An Italian pensioner who went viral for taking his late wife’s photo to the beach every day has spoken out for the first time. Giuseppe Giordano, 70, from Gaeta, Italy, lost his wife of 50 years Ida seven years ago – and since then has visited the seaside with a framed picture of her nearly every day. Last month, the elderly man went viral after restaurant owner Giorgio Moffa, 54, snapped a picture of him and posted it on social media before befriending him to find out more about his story.
Giuseppe, who has now spoken out for the first time, has said he still cannot believe the love he has received from thousands of people online, as all he did was take his ‘wife’ with him on his days out because ‘he didn’t want to be alone’. Giuseppe said: ‘I bring Ida’s photo because in that way I feel her in my life and I don’t feel so alone.
‘I like going to the sea every day because it brings back all my memories. ‘I am very surprised by the love and admiration of people online since hearing my story. ‘The simple things are the real things, and the ones that last over time. ‘I didn’t want to inspire anyone, I just didn’t want to stay alone. My wife was everything to me. ‘The younger generations do not hold onto love as we used to. I belong to a generation where love and feelings meant everything.’
Giorgio, the owner of a nearby pizzeria, sent Giuseppe viral after his photo racked up more than 7,000 views on Facebook. He discovered Giuseppe met Ida when he was only 15 through a common friend – as at that time, girls were allowed to go out only with their older sisters or cousins.
But Ida got sick with cancer and lasted just a year until she passed away seven years ago, in 2011. Giuseppe visits the beach because it used to be a place where the couple, who had been together more than 50 years, would go when they were young. He goes to the sea each morning, before having lunch with his son and in the afternoon taking a nap with his precious photo of his wife.