Filippo Gramegna is a Fiorentina fan who was surprisingly approached by Joe Barone during a dinner in Florence only two weeks ago: ‘I was a stranger to him, but I’ll never forget his gift,’ Filippo tells Football Italia.
Fiorentina General Manager Joe Barone died on Tuesday in Milan after suffering cardiac arrest on Sunday, before an away Serie A game against Atalanta, which was immediately called off. Fiorentina fans are paying their respects today at the club’s training ground, Viola Park.
Barone’s death has shocked the club and the city of Florence. The passing of the Italian-American executive, who would have turned 58 today, came just six years after the Davide Astori tragedy. Hence, fans and Florence citizens are once again mourning a club icon.
Among them is Filippo Gramegna, a 53-year-old Fiorentina fan who casually met Barone only two weeks ago at a restaurant near Viola Park, the club’s training ground, one of the most advanced in Europe, whose project was followed step by step by Barone.
“Of course, I knew who he was, but Barone had never seen me before,” Filippo tells Football Italia.
Filippo was celebrating his son’s 16th birthday with his wife and daughter. Fourteen years ago, Filippo had a hemorrhagic stroke which led to partial paralysis. Barone noticed it and kindly approached Filippo and his family while heading to his table.
“He was very polite and sensitive. He asked, ‘May I ask you something?'” Filippo recalls.
Like his son, Filippo was surprised, and he obviously agreed to hear Barone’s question. But the most surprising part had yet to come.
“Joe asked me if I had had a stroke, and when I confirmed it, he spent some minutes chatting with me while his wife was waiting for him at their table,” continues Filippo.
“He opened up about himself and said he had suffered a lot when one of his close relatives had had the same problem.
“Perhaps I triggered a memory. Barone was very nice, strong and gentle at the same time. He spoke to me like he was a close friend of mine, but it was the first time he was talking to me. Not many people knew about his relative’s problem, but he told me about it like we were good friends.”
Before leaving, Barone asked another question: “Are you a Fiorentina fan?”
There aren’t many alternatives when you are born and raised around here.
“When I confirmed I supported Fiorentina, Barone invited me to Viola Park to watch games at the Stadio Franchi. I told him I didn’t go to the stadium too often because of my issues, but he replied: ‘No worries, you’ll be my guest. All you need to do is to keep in touch and tell me when you are coming.'”
At this point, Filippo was not only surprised but also a little confused: “How do we get in touch? Would you leave me your email address?” he asked. Barone did more.
“He left me his phone number and told me to call anytime, and then he said goodbye.
“My daughter and wife looked at me and asked: ‘How will you save his contact if you didn’t even ask his name?”
Clearly, they don’t follow football much. Filippo erupted in laughter. “He’s Joe Barone, the Fiorentina director! Of course, I know who he is.” At this point, everyone at Filippo’s table was amazed.
“Something more happened that night,” Filippo continues.
“When I asked for the bill, the waiter returned and said: ‘Somebody else paid for your dinner, Sir. It was the person at table 10.'”
“Barone was sitting at table 10 and even the waiter was surprised. ‘How come? Didn’t you know each other?’,” he asked.
“When I left the restaurant, I messaged him saying that I really appreciated what he had done for me and that I would have been in touch to meet him again soon, either at Viola Park or the Stadio Franchi,” says Filippo.
“Joe replied with some emojis. I would have called him over the next few days because I didn’t want to disturb him before important games in the Conference League and against Atalanta.”
Tragically, the game in Bergamo was never played because Barone was taken ill hours before kick-off. He was rushed to the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, one of the best clinics in the country but despite a heart surgery on Sunday night, Barone passed away only two days later.
“Life can be so cruel,” concludes Filippo.
“We had different backgrounds and had never met before, but he spoke to me like a good friend. We were immediately in sync and I’ve been so sad these days. Joe was a good person. Despite his role at the club, he was very open and sensible. We spoke about personal things, even though he had never met me and my family before. We will never forget that night and forever be grateful to him. It seems impossible that he’s no longer here.”