Philanthropist and collector Marino Golinelli dies at 101

Marino Golinelli, the Italian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and art collector who founded pharmaceutical company Alfa (now Alfasigma) and the Opificio Golinelli cultural hub in Bologna, died on February 19, 2022, at age 101. Born on October 11, 1920, in San Felice sul Panaro, Modena, he established Alfasigma after World War II. In 1988 he created the Fondazione Golinelli to promote scientific culture among youth. The Opificio Golinelli opened in 2015, expanding in 2017 with the Centro Arti e Scienze Golinelli (700 sqm, designed by Mario Cucinella Architects) and in 2019 with a 5,000 sqm volume by diverserighestudio, totaling 14,000 sqm. The G-Factor incubator-accelerator was conceived as a 'connective greenhouse' for adaptive workspaces. During the pandemic, the foundation offered free digital education for schools. Culture Minister Dario Franceschini called him 'an enlightened entrepreneur, great patron, philanthropist, and art lover.' Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore recalled meeting Golinelli in Shanghai in 2010 and his promise to dedicate himself to Golinelli's vision for the city. Regional Culture Assessor Mauro Felicori noted Golinelli's support for creative enterprises and his visits to the Reggia di Caserta and San Leonardo.