Red Wine and Feet Resting on the Ottoman
The very first memory I have of Walter dates to the winter of 1980-1981. He was running into the cafeteria at Columbia University. Three students were following him, ordered by height: Nevio, my husband, was the last and tallest.
The last memory I have of him is more blurred. We were in his living room, Walter resting in his beautiful Eames armchair, two glasses of red wine on the coffee table.
It was surely in summer 2015 because that was the last time I visited him, with my older son Rodolfo.
A large part of my life had passed in-between.
In those years Walter supported the important choices of my life, again and again even when he was an ocean apart; because Walter, besides being a friend, was a teacher and a teacher is the one that gives us the instruments to choose.
Walter visited us in Bologna few times and I had the opportunity to enjoy the “Pitman Hotel” in N.Y. more than once and that was always a delightful escape. That rite of talking late in the night, sipping red wine with feet resting on the ottoman had repeated so many times… I would not have thought that a glass of red wine could be such a good instruction book for life.
Nevertheless, I had many conversations with Walter and, looking back, I realize his unusual ability to listen. He always listened carefully and enjoyed the conversation; he listened with the same curiosity as when he was discovering something new.
Of course he had beautiful stories to tell me as he had such a beautiful life, with so many adventures. But not only his stories were outstanding: he would make outstanding anything he would tell! He had the ability to bring brightness to every conversation.
This is something I will treasure for all my life: Walter making everything brighter. Even now that light he was able to radiate lightens my way through life and a glass of red wine is still a good reminder.
Here is to you Walter!
(Rita Maria Riccioni)