Memorial
Franco Ceccato

Franco Ceccato (Verona, 1923-1996), seaman and mountaineer, in 1961 launched, as President of the “Circolo Dipendenti Cassa di Risparmio di Verona, Vicenza e Belluno” (the Bank Staff Recreation Club), the first, all-Italian "Meeting Interbancario" in the Alpine resort of Nevegal, near Belluno.

Already a proficient downhill skier, at the end of the 1960s he converted to  cross country skiing and made his debut as a cross-country skier at the “Marcialonga" in 1974, beginning a period which saw him take part in all the major competitions, from Finland, Sweden and Austria.
From 1972, whit the close collaboration of Claudio Martini, he managed the Secretary of the Standing Committee, and was then elected President in 1981.

At the end of his banking career, in the early 1980s, he took part in a trekking expedition on the 5000m high Annapurna, inaugurating a decade of similar expeditions in the Alps, as well as racing bike tours throughout Europe and as far afield as Scotland, Ireland and Brittany.

Between 1969 and 1989, he applied his multiple talents to directing a small farm he acquired on the hills near Lake Garda, where he started producing oil, wine and vegetables. A wine lover and connoisseur, he even found the time to qualify as a wine taster at the Chamber of Commerce in Verona.

 An engaging and talented story-teller, he tried his hand at writing short stories and reciting "free" poems, and for many years he was at the helm of "Il Notiziario", the Cariverona Staff Recreation Club magazine, which in 1996 dedicated to him the front page of its end of year issue, in commemoration of his unexpected passing in August of that year.

The “Circolo Dipendenti Cassa di Risparmio di Verona, Vicenza e Belluno” (now Circolo Dipendenti UniCredit - Verona), in memory  of Franco Ceccato’s  35 years long passionate commitment to the Interbancario, is proud to dedicate to him the 3-year, non-consecutive homonymous Trophy, which will be awarded to the corporate representative team totalling the highest cumulative score in the giant slalom, cross-country individual and relay official competitions.

The Standing Committee participates in and welcome this gesture of remembrance.