Messages from his friends and colleagues:

Friday, June 26, 2009

Cara Signora Marisa,

La Sua lettera mi ha fatto un grandissimo piacere.

So per esperienza personale cosa significa "dover" rispondere ai messaggi di affetto e solidarietà nel momento della partenza della persona che si ama.

Le sono così vicina... La penso spesso perché non mi è difficile immedesimarmi in Lei. Quando si ha condiviso la vita, le lotte, le speranze con un uomo eccezionale, il vuoto che lascia l'assenza è infinito.

Le voglio bene cara amica, anche se non ci conosciamo tanto. Volevo un gran bene a Suo marito per il quale nutrivo ammirazione e tenerezza. Mi ha sempre sostenuta ed incoraggiata, già dai primi istanti della nascita dell'Associazione che ho creato, subito dopo la morte di Paulo, mio marito, amico e compagno.

Continuiamo a mantenere viva l'immagine e l'esempio che Vittorio ci ha dato.
L'ultimo lavoro dell'Associazione Paulo Parra per la Ricerca sulla Terminalità, Ricordati che devi vivere, un importante libro su un lungo operato di sostegno ed accompagnamento verso una signora malata di tumore, porta una dedica al Prof. (le allego la copertina con la dedica, in seguito la troverà sulla presentazione del libro che metteremo sul Blog dell'A.R.T. )

Può naturalmente far mettere sul sito dell'EAPC tutto quello che noi facciamo.
Non saranno mai abbastanza gli omaggi da rendere a quel nobile pioniere che, da dove si trova ora, credo guardi con amarezza ai "pasticci" dei nostri politici nel campo delle cure palliative...

Ma non perderemo la sana convinzione che la nostra battaglia - quella che lui stesso ha iniziato in Italia - sia giusta e meriti la vittoria!

Quando lo vorrà, cara Marisa, La riceverò con immenso piacere, qui a La Bagnata, un posto che Vittorio amava molto.

Con affetto,

Amanda Castello
Giurista, scrittrice, formatrice in cure palliative, counselor Simonton,
fondatrice dell’Associazione Paulo Parra per la Ricerca sulla Terminalità - A.R.T. onlus

03/12/2008 18.52
I first met Vittorio Ventafridda in September 1977 at the beautiful home of Virgilio and Loredana Floriani in Lomagna.
The Floriani Foundation had just been founded and was waiting for official recognition but Vittorio had already decided  to organize in May 1978 in Venice an International Symposium on Pain Therapy in Advanced Cancer, together with John J. Bonica. It was a great success and after that first meeting many others followed. We worked together at the Floriani Foundation for 25 years and it has been a unique experience.

Vittorio was not only a great physician; he was a wonderful and very special human being. He  helped me in difficult moments of my life like only a real friend can. He shall always remain in my heart.

Wanda Segre

28/11/2008 16.07
L'Associazione Paulo Parra per la Ricerca sulla Terminalità - A.R.T. onlus ricorda il Prof. Vittorio Ventafridda e ha deciso di dedicargli tutte le attività in programma per il 2008 - 2009.

Abbiamo riservato una pagina del nostro www.associazionepauloparra-art.it per rendere omaggio al padre delle cure palliative in Italia.

Dopo aver letto tutte le dimostrazioni di stima e di affetto che avete raccolto, vorremmo aggiungerci a questo abbraccio virtuale allegando l'articolo scritto dalla dr.ssa Amanda Castello, fondatrice dell'A.R.T. e amica del Prof. Ventafridda, che è stato pubblicato su Libertà, principale quotidiano di Piacenza, e che potete scaricare qui.

Inoltre, l'Associazione Paulo Parra per la Ricerca sulla Terminalità ha dedicato una pagina del suo calendario (Calendario Padì A.R.T. 2009) al Prof. Ventafridda.

Cordiali saluti
Chiara Marenghi
Membro del Comitato Direttivo dell'A.R.T.

18-11-2008 13:27 Vi preghiamo di pubblicare la foto del Professore mentre consegna il "Premio Vittorio Ventafridda" al Dott. Momcilo Jankovic nel corso del convegno Bambini che non guariranno, tenutosi nel marzo 2007 alla biblioteca del Senato a Roma. Mi sembra una testimonianza significativa dei riconoscimenti assolutamente dovuti da tutti noi al grande uomo e Medico che Ventafridda è stato, in un campo della medicina che non esisterebbe, o sarebbe certamente molto arretrato, senza il suo grande impegno e la sua dedizione. Silvia Lefebvre D'Ovidio, Fondazione Maruzza Lefebvre Form right to left: On. Livia Turco, Prof. Vittorio Ventafridda, Dott. Momcilo Jankovic

17/11/2008 15.24

Prof. Vittorio Ventafridda was a great Professor and came several times to Brazil. It was a honor also for me to spend 3 months learning with him and his staff  on Pain and Palliative Care Unit of Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 92/93 and in 97. He came here to participate on  the II Latin America Convention of European Society of Oncology (ESO). After 4 months we've founded the Brazilian Association for Palliative Care with the support of European Association for Palliative Care . He was also our honorary chairman. Prof. Ventafridda will be always between us as an example of dedication to relief the human suffering and for introduce us into the palliative care field. Ana Georgia Cavalcanti de Melo Clinical Psychologist specialized  in cancer patients and palliative care Founder of Brazilian Association for Palliative Care Brazil

10/11/2008 10:28
Dear Mrs Ventafridda,
 
I would like to tell you and your family how very sad we were to learn of the death of your husband. Please accept my personal condolences and those of all our staff and volunteers at Help the Hospices in London. 

Although I did not have the privilege to know Professor Ventafridda personally, I have always been deeply aware of the huge contribution that he has made to palliative care. Your husband's pioneering work in pain control and his commitment to palliative care in Europe and, indeed, the rest of the world, is legendary and has truly enabled countless terminally ill patients and their families to benefit from improved support towards the end of their lives. The world of hospice and palliative care has lost a great leader but Professor Ventafridda has left a tremendous legacy that we will all strive to continue.

Your sincerely,

David Praill
Chief executive officer
Help the Hospices
London, UK

05/11/2008 4.00
Desde este lejano rincón del mundo (CHILE) envio mi recuerdo emocionado del Profesor, que sirvió de inspiración a otros anestesiólogos como yo, para dejarse seducir por los Cuidados Paliativos.
Su paso por Chile y Argentina en la época en que se estaban forjando las politicas actuales de Cuidados Paliativos fue decisiva para nuestros paises.

Reconocemos al maestro, al pionero, al visionario y sentimos profundamente su partida.

Maria Antonieta Rico
Fundación Arturo Lopez Perez
Santiago -Chile 

05/11/2008 2:37
A familia de Vittorio meu grande amigo e companheiro de muitos anos.

Algumas pessoas, nao morrem e sim mudam de lugar para nossas memorias Vittorio sem duvida 'e uma delas e nao deixara de ser lembrado jamais pela sua luta pela dignidade dos que sofrem orientando os mais desafortunados ensinando como ajudar os que sofrem como ele sofreu nos seus ultimos tempos estando hoje aliviado de suas dores terrenas.
Orgulho-me de ter sido seu amigo "lontano en Brasile" assim como todos voces devem orgulhar-se de terem vivido e convivido com uma figura humana bonissima e caridosa.

Um carinhoso abraco.

Antonio Carlos Perrotta
Sao Paulo Brasil

With regards and friendship.

Fumikazu Takeda
East Hospital, Kitasato University
Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan

31/10/2008 14:28
“Ci uniamo al cordoglio per la scomparsa di Vittorio Ventafridda. Consapevoli della grandezza del suo operato, ne sottolineiamo il ruolo fondamentale avuto nel favorire la nascita dell’attuale S.C. di Psicologia, in collaborazione con il carissimo Marcello Tamburini”.       

Borreani Claudia, Bosisio Marco, Brunelli Cinzia, Gangeri Laura, Greco Margherita, Murru Luciana, Trimigno Patrizia
U.O. di Psicologia
Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori
Milano - Italia

30/10/2008 12:00 Download card Marc Notredame RVT Yserheem Diksmuide - Belgium

30/10/2008 10.49
The man who changed my life
This sentence was written by Oscar Corli on Corriere della Sera, in remembrance of Prof. Vittorio Ventafridda just after his death. It struck me right in the heart, because it could have been written by many of us, since it is true for many of us.
In 1984 I was charged by the Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro I Tumori (LILT - Italian League against Cancer) to plan and carry on - together with the President of the Assistance Committee, Ms Luisa Einaudi - a big event of fund raising: the “Fiera Gastronomica” (Gastronomic Fair), to finance the costs of the home care service for cancer patients.

My husband, Raffaele, was dying, still young, of kidney cancer and during his last two months he was taken care of by the Pain Therapy Service of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori (National Cancer Institute) in Milan. It was there that I met Prof. Ventafridda, his physicians and his nurses: the whole team gave us a splendid support up to the last day, showing professional skill as well as deep compassion. My husband died without pain. After his death I obtained from LILT the chance to devote myself to the implementation of the new Volunteer Programme which had started in 1984.

My first steps were taken to manage the first small group of newly recruited volunteers. Among them, the volunteers members of Prof. Ventafridda’s team of home care. I used to attend the weekly staff meetings and the Professor was always there. His first questions invariably were: “Which patient died this week? Did he/she die in pain? Was there a volunteer with the family?”. At first I was always distressed after the meetings, I was not accustomed at hearing so many details on the death of so many people; afterwards I found the strength to give strength to our volunteers.

This wasn’t the only challenge Prof. Ventafridda faced me with. He offered me the opportunity to talk about the role of volunteers, on which he strongly relied - as he always believed in everything he did – during the first European Congress of Palliative Care. I was discouraged, convinced that nobody would be interested, volunteer service being considered the fifth wheel of the cart. He was implacable: should only one person attend the session, it would be worthwhile all the same.
We started from there, and when his team went all over the world to report on his model of home care, I was there too, with my paper on “The role of volunteers”.

At present, LILT volunteers are almost 800, they are active everywhere within the association: in direct service for patients in home and hospice setting, in various hospitals for in- and out patients, in driving patients to therapies, in 17 consulting rooms for early diagnosis, in office work, in fund raising. They are our pillars, wonderful people who allow us to offer the community various services of prevention, early diagnosis, direct care. Some of them follow the path outlined more than 20 years ago and share their experience in various courses, congresses and masters.

Our activity has evolved into a real “School”, many associations supporting Palliative Care have been founded and many of them follow our pattern. It often happens that a newly constituted association, worried and frightened by the many initial difficulties, contacts us to get support. Our advice is “don’t give up”, we must work together to carry on the vision of our Master: accompany to a peaceful, dignified, painless death the thousands of patients and families that even today are left alone with no support when they find themselves in difficulty. I wish to thank with all my heart the volunteer Maurizio Cazzaniga, whose presence our Professor has required for the last five years, and who gave him his care, listening, support, warmth. Thank you, Professor, for what you taught us. Claude Fusco Karmann Director Volunteer Training School Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro I Tumori (Italian League against Cancer) Milano - Italy

1991 - 1st Palliative Care Course in Rosario - Argentina

30/10/2008 10.49
Remembering Vittorio

We were young and just graduated when we met at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori (National Cancer Institute) in Milan: Vittorio Ventafridda, Umberto Veronesi, Francesco Di Re, Leandro Gennari, Gianni Bonadonna, Bruno Salvadori, Franco Rilke, someone else … and myself.
In that place, that would become for decades our second home, we grew up and with youthful enthusiasm we faced the challenges of our profession, implementing academic knowledge and refining our scientific attitudes, each one in his specific field.
Vittorio always had a strong feeling for the “future without future” of the patients who, failing every therapy, were discharged from hospital with the fateful sentence: “there is nothing else to do”. He worried for their months ahead, alone with their suffering, surrounded by a distressed and helpless family, expecting death as the final relief.
He chose to devote his life to these millions of people and, step by step –  many of which proved to be crucial – he succeeded in lifting the curtain of indifference and fear around the “terminally ill patients” and he proved beyond doubt that when “there is nothing else to do”, there is still a lot to do.
Through the contacts and experiences he carried out all over the world, he perceived the importance of the presence of volunteers near the patient and his family. Thus, in the eighties, he asked LILT (Italian League against Cancer in Milan), of which I was the President, to insert specifically selected and trained volunteers in his interdisciplinary teams of palliative care. This first step gave birth to a cooperation that is still going on, strengthened in 1987 by an agreement with Fondazione Floriani for the joint support of Palliative Care Units, which were gradually developing in our country.
Since then, we have marched side by side, always trying to get things better and never giving up.
Vittorio carried our Volunteer Training School all over the world, from Canada to USA, to Latin America, even to Hawaii. He carried it in every Congress on Palliative Care, he requested LILT participation in the establishment of the European Association for Palliative Care, of SICP (Italian Association for Palliative Care) and SIMPA (Italian School for Palliative Medicine).
We are proud of the contribution we were able to give and of the qualified support offered by our volunteers to the suffering and loneliness of innumerable patients and families.
Dear Vittorio, in remembrance of your mission, we will continue along the path you traced; there are still so many steps ahead, but without you the way wouldn’t even have started.

Prof. Gianni Ravasi
Presidente Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori (Italian League against Cancer)
Sezione Provinciale di Milano

29/10/2008 15.21
Nous avons appris le décès du  Pr Vittorio VENTAFRIDDA, pionnier des soins palliatifs.

Tous les acteurs des soins palliatifs connaissent son investissement depuis des années dans le domaine du développement des soins pallliatifs.

La SFAP et les personnes impliquées dans les soins palliatifs s'associent pour présenter leurs condoléances à sa  famille, ses proches, ses collaborateurs et à l'EAPC.

Très cordialement,

Godedfroy Hirsch
Président de la SFAP - France

29/10/2008 2.12
Queridos amigos del Istituto dei Tumori:

He recibido la noticia del fallecimiento de Ventafridda con un profundo dolor. Siempre le recordaré con mi mayor cariño y con mi agradecimiento por haberme recibido en su Servicio durante 4 meses (hace ya 20 años) y permitirme dar mis primeros pasos paliativos a su lado.

Solamente nos consuela pensar en la tremenda tarea que realizó a lo largo de su vida y que su obra queda entre nosotros, lo que supone una especie de inmortalidad. Las personas nos vamos pero nuestras obras, quedan. Por esto le quiero dedicar estos hermosos versos de Juan Ramón Jiménez de su poema  "viaje definitivo":

Y yo me iré. Y se quedarán los pájaros cantando; 
y se quedará mi huerto con su verde árbol, 
y con su pozo blanco. 

Os adjunto una fotografía que tengo en mi despacho desde que volví de Italia en 1989 y en la que estoy con el Proffesor Ventafridda y con algunos de vosotros. Fue en Trieste cuando fuimos a un Congreso de la Asociación Italiana de Cuidados Paliativos y de fondo sonaban las piedras del Muro de Berlín cayendo una por una. En ese mismo viaje, en esa misma ciudad y ese mismo día, conocí a Charles Rapin que también nos acaba de dejar para siempre. Estas dos muertes, en tan poco tiempo y personas tan queridas, me han afectado profundamente. Que descansen en paz, que los dos se lo merecen. Marcos Gómez Sancho Profesor de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Las Palmas De Gran Canaria - Spain

28/10/2008 17.22
In 1982 (25 years ago) I was training in medical oncology in Argentina, I was frustrated about the lack of training in the management of physical and psychosocial distress among our patients but in that pre- internet era I had no clear knowledge of what to do about it. I learned about a conference about something called " palliative care" by a foreign speaker at the Faculty of Medicine. I took the bus from my hospital to the lecture and found a large frozen auditorium with only 5 people in the audience.  I was convinced the lecture would be cancelled but right in time the speaker gave an extraordinary lecture on all aspects of what I was asking myself about my cancer patients. I left feeling that I wanted to dedicate my career to this area. The lecturer was Prof. Vittorio Ventafridda.

Since then over the years I was able to learn so much from his lectures, our poolside discussions (and acquaerobic session !) in Hawai, corridor talks in congresses in Canada, the US and Europe, when he told me to go to a cancer center in the USA (done), that amazing conversation at the dinner table during EAPC in Venice where he told me to study how we die (study in progress), and his story about his frustration about being fed Italian for a week during an Australian visit after I invited him to the Edmonton production of Tosca.

I will miss "il Prof" very much. I am very grateful I had the chance to know him and all his wonderful team in Milano. I consider myself one more of his students and did and will continue to guide my judgement and actions for the rest of mi professional life.
Arrivederci Prof,       

Eduardo Bruera, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
F. T. McGraw Chair in the Treatment of Cancer
Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston - USA

28/10/2008 17.19
Dear Family and Friends, This is a very sad loss for palliative care. He was a towering figure and yet so approachable and gentle. I remembering him arriving at Westminster Abbey, UK for the memorial service of Dame Cecily Saunders, there was gasp of appreciation that he made the journey from Italy to be there!
He will not be forgotten

Pam Firth
Family Support Team
Isabel  Hospice
Welwyn Garden Herts - UK

28/10/2008 10.29
It is really very sad/ I knew Vitorio from my first days in the field and always I thought about him as a mentor. He was our guest in Israel for 3-4 times and I think everybody learnt from him. I will write some words for his wife of course.

Michaela Bercovitch
Sheba Medical Center
Oncological Hospice
Shoham - Israel

27/10/2008 19.51
Two days ago, the University of Navarra, in Spain, celebrated a meeting between journalist and palliative care physicians. We were 40 people ready to discuss how manage the palliative care message and the ethical dilemmas at the end of life in the media. Just in the presentation Dr. Marcos Gómez-Sancho remembered to Vittorio Ventafridda as a big person -a giant!- and also marvellous physician, true pioneer of Palliative Care. With warms words and emotion, Gomez Sancho remembered his beginnings in Milano training in Palliative Care with the master. After those months, by the hands of Gomez Sancho, started a new and strong light of the palliative care movement in Spain, from Canarias Islands, giving this light to many people in my country and also to myself. Thanks in deep, Vittorio. We pray for you, asking a big heaven for you: a place totally pain free and happy.
Rest in peace, Palliative Care Master.

Carlos Centeno
Unidad de Medicina Paliativa
Clínica Universidad de Navarra
Pamplona (Navarra)- Spain

27/10/2008 10.13
The whole situation with Vittorio was so incredibly sad and I know that this will have left an emptiness in your lives.  I suppose at this point we have to celebrate Vittorio's life as he was clearly a very remarkable man.

Marie and Ken Fallon
University of Edinburgh
Palliative Care, Edinburgh Cancer Centre
Edinburgh – UK

27/10/2008 7.45
Thank you very much for letting me know the announcement.
I feel deeply sad at the news.
I will send a condolence to his family.

Kenichiro Hasumi
Hasumi International Research Foundation
Tokyo - Japan

27/10/2008 9.24
Anche se non ho conosciuto Vittorio Ventafridda personalmente, mi ha colpito la notizia la settimana scorsa.
Deve essere un grande fattaccio per voi e per tutti loro chi lo hanno conosciuto e chi gli stavano vicino.

Vi auguro con tutto il cuore tanta forza e delle persone ed esperienze confortevoli intorno a voi in questi giorni di lutto.

E vi mando una piccola poesia che ho trovato e che forse può sostituire delle parole adatte che non mi vengono in mente.

"Say not in grief that she is no more
But say in thankfulness that she was
A death is not the extinguishing of a light
But the putting out of a lamp
Because the dawn has come."
(Rabindranath Tagore)

Saskia Jünger
Klinik für Palliativmedizin
Universitätsklinikum Aachen
Aachen - Germany

27/10/2008 8.04
I am really very sorry about this loss. He was a great teacher for me with a great personality. He was an unforgetable and unique mentor and a very good friend for me all these years.
I will miss him very much.
I am sending my condolence to his family.

Kyriaki Mystakidou
Associate Professor in Palliative Medicine
University of Athens
Athens - Greece

26/10/2008 17:20
Dear mrs. Ventafridda, family, friends,
Dear colleagues in the palliative care,

The three national associations for palliative care in Belgium and me in person offers our condolences with grief. It is very sad news that Prof. Ventafridda died last week. It is a big loss for all workers in palliative care. I had the occasion to meet Prof. Ventafridda 3 years ago. I was honoured to meet the founder and the Honorary President of the European Association for Palliative Care as a young board member. The three national associations for palliative care will remember Prof. Ventafridda as an important pioneer in palliative medicine, a constant supporter from the European Association for Palliative Care, a benefactor for much people involved and working in palliative care all over the world. Thank you for this ! We will never forget and take into the future all positive results, examples and impact.

On behalf of the presidents, directors of  FPCF, FWSP, FBSP and all the networkers in palliative care in Belgium.

Tine De Vlieger
Secretary EAPC 2007-2011
Palliatieve Hulpverlening Antwerpen,v.z.w.
Universiteit Antwerpen 
Wilrijk - Belgium

26/10/2008 13.20
So sorry for the death of Dr Ventafrida. I am sure it is hard for all of you who were close to him! I am not so sure it reduce the pain of the loss by remembering how special he was and how big was his contribution to the Palliative Care community, never the less life will go on as always and it is us to remember, cherish and continue what he started long ago.

Send you all and the family our condolences from Israel !

Ruth Gassner
Hadassa Medical Center
Palliative Care Service
Jerusalem - Israel

26/10/2008 12:09

I am very sad for all of you as I can guess how you are all feeling.
I really believe that Vittorio knew you were making all his work progress in a great way.
I had the honor and the chance of meeting him and working with him in Rome.
He really impressed me even if he was already ill.

Chantal Wood
Unité d'Evaluation et de Traitement de la Douleur Hôpital Robert Debré
Paris – France

25/10/2008 17.37
Ho appena saputo con grande tristezza della scomparsa del Prof. Ventafridda.   Sono senza parole.  Ho lavorato per lui per un anno e mezzo, prima che andasse in pensione e poi durante i vari incontri e congressi dell'EAPC.  Aver lavorato per una persona così grande e nello stesso tempo così umile, un vero gentleman è stato e resterà sempre un ricordo indimenticabile.
Una persona così grande come Lei non muore mai.  Ciao Prof.

Yvonne El Masri

Dowload letter here Gilbert Zulian Département de réhabilitation et gériatrie Cesco

24/10/2008 21.14
This is such sad news.. 
Vittorio was an extraordinarily fine person and a gentleman. I have wonderful memories of the conferences where I saw him, usually speaking or surrounded by admiring colleagues.

I also recall a visit to Milan in 1998 where Karen Ryan and I met with Vittorio, as I recall we were looking for collaborators in a project to examine and improve Italy's restrictions on opioid prescribing.  We arrived at his office in the early afternoon and he seated us in front of his desk.  A few moments later, an assistant brought in a tray of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and a bottle of chilled Pinot Grigio.  What a classy way to begin a meeting!

I was deeply honoured to receive the Vittorio Ventafridda Individual Award in 2005 from the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care.  It is all the more meaningful to me now.

We share in your loss.

David E. Joranson
Pain & Policy Studies Group
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Policy and Communications in Cancer Care
Madison, Wisconsin - USA

24/10/2008 19.07
I was very sorry to hear of Vittorio's passing. Even if I did not know him personally, I am well aware of the tremendous loss to this field and to those close to him.

Carlol Tishelman
EAPC Board Member
Karolinska Institutet, Medical Management Center
Stockholm - Sweden

24/10/2008 16.44
We are very sorry to hear the bad news. Please accept our most sincere condolences on the loss of such a great character.

Prof. Vittorio Ventafridda was one of the pioneers in the field of palliative care. His continued efforts to improve the quality of a patient's life have made palliative care what it is today.

The EAPC and the entire palliative care community will miss a great friend and dedicated expert in palliative care and pain.

Our thoughts are with his wife and his family at this most difficult time.
On behalf of the Grünenthal Group

Gaby Erkens
Grünenthal GmbH
Scientific Relations Management
Aachen - Germany

24/10/2008 15.39
These are very sad news indeed and specially for the oldest people in my staff who were fortunate enough to meet him in the opening of our Unit back in 1990. Our condolescences to Marisa, and also to the National Cancer Institute team.

Juan Manuel Nuñez Olarte
Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañon
Unidad de Cuidados Palitivos
Madrid - Spain

24/10/2008 14.45
I first met Vittorio 20 years ago in Milano. I spent the morning with him, Carla, Franco and Augusto. We then had a wonderful lunch at a cafe in the brilliant Italian sunshine. Vittorio was a brilliant physician, researcher and teacher. His ardent attention to the undeserved and elderly was inspirational to me. Please share my sympathies. He will be in my thoughts today.
      
David I Wollner
Director of Palliative Care
Metropolitan Jewish Health System
6323 7 TH Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11220

24/10/2008 12.13
This is very sad news, although not unexpected. He has made a major contribution to the development of palliative care, and will be remembered.

André Rhebergen
AGORA - Netherlands
EAPC board member

24/10/2008 12.09
Happy and indeed privileged to have had Vittorio as my dear close friend, father and colleague. Vittorio will live on in the work we did through WHO, that already is having a positive impact on mankind.

Jan Stjernsward
Borringekloster
SE 23391 Svedala, Sweden

23/10/2008 10.28
Ho appreso questa mattina dalla mail dell'EAPC la triste notizia della dipartita del nostro caro Prof. Ventafridda. Mi sento di esprimere le mie condoglianze a Voi che siete stati tra i suoi "figli" prediletti, certo che trasmetterete alla famiglia tutto l'affetto e il cordoglio di quanti, pur non conoscendolo personalmente, lo hanno apprezzato e stimato. Con affetto Giovanni

Giovanni Paganini
Ist. Geriatrigo Intercomunale
Rodigo - Italy

24/10/2008 10.19
This is really sad news.I shall miss Vittorio very much. He was a giant among men and he made the world a better place because of his passionate promotion of palliative care. He had many achievements but for me it was his warmth, his wisdom and his charisma which set him apart. A truly great man.

Geoffrey Hanks
Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre
Department of Palliative Medicine
Bristol – UK

24/10/2008 14.52
Everyone at St Christopher's is very sad indeed to hear the news of Vittorio's death.  He was a huge figure in palliative care who magically combined his immense stature and influence in the field with a real gift for friendship.  We shall miss him and remember him always. 

Barbara Monroe & Colleagues at
St Christopher's Hospice
London - UK

24/10/2008 9.59
Le nostre più sentite condoglianze.
Vi ringraziamo per la comunicazione a seguito della quale abbiamo provveduto ad inviare un Telegramma alla Sig.ra Ventafridda.

Valeria, Daniela, Gilberto, Massimo, Rosita
Wyeth Italia

24 ottobre 2008 9.57
So, we are now both AVV [After Vittorio Ventafridda] as well as ACS [After Cicely Saunders].
I offer you my condolences at the passing on of a great man – a great soul – and will be sharing your grief.
Robert

Dr Robert Twycross DM FRCP
Director, palliativedrugs.com Ltd.
Oxford  - UK

24/10/2008 3.59
Estoy justamente en Tucumán porque se hace el V encuentro de cuidados paliativos y el primero aquí en esta provincia. Mañana voy a pedir un minuto de silencio por Vittorio.
Para mí es un grato recuerdo de su visita a Córdoba, pero en lo personal un ejemplo especial porque soy anestesióloga.
Vayan mis especiales saludos para todos ustedes y una sentida oración en su memoria

María Pruvost
Presidenta y Directora Médica de CONTIGO, asociación civil para el alivio del dolor y cuidados paliativos
Córdoba- Argentina

24/10/2008 1.34
Sono molto triste. I will send something more formal later. We have his photo in our conference room at Anderson.
He was a great man. I will miss him a lot,
Grazie

Eduardo Bruera
Professor of Medicine
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston - USA

24/10/2008 1.16
It is with great sadness that we received the news in Edmonton of the passing of a great international leader in palliative care. Vittorio with his accomplishments & involvement in such things as the original WHO pain guideline & the EAPC has influenced our work lives in many ways that will continue to leave a legacy & impact. On behalf of the members of our Division of Palliative Care Medicine we want you to know we are thinking of you & wish you comfort in the memories of your mentor & "guru".

Robin L. Fainsinger
Director/Professor, Division of Palliative Care Medicine
University of Alberta
Edmonton - Canada

23rd October 2008
Dear Mrs Ventafridda,

It is with sadness that I read that your husband has died.
He was one of the great figures in palliative medicine around the world.  His constant support from the European Association for Palliative Care helped establish the discipline across Europe.  He strove to drive up standards and ensure that people delivered scientifically based care. 

My colleagues in Wales join with me in expressing our sincere condolences to you at this sad time. 

Prof. Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
House of Lords
London - UK

23/10/2008 22.11
What a loss....and so grateful to you for letting me know.
He said so many great things and did so many great things for palliative care in the world.

David Oliviere
St. Christopher's Hospice
Director of Education and Training
Sydenham – UK

23/10/2008 21.42
This very sad to hear. I didn`t know Vittorio personally, but his tremendous influence and contribution to palliative care and pain management must never be forgotten. 
It must be a terrible loss.

Per Sjøgren
Board member
Rigshospitalet
Pain Center
Copenhagen – Denmark

23/10/2008 21.15
This is really a sad new. Vittorio was really a very important person in palliative care.
I remember him in Milano and in a meeting in Portugal some years ago where he came at my invitation.

José António Ferraz Gonçalves
Instituto Português de Oncologia Porto
Unidade de Cuidados Continuados
Porto – Portugal

23/10/2008 21.51
Really very sad news.
Vittorio gave me the flag that guided my activity.
While tasting a red wine in Rosario, Argentina - around 1985 ? - he told me something like this: "Roberto, by the year 2000 we must provide the dying patients the same care we currently provide the newborn".
It is still my flag.
Bravo Vittorio. Many thanks

Roberto Wenk
Programa Argentino Medicina Paliativa
Fundación FEMEBA
Buenos Aires – Argentina

23/10/2008 20.38
I am so sorry to hear the sad news.
Vittorio Ventafridda has been my role model for many years; he has been a great teacher and a major force behind the development of palliative care worldwide. He will be truly missed but his legacy will live on forever.
Please extend my sincere condolences to his wife and family. May God rest his soul.

Huda Abu-Saad Huijer
School of Nursing
American University of Beirut
Beirut – Lebano

23/10/2008 20.07
May he rest in peace.

Nessa Coyle
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Neurology - Pain and Palliative Care Service
New York – USA

23/10/2008 19.28
Je suis très triste en lisant cette nouvelle.
En effet Vittorio est pour moi un homme particulièrement respectable qui a su faire passer l'intérêt général avant son intérêt personnel et servir la cause des soins palliatifs à un moment où ce combat n'était "pas mode."
Je me souviens en particulier de tous les moments passés à Paris avant le 1er congrès à Paris pour préparer cet événement. Que de souvenirs dynamisants grâce à lui.

Michèle Hélène Salamagne
Hopital Paul Brousse
Unite De Soins Palliatifs
Villejuif Cedex – France

23/10/2008 19.26
Auch wenn wir damit gerechnet haben, dass Vittorio aufgrund seines Alters und seiner schweren Erkrankung nicht mehr lange leben würde, so bin ich doch sehr traurig und meine Gedanken sind bei Franco und dir und der Familie von Vittorio und allen, die in ihrer Trauer an ihn, unseren „guru“ denken.
Es wäre schön, wenn wir auf dem EAPC Congress eine Schweigeminute am Beginn des wissenschaftlichen Kongresses für ihn abhalten würden, um an ihn zu denken.
Viel Kraft

Friedemann Nauck
Department of Palliative Medicine
University of Göttingen
Göttingen – Germany

23/10/2008 19.20
Sorry to hear about Vittorio.
We have a photograph of him in our new Palliative Medicine textbook as one of the “inspirations”.
He lived a great life.

Declan Walsh
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Hematology/Oncology
Cleveland, OH – USA

23/10/2008 19.17
Surely is dificult to write this kind of e-mails.
Is sad but in the other had we have had the opportunity to know him, to learn from him, and we have the occasion to share with others all he have tough us. He will look after us and the palliative care movement, be sure!

María Nabal
Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova
Palliative Support Team
Lerida – Spain

23/10/2008 18.54
This is such a loss. He was really the mentor and spirit of palliative care. I remember him at the first Research Forum in Berlin, when he told me urgently that palliative care had to be developed in Germany, and urged us on our way. He was a source of inspiration to so many of us.

Lukas Radbruch
Klinik für Palliativmedizin
Universitätsklinikum Aachen
Aachen – Germany

23/10/2008 18.51
Je suis touché par la mort du Pr Ventafrida qui fut un pilote, un fondateur et qui avait le visage de l’intelligence et de la douceur, du moins je l’ai croisé comme cela.
Je pense qu’il a eu une belle vie, riche, féconde et qu’il a eu bien de la chance de pouvoir coopter des collaborateurs motivés et compétents.
Je pense bien sur à ces proches.

Benoît Burucoa  
Soins palliatifs Hôpital Arnozan
Pessac – France

23/10/2008 18.50
I am so sad to hear this news and I can imagine how you must be feeling, as well as to the world of palliative care. You have expressed so beautifully what Professor Ventafridda meant to everyone in palliative care.
We would clearly wish to pay a tribute to him in WHPCO at the end of November and I will liaise with you concerning this and in order that it is linked to the EAPC webpage memorial.

Avril Jackson
Hospice Information Service
St. Christopher's Hospice
Sydenham, London - UK

23/10/2008 18.46
This is truly sad news for all involved in Palliative Care. He will be remembered with love and affection by all whose lives crossed his shadow.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam – may he rest in the hands of God.

Phil Larkin
Past EAPC vice President
The National University of Ireland
School of Nursing & Midwifery
Galway - Ireland

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