A tragic fate united him with his Italian father Vittorio, who lost his life 40 years ago in a plane crash while flying from Malindi to Zanzibar. Yesterday he passed away, too young not to grieve writing about it, Giovanni Battista Tofani, known to everyone from Malindi to Lamu as John.
Forty-nine years old, four children and a life of adventure, spent helping rangers in the Tsavo and Nairobi reserve, the huge savannah along the Tana River. His tales of rescued lions, buffalo taken by the horns and a thousand dangers avoided and made to be avoided will remain in the great book of Malindi where Italians and Kenyans have always lived together, and he, a son of both ethnicities, was one of the most shining examples. Like his father, he was "good at everything," repairing engines as well as untangling the bush, protecting the environment as well as those who had been wronged.
It was a motorcycle ride, on the road he knew well, the one from Malindi to Tsavo East, that killed him. The motorcycle went off the road and John died instantly.
In addition to his family, children siblings his loving wife Lucy who knew his father Vittorio Tofani in the 1970s, he is mourned by so many Italians in Malindi for whom John Tofani was a friend, a factotum always ready to step in for anything.
With us at the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi, he was often present at the cleanups of the town and the beaches, with his tractors and earthmoving equipment that were the highlight of his work.
In addition, he had a workshop and taught the trade to his son Luciano, who will now continue his father's business.
More than that, John was a reliable, serious person and knew this part of Kenya like the back of his hand.
Have a good rest, friend, Africa wanted you with it too soon.