Sad news from Modena, Umberto Panini has passed away at 83. He was with his son Matteo the savior of the Maserati factory's museum collection when it was going to be auctioned off and dispersed years ago, he was the owner of the eponymous museum. He was able to create it thanks to the family fortune founded with his late brothers based on football (soccer) player cards which kids eagerly collected and traded. The card business became an empire and it is upon its sale that he started the Hombre Parmiggiano cheese farm just north of Modena's city center. The museum was created there and is one of the finest Maserati collections in the world. His son Matteo is a worthy successor and does a great job of preserving the heritage of the Panini family and of Maserati's former factory museum. The Modena paper Obituary: http://gazzettadimodena.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/11/30/news/addio-a-umberto-panini-morto-l-ultimo-dei-re-delle-figurine-1.8209591 RIP Marc
Matteo seems to have solid and large shoulders, and he has the same passion of his father. He's also very tied to the traditions of his country, Emilia. Definitely a worthy successor.
I never met the man or even been to their museum but I did meet Matteo at Limerock one year and I agree with you Mark. We are lucky they were around to collect up DeTomaso's discards ... May he rest in peace.
