Comiso in mourning: farewell to the 'good giant' Vicé Scamporrino

Vincenzo Scamporrino was 66 years old and for everyone in Comiso, he was simply Vicè. A name that alone was enough to evoke a kind, solid figure, an integral part of city life and especially of the Comisan Easter. His death, which occurred during the night after months of suffering, leaves a void that is not only emotional but deeply symbolic.

The central figure of Comisan Easter
For over forty years, Vicè was the historical bearer of the statue of the Risen Jesus, the man who led the cart and occupied the most demanding position: that at the feet of the statue. With open arms and broad shoulders, he supported the two wooden bars, but above all, he provided stability to the child dressed as an angel, who during the procession sits at the feet of the Risen One. It was a gesture of strength and delicacy together: the little one rested his feet on his shoulders, certain to find balance and security. For an entire day, every year, Vicè became a living part of the rite, a steadfast point of tradition.

The accident and the decline
In everyday life, he was a gas station attendant, one of the last remaining in the town of Comiso. In December, while crossing Via Generale Amato, right in front of the pump he managed, he was hit by a vehicle. From that moment on, the “gentle giant,” as many called him, never recovered. The consequences of the accident, combined with other health issues, progressively worsened his condition until his passing. Since then, the gas station has remained closed. On the glass door, a handwritten sign still reads “I’ll be back soon”: a loving gesture from those who truly hoped that Vicè could return to his place.

The family and the emotional legacy
Vicè leaves behind his wife Patrizia, originally from Catania, and two children: Sebastiano and Adriana. The latter lives in Spain, while Sebastiano, ordained a priest in October 2023, is now the assistant pastor at the parish of San Giovanni Battista in San Giovanni La Punta. He also teaches at the Galileo Galilei Scientific High School in Catania and in other high schools. A united family that in these months has lived with discretion and dignity a pain shared by an entire community.

A void that speaks of identity
The death of Vicè is not just the loss of a respected and beloved man. It is the disappearance of a piece of collective memory, of a face that for decades embodied the continuity of a rite, the quiet strength of tradition, the beauty of simple things that hold a community together.