Dad’s Eulogy 
I would first like to read a few words from my husband, Giuliano. As is the case for many, circumstances have prevented him and my sons, Alex and Dan, from being here today. But like many, they are watching and listening from our home in Italy. 
Giuliano says: I first met John, many years ago, on my first ever trip to England. At that time, he was simply the father of a girl I really liked. My first impression of him was of a friendly, affable and extremely kind person. Along with Margaret he welcomed me with truly exquisite hospitality and warmth.
Later, the girl became my wife and John my father-in-law. Later still he became grandfather to my children. I truly believe he was the best grandfather any child could wish for and for this I will be forever grateful. 
In all these years, I had an amazing relationship with John. I had the honour to share so much with him; great conversations, happy holidays and wonderful family meals. I will always remember him as my willing ‘partner in crime’ in enjoying good food, wine and grappa. 
I don’t think I have ever met anyone with such exceptional intelligence and culture but who was so modest with it. He valued everyone who interacted with him and always listened with openness and genuine interest.
I lost my own father when I was just 17 and maybe, for this reason, I never saw John as just a traditional father-in-law but as much more, a great mentor, advisor and a dear friend. Goodbye and thank you John. I will miss you. 
My husband is right. My dad was an exceptionally and enormously talented man. He shone brightly in so many things that he did with no pretension, no affectation but with pure enjoyment and pleasure. 
He shone extra brightly as a grandfather, a role in life that he utterly adored. 
This was clear from the very beginning, precisely the 5thNovember 2001 with the birth of his beautiful granddaughter, Holly. 
I remember I flew over from Italy and went with my parents to meet her for the first time. Amidst the hustle and bustle that surrounds a new born, there was a moment of quiet, and I sat with my Dad in the living room and watched the expression of sheer delight and wonder on his face as he looked down at this tiny bundle cradled on his knee.
I saw that look again in 2008 and in 2010 when he met Alex and Daniel his two grandsons for the first time. On both occasions he scooped them up onto his shoulder and contentedly hummed them to sleep with low rumbling versions of The Grand Old Duke of York and Nelly the Elephant. 
With all three grandchildren, at different stages, over the years, Dad or Grandad was a happy and willing participant in so many of his grand children’s significant life experiences and adventures. In their long summer holidays he took them on countless outings to farm parks, play parks, museums and zoos. They went together to pick fruit, they went on scooter rides and bike rides. He was present from first birthday parties to an 18thbirthday meal, at christenings, festive celebrations school concerts and shows.
On one occasion he was even in a show! One that 4-year-old Holly organised at mum and dad’s house in Dizzasco, Italy. To my Dad’s playful astonishment and the ‘audience’s’ amusement, she announced that all the clowns couldn’t make it and that grandad was going to do the whole show on his own. And, of course, he willingly obliged, singing and dancing along utterly immersed in the role of hapless bemused and confused grandad. 
When he was with them, he loved to entertain his grandchildren in his own unconventional, inimitable style. He told them awful jokes, taught them silly songs and rhymes and he would doctor bedtime stories with hilarious and sometimes rude results that would make the children erupt with giggles. He would tell them funny anecdotes about my, my brothers and his own childhood capers and misadventures. 
Holly say of this: ‘ I loved Grandads stories the absolute most. He told them in such a unique, hilarious and charming way that I would ask for the same one to be told again and again. The fact that he held on to so many memories of the family just shows how much he loved us all I will keep telling those hilarious stories forever. (They are too funny not too!)
When they were little, Dad, ever the linguist, was constantly intrigued, amazed and delighted with his grandchildren’s developing communication skills. On many occasions, he loved to tell me the story of how a 2 year old Holly persuaded him to go the shops as she earnestly explained that ‘she really needed some jully-beans’. Countless times he would express how proud he was of Alex sounding ‘just like a little English boy’ even though he is growing up in Italy. And there was the time that Dad was so utterly delighted when and 18 month old Daniel re-christened him ‘Grandnut’!!
More recently with Alex and Dan, my Dad was able to indulge his love of invention and DIY and at the same time relive his boyhood by making the boys good old fashioned toys such as wooden pirate cutlasses and pistols and even a working mini cannon. All from bits and bobs found in his garage. Many a game of pirates, knights and scenes from Star Wars was noisily and chaotically then played out at Dizzasco, in Italy.
As for Holly, he was able to watch her grow into a beautiful and accomplished young woman. He was quietly but immensely proud of all her achievements in and out of school.
I loved watching him in his role as grandad, most probably because it was like watching a replay of my own immensely happy and fulfilling childhood with him. The same songs, the same games, the same adorable man, who once dressed up as Father Christmas and had my 4 year old brother and 2 year old self enraptured and fooled about his true identity, not only that day but for years afterwards. 
The words of children are often, the simplest and most affective forms of expression because they are honest and unfiltered
Alex wrote the other day:-
Grandad did so much for me and together we had lots of fun, like the times we played schools and pirates. He taught me so many things. The best are how to play cricket and how to be sarcastic!! He called me ‘my big boy’ or ‘my best big boy’ but he was the best grandad in the world. I will never stop talking about him and remembering him. 
And that is so true. He taught his children and grandchildren so much. He taught us the value of listening and discussion, of reading or just sitting and thinking. He taught us to appreciate books and education and to never stop learning about people and the world around us. He taught us to be open minded, non- judgemental and see all others as equals. He taught us compassion, empathy and kindness. He taught us to never take ourselves too seriously, to see the funny side in everything, to be silly and laugh. 
And all of us, his grown up children, his grandchildren and his wife, my mum, Margaret, will never stop talking about and remembering this witty, brilliant, charmingly eccentric, totally unique, loving, warm and infinitely caring grandfather, father and husband.
The other day Daniel said to me:-
‘It’s sad not being able to hug grandad and see him and talk to him. But he’s always alive in our hearts. Whoever loved Grandad has him in their heart.’