Andrea Innocenti In the heart of the hamlet of Sant'Anna, the voices have stopped: Renzo Marogna , born in 1950, has passed away under unexpected circumstances. For more than forty years, his name was linked to a small but historic grocery store, where generations of families shopped, children stopped to get sandwiches before school, and tourists heading to the Lessinia trails stocked up on picnic baskets.
The reference point of everyday life
The shop counter was more than just a place of commerce: it was a meeting place for all the residents. Renzo, with his forty-four loving children, had transformed that small business into a community center, where hospitality was the rule.
At the same time, for at least twenty years he was the manager and coach of the Sant'Anna first football team , a role he performed every Sunday on the sidelines, regardless of the weather. This sporting commitment was closely intertwined with his membership on the board of directors of the Sant'Anna Sports Union , where he remained a tireless volunteer until his final day.
A bond with family and community
Personal tragedy had already touched Renzo: in April 2025, he lost his son Stefano, then 44, owner of the "Le Delizie" pastry shop in Sant'Anna, to cardiac arrest during his sleep. Widowed with his young sons—Nicola, Marco, and Alberto—Renzo nevertheless continued to look to the future, supporting his family, his sports club, and his friends. His resilient spirit was evident in the words of Mayor Raffaello Campostrini , who described him as "an extraordinary person who, despite adversity, always got back on his feet with great strength."
The Tuesday that changed everything
On Tuesday afternoon , Renzo had attended a funeral in the neighboring hamlet of Ronconi, alongside many fellow villagers. After the service, as he was walking toward the church of Sant'Anna, he was spotted staggering slightly and leaning on the railing of a house. A passerby asked if he needed help, but Renzo said no. In an instant, he fell to the ground. Some of those present, including two nurses, immediately began CPR , while another ran to get a defibrillator. The rescue efforts continued until the Suem 118 helicopter arrived , but despite their concerted efforts, Renzo's heart failed to revive.
A void in the collective memory
The reactions of the population were immediate and full of emotion. Simone Lavarini , president of the Sant'Anna Sports Union, remembered Renzo as "a golden person, one of a kind, capable of finding the right words at the right time." He emphasized the ease with which Renzo connected, even with the eighteen-year-olds who had just joined the team, becoming a point of reference for them. Giovanni Lavarini , a friend and colleague, recalled the weekly lunches organized with the group of pensioners, when everyone would gather to prepare sauerkraut: "He was always a companion and comforting presence." The funeral was held at 3:30 pm in the church of Sant'Anna, bringing together dozens of faces filled with grief but also gratitude for the life he had lived.