Mario Zucchelli We would like to remember him like this:
Mario Zucchelli has passed away on the 24th of October. He was a strong personality, a real leader; he was an example for the whole Antarctic community and in particular, for his co-workers. His philosophy was to always go one step further, over and beyond everything; the target was there and it had to be attained at all costs. We were one family and like in all families there were diverging opinions, we had discussions, we got angry, but then we were all united in the face of difficulties, we became one single body to overcome difficult moments and tiredness; in seventeen years of activity there were plenty of those.
It is heart-warming to remember when on cold Antarctic evenings, after a long day of work in the field, he liked to remember his childhood moments, his love of the earth and his attachment to tradition and human values; feelings like those could also generate a family atmosphere of friendship, human warmth and affection at Terra Nova Bay. These are the memories that remain in those who had the luck and the privilege of knowing Mario and of working with him, quite apart from the high level where he took the Italian Antarctic Programme.
It is sad to realise that one fully understands the greatness of people when they are no longer among us, with his death we lost a point of reference and now we have a feeling of emptiness and of being lost. We would like to remember what he taught us and to act in such a way so that what he did in so many years of hard work, often sacrificing his personal life, will not be destroyed. Mario had the idea that nothing was impossible and everybody could agree and everything could be or could become different. In difficult moments he would make it all worthwhile, by giving you the feeling that nothing could happen beyond you and far from you.
This was Mario for us: a very special person.

Biographical information:
Mario Zucchelli born in Crevalcore (Bologna), July 13th, 1944.
President of the Consortium for the implementation of the Italian Research Programme in Antarctica-PNRA S.C.r.l.
On the 16th of October, 2003 he was decorated by the President of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, with a Gold Medal, the 2002 recognition by the Ministry of Education, University and Research, for Schools, Culture and Art.
Degree in Nuclear Engineering (equivalent to a Master Degree).
As a nuclear engineer he was employed by CNEN (now ENEA), the Italian Atomic Energy Commission, in the Fast Breeder Reactor Programme in Bologna. During this period he was in the co-ordination research group for the construction of the fast reactor PEC.
In 1975 he was appointed director of the Brasimone Research Centre; this was the most modern of the nuclear research centres in Italy and he was responsible for the organisation of the infrastructures and general services. This appointment was formalised in later years.
In 1987 he was appointed Head of the Antarctic Project of ENEA and he kept this position until April 2003, when, after the formation of the Consortium for the implementation of the National Programme of Antarctic Research, he was appointed its President. In this period he led 17 Antarctic expeditions, with a total of more than 3,000 participants. He has signed many international co-operation agreements:
-Italy-France, Concordia at Dome C;
-Italy-USA,UK, NZ, Germany and Australia for Cape Roberts drilling;
-Italy-Russia for high atmosphere investigations;
-a number of bilateral co-operation agreements.
His work also involved organising and co-ordinating technical and science activities and work with several ministries, and international co-operation in general.
He was COMNAP Chair from 1991 to 1994.
He took an interest in local politics and was elected to a number of local committees and commissions.
More information (in Italian)