Obituary of Antonio BACCARI

July 7, 1943 - Paolisi, Italy
May 25, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Antonio “Tony” Baccari of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2020 at the age of 76 years. Tony died peacefully surrounded by his children.

Tony was born in Paolisi, BN Italy on July 7, 1943. He came into the world in a secret room in the walls, where the footsteps of the fascist’s echoed throughout the house. The chaos surrounding him subconsciously resonated in him and was what gave him his thirst for life.

Tony would lose himself in the mountains as a child. He had a rare love for nature and all the beautiful creatures in it especially birds.

He completed university in Italy then he ventured to Switzerland to work at the American School. He then immigrated to Canada in 1967, where he attended the University of Calgary. He became the editor of the university publication “You Make My Sun shine”. Being new to Canada, he understood firsthand the difficulty of this transition so he became the president of the “International Club of Calgary”. This organization served as an aide for new immigrants.

Tony’s passion for politics and literature shined through when he published and edited the controversial Italian newspaper “Il Mormoratore”, one of the first in western Canada. Tony was also the announcer for the CFCN radio show the “Italian Hour”.

Tony was blessed with an array of gifts.

He was able to pick up a language fluently just by ear.

He could add a mass amount of number’s together just as a calculator would.

Most importantly he had the ability to put pen to paper in a way that would grasp everyone and anyone’s attention.

Tony is survived by his six children, Giacinta, Carmelina, Gina, Armando, Flora, Franco and thirteen grandchildren.

He instilled in his children what Italians are known for; living with pure passion, how to stand their ground, how to make real lasagna and finally how to pronounce espresso.

If you asked a hundred people who Tony Baccari was, they’d all give you a different story. He was always up for a good political debate, he was a fearless, worldly man who had tales, adventures, travels and much life experience. He kept to himself a lot however he revealed himself fully through his poetry. Poetry is for the strong and not the weak hearted. To actually learn the craft and to be able to feel the weight of each word, Tony had this brilliance. He appreciated all art and culture.

We will remember him in the kitchen cooking something mouth-watering and the sound of the Gypsy Kings playing in the background. He probably would be swearing. Yes, Italian is known as the romantic language, it’s perhaps even better when used in anger. Anger swearing in Italian is something to behold.

He had a fiery passion for exposing the truth. He fought for justice and he wrote his own rules, he fought authority and he paved his own way…..All of this is his legacy.

Ti vogliamo bene Papà