Sadly we also need to announce the following : Klaus Langeneck 1955 – 2016
In September 2016 , Pastor Klaus Langeneck died of complications following major surgery , aged 60 . He was consecrated in 1985 and had worked in the parishes of Prarostino , Riesi and Livorno / Rio Marina ( Elba ), before arriving in Torre Pellice in 2013 as the second pastor . He also served the church twice as Circuit Superintendent ( 1st & 2nd Circuits ). Married to Erika Tomassone , currently the Pastor of Rora , Klaus ’ s passion was music . He played several instruments and sang . It was not at all unusual during his services for him to come down from the pulpit to play the organ and / or conduct the choir . He would also invite the congregation to learn and sing new hymns , often from far away , and even to dance to African music !
Demetrio Canale 1973 – 2017
Demetrio Canale died in January aged just 44 , following a long battle with cancer . He was consecrated a Deacon by Claudio Pasquet at the Synod in 2014 and had held many different roles within the Waldensian Church , including Director of both Agape ( Piedmont ) and Servizio Cristiano ( Sicily ). He also spent a number of years working in the administrative offices of the Tavola in Rome . His father Elio Canale was the Headteacher of the Waldensian High School in Torre Pellice and Lucia , his sister , currently works at the Waldensian Cultural Centre . [ The Canale family were my neighbours when I lived in Torre Pellice when Demetrio and Lucia were at school .]
Donatella Sommani 1951 – 2017
Donatella Sommani , the former Director of the Waldensian Cultural Centre in Torre Pellice , died in February , aged 66 . She had directed the Cultural Centre for 16 years , taking up the reins from Pastor Giorgio Tourn . A fluent Russian speaker , Donatella was born in Pachino , Sicily , where her father was the pastor , but grew up in Torre Pellice , when he was appointed minister there . Later she became the Chief Editor of the magazine Politica & Economia and lived in Rome . One of the other projects she was involved in was the annual ‘ Una Torre di Libri ’ Book Festival , which still takes place in Torre Pellice attracting large audiences and notable authors .
Nicky Raddon
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