Enea Merolli

Enea Merolli ( * 03.03.1879 - † 27.12.1963)

Famous lawyer, writer and poet

Born in Celano, province of L'Aquila.

He completed his Matura in L'Aquila and his law studies in Rome in 1900. He then completed a degree in philosophy (1905). His first marriage was to Giovanna Gorgo, by whom he had three daughters:

Letizia, who died at the age of 22,

Gabriella Cipriani - Merolli - che ha avuto 13 figli

and Augusta Merolli.

His second marriage was to the then 27-year-old Palmira Casciola (February 14, 1947, on a Saturday). Palmira Casciola had been a secretary at the Merolli law firm since 1939. Enea Merolli taught for five years at the colleges of Chieti, where his family moved temporarily after the earthquake of 1915. He then gave up teaching, although he had won at least three competitions for professorships at grammar schools. Among his numerous writings (some published under the anagrammatic pseudonym `Ariele di Lem`), `The Triumph of Life` deserves a special mention, a volume of six thousand verses that also received the recognition of Benedetto Croce. A street in Celano was named after Enea Merolli. In addition to his native Italian, Enea Merolli also knew Greek, Latin, English, French and German. His literary works: `Il Trionfo della Vita`(July 1916, 212 pages, CASALBORDINO NICOLA DE ARCANGELIS, EDITORE), `Arte e Belezza`, La Frammentarietà nell'arte`

The memory (translated into English)

"Half a century since the death of lawyer Enea Merolli

Fifty years have passed since the death of lawyer Enea Merolli.
We feel it is appropriate, indeed right, to bring back to everyone's memory this figure of an illustrious scholar, a fine jurist, a cultured and profound essayist and a refined poet. 

Enea Merolli was born in Celano on 3 March 1879 and died in Avezzano on 27 December 1963.

He was married in first marriage to Giovanna Gorgo from whom he had three daughters: Letizia, who died at the age of 22, Gabriella and Augusta.

In his second marriage he married 27-year-old Palmira Casciola, in February 1947, on the 14th, a Saturday, at 4.30 pm. 

The wedding was celebrated in the sacristy of the church of San Rocco in Avezzano, parish priest Father Agostino Carraretto. The witnesses were Angelo Tirabassi (then just 40 years old), two workers who were carrying out some work in the church and Pia Valente, the housekeeper.

Palmira Casciola had been a secretary in the Merolli law firm since 1939.

She had been hired (on the recommendation of the future prefect Franco Franceschini) after working at the notary Capparella and in the municipal tax office run by Salvatore Di Gennaro.

We learn all this information from the living voice of Mrs Palmira herself in a house full of memories and tangible signs of the memory and indelible presence of her late husband. Every object, every photo, every book speaks of Enea Merolli.

This was followed by a degree in Law from the Regia Universitá di Roma in 1901 and then, again in Rome, a degree in Physiology conferred in 1905.

Pi many, many books, entire walls.
A few clippings from old newspapers and a few traces of his brief involvement in politics.
Enea Merolli taught for five years in high school in Chieti where his family had moved temporarily after the earthquake of 1915.
He then gave up teaching, despite having won at least three competitions for high school professorships. The lure of being a lawyer was stronger than that of school. 
A town councillor in Avezzano from 1953 to 1957, he also attended the last council meeting on 2 December 1957. 

His speeches, as well as pungent political analyses, were also valuable lessons in law for me, a young reporter. 

He was severely disappointed in June 1953, when the provincial committee of the Christian Democratic Party of L´Aquila voted Professor Angelo Tirabassi into the Senate, despite the offer Merolli had received from influential representatives of the Christian Democratic Party of Avezzano. 

Enea Merolli then joined the Popular Monarchist Party. 

Soon, however, his beloved books took over from politics and Merolli returned with passion and dedication to his legal studies, letters, poetry and, above all, to his work as a lawyer.
Among his numerous writings, 'Il tronfo della vita', a volume of six thousand verses  that also received the appreciation of Benedetto Croce. 

Enea Merolli knew Greek and Latin and was also fluent in English, French and German.

The city of Avezzano paid tribute to Enea Merolli a few years ago when an elegant public space with a square and gardens in the central Via Mazzini was named after him."

Source:  Website "il centro" 27 decembre 2013