Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Dear Valente, Powlowski & Cippitelli families, I want to express my heartfelt sympathy for the tremendous loss of a precious man. Claudio will always be remembered by his infectious smile and his gift of giving and living fully. My greatest childhood memories are of meeting my New York cousins, Claudio, Agnes & Diana. Meeting them was the highlight of my youth, impressing on me still today a sense of pride and a spirit of family & belonging. Apart from he and my father being cousins, they were kindred spirits. Together, their smiles, laughter, and joy to share in each other's company could light up a city the size of New York. I fell instantly in love with my big cousin, Claudio and more and more at each encounter. Claudio happened to be there at my most life-changing milestones...my wedding day, my father's passing, and my 40th birthday. I only hope that he knew just how much I cherished those encounters. I only hope to have equal opportunities to impress on his children, Marisa and Luke just how wonderful their father was. My heart is broken today, tomorrow, and forever. My thoughts are with you now. With all my love, Diana & Maurizio, Oscar, Greta, Roman & Sylvester.
