The Last Of Italy's Greatest Generation Is Disappearing
The Italian Generation Who Lived Through World War II Will Soon Be Lost To History And Italian Culture Will Be The Poorer For Its Loss. How Will This Change Italy And What Can Be Done To Maintain This Generation's Legacy?
- Nathan Heinrich
- January 29, 2025
One of my favorite things about living in Italy is the lovely elderly Italians I encounter daily in the market, walking their dogs, having a caffé, on their bicycles, or driving their tiny ancient Fiats around the city.
Maybe it’s the fact that they all look like they could be extras on a film set in the 1960s, their classic wardrobes of hats, coats, gloves, and handkerchiefs impeccably pressed and their hair carefully styled.
Perhaps they remind me of my own wonderful grandparents and great-grandparents, with whom I was fortunate enough to grow up.
Or maybe it’s because I’m secretly an 80-year-old man trapped in a younger body. Whatever the reason, Italy’s greatest generation will soon be gone forever, but they will leave behind a legacy that younger generations may not yet fully appreciate.
Italy's Funeral Notices
Why am I writing about this somewhat morbid topic?
Every day I go for a couple of long walks in my little Italian village – trying to get my daily 10,000 steps in. Even though I walk the same routines many times a week, I always notice something new.
What’s been catching my attention lately are the many funeral notices (the Italian version of an obituary) posted outside several of the churches and cathedrals I walk past.
Recently, I’ve stopped and read some of them. It’s startling how many of these “annunci funebri” are for people over the age of 100. And every week new funeral announcements are posted.
On a board of 9 posters, it’s quite common to find 2 or 3 that are for people who passed away at 101, 102, or older. And most of the rest are for people in their mid to late 90s – it’s incredible but also sobering.
Watching the last of a whole generation of people slowly but steadily disappear, and a part of Italy’s history die with them, is a sad thing to witness.
Even though I don’t know them personally, I know their generation.
When Italy's Greatest Generation Is Gone
I had the pleasure of knowing 6 of my great-grandparents in California, they all lived into their 90s and 100s. They were all from this generation.
They lived through both World Wars, the Great Depression, The Spanish Flu, the San Francisco earthquake, and everything since.
Those difficult times made them much tougher than the “new generations” that followed – including my own Millennial generation.
“What will happen to Italy when the last of these members of the Greatest Generation are gone?”, I wonder. I fear their stabilizing force and traditional ways will die with them.
Who will fill the pews of the dwindling church congregations?
Who will grow backyard gardens and orchards and preserve fabulous fruits and vegetables?
What will happen to newsstands and local newspapers?
What will happen to communities when knowing your neighbors of 70 years becomes a thing of the past?
Who will play chess and scopa on the rickety chairs and tables in the town squares?
What will happen when the last of those who still used landline telephones to have meaningful phone conversations, never having owned a smartphone or computer, are gone?
Some Facinating Statistics About The Greatest Generation
Members of the “Greatest Generation” (a term coined by Tom Brokaw a journalist from NBC who authored a New York Times best-selling book by the same name) were born in the early 1900s – specifically between 1901 and 1927.
As of the writing of this article, the oldest living person in the world is Tomiko Itooka, who was born in 1908 in Japan making her 116 years old. The youngest members of this generation are currently 98 years old.
Japan has the highest number of centenarians followed by the US, China, India, Thailand, and Italy.
A Way Of Life From 50 Years Ago
On the I’m Moving To Italy podcast, over the past several years I have noted that life in Italy feels like what I imagine the United States was like 50 years ago.
It even feels a bit like what life was like growing up in the 80s and 90s.
Italy, and much of Europe, is already thought of by many outsiders as a sort of “living museum”. And I wonder if it might be a good thing for Italy to lean into that in more ways than just ancient architecture and traditional recipes.
Rather than beating themselves up for not keeping up with modern technological innovations (as I often hear young Italians doing when describing the issues Italy faces) perhaps Italians should embrace their old ways.
I believe that both current and future generations worldwide will crave a place that provides an escape from the hampster wheel of ever-evolving technology.
Italy offers a respite from lightning-speed interconnectedness, which seems to have left today’s young people feeling less connected than ever.
As someone with family members and loved ones in the United States, I make regular trips back and forth from Italy.
Although I love spending time with near and dear ones in the US, I am always overwhelmed with a sense of relief, when I arrive back in my new home in Italy, after visiting my old home in California.
Can Small Towns Save Italy?
How might Italians package and promote this way of life, which they take so much for granted, to outsiders?
Well, perhaps they don’t have to do as much as they might think.
Overworked, tech-crazed foreigners already instinctively know that escaping to Italy is good for their minds, body, and soul.
Maybe all that needs to happen is for young Italians to understand that their culture possesses something of immense value and that it is vitally important to hold onto the lifestyle and traditions of older generations.
Or maybe some of these small towns in Southern Italy, which are experiencing extreme population loss, could promote themselves as destinations to retire in or work from virtually – while living like a stress-free local.
Brainstorming Solutions To Ensure Italy's Population Doesn't Collapse
Imagine a village with lovely local shops, great restaurants, and grocery stores.
A place where the locals could provide excellent products and services to the retiring foreign baby boomers, millennials, or Gen Z digital nomads who in turn bring much-needed revenue to the area.
Maybe that’s why so many Americans, Brits, Canadians, and Aussies are already flocking to Italy via retirement visas, work abroad visas, and citizenship through Italian ancestry.
This is a model several mayors in Southern Italy have implemented in hopes of saving their communities from population collapse.
The one element that doesn’t seem to have been worked out is how to convince local Italian young people to stay in their hometowns and have babies, leading to many future generations of centenarians.
Oh well, Rome wasn’t built in a day and I suppose the salvaging of Italy’s culture and population loss can’t be solved in a day either.
If you find yourself in Italy anytime soon, keep your eyes open for the country’s most precious and fast-disappearing resource, the last of the Greatest Generation.
In a nation famous for its millennia-old architecture, it’s the century-old people who won’t be around much longer.
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Last Of Italy’s Greatest Generation: Italy In History From WWII
“What will happen to Italy when the last of these members of the Greatest Generation are gone?”, I wonder. I fear their stabilizing force and traditional ways will die with them.
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For Your Consideration
“The Silent Generation”, which followed the Greatest Generation, was my grandparent’s generation and they were pretty tough too.
They understood the concept of hard work, serving their country, and fighting for the freedom of the United States and the rest of the free world.
They also left an indelible mark on the culture from Pearl Harbor and Napoli to Omaha Beach and New York’s Little Italy.
Italy’s “Greatest Generation” were often from small towns where hard work was part of daily life.
Have you ever wondered how they shaped Italian culture and influenced younger generations?
These individuals faced challenges that tested their resilience.
For many, survival meant relying on strong family ties and traditional values.
Their efforts laid the foundation for future generations to thrive.
What lessons can young people today learn from their perseverance?
This generation’s indelible mark can still be seen in the traditions and customs passed down through families.
Do you think the values of hard work and sacrifice still resonate with new generations?
Members of the Greatest Generation were deeply rooted in their communities.
They worked tirelessly to rebuild a nation and provide opportunities for their children.
Their determination ensured that younger generations could enjoy a brighter future.
How often do we reflect on the sacrifices made by older generations to improve our lives?
As you look at the world today, consider how much of it was shaped by the actions of those who lived during these difficult times.
Italian culture continues to honor the contributions of this remarkable group.
Would you agree that their legacy serves as a reminder of the power of resilience and dedication?
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Author Info:
Nathan Heinrich
Nathan is a writer, designer & horticulturist. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of "All Roads Lead to Italy" Magazine & host of the Top-10 Travel Podcast, "I'm Moving To Italy!". Nathan was born and raised in a 6th generation farming family in Northern California, he is currently, a dual Italian citizen, living in the Prosecco Valley of Northern Italy, near Venice.