A young, Great Italian has left us. It’s almost impossible for me to speak about Fabrizio Forquet in the past tense.
Fabrizio was one of the best journalists of his generation and a rare, nearly miraculous, combination of intellect and a joyful sense of life. In his journalistic work, Fabrizio was guided by a tenaciously positive vision of Italy. A modernizer, a reformer, a liberal, as they would say on the other side of the Atlantic. In fact, his curiosity led him precisely in that direction.
The culture of an open society shaped him and guided him on his professional path, both in journalism and teaching. Fabrizio was determined to promote and also direct the Master in Political Management, co-sponsored by Il Sole 24 Ore and the LUISS School of Government, an educational experiment to prepare current and aspiring Italian politicians. A successful program thanks to his leadership.
Fabrizio also agreed to collaborate on the LUISS School of Government Master in Open Goverment and Instutitional Communication, to not only his satisfaction but the students’ as well. He frequently said that preparing for lessons obliged him to reflect on his journalism work from the outside, as an opportunity to understand what he did.
Despite his busy schedule, Fabrizio always had time for his students. His curiosity was in continual movement. Fabrizio knew how to listen, and was always willing to have lunch with someone to better understand how American primaries, the European Council or British administration work.
In addition to his intellectual curiosity, Fabrizio radiated a contagious joy of living. Even in the most muddled of situations, he always managed to find a solution. He instinctually downplayed everything. For him, seriousness and playfulness were reconcilable concepts. In all my years of collaboration with Fabrizio, I never saw him show disrespect for anyone. In Fabrizio, there was a natural civility and a rare humanity that can embrace the world with a smile. I cannot imagine how much he will be missed by his family. However, I know how much he will be missed by our country that has a vital need for young Great Italians like Fabrizio in order to become more modern and more just.
Thanks you Fabrizio for all that you have given me and all that have met you.
Sergio Fabbrini