Count Paolo Emilio Cavazza by Alberto Borghi Guardian of the statutory values of the Istituto
and active member of the civic life of
Bologna. |
The organization responsible for the instruction and
education of people living with vision loss located on via Castiglione in
Bologna since 1881 owes its existence and its name to Count Francesco
Cavazza. When he founded the institution dedicated to the instruction and
education of blind and visually impaired students, he asked that among the
members of the Board of Directors there always be a male descendant of the
closest possible rank" (for information, the other members are
representatives of: the Department of Public Instruction; the Department
of Interior; the province of Bologna, named by the Prefect; the Italian
Blind Union; finally, two representatives of the members, designated by
the assembly of members themselves). The above statutory provision was not
the expression of a desire to control the direction of the charitable
organization; it was rather a will to guarantee the active care and
interest of the Cavazza family in regards to the institution. |
He never imposed the "weight" of his own name, also
because the charitable organization had grown in the meantime and taken on
a very important role in the Bolognese and national context, succeeding in
being innovative and responding to the needs of people living with vision
loss who wanted to live as independently as possible building on their own
abilities and knowledge. He accompanied the organization in its most
important growth, protecting it from undue institutional interference
without ever taking prejudicial positions, adopting a perspective that
includes dialog, with the only purpose of ensuring the best possible
outcome for the Institute founded by his grandfather. Many still remember
today his calm but firm reply to students who, in the "heated" years of
the 60s, were making demands. Or, still, his calm in regards to claims of
local agencies towards the Istituto Cavazza which were not refused right
away but assessed objectively. |
the G.E.S.E., the Gruppo
Emiliano Sports Equestri supporting his own passion for horses. He
provided an important support to Mauro Checcoli, a Bolognese horse rider,
the youngest winner of a gold medal (individually and with a team) at the
1964 Tokyo Olympics. Transferred in Rome, the Count continued to be
actively involved in the life of the Istituto, participating in the
meetings of the Board of Directors. Bologna is a witness to his commitment
on many levels. He was, in fact, a member of the council of the Chamber of
Commerce and Counsellor of the Fiera di Bologna contributing this way to
the completion of the Palazzo degli affari. Not only that: we also
remember him for his participation in the Consulting Committee of the
Cassa di Risparmio of Bologna and his role as Vice President of the
farmers' union at the provincial level. In 2007, he passed the baton to his son Gualtiero, after almost fifty years of having shared and supported with passion the needs and values of the organization founded by his grandfather Francesco, certain to let it in good hands. Certainty shared by anyone who has at heart the destiny of the Institute for the blind Francesco Cavazza. |