In Memory of Marzio Achille Romani
Marzio Achille Romani passed away today following a tragic car accident, leaving everyone in disbelief. Those who had the privilege of knowing and spending time with him will always carry the memory of a man marked by genuine affection—his hesitant, respectful gentleness found its way straight into the hearts of many.
A humanist economic historian, Marzio was shaped by the inspiring and eclectic school of Aldo De Maddalena, becoming his disciple after Luigi Basini. His academic path took him from Parma to Brescia, and ultimately to Bocconi, the university that would become his intellectual home. His vision of economic history was broad, culturally informed, and deeply attentive to the social dimension—to the hardships and suffering of the most vulnerable. In his interpretation of economic phenomena, the complexity of connections between trade, production, commerce and the contexts of time, place, and social systems always found expression - setting his work apart from the more rigid frameworks of political and business economics.
A curious and open-minded man, he was a friend to humanists such as Alberto Tenenti and Manfredo Tafuri, with whom he shared the adventure of L’Europa delle Corti; to rigorous economists like Mario Monti; and to unorthodox thinkers. He was a research companion to Marco Cattini, Marco Bianchini, Giuseppe Papagno, and many others, and a participant in the Annales school of thought.
Deeply in love with his Bocconi, he championed the DES program, drove the writing of the university’s official history, and served for many years as a board member of the Javotte Bocconi Foundation, which oversees the university’s future.
Marzio was a gentle man, a scholar, at times shy, always engaged and loyal. Throughout his career, he commuted daily from Mantua to Milan to preserve his family life with his wife and daughter. He championed a vision of history open to interdisciplinarity, introducing business history to the institution, and—together with Massimo Amato—even Foucault.
Marzio, you opened doors. You gave rise to a season of original and generous research. You inspired generations of students. You were an older brother, a decent and good man.
We speak of you in the present tense, because that is what friends do - carrying with us a deep and heartfelt thank you.