Vittorio Guido Zucconi passed away quietly in his home in Washington, DC on 05/26/19. Vittorio spent the last months of his life surrounded by visiting friends and family, regailing them with stories of his adventures across the globe, assuring us all that he had no regrets.
Vittorio was born in Bastiglia, in the outskirts of Modena, Italy, in 1944. He was the oldest of four children, born to Anna Maria and Guglielmo Zucconi. Following the war, the family moved to Milan where he lived until he left home to embark on his career as a foreign correspondent.
His first and greatest adventure began at eighteen, when he met and fell in love with Alisa, the young woman who would become his wife of over 50 years. Together, they began a journey that saw them live and raise a family through Belgium, the United States, the former Soviet Union, Japan, France and, finally, back to the United States. Despite the challenges posed by these travels, Vittorio and Alisa were able to raise two children, Chiara and Guido, who both reside in the United States.
Vittorio was well-known in Italy and Washington, DC as a gifted writer, working as the US Bureau Chief and Foreign Correspondent for Italy’s major daily newspaper, La Repubblica. His career also included stints working for Italy's two other noted newspapers, La Stampa and Il Corriere Della Sera.
In addition to his global career in journalism, Vittorio took on the role as director of a fledgling radio station, Radio Capital, based in Rome, Italy. Broadcasting live from is home studio in Washington, DC his voice could be heard daily during the evening commute throughout Italy. Radio Capital is now a major national radio station on the Italian Peninsula.
Always an avid student of history, in addition to his successful career as a journalist he also wrote several books including among others Si Fa Presto A Dire America (1988), Parola di Giornalista (1990), Stranieri Come Noi (1993), La Scomessa (1993), a book he co-authored with his father, Gli Spiriti non Dimenticano (1996) and his latest, Il Lato Fresco del Cuscino (2018).
Vittorio is survived by his loving wife, Alisa Tibaldi, two children Chiara Zucconi Maher and Guido Zucconi and their supportive spouses, Sean Maher and Lauren Hart Zucconi, as well as 6 amazing grandchildren that gave him endless pride and joy. He is also survived by his sisters Paola and Sonia, his brother Guido and several beloved nieces and nephews, all of whom reside in Europe.
The family kindly asks that, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude's Research Hospital to help continue the fight against cancer. (www.giftfunds.stjude.org/Zucconi)
