In memory of Alberto

On Saturday, December 16 Alberto Franzoi lost his life swept away by an avalanche while engaged in a ski mountaineering excursion with his brother Marco, who fortunately escaped such a tragic fate.

Alberto Franzoi had been working at our microfabrication laboratories since 2008, initially as an employee and then as an INFN affiliate.

We all remember him for the value of his technical and scientific contributions, his unfailing helpfulness and infectious friendliness.

FBK loses an outstanding professional while we will all miss our colleague and friend.

There are no words.

Nor do the touching verses of that song and together prayer dedicated to the many victims of the mountains, often free and passionate spirits, help to soothe the pain, to give reason to disbelief; verses that we nevertheless want to share here because in this tragic moment we feel them our own: “God of heaven, Lord of the peaks, one of our friends, one of our brothers, you have asked the mountain, but we pray to you, up in heaven, let him go, for your mountains.”

We are close to Alberto’s family and loved ones to whom we express on behalf of the entire FBK our deepest condolences.

Ferruccio Resta and Andrea Simoni, FBK President and Secretary general

Alberto Franzoi had been working with the Foundation for more than a decade; despite his current affiliation with INFN, he was in fact part of the Facility where every day inside the cleanrooms he shared with many colleagues an intense and stimulating activity of developing microelectronic devices.

What he will leave us as a lesson is the generosity with which he shared his valuable work experience, with everyone indifferently, the brilliant ability to solve complex problems, and the disarming smiles that gave us so many moments of joy.

Lorenza Ferrario, MNF Head