Comments on: Rest In Peace, Gil Rossellini http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/ Rory O'Connor's blog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:46:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Marpessa http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71832 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:40:07 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71832 I had just moved from London to Rome when I met Gil. He was then involved in the project Tv for Reconciliation, a brilliant idea aiming to reconcile the Balkan people after the ex-Jugoslavia war by bringing the most important broadcasters of the region work together to promote peace. It was not without criticism and difficulties that he pushed forward the project, some even acused him of being an idealist. I was invited to join the group that mediated the several meetings at a wonderful location in Toscana, and we spent several days in many outdoor activities and different locations to promote the several discussions that would bring this group of interesting people to work together. There were many recent wounds but the discussions and the ideas and good will that flowed from it were more than evidence that it was possible, that it was not a utopia. He knew that these people could overcome their differences and animosities by looking at what they had in common instead of what tore them apart. Ultimately what stroke me the most out of this project was that he cared. He had no affiliation, no personal interest but he cared to do something. Gil's creativity leaned always towards in doing something for someone, in showing how much he appreciated people he met. He was a great person to talk with, offering always a lighter perspective, and listening with affection to different views. And he was always interested in differences, he always found or built a bridge to reach them, like if that was the only natural way to be. And he was a great music lover and guitar player. He always presented his friends or people that for some reason had inspired him in a given moment, with his musical talent. When we discovered we both loved blues he took the guitar and played Vaughan or King. Another time he would play bossa nova, samba de uma nota sò to present me with his adorable portuguese. Gil knew always how to take a bit of someone and transform it through his talents and then give it back. And it was always generous, beautiful and unique. Quoting Pascal this is how Gil remains in my memory and heart: The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men. I had just moved from London to Rome when I met Gil. He was then involved in the project Tv for Reconciliation, a brilliant idea aiming to reconcile the Balkan people after the ex-Jugoslavia war by bringing the most important broadcasters of the region work together to promote peace.
It was not without criticism and difficulties that he pushed forward the project, some even acused him of being an idealist.

I was invited to join the group that mediated the several meetings at a wonderful location in Toscana, and we spent several days in many outdoor activities and different locations to promote the several discussions that would bring this group of interesting people to work together. There were many recent wounds but the discussions and the ideas and good will that flowed from it were more than evidence that it was possible, that it was not a utopia.

He knew that these people could overcome their differences and animosities by looking at what they had in common instead of what tore them apart. Ultimately what stroke me the most out of this project was that he cared. He had no affiliation, no personal interest but he cared to do something.

Gil’s creativity leaned always towards in doing something for someone, in showing how much he appreciated people he met. He was a great person to talk with, offering always a lighter perspective, and listening with affection to different views. And he was always interested in differences, he always found or built a bridge to reach them, like if that was the only natural way to be.

And he was a great music lover and guitar player. He always presented his friends or people that for some reason had inspired him in a given moment, with his musical talent. When we discovered we both loved blues he took the guitar and played Vaughan or King. Another time he would play bossa nova, samba de uma nota sò to present me with his adorable portuguese. Gil knew always how to take a bit of someone and transform it through his talents and then give it back. And it was always generous, beautiful and unique.

Quoting Pascal this is how Gil remains in my memory and heart: The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men.

]]> by: Gianluca Varone http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71810 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:39:06 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71810 Dear Mr. O'Connor, I met by absolute accident Gil Rossellini ... last night! I never heard of him before, even if we share one homeland (Italy) and I'm just few years younger than him. At late night after a long drive I had just returned home after a saturday at work: while cooking some food I turned on TV and by chance, while random browsing channels, I got intringued by an unknown program ... I didn't know why at the beginning. But after watching with growing interest that touching movie (that happend to be Kill Gil Vol.1) I realized that Gil's work delivers such a strong, positive committment to live a valuable life in spite of painful troubles, and that matched with a polite sense of humor. His movie, and his life, for sure can help other people living troubled lives. I had to know more about that man! And today I have sadly found that only few days ago his long fight with his sickness has ended: I don't know if he believed in an afterlife but I believe that, whatever the spiritual reward for just is, he is peacefully enjoying it. Thank you for helping me with your writing to learn about Gil's personality and to appreciate what he did to make our world a little better. Dear Mr. O’Connor,
I met by absolute accident Gil Rossellini … last night!

I never heard of him before, even if we share one homeland (Italy) and I’m just few years younger than him.
At late night after a long drive I had just returned home after a saturday at work: while cooking some food I turned on TV and by chance, while random browsing channels, I got intringued by an unknown program … I didn’t know why at the beginning.
But after watching with growing interest that touching movie (that happend to be Kill Gil Vol.1) I realized that Gil’s work delivers such a strong, positive committment to live a valuable life in spite of painful troubles, and that matched with a polite sense of humor.
His movie, and his life, for sure can help other people living troubled lives.
I had to know more about that man!
And today I have sadly found that only few days ago his long fight with his sickness has ended: I don’t know if he believed in an afterlife but I believe that, whatever the spiritual reward for just is, he is peacefully enjoying it.

Thank you for helping me with your writing to learn about Gil’s personality and to appreciate what he did to make our world a little better.

]]> by: David Williams http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71804 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:54:40 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71804 To my old friend Gil and his family, I am so sorry to hear about Gils passing. We shared an apartment in Houston in the 70's, and I have a lot of fond memories of those times. We both shared the love for music, meeting people, and just having a great time. I just recently got back in touch with him after finding out that he was quite ill, and I just wish we could have meet one more time. My sincere condolences go out to the entire Rossellini family for their loss. Love Always, David Williams To my old friend Gil and his family,
I am so sorry to hear about Gils passing. We shared an apartment in Houston in the 70’s, and I have a lot of fond memories of those times. We both shared the love for music, meeting people, and just having a great time. I just recently got back in touch with him after finding out that he was quite ill, and I just wish we could have meet one more time. My sincere condolences go out to the entire Rossellini family for their loss.
Love Always,
David Williams

]]> by: Kat http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71778 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:01:06 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71778 I met Gil in Galveston almost 10 years ago. It was an absolute accident, I literally bumped into him as he was walking out of a seminar that he had just given. Anyway, we got really chatty and started talking, unfortunately we couldn’t continue our conversation because he had a lot of people with him, so we decided to meet the next day for lunch. And that was the beginning of our friendship. Several years later I told him I was getting married and it was going to be “something out of this world”, I remember his reaction when I told him I was going to marry a cosmonaut in space, he was thrilled! He instantly not missing one beat started making plans on coming to Houston and filming the event, he was really excited and he did a lot to calm my crazy nerves! I remember the night before the wedding he was filming me and filling me with so much inspiration, his questions were digging deep at my soul to really figure out what I want to do with my future and what purpose do I really want to serve. So few people in life will really care enough about another to do that, and he most certainly cared. We went to New York City after that where Gil guided us through all the media, since we were so new to it. He was a fantastic host and made our time there memorable. Then the next time I saw Gil, was for my husband Yuri’s welcome home party in Clear Lake. We celebrated at the Villa Capri where we had our wedding reception. We videotaped everybody that night! And so much guitar! Singing! I believe Gil brought down the house with that vintage guitar they had! What a wonderful evening, so many memories, and all the boys piling into our apartment that night sprawled everywhere after such a warm hearted evening. Gil was someone easygoing and very easy to talk to, he always understood both sides of any equation, simple, complex. He was a blast to hang around with and always enjoyed in any company, it didn’t matter who his father was, or anything of that nature. People didn’t even know his last name, it was him that they were interested in. He had a light that emitted from him, and that light was a pleasure to bathe in, to soak up, he always had the right thing to say to anyone and an attitude that can win the world over. Yuri and I are going to miss him tremendously, but what gives me peace is that he is in a much better place, with no more physical pain or any other. I’m sure he is looking down on us right now and smiling and we are honored to have played a role in his world. Always with you Gil, Kat I met Gil in Galveston almost 10 years ago. It was an absolute accident, I literally bumped into him as he was walking out of a seminar that he had just given. Anyway, we got really chatty and started talking, unfortunately we couldn’t continue our conversation because he had a lot of people with him, so we decided to meet the next day for lunch. And that was the beginning of our friendship.
Several years later I told him I was getting married and it was going to be “something out of this world”, I remember his reaction when I told him I was going to marry a cosmonaut in space, he was thrilled! He instantly not missing one beat started making plans on coming to Houston and filming the event, he was really excited and he did a lot to calm my crazy nerves! I remember the night before the wedding he was filming me and filling me with so much inspiration, his questions were digging deep at my soul to really figure out what I want to do with my future and what purpose do I really want to serve. So few people in life will really care enough about another to do that, and he most certainly cared. We went to New York City after that where Gil guided us through all the media, since we were so new to it. He was a fantastic host and made our time there memorable. Then the next time I saw Gil, was for my husband Yuri’s welcome home party in Clear Lake. We celebrated at the Villa Capri where we had our wedding reception. We videotaped everybody that night! And so much guitar! Singing! I believe Gil brought down the house with that vintage guitar they had! What a wonderful evening, so many memories, and all the boys piling into our apartment that night sprawled everywhere after such a warm hearted evening.
Gil was someone easygoing and very easy to talk to, he always understood both sides of any equation, simple, complex. He was a blast to hang around with and always enjoyed in any company, it didn’t matter who his father was, or anything of that nature. People didn’t even know his last name, it was him that they were interested in. He had a light that emitted from him, and that light was a pleasure to bathe in, to soak up, he always had the right thing to say to anyone and an attitude that can win the world over. Yuri and I are going to miss him tremendously, but what gives me peace is that he is in a much better place, with no more physical pain or any other. I’m sure he is looking down on us right now and smiling and we are honored to have played a role in his world.

Always with you Gil,
Kat

]]> by: hennry http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71776 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:27:36 +0000 http://www.roryoconnor.org/blog/2008/10/06/rest-in-peace-gil-rossellini/#comment-71776 Rossellini is the daughter of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman and the Italian director Roberto Rossellini. She has three siblings from her mother: her twin sister Isotta Ingrid Rossellini, who is an adjunct professor of Italian literature; a brother, Roberto Ingmar Rossellini, who works in finance; and a half-sister, Pia Lindstrom, who formerly worked on television and is from her mother's first marriage. --------------------------------- hennry http://www.drivenwide.com" rel="do follow" rel="no follow">opinion leader Rossellini is the daughter of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman and the Italian director Roberto Rossellini. She has three siblings from her mother: her twin sister Isotta Ingrid Rossellini, who is an adjunct professor of Italian literature; a brother, Roberto Ingmar Rossellini, who works in finance; and a half-sister, Pia Lindstrom, who formerly worked on television and is from her mother’s first marriage.
———————————
hennry

http://www.drivenwide.com” rel=”do follow” rel=”no follow”>opinion leader

]]>