The smile that never ends.
Il sorriso che non finisce mai.
1934 – 2017
This small site is a collection of pictures that I began when we met Marisa in 1992. I took pictures year after year. I hope that they reflect the wonderful person that she was.
My family met Nando and Marisa on our first trip to Italy in August 1992. Twenty five years ago. We had come to Italy at the invitation of Don Francesco Tiezzi, a cousin. Francesco, Nando, and Marisa showed us Arezzo, Florence, Rome, the sea coast and almost every church in Tuscany. (:-)
Then I started returning. Year after year. Although not "blood relatives;" they are parenti acquisiti – acquired relatives. In fact, Nando and Marisa are as dear to me as my own relatives. More so. They helped to give my life a new direction. Without them I would never have written six books about travels in Italy.
In November 2017, Marisa lost her fight with cancer. I miss her every day whether in the USA or Italy. She will always occupy a large space in my heart. She will be by my side with every step I take, just as she was in Italy.
We will never forget her beautiful smile. It was contagious.
Scott Grabinger
Questo piccolo website è una collezione di immagini che iniziano quando l'abbiamo conosciuta nel 1992. Ho fatto foto anno dopo anno. Spero che riflettano la persona meravigliosa che lei era.
La mia famiglia ha incontrato Nando e Marisa durante il nostro primo viaggio in Italia nell'agosto 1992. Venticinque anni fa. Siamo venuti in Italia su invito di mio cugino Don Francesco Tiezzi. Francesco, Nando e Marisa ci hanno mostrato Arezzo, Firenze, Roma, la costa del mare e quasi tutte le chiese in Toscana. (:-)
Poi ho iniziato a tornare. Anno dopo anno. Sebbene loro non siano "parenti di sangue"; siano parenti acquisiti. Anzi, Nando e Marisa mi sono cari come i miei parenti. Più così. Hanno contribuito a dare alla mia vita una nuova direzione. Senza di loro non avrei mai scritto sei libri sui viaggi in Italia.
Nel novembre 2017, Marisa ha perso la sua lotta con il cancro. Mi mancherà ogni giorno e lei occuperà sempre un grande spazio nel mio cuore. Lei sarà al mio fianco ad ogni passo che faccio.
Non dimenticheremo mai il suo bel sorriso. Era contagiosa.
Scott Grabinger
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2004. Marisa loved our kids and took good care of Lindsay when Lindsay went to school for a year in Florence.
@2000. Walking into the Gli Elfi restaurant with Raffaella, Luca, and Scott.
@2010. Marisa with Beth Joyce at Capannaccia, a favorite restaurant of Nando and Marisa's.
@2004. Marisa loved chocolate and her chocolate mousse was phenomenal.
@2004. Marisa and Nando with Scott's brother Brent and his wife Marsha.
@2004. Marisa at the now defunct seafood restaurant, Gli Elfi, near Cortona. Marisa never passed up a chance for good seafood.
@2004. Marisa treasured her nieces and they treasured her. Here she is with Raffaella.
@2004. Marisa sits upon Luca's motorcycle after having dinner at Luca and her niece Raffaella's home.
@2004. Scott was a second cousin to Don Francesco Tiezzi. In 2004, Scott and Jill's entire family came for a reunion in Arezzo.
@2010. Marisa enjoyed visiting with friends of Bill Hughes from the USA. Left: Patti Jeffords, Bill Hughes' sister. Center: Beth Joyce, niece of Bill Hughes. Later that same visit Marisa went to Venice with Patti and Bill.
@2007. Relaxing after dinner.
@2007. A toast with Jill Grabinger. She always took care of Scott like he was her own son.
@2008. Nando and Marisa serving wine for dinner guests.
@2009. Making polenta was an annual fall tradition.
@2009. Marisa and her niece Tiziana Billi.
@2009. Marisa hosts Bridgette Ayala-Tiezzi from Los Angeles.
@2009. Marisa makes homemade pasta for la cena after a long day of grape picking. She was indefatigable.
@2010. Marisa models earrings made by Native Americans. They were brought to her by Patti Jeffords, sister of good friend Bill Hughes.
@2010. Marisa and Nando present a wonderful dish of homemade pasta with meat sauce to visiting guests.
@2010. Marisa's good friend Gina joined Marisa and Nando every fall to make polenta.
