July 2011, pilgrimage to Loreto
I was only seven years old, and I already knew Stefano. To tell him apart from my dad, I called him Stefanone. It was a warm evening in Loreto's piazza, crowded with friends, and I was exhausted. Then I heard a burst of applause. Because he was so tall, everyone could see him: it was Stefano.
Moments later, some people brought out a boat—small but beautiful, painted white with a blue stripe down the middle. At first I didn't understand what it meant. Then I realized: he would carry it with him, as a symbol, for the rest of his life.
September 2011, Campo Marzocca, pirate theme camp
That was one of the best camps I've ever been to, and I think it was one of the best Stefanone ever led. He talked about it all the time. His great nickname fit him perfectly: "CAPTAIN" (or "Captain Iron Leg").
—Domenico Pescosolido, 2015
Dear Stefanone,
Big as you were, you were always a great friend to me. I remember us at Campo Marzocca with my family: the great pirate captain and his small, cheerful crew. I love remembering too when we shared that grand mission to reach the moon with "Lunar John" at the Frontignano camp.
Even though you're gone, I'll always remember you as my first and most wonderful guide—and as a friend I could always count on.
—Filippo Pescosolido, 2015
