TONY MAZZOLA
I met Filippo close to 50 years ago when I opened my first liquor store in Brooklyn NY. A couple of years later, my son Anthony Jr. lost his hearing at age 4. After searching for speech therapists, we found one both my wife and I were very happy with. The only problem was, her office was over 2 hours away (each way) on Long Island. We were traveling there 3 times a week. One day I mentioned this to Filippo and he said his office at Mediterranean was in Great Neck, only one hour from Chappaqua where we lived. He gave us the use of one of the offices 3 times a week for over a year. My family will never forget what a caring gentle person he was. He never looked for anything in return.
I'm sure he is in Heaven exactly where he belongs. He will never be forgotten.
JERRY MARTELLARO
Pippo has touched all our hearts and souls in different ways. My memories are so vivid and succinct, one of my best reconciliations is that our business was and should still be about the people who work in it. Although it is a great industry, we are missing a key ingredient today ... the personal touch ... and respect for one another. As a youngster (oh so long ago!) I was lucky to have Pippo who took time to teach and talk to me. With that broad smile, he taught and taught ... it was the foundation of building the Italian wine industry into the force it is today. As we all age and think to the future, we should adopt The Pippo Policies: take the time to teach and care for one another. He did that with me and it would be an honor to know that I had a direct impact on another.
With respect and gratitude.
LAURA FLINT
"The sun comes up, I think about you,
The coffee cup, I think about you,
I want you so, it’s like I’m losing my mind."
- Stephen Sondheim
Thank God Sister Louise Bertrand of Holy Trinity High School in Georgetown (at that time, only for girls) was acquainted with Father Hartke, the head of the theatre department at Catholic University. From this liaison sprang a didactic collaboration that brought budding high school girls into contact with graduate students of drama. To say that this exposure enriched my life is a wanton understatement.
It was that year, 1968, that “Mr. D,” a big, loud, jolly new teacher walked into our classroom. It didn’t take long for us to establish a special connection because there was so much commonality: Pippo was Italian, I am an Irish-American, raised in Verona, Italy. We both spoke Italian. My parents were married in the Vatican in 1952 and honeymooned in Italy (we postulate my conception occurred there.) Pippo was born in Rome and baptized at the Vatican. Before you could roll another “R,” Pippo was knee-deep in directing me as Madame Arcati in Noel Coward’s High Spirits. He brought a few characters with him from CU: John Franz (musical direction), Kevin Mahoney (piano), Jane Summerhays (choreography). The show was a hit. The nuns made a fortune in ticket sales.
That summer, a select few “Termites” were dragged to Villaggio Italia to do the lounge show. (You can barely see me at the end of the row of blue-clad performers in the Villaggio brochure...Judy, Georgiana and Michelle were featured too.) We also did double duty at the Café Eleganté. It was a great summer. Pippo spent many a night teaching me all the Latin dances, not to mention the waltz and the foxtrot. He was quite light on his feet, unbeknownst to many. We girls learned theatrical presentation and service, two skills that have never stopped serving me in adulthood and professional life. We all returned to Washington for our senior year to put on yet another show at Trinity – Cole Porter’s Anything Goes. I played Reno Sweeney in costumes borrowed from Catholic University’s production that year. It was during the run of that show that Connie and Aldo DiBelardino attended. I will never forget Mrs. D’s animal-print fur and matching hat! Che dramatica! I have been a fanatic for beastly prints ever since.
After our respective divorces, we reunited, continuing to love the same things: music, theatre, opera, multiple cuisines and, of course, vino bello! Pippo was the quintessential social director to many (as John Sheehan would say, “we all had our turn”) but he and I tended to simply unwind together. We cruised, primarily, the Mediterranean. We would rent movies and call in room service, tour on-shore a bit, dine and catch a show. I would get shoulder pain from elbow-jamming him awake so as not to miss “a great scene.” During those trips, it was brutally apparent how he intertwined his theatrical background with an international Italian wine mantra. His lectures were brilliant because they were inclusive. As applause thundered, everyone practiced pronouncing “Principessa Perlante!”
He was smart. He was kind. He was loving. He was principled...and as a result, he was a magnet to most people. He and I often talked about the positive response to the emission of high energy in the human populationI remember warning him I was going to use my “high energy” to implant my size 11’s up his sphincter if he didn’t take better care of himself...the teacher-student roles were reversing! Pippo was fascinating and frustrating at the same time. As our relationship matured further, I would frequently admonish myself for sounding more like Louis Gosset Jr. in An Officer and a Gentleman than a budding high school girl. Pippo would shrug his shoulders, bow his head, kiss my hand and say “You’re right, darling.” My responses typically ended with “You are such an Italian brat!” and laughter...laughter...laughter. Then we would dance until he ran out of breath. Our last dance at the Rainbow Room sadly survived through only half of “Dancing in the Dark.” He fell asleep at the table as we were served wine...and I knew he was failing.
How is it possible to sum up the gift Pippo was to so many? (Che Amadeus, caro!) There is sooooo much emotion involved: happiness, anger, empathy, anticipation, hunger, comfort, a sense of mischief, world wonder...I go on record holding close to my core nothing more now than true grateful joy.
Ciao, Pippo, mio! Ci vediamo!
Wawa
FRANK DORRITIE
Hello to all.
I stumbled upon the "Forever" site quite by accident, searching for some Xavier photos. One of Phil displayed and I clicked on it, recalling that he had left us last Fall. What an extraordinary tribute John Sheehan wrote! It was positively riveting.
Flippo and I had only peripheral contact at Xavier. He was in the Band, I in the Bugle Corps, and there was a bit of a rivalry between the two. Nonetheless, we would occasionally exchange good-natured jibes across the lunch table and in the classes we shared. It's more than ironic that it was not until our 35 year reunion that I actually got to know this extraordinary man.
After the de riguer inedible chicken and (mostly) vacuous commentary and ritual, I was playing the piano in the lobby of the venue, waiting for the party to get serious about moving to some watering hole for meaningful conversation. The tune was "Not While I'm Around" from "Sweeney Todd", something I had just arranged for one of my clients.
"Ah, Sondheim", crooned a voice over my shoulder. Guess who. Within five minutes we had caught each other up on three and a half decades of music, Broadway, Grammy Awards and yes, vino.
"You've been in California for how long, 20 years? You must have developed a palate by now", he quipped. "Hey", I replied, "my father was the bartender at Luchow's. I know from spirits and such."
We had been living in parallel universes. Somehow, this just seems apropos. Our friendship blossomed and it was so good to see him last Spring for the Xavier 50th, where he held court with his usual style and grace.
I miss this man, but realize I must get in line for that. Still, he enriched my experience and for that, like so many others, I am most grateful.
ANTHONY GIGLIO
Click here to see an interview with Philip, on February 11, 2011
Lee Innocenti
I met Filippo at a wine tasting which was not so unusual, I'm sure. I was visiting the Staglin Family Vineyard in Napa with a colleague and Filippo was also there with his colleagues. There were just five of us at a private tasting, a rather intimate group, in the family’s home in the middle of the vineyard. Of course, the fact that Filippo was so knowledgeable about wine (while I was not, to say the least) coupled with his exuberance, made him interesting to me. Garen, the vineyard owner, walked us to his wine libraries outside across the field and on the way, I walked along with Filippo to find out more about who this charming man was. It was on this memorable walk that Filippo, not knowing I was an opera buff, began singing La Traviata in my ear. I was enchanted by both his voice and his audacity to sing in my ear one of my favorites. I started to sing/hum along and we both giggled and smiled at the discovery in that moment of a kindred spirit. Our colleagues turned to see what we were giggling about and our response “La Traviata” made no sense to them so we giggled even more. Subsequently we decided to stay in touch since we were both from the New York area and we went on to become theater partners and dear friends through the years. Our two favorite times were going to Alvin Ailey ballet each holiday season with a group of friends and a summer picnic to my home in 'the country,” 30 miles north of New York City.
Ron Lucas
I thought you’d like these photos of Phillip when he came to visit my late mother, Mary Lucas, at her home in the Bronx in October '08. She knew Phillip from Xavier, as did my sister, Carol Lucas, who was also there. He made them smile.
James W. Mariani, Banfi Co-Ceo
Filippo befriended the great and small of our community. He connected legendary winemakers with industry novices and everybody between, in the truest dedication to a greater wine world and its most noble aspirations for education and inclusion. While a student at Cornell University in 1989, I vividly remember a 90-minute lecture he gave that energized me to embrace wine beyond what we all thought possible. He made a tectonic contribution of wine knowledge, wit and friendship to thousands.
It's as if the wine world slipped off its axis today and we are overwhelmed by messages of shared grief and love for Filippo. A huge voice has been silenced, a big heart has stopped beating, but his fire lives on in each of us.
HARVEY FINKEL
Philip di Belardino, for many years a very large and beloved figure in the wine scene, died November 13 in New York City. Born in Rome and, as he liked to say, brought here in infancy without his consent, he was nurtured amid Italian wine and culture. His late father, Aldo, was one of the first American importers of quality Italian wines. His brother, Mario, and his family operate the respected wine importer, Bedford International.
Philip worked for the last fifteen years as vice president of Fine Wines at Banfi Vintners, where he enjoyed a mutually esteemed relationship with the proprietary Mariani family. His enormous contributions to recognition, education, quality, and sales – especially of Italian wines and culture – have been much honored, including by his induction into the Wines of Italy Hall of Fame.
One might think that’s enough, but not when we’re remembering Philip di Belardino. He was too faceted, too big a personage, not only physically, to ever be encapsulated. These are some of the facets that shined for me. Even the names by which his legions of loving friends called him were multiple. I can quickly call to mind “Philip”, “Filippo”, “Filipone”, “Pippo”, sometimes “Fyvush”. I know of no one with as many true friends. He was a gentle, kind, liberal, and loving man, and was loved in return.
Philip had been a tummler, and was always lightening-fast in thought and quip. He appreciated wine, food, art, theater – especially musical theater – opera, and people. He was my go-to guy when I sought a restaurant in an unfamiliar town. He could recite the scripts and sing the songs of I-don’t-know-how-many shows. Now and then, I might come upon Philip informally holding forth, not knowing I was in the room; I would sneak up behind him, and, thus effectively hidden, would loudly whisper a favorite line from a favorite film, Mel Brooks’s The Producers: “We are not alone.” Philip would either break up, or more likely, without missing a beat declaim flawlessly the next lines.
Well, those of us who knew him feel that we are now alone. A chasm, an abyss, a canyon has been left that will not be filled. Yet reliving moments with Philip will always evoke smiles, laughter. Wherever he is now, the other denizens are most fortunate.
ANTHONY TEMPESTA
As my #1 cousin I shared the love of theatre that Filippo introduced to me when I was a teenager.
My first show that he brought me to was Hello Dolly with Ethel Merman.
After that we had an ongoing joke we called Mermanics, the study of Ethel Merman, I even gave him a plaque award for it, John Sheehan will remember.
Everyone knows Filippo's never ending hospitality offering 40KW to whom ever needed a place to stay.
On one occasion we were spending the weekend and had seen a show that Saturday night. In the morning during breakfast Filippo kept asking what our plans were for the day. Something told me he had things to do later on so we quickly dressed and said we were planning to go to the museum offering if he wanted to come with us, he said he was tired.
As we left the apartment heading toward the elevator, someone else with a suitcase was heading toward his apartment, I should have known the next guests were arriving! We both laughed but knew this was just normal.
A life full of love and sharing for family, friends, and of course all and everything.
WINE
Society of Wine Educators
Filippo di Belardino dedicated himself to the wine industry for 41 years and had a positive impact on everyone he met. Di Belardino's personality and tremendous work ethic will continue to inspire all who knew him. Filippo di Belardino will be forever missed.
ALFONSO CEVOLA
Pippo touched a lot of lives and the world is a lot safer for it.
Bruce Sanderson
Filippo was always generous and gracious, regardless of who you were or your position. Many fond memories of his holiday parties at Manducatis. He will be missed.
RON BASGALL
Filippo was a dear friend yor many years. I was privileged to have been invited on a 14 day trip from Rome to Venice to the Amafi Coast escorted by him, when he was with Palace Brands. We visited his favorite wineries -Monsanto, Ceretto, Carpazzo, Felluga Mastroberardino and many others. What fun it was being with the Master of Italian Wines! He will be greatly missed by his many, many friends.
ROSE SANGIOVANNI
My partner, John Foy and I loved being around Filippo because the only thing bigger than his heart was his smile.
C Silva
Filippo was always a gentleman who had kind words for others and treated everyone with his trademark warmth, dignity and respect. He will certainly be missed.
PACIFIC RIM WINEMAKERS
Filippo had just an incredible way to connect with people making everyone comfortable. He taught me that seemingly unimportant way to act can change your life and the life of everyone around you. I often ask myself what Filippo would have done when I interact with what I see as difficult people - a hug, a laugh, a conversation about their family... about a glass of wine first?
DAVID PEARSON
Filipo was one of the warmest and kindest gentlemen you could ever meet - that I ever met. He loved wine and food, but mostly he just loved people. His hugs were the best! I will miss him. It is a great loss for the wine industry that can always benefit from his kind of passion and engagement. Rest in peace, my friend.
LINDA WISH
He still holds the rank of being the "best ever" in the long list of wine educators that I have worked with. His classes brought out the best in his students, and inspired us to love him and the wines he spoke of.
PAUL SIMPSON
Great guy and he did touch hearts every where he went. When he was done with a seminar or tasting everyone left better off than when they walked in.
IRA NOROF
I was privileged to know Filippo not only as a colleague in the trade but as a personal friend. His passion for the 'wine lifestyle' was unique and his influence on all whom he came in contact with is one of a kind. He will be missed but never forgotten.
TIM McDONALD
[An] amazing man and terrific friend of our industry. He touched thousands and was so very generous with his time and knowledge. #1 mensch for so many wine professionals and a better "work with" did not exist. Cheers to my friend, mentor, and lover of everything Italian.
ELSEbée ORTOLANI
MY FRIEND PIPPO
Pippo, two weeks ago exactly I would have been seated in a Broadway theatre together with you, savouring one of those many memorable outings. However, this time it was not going to be, and instead I am going to try and remember moments out of our long and happy friendship. Oh My Gosh, I can hear you saying!
You came to pick us up one Summer day in the late 1970's at the hotel Tritone in Praiano on the Amalfi coast, where we were vacationing and brought us to the Mastroberardino winery not too far away:
Filippo di Belardino, born in Rome, who had come to NYC as a toddler and called himself a proud New Yorker.
From the beginning Pippo, vines and wines connected us and would form a bond to last for close to 40 years. You, Italian-born and deeply rooted in Italy’s soil and culture, I, Dutch-born, married to an Italian also with deep roots to his native country. You and Vinicio bonded from the very first moment you met, both of you exuberant and with big hearts and a passion for good wine, food and things cultural.
Some ten years later, you and I started to work together in the wine world and we saw each other at regular intervals, both in the United States and in Italy at Verona’s Vinitaly Wine Fair. You were not always too happy having to travel with me to different cities in the States. You liked to arrive at the last moment at an airport literally running for your life to catch the flight, I preferred to arrive with a lot of spare time. Who can forget that moment in our hotel in Boston, you running down the majestic staircase, your shirt flapping around you and a tie hanging around your neck, your hair dishevelled, calling out towards the receptionist’s desk: “where is this crazy Dutch woman, who does not give me the time to dress properly?!” It was so hilarious to see you Pippo, you, larger- than-life running down those beautiful stairs trying to button up your shirt. .
This was one of too many near-misses of catching our flight and you and I agreed to travel separately to our destinations from then on. You were the Business Class executive anyway, having accumulated masses of points and a very high ranking in the flight hierarchy, so we were always divided in the plane anyhow . Why did you have this not so glorious idea of cramming a bunch of owners of top wineries you represented into stretch limousines? Not just around the town, but for many hours driving in the dark from Miami to Sarasota …??!!!!! I can still feel the cramps in my legs even after all these years, but that was not too bad compared to the state of an elderly gentleman, who literally had to be pushed from one side and pulled from the other to be extricated. He mumbled something under his breath, it sounded like “in prigione si sta meglio” - in prison you have more space - before, doubled-up, he stumbled towards the front entrance of the resort.
Everything was quickly forgotten, when we came to our rooms in a very exclusive resort with an overabundance of pelicans - they had gone to bed though, we arrived very late at night, but discovered them at breakfast, what a beautiful sight! It was here Pippo that I discovered your talents as a public speaker. Oliviero, who at the time was studying in Miami, had joined me and looked after my (Lungarotti) table, while I went to listen to you. Your passion for all things Italian came through in such a way, it brought out goose flesh on my arms. Your audience was enthralled, and although you represented a specific group of producers, you embraced the whole Italian wine scene in one of those famous bear hugs of yours. For almost two hours I stood rooted to the soil.
Your apartment on the 40th floor of a building in the high Upper Eastside with its fabulous view down 3rd Avenue, became a “home from home” gathering place for “your” producers and their families. Both Teresa (Lungarotti) and I share happy memories of our times there, your passion for classical music and especially opera, was the obvious background music to our quieter moments, when we would just relax with, of course, a good glass of wine.
You were a night owl and could entertain till deep in the night, this also after our official engagements were over and you would retreat to a local bar. I did not have this stamina and did not often join you.
Pippo, I had got myself acquainted to your “official” side as Italian wine ambassador, but after I retired from the wine world, I came to know you more and more as a person of great knowledge of and passion for opera and theatre, after all you earned a Masters degree in this field. You were so sociable and an enormous source of all things related to the theatre, opera, as well as to food and wine, that often I was introduced by you to very well-known chefs or Broadway producers. Filippo or Philip di Belardino was a household name, if I may say so - how many people had not heard you speaking on cruises?
It was after Vinicio’s death that you, in your own, unobtrusive and gentle way started to take an interest in my family: Oliviero could easily fill up a book with anecdotes. In moments when he could use some spare cash, you would get him to clean out your apartment (lots and lots of magazines) or do these things in your office. And what about that weekend to clean out your house in the Catskill mountains together with your cousin Riccardo - no food, nearby restaurants closed, no heat, etc.etc. When Oliviero ended up in an unfurnished apartment, out of your storage came tables, chairs, lamps etc. In-between apartments, you hosted him for many months in your place. At one time you agreed to look after his fish, “O MY Gosh”, they died on you from too much food. He accepted his loss, had it happened to me Pippo, I would never have been forgiven.
You refused, however, to get out of your car in front of the place Oliviero and Riccardo shared in New Jersey, you were convinced you would find your car without tires if you left it.
You took us all in, mostly Oliviero, because he was living in your city. But also Maurizio, Jacinthe and Luca shared in your hospitality and generosity staying in your fabulous apartment. Luca has vivid memories of a delicious meal in one of your favourite restaurants near Lincoln Center that was crowned with … Nutella pizza!!!! How special is that to a kid??
Baby Dario was born during hurricane Sandy and had to stay an extra week in hospital. Who came to Paula’s rescue? You and Aileen. I am so grateful to both of you for that gesture in those difficult days. And Pippo, I am also very grateful that you and Aileen finally were able to have lunch with toddler Dario and his parents.
Apart from opera at the Met, how many Broadway productions was I invited to by you? Too many to remember, but all wonderful and entertaining. I do remember the last one I saw with you last year November. I stayed alone in Park Slope looking after George, Oliviero and Paula’s cat (they were spending Thanksgiving at her parents’ in Utah) and you invited me to see “Domesticated”. A bitter-sweet comedy with fabulous actors - you always took me to the best productions.
Afterwards, also like always, we had a bite to eat with a theatre friend of yours in a little place next to the theatre, I remember we all had kale salad with a fabulous red wine of which I do not remember the name, only that it was a perfect match for that kale salad. Of course, it would be if you dined with Pippo.
You insisted I take a taxi home to Brooklyn and I said it would be quicker for me to walk back to Columbus Circle and take the subway back to Park Slope, which was true, in less than half an hour I was back in the apartment and immediately got a call from you wanting to know if I had arrived home. You had worried for nothing about my safety. But it showed me, again, your care and affection for us.
The last time I saw you was at dinner with Aileen, Paula and Oliviero last March at Marco’s in Park Slope. I got the usual bear hug and you were so happy to be with us. It hurt me though Pippo, notwithstanding all the usual cheer and laughs, to see how you had changed in so little time. You had a lot of trouble walking and your eye-sight was poor, but although you ate very small portions, you seemed to enjoy your meal.
And now your suffering is over and we are left with a huge void. Grazie Pippo for all your love and friendship over these many years. Broadway will not be the same for me anymore, but we will have to go on. Pippo, exuberant Italian with a huge heart, we will never forget you.
Un forte abbraccio
Ottawa, November 16, 2014
Robert DOlan
In DS production of “The Andersonville Trial” Phil played one of the Associate Justices of the Court (I played Chief Justice Wallace). Paul Lavrakas played the other Associate. Several times during the show the 3 justices would confer silently: Paul always had something to whisper that was totally in character and relevant to the literary proceedings. Phil, on the other hand, would whisper things that were either delightfully or obscenely funny! It got to the point where I would try to respond in a similar fashion….and dismally fail.
However: on dress rehearsal night we rose to exit the stage after a stern admonishment to the sparring attorneys. Phil led the procession to the stage left exit and turned the door knob…..only to have it fall off in his hand and role off the front of the stage! With the door latched from behind (and a missing stagehand on that side) he then proceeded to knock….on the painted canvas portion of the door.
My wife-to-be, Linda Hamilton was sitting in the back of the theatre, taking notes for Dr. Marcoux. She tensed, waiting for the explosion; but when she looked at him
He was shaking with silent laughter and tears were rolling down his cheeks.
No matter WHAT he was doing. Phil could always make us laugh!
PS: Linda and I spent our 2 day Honeymoon at the Villageo, as Phil’s guests. Then he drove down to NY to see me in the show (Oliver) that was the reason for our short stay.
Michael Riahi
Greetings,
My deepest condolences to the entire di Belardino family, I can’t believe Filippo is no longer with us.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Filippo since 1999, when he hired me to work with him at Banfi’s Vinum division. I have so many fond memories of him, I have learned so much from my mentor, father and I am honored to call him my friend.
There are so many great memories working with him and then continuing my friendship with Filippo over the last 15 years, I have selected pictures from our times together and would like to share them with all his friends.
God Bless Filippo.
