Tears and Cheers for Dan Iannuzzi

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty joins hundreds of mourners bidding visionary farewell

Over 1,000 people, including Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, attended Saturday the funeral, held at Toronto's Holy Angels church, of Dan Iannuzzi, founder of Corriere Canadese and CFMT-TV (now called OMNI).
The funeral mass was officiated by Father Benito Framarin, former editor of Corriere and a personal friend of Dan; Father Gianni Carparelli and Father Claudio Piccinini co-officiated.
During the mass, Father Framarin recalled Iannuzzi's work in favour of the weak and of the immigrants in general, and his defense of his cultural identity through the media he had founded and run.
Father Benito especially highlighted the religious sentiment of the deceased. "Dear Dan, you left us too early, but the humanity and passion that marked your life," he said, "will be with us forever."
Father Framarin said, "Dan had a clear vision for Canada and its society, and he fought mightily to advance it."
The coffin reached the church, in Toronto's West End, at 10am sharp, followed by a long line of cars and escorted by an imposing police force.
The pallbearers were some of the many friends that Iannuzzi had made in Canadian and Italian-Canadian politics and business communities. They included Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino, RCMP Chief Superintendent Ben Soave, Corriere Canadese Sports Editor Nicola Sparano, Political Editor Angelo Persichilli, Ontario Ministers of Finance Greg Sorbara and Economic Development Joe Cordiano, former Federal Minister Maurizio Bevilacqua and Federal Minister of Human Resources Joe Volpe.
Volpe was particularly close to Dan Iannuzzi, as the Corriere offices are located in Volpe's riding.
The Federal Government was also represented with the Ministers for Veteran Affairs Albina Guarnieri, for Immigration Judy Sgro, and for Social Services Tony Ianno.
The Government of Italy was rep-resented by Consul General Luca Brofferio and Consul Marco Giomini; the City of Vaughan by Mayor Michael Di Biase and several councillors.
Premier McGuinty was accompanied by MPPs Mike Colle, Mario G. Racco and Mario Sergio. Other MPs came from Ottawa, including former Minister Maria Minna, who read the First Reading during the mass. The Second Reading, in Italian, was read by Giuliana Beato, the voice of Ciao Radio Corriere.
Also from Ottawa came Hon. Bev Oda, former colleague and collaborator of Iannuzzi and member of the CRTC, and Senator Jerry Grafstein, very close to Iannuzzi ever since the latter's first entry into broadcasting in the early '70s.
A truly massive participation from the general public, the people Dan Iannuzzi always defended and loved, was the framework.
A great many community organizations were present, not only Italian-Canadian, but also Portuguese, Hispanic, and Muslim. In particular, at the beginning of the ceremony Muhammad Qaadri, a Muslim friend of Iannuzzi, said a few words and read an Islamic prayer.
The religious rite was followed by an emotional crowd, mostly common folk and readers of Corriere Canadese.
The emotion was enhanced by the powerful notes sang by Coro San Marco. They opened with Schubert's Ave Maria, then sang Signore delle Cime at the Offertory, Mozart's Ave Verum and Frank's Panis Angelicus. The mass closed with Bach's Jesus Joy of Men's Desiring.
Talking to journalists, after the ceremony, Premier McGuinty recalled Iannuzzi's role with words that echoed those of Prime Minister Paul Martin, calling him "a giant in Canadian broadcasting."
Iannuzzi's activity in this field was also recalled after the mass by Senator Jerry Grafstein, who was very close to the deceased ever since the early '70s, when City-TV, and then CFMT-TV, were founded. "His dream and the results of his vision," said Grafstein, "will always be remembered by millions of Canadians."
The mass closed on the blessing imparted by Father Framarin, and then the coffin, escorted only by immediate family members and saluted by a loud, affectionate applause, began its final trip to the Prospect Cemetery on St. Clair Avenue West.
Honour guards of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Toronto Police Service, and Associazione Guardia di Finanza dell'Ontario saluted the hearse.

Publication Date: 2004-12-05
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4700