T
his issue is for you!
We dedicated this special edition of the Prada Group Journal to Francesco Longanesi Cattani. Thank you to all colleagues and friends who sent us their contribution and helped to say goodbye.
Prada Group Journal Team
“We have lost a unique person, a man from another age, a gentleman… I had the opportunity to speak to him several times, sometimes just a quick greeting on the way into work in the morning, and he always had a smile and a kind word to offer. Such sad news…”
Antonio Rullo
“I have countless memories, but I love this photo from 20 December 2019: Francesco Longanesi Cattani and Melampo travelling on a truly special private jet.“
Laura Gulli
“Francesco is a generous and kind soul, with a timeless spirit and smile. We will always remember his advice on how to write, how to speak, how to sit at the table, and much more. A man from a different age, who understands how traditions and good morals can improve any occasion. We’re using the present tense, not the past, because both today and tomorrow, we’ll try to keep his memory alive by valuing all the advice he gave us, always tactfully and with extraordinary human sensitivity.
Ciao Francesco.”
Andrea Iossa, Giusy Antignani, Chiara Tagliabue
“His stylish dress sense, courtesy and kindness and his smiling eyes will remain fixed in my memory, and I am deeply grateful that our paths crossed, albeit for too short a time.
Dearest Francesco, I’d like to steal one of your phrases: you are truly ‘number one’!”
Benedetta
“No one dies while they remain alive in the hearts of those left behind.”
Marilena
“Dear all,
I have fond memories of the 2019 Christmas party, the last one held ‘in person’ before Covid, where the women’s clothing department won the jackpot, and Francesco showed his charisma, warmth, kindness and sense of humour, both on stage and in life in general.
Ciao Francesco! There’s another bright star in the sky.”
Francesca Crivellari
“I had the pleasure of meeting him on various occasions, and I was always amazed by his incredible culture, his debating skills, his impeccable style and his unique savoir-faire. People of this calibre are rare, and I consider myself fortunate to have met him. He taught me a great deal.
Thank you Mr. Longanesi.”
Stefano Gariboldi
“I would like to contribute a few photos I took during the Renzo Piano Building Workshop from Genoa’s tour of the Prada Valdarno plant on 9 July 2019.”
Barbara Campolucci
“I would like to propose a toast to you, as we did together at Villa Sassolini the evening before Valivgna opened, combining laughter with worries about the important day coming up. Here’s to all the things you have taught me and all the times you annoyed me, but also all the little surprises you gave me. Ciao Francesco, and cheers!”
Marta
“I remember once, years ago, on the way back from a business trip to Tuscany, Francesco, who was driving, put on his driving shoes ‘because you can’t drive without them’, then insisted on stopping for a meal at Trattoria Arnaldo, the ‘Soup Doctor’, in Emilia. The rest of us were tired, and would happily have carried on to Milan, but it ended up being a very special evening; we all enjoyed the stories of his adventurous life, from Monte Carlo to Formula One, and the food was truly divine. His stories will be greatly missed: he was a very special person, always optimistic, cheerful and full of life. And I will also miss his four-legged friend Melampo’s visits to the office: Like Francesco, he is simply lovely.”
Francesca Pacciani
“It was a pleasure having the chance of meeting you. I will never forget your stories of your sailing trips around the world, the passion and the love for the sea is something that we had in common and I will always keep the memory of you in the middle of the Ocean on a sailing boat with your unique elegance.
Buon vento!”
Carlotta Nespoli
“Dear Francesco,
The greeting of ‘hello girls!’ you gave us every morning was precisely what we needed to tackle the day…You delighted us by speaking in Spanish, Portuguese, French and English…You always had impeccable style and savoir-faire, and unforgettable ties. And seeing you turn up on Friday in casual attire, with Melampo, was a constant for us… showing the week was coming to an end! You preferred your fountain pen to a computer keyboard (which meant us waiting hours for the ink to dry…). And you had so many stories of your adventures! A single word mentioned casually would become an opportunity to enrich us with your culture (although we’re still not sure of the difference between prima colazione and colazione when it comes to breakfast). All this, and much more, will remain forever in our memories, and we carry your words ‘you’re my guardian angels’ in our hearts.”
Your secretary’s office
Valeria, Veronica, Manuela
“Dear Francesco,
I’m sitting with a blank email in front of me, I start writing, then delete it, then write again… It feels very strange to be writing to you, given how much we used to love to chat. To be honest, everything feels strange. I was lucky enough to be your HR manager for five years, and just thinking back on all the moments we shared makes me smile. You immediately made me feel welcome: affectionately, courteously, stylishly and cheerfully. When I came to your office for the first time, I sat down opposite you, and at a certain point I saw you swaying slightly, with small, almost imperceptible, rhythmic bounces, up and down, up and down… Was it an optical illusion? Or perhaps I was seeing things? Maybe I was about to faint… But, no, it turned out that you loved sitting on a Pilates fitball! I just about stifled a laugh… actually no, we laughed long and hard about it! If I close my eyes, I can still picture your office distinctly. So welcoming and lived in, full of genuine history and stories to be told, which I always enjoyed listening to, almost taking me back to when I was a child; your anecdotes, your secrets, your wise quips, and the thoughts you always gave me to reflect on, which opened new windows onto the world. Whenever you spotted me from afar you would take off your hat and place it on your heart, with a hint of a bow, making me feel like a princess, when you had met real princesses, princes and royals. When I told you about my trekking in the French Riviera, you would light up and always tell me to call you and come and find you, perhaps in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, a village we both adored! I have to confess, dear Francesco, that I never had the courage to tell you that I always reached Roquebrune in a wretched state: in a Decathlon t-shirt and shorts, exhausted by a combination of heat, thirst and miles of walking in the sun…happy but certainly not presentable! I could go on like this indefinitely; every memory I have of you makes me smile, and I like thinking about you this way, laughing. I know you would definitely have approved.
Above all, I think anyone who leaves a smile as a memory is a GREAT person.
Your Michela.”
Michela Silvestrini
“In memory of Mr. Longanesi.
You’ve always been the first person we saw when we arrived in Milan at the old Fogazzaro office! Your lovely smile and big welcome hug have always make us feels like back home! We have so many wonderful memories with you over the years. You will always be in our thoughts and always be misses.
May you rest in peace.”
Lisa Ting
“Mr. Longanesi (we always maintained a formal tone with each other when we talked, despite being very close) had an extremely sharp sense of humour and could always be relied upon to come up with wise quips and jokes, which had us splitting our sides with laughter, him in particular! Over 15 years ago, when the Communication department was still at Fogazzaro 36 and he could come up to our office in person much more frequently, one day he discovered that there were some photographs of models stuck on a cupboard door… without missing a beat, he said he would like to be on the ‘cool cupboard’ too! From then on, those were his photos on our cupboard. He will always hold an esteemed place in our hearts.”
Miuccia Prada’s Secretary’s Office
“The kindness, hospitality, friendliness and attentiveness of Mr. Longanesi is unforgettable and irreplaceable. I will miss and always remember the precious time we spent together in Tuscany during 2017 summer for the factory visit with Asia press.
Ciao Mr. Longanesi.”
Agnes Wong
“Francesco was always very kind and polite with everyone: he would always say greet me and exchange a few words whenever we met. This kind of amiability is an increasingly rare trait, perhaps because people are too focused on their work and commitments and forget about being kind and stopping to say hello. Thank you, Francesco, for reminding us that something as simple as a smile, a quick chat and a kind greeting costs nothing and is always appreciated by the recipient.”
Giulia and Elena
“Dear Francesco,
It was a great pleasure to meet you and work with you a few years ago, even though it wasn’t for very long. You were kind and courteous and taught me a lot, and were always smiling and generous with your time. Your passing is a great loss, and leaves an immense void.”
Simona Acierno
“Dear Francesco,
Thank you for the enthusiastic way you involved us in the Prada Journal project.
From our very first meeting, you never hesitated to make us feel part of the work group.
We will remember you for your kindness and friendliness and for your sharp dressing…But above all for teaching us to ‘never overdo the capital letters’.”
HQ Store Training
“I was lucky enough to meet Francesco at the first America’s Cup.”
Antonella Bambini
“The first time I met Francesco was in 1999 at the launch of Luna Rossa in Punta Ala. He greeted me with an enormous smile, and his welcoming manner immediately made me feel part of that event and that project. Our professional and personal paths crossed multiple times during my years with Events. And every time they did, just like the first time, he always made me feel like I was ‘at the heart’ of the project we were working on, giving me the attention I needed to sort out the rota, always with a joke and a smile (and often a practical solution too). Thinking back on all the times we met, one word seems to link them together: generosity. The generosity with which he always gave his time to other people or to the task at hand. This is how I remember Francesco.
Thank you.”
Angelica
“Ciao Mr. Longanesi! Our great inspiring Prada gentleman, you’ll be dearly missed. Our thoughts are with you and your beloved family! Best regards.”
Elaine
“Mr. Francesco Longanesi Cattani was a kind man: when he met you in the corridor, he knew how to engage you in conversation. His words were grounded, yet full of wisdom and culture. He always had a smile on his face, and touchingly he would seem to remember you even many years later. He lit up the world with the way he dressed. I will remember him as a gentleman from a previous age who always looked to the future.”
Monica Guandalini
“Hi Francesco,
You always insisted that I used your first name when we talked, and for once I’ll comply. Thank you for your stories, the things you taught me, and the time we spent together, which was always so interesting.
My very best wishes.”
Zambe
“Although I didn’t know him directly, I was very sad to hear the news. He was a true gentleman from another era, with his handkerchief in his pocket, always greeting people with a smile and always ready to hold the door open for others.
Rest in peace.”
Luigina Trianni
“My heartfelt condolences to everyone affected by his passing.”
Barbara Trabucchi
“I had the pleasure of meeting Francesco on all my visits to the Valvigna warehouse, where Francesco acted as my guide and demonstrated all his incredible qualities and his sensitivity in his professional presentation of all aspects of the business. It will remain with me as a wonderful memory of a truly special person.”
Stefano Tani
“It already is really strange not to see is genuine smile whenever he waved hello across the parking lot. We’ll never know if it was for real but he always seemed happy. And I will always remember his fondness for one of my favorite Sardinian superfoods: la bottarga (that he asked me to provide him a couple of years ago).”
Francesca
“I remember Francesco for his big smile, his humanity and his kindness, which today we would perhaps consider reminiscent of a bygone age. He was an example for everyone, and he undoubtedly also showed us how good manners and sharp dressing can make a difference. Ciao Francesco, and thanks for everything: I will always look up to you.
Regards.”
Denni
“Over the years, you believed in my writing skills, teaching me with every word and article I wrote. I hope I can make you proud from now on. Thanks also for giving me the truly unique chance to enjoy the most fantastic ‘Andalusian’ experience of my life.
Ciao Francesco!”
Rebecca
“Dear Francesco,
It was a real pleasure to meet you. Your kindness and the elegant way your dressed will remain fixed in my memory.”
Agnese
“I was waiting for you to visit me in Venice…! I remember your smile and your elegant look.
Thank you, Francesco.”
Katia Fraccaro
“Dear Francesco,
I recall with fondness and nostalgia your anecdotes about Nicola Pietrangeli – your close friend who, alongside Adriano Panatta, was Italy’s greatest ever tennis player. As a tennis fan, I remember the simple and humorous way you recounted these stories, allowing me, for just a few moments, to enter the world of elite sport you were involved with on a regular basis. This is how I would like to remember you: as a passionate, kind and enthusiastic sportsman.
Ciao Francesco.“
Lamberto Berti
“I carry memories of you with me every day.“
Mauro
“A simple farewell to Francesco: rest in peace. I didn’t know you personally, but I would like to join all my colleagues in saying a final goodbye.
My heartfelt condolences to your family.”
Elisabetta Marson
“The evening before Guido Canali’s presentation in Valvigna (2018), a barbecue was held at Villa Burali in Arezzo with colleagues from the industrial engineering department. A wonderful, carefree evening, with steak and good red wine…
My best wishes.”
Tommaso
“I had the pleasure of Mr. Longanesi’s company when he hosted the APAC team and media for an incredibly factory visit to Tuscany in 2017. We stayed at Villa La Massa! An incredible trip! We were treated to the best of everything in Florence. What I will always remember about Mr. Longanesi – is how charming, how warm, and how generous Mr. Longanesi was with his knowledge, and his, time. And not to mention his wonderful sense of humour!
Rest In Power.”
Shay
“Dear Francesco,
We have shared part of our working life together in the past years. Together we encountered any type of weather as always happens, from the calm to the stiff breeze. We like to remember you with your usual look, cleverly attentive to what was close but at the same time lost towards the horizon imagining new routes.“
Omnicom Public Relations Group Team
“We are delighted to share a photo of Francesco at the induction held at L’Oréal last October. After his presentation, he and Luigi Preziotti asked to join in the workshop organised for the staff.“
Elisabetta Buongiorno
“Francesco Longanesi Cattani was a constant source of inspiration for Fondazione Prada right from the start. Perhaps due to his curious nature, Francesco was very interested in the potential of culture to reflect contemporary life. He always tried to use his contacts to spread the word about our activities, which even led to dialogue with other institutions. Perhaps the project he was most passionate about was the potential partnership with the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki (the largest art institution in New Zealand), which we worked on together with great enthusiasm, but which was unfortunately thwarted by the pandemic. As well as the memory of a man with whom it was always a pleasure to discuss anything, work-related or not, he leaves behind the idea of an approach to life that combines professionalism with relaxation and fun. For us, who take a committed, serious view of culture, this is a vital lesson in achieving our main objective: convincing people that culture (and therefore study and personal enrichment) can bring pleasure.”
Fondazione Prada