Poet Valentino Zeichen dies of heart attack in Rome at 78
Valentino Zeichen, a poet celebrated for his unique pen name and unconventional lifestyle, passed away from a heart attack in Rome on July 5, 2016, at the age of 78. He was born in Fiume in 1938 and initially lived as an exile in Trieste before relocating to Rome. His formative years were spent in a reform school in Florence, where he unearthed his passion for literature. Zeichen made his literary debut in 1969 with the magazine "Nuova Corrente," later publishing poetry collections like "Area di Rigore" (1974) and "Museo interiore" (1987). His complete works were compiled in the Oscar Mondadori series, with an introduction by Giulio Ferroni. He also authored novels, including "La Sumera" (2015). Recently, after recovering from a stroke, he received support from friends like Luigi Ontani and organized a fundraiser at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna. Zeichen was a distinctive figure, embodying a free spirit in both his poetry and his life.
Key facts
- Valentino Zeichen died of a heart attack in Rome on July 5, 2016.
- He was born in Fiume in 1938, later an exile in Trieste, then moved to Rome.
- He was raised in a reform school in Florence where he discovered literature.
- He attended Pietro Sharoff's Theater Academy.
- His debut was in 1969 on the magazine 'Nuova Corrente'.
- His poetry collections include 'Area di Rigore' (1974), 'Ricreazione' (1979), 'Pagine di gloria' (1983), and 'Museo interiore' (1987).
- His complete works were collected in the Oscar Mondadori series, introduced by Giulio Ferroni.
- He wrote novels 'Tana per tutti' (1983) and 'La Sumera' (2015), and radio dramas.
- He recovered from a stroke with support from friends who organized a fundraiser at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna.
- Friends included Luigi Ontani, Luigi Lo Cascio, Piera Degli Esposti, Filippo La Porta, Giorgio Patrizi.
Entities
Artists
- Valentino Zeichen
- Giulio Ferroni
- Luigi Ontani
- Luigi Lo Cascio
- Piera Degli Esposti
- Filippo La Porta
- Giorgio Patrizi
- Pietro Sharoff
Institutions
- Nuova Corrente
- Oscar Mondadori
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna
- Comune di Roma
- Pietro Sharoff's Theater Academy
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Fiume
- Trieste
- Florence