Heartbroken Melburnians farewell cafe legend Sisto Malaspina in state funeral at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Melbourne icon Sisto Malaspina has been remembered for his “out there” fashion sense and knowing “how to party”, with brightly-dressed mourners at his state funeral remembering the warm and hard-working man who loved his customers and staff like family and always looked for the good in others.
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Melbourne icon Sisto Malaspina has been remembered for his “out there” fashion sense and knowing “how to party”, with brightly-dressed mourners at his state funeral remembering the warm and hard-working man who loved his customers and staff like family and always looked for the good in others.
Politicians, policemen and schoolgirls joined Mr Malaspina’s family and long-time business partner and close friend Nino Pangrazio, who was tearfully embraced on the church steps as he arrived, with moving eulogies from his son David Malaspina as well as longtime friends and businessmen Lindsay Fox and Harold Mitchell.
Roses adorning Sisto’s coffin made up the colours of the Italian flag, a touching nod to the heritage which has played such a big part in his colourful life.
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Following the two-hour funeral, Sisto Malaspina make one last stop past Pellegrini’s.
Lucia, a long time employee, released white doves and cried as his hearse drove by before the burial.
Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli began the service with a “warm and gentle welcome” to Sisto’s family, including his wife, Vicky, his children David and Lisa, his first grandchild, as well as two nieces who travelled from Italy to attend the funeral.
Governor of Victoria, the Honourable Linda Dessau paid tribute to Mr Malaspina’s hard work, friendly banter and flamboyant sense of fashion in the service which began at 10.30am.
Ms Dessau said as the daughter of an immigrant family, a visit to Pelligrinis “is like a trip to my childhood”.
“Sisto Malaspina’s story is an Australian story,” Ms Dessau said.
Ms Dessau said Mr Malaspina’s death was a tragedy, that we need every voice to condemn.
“We need to look for the genuine goodness that we saw in the city,” she said.
Ms Dessau said Melburnians were sharing in the Malaspina family’s profound sadness as the loss of such a good man.
“We thank you so much for sharing him with us and may the memory of his goodness live forever,” she said.
David Malaspina gave a heartfelt tribute to his father followed by a rapturous applause, saying he loved his customers and staff like family and always looked for the good in others.
Mr Malaspina’s only son thanked those gathered in the church for wearing a touch of colour.
“It is so great to see some colour on such a bleak occasion,” he said.
“Dad always said you should dress to reflect your personality, and he had such a colourful personality.”
Sisto and his wife of 46 years Vicky had a love of life and they and their close friends “knew how to party”, David said.
“Dad was in his element down at the beach house, entertaining his friends into the wee hours of the morning,”
“Then there was the laughter, loud and contagious that would continue well into the night,” he said.
David remembered “quality time” with his father, and his love of the garden, tinkering with coffee machines and putting together colourful outfits.
“Dad had a particular fashion sense, I don’t have a word to describe it, but it was out there,” he said.
David thanked the emergency service personnel who helped his father during his last moments on earth — many of who he knew personally and were regulars and Pellegrini’s.
He also extended his thanks to the many customers who visited his father’s little cafe every day.
“Although we might not know you all, just know, he didn’t consider you customers, he considered you friends, we know that for sure,” he said.
He spoke of the “overwhelming” outpouring of love from the public, and thanked Pellegrini’s staff for “holding down the fort” to allow his family the time to grieve.
“Dad had the amazing ability to make everyone feel special,” he said.
“He had the amazing ability to lift one’s spirit with a smile.”
A line out the door, as free long blacks are served in honour of Sisto Malaspina. â˜•ï¸ @abcmelbourne @BreakfastNews pic.twitter.com/HnvSNzE0QU
— James Hancock (@jameshancockABC) November 12, 2018
Hundreds have made their way into St Patrick’s ahead of Sisto Malaspina’s service. His son David will speak along with Lindsay Fox and Harrold Mitchell @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/jOf4YOh21C
— Genevieve Alison (@GenevieveAlison) November 19, 2018
Sisto Malaspina had only just become a grandfather a week before his death. In the order of service - is a beautiful photo of the 74yo with his newly born granddaughter. â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/mYSRdiFT74
— Kristina Costalos (@kcostalos) November 19, 2018
Business magnate and friend of more than 50 years, Lindsay Fox, said Sisto was “one of the greats”.
Mr Fox said he first met Sisto and Nino Pangrazio — co-owner of Pellegrini’s — when they were working as waiters for catering company, Peter Rowlands, in the ‘60s.
“But they were so much more than waiters,” he said.
“Sisto and Nino were like Pepper and Salt and made that institution (Pellegrini’s) what it was.
“They had a great joy for life and an ability to make everyone feel like family,” he said.
Mr Fox said he loved their ability to make everyone feel part of the family.
He recalled dinner parties where Sisto would pull out his mandolin and play for his two daughters.
Mr Fox became tearful as told the packed church “the world was a better place for having Sisto in it”.
“Farewell old buddy, I’ll miss you,” he said.
Entrepreneur and close friend Harrold Mitchell began his eulogy by saying Sisto would not have approved of his dark funeral attire.
The crowd applauded as he took off his black suit jacket and tie and pulled on a bright yellow blazer and colourful cravat.
“Sisto would like this, the yellow matches with the Archbishop,” he said.
Mr Mitchell told stories of taking foreign dignities to the Bourke St cafe when they were in town, including then foreign minister Kevid Rudd.
To Sisto, everyone was a foreign minister and Pellegrini’s was the UN, Mr Mitchell said.
“There’s been a moment when we all wished we were Sisto,” he said.
A black and white photograph of Mr Malaspina at Pellegrini’s cafe is featured on the front of the order of service booklet, while a colourful photo of the new grandfather with his granddaughter in his garden on printed on the back.
Mr Malaspina had only just become a grandfather a week before his death.
Federal and state Labor leaders Bill Shorten and Dan Andrews as well as state Opposition Leader Matthew Guy are among the high profile attendees of the service for the much-loved Melbourne identity.
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Sally Capp and Senator Derryn Hinch arrived shortly after 10am.
State MPs James Merlino, Philip Dalidakis, Martin Palio’s and Richard Wynne arrived a short time later.
Former Premier Steve Bracks and founder of the Alannah and Madeleine foundation Walter Mikac also paid tribute.
Police, paramedics and firefighters dressed in full uniform arrived in groups while students from various girls’ schools made their way into the church holding hands.
There was standing room only in the packed East Melbourne church with multiple screens set up to broadcast the service.
Salvation Army’s Major Brendan Nottle was among the first to arrive at the service.
A steady stream of mourners continued to file into the church from 9am, many wearing a touch of bright colour against the traditional black funeral attire — in keeping with Mr Malaspina’s family’s wish.
Meanwhile, there was a line out the door at Pellegini’s Bar, as free long blacks are served in honour of their man.
Big screens broadcasting a live stream of the service are set up in the church’s gardens as well as Federation Square for thousands of mourners expected to watch the much-loved cafe owner’s farewell.
It comes as police revealed three men arrested in terror raids in Melbourne’s northwest this morning were planning to kill as many people as possible in a crowded place.
The beautiful cathedral, on the fringe of the city grid in East Melbourne, was filled with hundreds of mourners farewelling the Melbourne cafe pioneer.
The 74-year-old Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar co-owner who was murdered in the Bourke St attack 10 days ago.
The service was expected to run for about 90 minutes, but mourners started pouring out at more than two hours later around 12.40pm.
Thousands of floral tributes have been laid outside Pellegrini’s in the aftermath to the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Ambulance Victoria this morning posted a heartwarming tweet remembering the man who looked after them so well.
“Sisto Malaspina of Pellegrini’s fed us quick bowls of pasta, watermelon granitas and coffee from the side-door of his restaurant late at night. He’d shake our hands and thank us with every visit. Sisto, your hospitality and generosity will never be forgotten,” the tweet read.
Essendon Football Club also paid tribute today, with a lovely photo of a beaming Mr Malaspina taken years ago with then coach Kevin Sheedy and the premiership cup.
“Rest in peace, Sisto Malaspina. We’ll forever remember your passion and love for the red + black,” it read.
Rest in peace, Sisto Malaspina.
— Essendon FC (@EssendonFC) November 20, 2018
We'll forever remember your passion and love for the red + black. â¤ï¸ðŸ–¤ pic.twitter.com/uFhT7EJsvS
Sisto Malaspina of Pellegrini’s fed us quick bowls of pasta, watermelon granitas and coffee from the side-door of his restaurant late at night. He’d shake our hands and thank us with every visit. Sisto, your hospitality and generosity will never be forgotten. #BourkeSt pic.twitter.com/fixAilrPRD
— Ambulance Victoria (@AmbulanceVic) November 13, 2018
Crowds have begun to gather outside St Patrick’s Cathedral for the state funeral of Sisto Malaspina. Church doors will open to the public at 9am for a 10.30 service. Rolling updates at @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/TLHNKJpSYy
— Genevieve Alison (@GenevieveAlison) November 19, 2018
Salvos Brendan Nottle among mourners at Sisto Malaspina’s state funeral. He’s here to honour Sisto’s generosity to the Salvos , based across the road from “Pellegrini’sâ€, and the homeless. 6pm #7NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/5QLZFR5laM
— NickMcCallum7 (@NickMcCallum7) November 19, 2018
Overnight, a Melbourne artist painted a large mural on the side of a residential home in Carlton, paying tribute to Mr Malaspina.
The uncommissioned artist paid for all costs, and depicted a smiling Mr Malispina, alongside his beloved restaurant.
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