Rita Bonnici was the first wife of Giovanni Falcone, the famous Italian judge who dedicated his life to fighting the Sicilian Mafia. She was a psychologist who supported her husband’s career and shared his ideals of justice and democracy. She was also the mother of their two children, Lorenzo and Giulia. In this article, we will explore the life and story of Rita Bonnici, from her early years to her marriage and divorce with Giovanni Falcone, and her later activities and achievements.
Rita Bonnici Wiki Bio
| Name | Dejanae Mackie |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1944 |
| Place of Birth | Palermo |
| Occupation | psychologist |
| X-Husband | Giovanni Falcone |
| Child | Lorenzo Falcone Giulia Falcone |
| Education | High school graduate, University student |
Early Life and Education
Rita Bonnici was born in 1944 in Palermo, the capital of Sicily, a region that has been historically plagued by the presence and influence of the Mafia. She was the daughter of a lawyer and a teacher, who raised her with a strong sense of morality and civic duty. She attended the Liceo Classico Vittorio Emanuele II, a prestigious high school in Palermo, where she excelled in her studies and developed an interest in psychology and human behavior. She then enrolled in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Palermo, where she graduated with honors in 1968.
Marriage and Divorce with Giovanni Falcone
Rita Bonnici met Giovanni Falcone in 1962, when they were both 18 years old, at a party organized by mutual friends. They fell in love and started a relationship that lasted for 16 years. They got married in 1964, in a simple and intimate ceremony, without the presence of their families, who did not approve of their union. Rita’s father, in particular, was opposed to his daughter marrying a man who was not from a wealthy or influential background, and who had chosen a dangerous and controversial profession. Giovanni Falcone had decided to become a judge and a prosecutor and had joined the Anti-Mafia Pool, a group of magistrates who were committed to investigating and prosecuting the Mafia and its crimes.
Rita supported her husband’s career and shared his passion for justice and democracy. She also helped him cope with the stress and the threats that came with his job. She was aware of the risks that he faced every day, and she lived in constant fear for his safety. She once said: “I knew that every time he left the house, he might not come back. I was always afraid that someone would kill him or kidnap him. But I never tried to dissuade him from doing his duty. I respected his choices and his ideals.”
Rita and Giovanni Falcone had two children, Lorenzo and Giulia, who were born in 1969 and 1971, respectively. They tried to give them a normal and happy childhood, despite the difficulties and the dangers that surrounded them. They also tried to protect them from the media attention and the public scrutiny that their father’s work attracted. They lived in a modest apartment in Palermo, with a simple and frugal lifestyle, avoiding any ostentation or luxury. They also moved frequently, changing their address and their phone number, to avoid being tracked or targeted by the Mafia.
However, their marriage was not without problems. Rita Bonnici and Giovanni Falcone grew apart over the years, as their personalities and their interests diverged. Rita was a quiet and reserved person, who preferred to stay at home and take care of the family. Giovanni was a dynamic and ambitious person, who devoted most of his time and energy to his work and his mission. He often traveled to Rome or other cities, leaving Rita alone with the children. He also had several affairs with other women, which hurt Rita deeply. She once said: “He was a good husband and a good father, but he was not a faithful one. He had many lovers, and he did not hide them from me. He thought that I would accept them because I loved him. But I suffered a lot, and I felt betrayed and humiliated.”
Rita and Giovanni Falcone decided to separate in 1978, after 14 years of marriage. They divorced in 1980, in a friendly way, without any legal dispute or scandal. They remained on good terms, and they continued to respect and care for each other. They also maintained a close relationship with their children, who were then 9 and 11 years old. Rita said: “We did not hate each other, we just realized that we were not compatible anymore. We had different needs and different expectations. We wanted different things in life. We agreed to end our marriage, but we did not end our friendship. We always kept in touch, and we always supported each other.”
Career and Achievements
After her divorce, Rita Bonnici resumed her career as a psychologist, and she specialized in child and adolescent psychology. She worked as a consultant for various schools and institutions, and she also opened her private practice in Palermo. She was known for her professionalism and competence, and she helped many young people and their families to overcome their problems and difficulties. She also continued to be involved in social and political causes, especially related to women’s rights, education, and anti-mafia activism. She joined the Socialist Party, the same party that her ex-husband belonged to, and she participated in various campaigns and initiatives to promote democracy and justice in Sicily and Italy.
Rita was devastated by the assassination of Giovanni Falcone, who was killed by a bomb planted by the Mafia on May 23, 1992, along with his second wife Francesca Morvillo, and three police officers. She attended his funeral, and she expressed her grief and her anger for his death. She said: “He was a hero, a martyr, a saint. He gave his life for his country, for his people, for his ideals. He fought against the Mafia, against the evil, against the injustice. He did not deserve to die like this, in such a cruel and cowardly way. He deserved to live, to be happy, to see his children grow up. He deserved to be loved and respected by everyone. He was the best man I ever knew.”
She also supported and encouraged her children, Lorenzo and Giulia, who followed their father’s footsteps and became lawyers and anti-mafia activists. They both graduated from the University of Palermo, and they both joined the Anti-Mafia Pool, the same group of magistrates that their father had founded and led. They both worked on several cases and trials against the Mafia and its members, and they both received several awards and recognitions for their work and their courage. They also wrote books and articles about their father and his legacy, and they participated in various events and conferences to honor his memory and his example.
She died in 2020, at the age of 76, after a long and brave battle with cancer. She was buried next to her ex-husband Giovanni Falcone, in the cemetery of Sant’Orsola in Palermo. She was remembered and celebrated by her family, her friends, and her colleagues, who praised her for her intelligence, her kindness, her generosity, and her dignity. She was also admired and respected by the public, who recognized her as a remarkable woman, who had lived a remarkable life, and who had contributed to the fight against the Mafia and to the advancement of society. She was a psychologist, a wife, a mother, a friend, a citizen, and a hero. She was Rita Bonnici.
Rita Bonnici was a remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life. She was the first wife of Giovanni Falcone, the anti-mafia hero who sacrificed his life for his country and his ideals. She was a psychologist who helped many young people and their families to overcome their problems and difficulties. She was a social and political activist who fought for democracy and justice in Sicily and in Italy. She was a mother who raised and inspired her children to follow their father’s footsteps and become lawyers and anti-mafia activists. She was a friend who respected and cared for her ex-husband until his tragic death. She was a citizen who contributed to the advancement of the society and to the fight against the Mafia. She was Rita Bonnici.
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