimism and again, I was lucky to have spent a whole evening with him some weeks ago- he was a man who was making projects for the future. He was an Italian. He was the best of Italians, the Italian who loved his country, the Italian who was ready to fight for his country, that is why he was jailed for this in San Vittore, risking his very life against the common enemy- therefore he was our hero. A hero of that movement that re-conquered for us our dignity, our freedom.

Photo: He supported the Italian Resistance

At work, he had affection for all. He was humanly and personally interested in all. He called all by name, and all those that rotated around him before the recordings, those who filmed the recordings, the directors, the editors, there was no one that Mike did not know personally and with who he did not feel near to. In the years that saw him at the height of his success, consisting of innumerable transmissions, I don’t think there was a single person in the studio who had not felt the nearness of Mike, in a moment of sadness or particular difficulty in their lives, the death of a mother or father- the illness of a relative- Mike was always near. To all he gave his constant attention, followed by a phone call to see how things were going.

He never forgot a birthday. And when he would wish me “happy birthday”, I would say, “it’s the only date I wish I could forget, that of my birthday.” “No, no,” he would answer, “we still have many years ahead, and the best part of one’s life is the one that has yet to be lived.”

This was Mike.

Photo: Pippo Baudo, colleague and friend

My deep and heartfelt thanks go to him for all the work and for the many successes, which thanks to him, we have been able to produce. To him goes also my thanks for how in all these years he has supported me in my efforts at the service of Italy and her citizens. Even just recently he would invite me to continue, he would say: “You know, we all have our proper destiny, the destiny that none of us can avoid. I’ve had the destiny that you know – I’ve had a wonderful life and I’ve had one or two wonderful friends. But you cannot complain either.”

Mike, no one is complaining. You, who most certainly is gazing down upon us now have the satisfaction of the gratefulness of your nation which has through means of this funeral of State given you the recognition of the important role you had undertaken when you were the television, and which through means of the television Italy was given a new birth, you united together the Italians of Italy. You interpreted a role which will remain in the history of our country. And to his family, to his wife, the certainty that Mike was not only that wonderful husband and father that we all know him to have been, but he will from now onwards be your wonderful supporter in all those happenings that life cares to offer. To you a heartfelt embrace.