René Di Maio

ReneAfter a short illness René Di Maio peacefully passed away in his sleep April 14, 2016. He was 81 years old.

René was born in Marseille, France in 1935, and was a true Provencal.
As they say in Provence:

“Fai pas bon travaia quand la cigalo canto.” (It is not good to work when the cicada sings.)

He was issued from a family of fishermen and had a varied and colorful career.

He enrolled in the French merchant marine at the age of 14 and later on served in the French navy (with world famous Jacques Pépin).IMG_0021
Just like Jacques, René loved to cook.

René was a Jack-of-all-trades. Throughout his life he dwelled in various occupations and was in turn a fisherman, a taxi driver, a painter, a waiter and a maître d’.
In his heyday, in his fair city of Marseille, René was also a great dancer and won several competitions.

IMG_5571 - Version 2With Louis Toulon, Charlie Davantes and Marcel Parnell, he was one of the original founders of La Pétanque Marinière.
They launched the club in 1973 and gave it its actual name.

René was an excellent pointer and won many tournaments. He excelled in a technique called “jouer a la godille” (to spin your boule around an obstacle).
He was also an avid golfer who not too long ago managed a rare “hole in one”.

René was a complex character with a deadpan humor not always understood by everyone.
But he was above all a devoted family man who doted on his grandchildren.IMG_9711 - Version 2

 

He is survived by his wife Mireille, two sons and four grandchildren.

Alain

2 thoughts on “René Di Maio”

  1. Alain, Thank you for sharing just a little bit of who Rene was, with our club members and our larger petanque family. Our thoughts are with Mireille and their family. What will we do, without Rene to tell us how it should be done? He will be missed. Christine

  2. Such great memories with Rene and Mimi….hugs to you all and we are so sad to hear the news! Sending prayers and hugs to you and your family…
    Xoxoxo
    The Abels

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