About
Timeline
A brief timeline Francesco's life.
- 1952Birth and Childhood
Francesco was born on May 23, 1952 in Monte Sant'Angelo, Foggia, Italy to Saverio Arena and Maria Luigia Troiano. He was the youngest of 4 living siblings, Michele, Maria Franca, and Maria Concetta. They lived on the Corso above Maria Luigia's general goods store.
- 1960sTeenage Years
A rebellious child, Franco was kicked out of school at the age of 12, after which he worked in a rope factory, went to seminary, and worked at his father's butcher shop.
- 1970s and early 1980sLa Lotta in Veneto
After completing his military service, Franceso was sent to Conigliano, Veneto to serve as a postman. Here he became involved in political organizing with La Lotta Continua, fighting for workers rights and against fascism. He published his first book of poetry in 1982 called "Poesia é gioco". Franco also discovered a love of travel including trips to Turkey, Kurdistan, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.
- Late 1980sReturn to Monte, Part 1
After returning to Monte Sant'Angelo, Francesco brought with him the fight to preserve the heritage of the historic town. He organized a campaign to prevent the demolition of historic streets. He also ran Oltre le Scale, a community movie theater, and hosted a radio program called Radio Nuova Dimensione.
- early 1990sBirth of a National Park and a Family
In the early 1990s, Francesco led the campaign to turn the Valle di Carbonara into a National Park with Università Verde in Foggia, Amici della Terra, and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The Gargano National Park was created in 1991. In 1992, Franco married Amy Miller, an American he met on his travels, and had a daughter, Sarah, in 1994. In 1995, Franco contracted tuberculosis working as a mail carrier in the Foresta Umbra and was sent to a sanitarium for nine months.
- 1998-2007A Montanaro in Chicago, Part 1
Francesco followed his wife and daughter to the United States in 1998, where they settled in the Chicago suburbs. In Febuary 2000, Franco started radiation for throat cancer; that same month both of his parents passed away. Francesco maintained his connection to Italy during this time. He helped Legambiente create Festambiente Sud, a celebration of southern Italian culture, ecology, food, and activism that began in 2005 and which continues to this day. During this time period, Franco began writing and publishing books of his photography and poetry starting with "Monte Sant'Angelo. I volti e l'anima: Storie e vita di un territorio" in 2006. He also became an active member of Slow Food Chicago during this period.
- 2008-2019A Montanaro in Chicago, Part 2
Following his divorce in 2007, Franco moved first to Des Plaines and then to the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. He became a hub of the Italian community in Chicago, organizing regular events for expat Italians, Italian-Americans, and Italian language learners to share food and conversation. Francesco maintained his connection to Italy during this time. In 2013, Francesco married Anne Monma, a member of the Italian Meet Up group and in 2019 they moved back to Monte Sant'Angelo.
- 2020-2025Return to Monte, Part 2
Francesco and Anne enjoyed a few months of traveling through Italy before the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown forced them to stay home in Monte Sant'Angelo. During this time, Francesco produced more books of photography, history, and interviews which were subsequently published in 2021, 2022, and 2023. After the lockdown, he returned to traveling, participating in culture events, and advocating for increased accecibility of buildings for Monte Sant'Angelo's aging population with the same energy and passion of his youth. He also continued "building his nest" with Anne. Following a series of health issues, Francesco passed away at home on June 25, 2024 at the age of 72. He had just finished a new book with many more planned.
