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Dr. Giorgio Armato.
Dr. Giorgio Armato, 74, died at home in Genoa, Italy, on January 21, of cancer.
Dr. Giorgio Armato graduated from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Genoa, Italy, and specialized in oncology. He met Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1975 and spent many years at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. Among his many achievements, he first built an emergency room in Kopan itself and another at the foot of the hill. He then built a small three-story hospital there, thanks to his own work and donations from friends.
In his practice in Genoa, Giorgio helped and cared for the poor and needy, and he went on missions to offer surgical operations in Zaire, Burundi, Madagascar, Guatemala, and Nepal.
Friend Ven. Siliana Bosa shared, “Giorgio was very devoted to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and he loved Kopan. He had a strong connection also with the Catholic church and often, during his summer holiday, went to Africa with a Franciscan organization to do surgical operations in areas of great conflict.”
Dr. Giorgio Armato at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, with Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup, his sister Graziella, a doctor, and a nurse, 1999.
“He put others before himself and helped many people with acupuncture and gave all the offerings he received to people in need. Giorgio had a good sense of humor. Because of his broken English, he would say [the Italian word] ‘allora’ every few words, and so in Kopan they called him Doctor Allora. His main practices were Medicine Buddha and Vajrayogini, which helped him to face the last months of his sickness with serenity. He actually told me that he was not afraid to die, so he had a peaceful departure,” Ven. Siliana said.
Ven. Lucia Bani shared, “Giorgio has been a dear Dharma friend for many years and for many years he was my sponsor. Giorgio was a man of few words but many actions. He was honest and sincere, and totally dedicated to help others. He was an example of great strength especially for how he faced his illness and death. He never complained, remained serene, and had a mind always ready to ask, ‘How are you?’ Giorgio had a meaningful life and left with great dignity and courage. What a wonderful gift!”
With thanks to Dr. Giorgio’s sister, Graziella Armato, for providing details for this obituary.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche requests that students who read obituaries pray that the person mentioned finds a perfect human body, meets a Mahayana guru, and becomes enlightened quickly, or be born in a pure land where the tantric teachings exist and they can become enlightened.” While reading obituaries we can also reflect on our own death and impermanence prompting us to live our lives in the most meaningful way. More advice from Lama Zopa Ripoche on death and dying is available, see Death and Dying: Practices and Resources (fpmt.org/death/).
To read more obituaries from the international FPMT mandala, and to find information on submission guidelines, please visit our new Obituaries page (fpmt.org/media/obituaries/).