‘Tough few days’: Pellegrini’s reopens after Sisto Malaspina’s death, state funeral planned
The iconic Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar has reopened four days after the tragic death of co-owner Sisto Malaspina with a touching tribute to him, plus a heartwarming speech for staff as hundreds of Melburnians pay their respects. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has this morning paid his respects at the cafe.
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The iconic Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar has reopened four days after the tragic death of co-owner Sisto Malaspina with hundreds of Melburnians turning up to pay their respects.
Customers, friends and family, as well as hundreds of floral tributes, lined the footpath outside Pellegrini’s before it opened to the public just before 8am.
PUSH TO KICK EXTREMIST REFUGEES OUT
CITY HONOURS LIFE OF MELBOURNE ICON SISTO
‘I CANNOT FATHOM A MELBOURNE WITHOUT SISTO’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state Opposition Leader Matthew Guy arrived at the cafe about 10.30am to pay their respects.
He laid flowers and signed the book of condolences, thanking Mr Malaspina for his “wonderful gift to our nation and the people of Melbourne”.
“We will live each day thankful for the freedom and love of life you always demonstrated with your smile, laughter and service,” he wrote.
Mr Morrison then had a coffee inside Pellegrini’s before speaking to media.
“The response from Melburnians was truly inspirational,” he said.
“There are so many Sistos here in Melbourne. The Sistos of Melbourne built this city. They created the businesses, they raised their families. They’re honest people. They’re caring and compassionate. This is a great city today because of people like Sisto.”
Earlier staff gathered inside the store for an emotional meeting with co-owner and long-time friend Nino Pangrazio at 7.30am.
Sisto’s family has asked the public to donate directly to the Salvation Army instead of leaving flowers at Pellegrini’s.
Flowers already laid at the cafe can be collected by nursing homes and individual carers from 7 to 9 tonight
“It’s been a pretty tough few days and I guess we’ll still have a tough few days to come, but with each other’s support I’m sure we’ll get through it,” Mr Pangrazio assured staff.
“We will be back to business as usual tomorrow, Wednesday, but not today.
“Today is about remembering inside the familiar walls.”
He closed his speech to the heartbroken staff with a pledge to go on in the face of grief.
“Sisto and I have spent a lifetime building something special in Pellegrini’s,” Mr Pangrazio said.
“Sisto will always be with us and I intend to ensure Pellegrini’s will always be with us.”
Customers enter Pellegrini’s as it opens for the first time since co-owner and Melbourne icon Sisto Malaspina died four days ago. A big moment for Melbourne and everyone who knew and loved Mr Malaspina. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/fDyxTWdbYf
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) November 12, 2018
Mr Pangrazio set up Sisto’s favourite spot at the end of the bar for his old friend, with a copy of the Herald Sun, his morning coffee and a candle.
It was an emotional morning for Mr Pangrazio.
“I am feeling an enormous loss not only because we had Pellegrini’s for 45 years but we were friends for 10 years before that,” he said
“He would make anyone who walked through the front door feel special.”
The staff at the iconic venue were offered counselling by Mr Pangrazio, who wanted the business to be a longstanding legacy to his friend.
“There have been a couple (of staff) who have burst into tears at the drop of a hat, but they are coping,” he said.
Pellegrini’s will serve free long blacks to the returning public today in honour of Mr Malaspina and his favourite drink.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said Sisto was renowned for his friendly service and hospitality.
“He loved our city and made people from all over the world feel welcome having a coffee in Melbourne,” she said.
“Melburnians are generous and want to celebrate his life, so we encourage people to donate directly to the Salvation Army to help support people doing it tough.”
The Salvos provide services for the homeless at 69 Bourke Street, across the road from Pellegrini’s.
It includes a Night Time Safe Space for around 160 people to rest each night, a women’s program, an employment program, a youth program, street outreach programs and emergency relief.
Donations in tribute to Sisto can be made online or by calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58), rather than in person at Pelligrini’s.
Cr Capp said Mr Malaspina was awarded a Lord Mayor’s commendation in 2014 for operating a small business for more than 40 years.
“One of our most celebrated Melbourne migrant success stories,” she said.
Red Cross and the Victorian Council of Churches will remain onsite at Bourke Street until needed.
Mr Malaspina’s nephew Rob Cecchini, 55, arrived early this morning to be the first through the door for the reopening today.
The relative was embraced by Mr Pangrazio as he crossed into the store.
He had fond memories of working behind the counter at the espresso bar and clowning around with his uncle as a youngster.
“I got up on the crate and made a couple of coffees,” Mr Cecchini said.
“I have memories of him (Sisto) picking me up, throwing me in the air and catching me when I was about four.”
The outpouring of messages and love of the community was helping the family, who are still in deep shock.
“The support has been fantastic, Mr Malaspina’s nephew said.
“It made us feel better.”
Melbourne man Clinton Mulleger showed up this morning to pay his respects to a man who had shown him great kindness when he was in need.
“I was pretty hungry one day out here and he (Sisto) gave me bacon and eggs for free,” he said.
“I had spent all night in the city.
“I’ll remember him.”
Salvation Army Major Brendan Nottle attended the reopening and wanted to celebrate the spirit of the city displayed in the wake of the tragedy.
“What we’ve seen if the very worst of Melbourne very briefly on Friday and then the best of Melbourne with people putting their lives on the line for others,” he said.
“The whole incident made absolutely no sense whatsoever.
“When we heard on Saturday morning it was Sisto that died, it made even less sense.”
The 74-year-old man was on his regular afternoon walk down Bourke Street, just down the road from his business, when he was attacked in the deadly attack.
Meanwhile, The Alfred hospital confirmed Tasmanian businessman Rodney Patterson, who was stabbed in the head as he tried to help stop the attack, was released from hospital this morning.
Mr Patterson had been walking with his wife Maree when he got caught up in the violence.
SISTO’S FAMILY REMEMBERS MAN ‘LARGER THAN LIFE’
Melbourne cafe legend Sisto Malaspina will get a state funeral, as his beloved Pellegrini’s reopened this morning for the first time since Friday’s tragic events.
The Malaspina family said it had gratefully accepted Premier Daniel Andrews’ offer of the funeral, to be held early next week.
Flowers, cards and other tributes continued to be left at the Bourke St cafe on Monday, with the family revealing the enormous amount of flowers would be donated to nursing homes and hospitals “to brighten up others’ lives”.
One behalf of the Victorian government, Mr Andrews offered his sincere condolences to Sisto’s family and friends.
“A founding father of Melbourne’s coffee culture, Mr Malaspina was as much a local icon as Pellegrini’s, the espresso bar he co-owned since 1974,” he said.
“Known for his welcoming smile and customary cravat, the 74-year-old holds a place in the hearts of all who knew him.”
Mr Andrews said the funeral service would be an opportunity “to remember Sisto’s life on Bourke St, not his death”.
In a statement, the family thanked the public for its support, and police and emergency services officers for their bravery and hard work.
The family said Sisto was a larger-than-life character, and Pellegrini’s staff were determined to continue his legacy with the same passion.
**** Read the Malaspina family’s full statement below
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the state funeral would give Melburnians the chance to honour Sisto as well as the “entire situation”.
“It gives a broad group of people the opportunity to mourn, and to go through together and support each other,” she said. “He was somebody that was really embedded through the connections to so many people because he was so warm and welcoming.”
Cr Capp said that in consultation with the family, the City of Melbourne would consider renaming Crossley St, the laneway next to Pellegrini’s, as Sisto Lane.
“There have been lots of other ideas like naming different things around the city, or future things (after Sisto),” she said.
“We are … investigating all of those avenues.”
Long-time cafe regulars Marcus Rose and his wife, Eva, want the street name changed, but also have called on the state government and council to erect a statue and plaque for Sisto.
“Sisto was a glorious human being, he should be immortalised as a national hero … and be posthumously awarded the Bravery Medal, ” they said.
“To have been in his presence was uplifting and inspiring. He represented everything good and decent about multicultural Australia.”
Mr Rose, an investment banker, said he would consider personally paying for a statue and plaque if the authorities would not.
“I feel very aggrieved that he’s been so tragically taken,” he said.
A condolences book for Sisto will be available for signing at Melbourne Town Hall from tomorrow, while flags will be flown at half-mast until the funeral.
A sign in the Pellegrini’s window on Monday said all flowers, cards and gifts had been passed on to the family.
“Thank you for your support,” it said.
A council spokesman said when appropriate, it would reach out to the Malaspina family regarding the best way to honour to him.
Any bid to rename Crossley St would take months because the process would involve advertising to abutting owners, occupiers and in the local paper.
Names must comply with state Guidelines for Geographic Names, and be referred to the regulator, VicNames, as well as the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority, Australia Post and other relevant authorities.
Applications for plaques may take several months, while larger memorials may take several years.
The lane was originally called Romeo Lane, but was renamed in 1876 to recognise the original residence and slaughter yard of butcher William Crossley.
Opposite Pellegrini’s, the former Crossley building, built in the late 1840s, is still standing.
It was home to distinguished landscaper painter Eugene von Guerard in the 1850s, while part of it is today occupied by a bookshop.
MALASPINA FAMILY’S FULL STATEMENT
“We would like to thank Dad’s friends, customers, and all the wonderful people who have come forward to pay their respects and show their love and support. We are deeply moved by all the flowers, gifts and condolences.
To the people of Melbourne, your heartfelt tributes have shown us why our Dad loved this great city so much.
To the emergency services personnel — our gratitude and appreciation for all your hard work and efforts. Especially the first responders and police that put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. Your bravery and heroism is a representation of the strength and solidarity of our community.
Dad was a larger-than-life character and his natural generosity made every individual he met feel welcome and important. Each customer of Dad’s was given the same respect and service regardless of their standing in society. To him, everyone was special.
His love and passion for his customers remained the same for over 40 years. To him, it was a joy to go to work every day.
In honour of Dad’s memory, the wonderful staff at Pellegrini’s are determined to continue his legacy with the same passion.
He was a distinctly recognisable figure in his colourful choice of clothing and his flamboyant personality.
To us, he was just a beautiful man, a loving husband and a doting father.”
SISTO LEAVES HOLE IN MELBOURNE’S HEART
Sisto Malaspina was the kind of guy who might have leaned across the bar to help a customer come to terms with a tragedy like this.
With a tea-towel draped over his shoulder, he could have offered a short black and the comforting advice that could help anybody struggling to make heads or tails of it.
It was service customers had come to expect.
Hollywood A-listers and football stars were among regulars to pull up a pew at the Bourke St cafe.
He had framed pictures of the likes of Sigrid Thornton and Russell Crowe on the shelves inside Pellegrini’s as if to prove the appeal.
But there was no need, especially today.
Hundreds of strangers stood outside the restaurant in search of the man who helped define Melbourne’s cafe culture.
He was not there, of course.
Sisto, the immigrant Italian who carved out a life of contribution, died at the hand of another who was caught in a spiral of ugly ideology.
Their paths crossed last Friday and Sisto’s life ended on a bloody footpath, less than 100m from the cafe he loved.
A man with an accordion summoned a tune today in a bid to make sense of it. He sang Bella Ciao, a song of wartime resistance that seemed fitting in this city where residents now think twice.
Those who knew Sisto best tried to sum it up in words posted next to the shop he had nurtured from the 1970s.
EVERYBODY KNEW SISTO, AND HE KNEW EVERYBODY
The author of a note promising to pass on all messages and flowers to the family may not have expected this level of response.
By 5pm the bouquets stretched around the corner onto Crossley St. The stories and anecdotes stretched much further.
There was talk of Sisto’s incessant banter about Essendon. And his insistence, to anybody asking, that a great pasta sauce starts with good tomatoes.
For Allyson Fonseca, who celebrated her birthday at Pellegrini’s with Sisto just last month and captured his joy for life on film, he was a man with a “heart of gold” who always saw the best in people.
“Always ready with a smile, lots of love and a generous serve of lasagne, Sisto went out of his way to make people feel special,” Ms Fonseca said.
“It breaks my heart to know he was killed by the person he was trying to save.
“I believe we can keep the spirit of Sisto alive by emulating his pure love for life. His secret ingredient: “Grande amore.” And perhaps a cheeky wink on the side.”
Memorial books on a table offered yet more tales.
Some confessed to having never known him but wished they had. Others simply said sorry to the man whose hospitality had ushered thousands to the Paris end of the city.
“There’s a hole in Melbourne’s heart now that you’re gone,” said one.
Kitchen worker Lucia told the Herald Sun she had worked with Sisto for 18 years.
“He was my big brother, he wasn’t my boss,” she said.
“I would tell him everything. Those years were the best years of my life. We joked.
“He was a marvellous man.”
WHOPPING DONATIONS MOUNT FOR HERO TROLLEY MAN
President of the Vespa Club Melbourne Julie Pond said around 40 members cancelled their usual monthly meet in order to do a commemorative ride to Pellegrini’s.
“Sisto has touched everyone’s heart,” she said. “Every time they parked their Vespas here, Sisto came out.”
Major Brendan Nottle from the Salvation Army revealed he was a regular customer.
“Everyone was welcome, it didn’t matter who you were,” he said. “Sisto made you feel really special.”
Mr Malaspina’s family is considering the offer of a state funeral.
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