A tribute to Enrico Frigo, from Bolliger in Milan, who passed away in April, from Mark Oakeshott.

When I first arrived in the United States in the early 1990’s, there were two agents that dominated the Allied international moving world. In Elizabeth, New Jersey, resided the mighty Reliable Van & Storage led by the Toscano family, while up the road in Stamford, Connecticut, you would find Steve Gerard and the team, plying their trade to very strong effect at Bolliger.

It was through the relationship with Bolliger Stamford that I was first introduced to the late-great Robert Bolliger in Rome and the leader of the Milan office, a gentleman called Enrico Frigo. I am certain that my initial encounters with Frigo would have been cordial but probably irrelevant to a man who preferred the company of real movers to some corporate busy body. But over time we built up a mutual business respect that would later blossom into friendship.

There isn’t anybody who knew him that does not have a great story about Frigo. A larger-than-life character with a voice that would always command your attention. More importantly, Frigo was a true industry professional, always prepared to mentor those around him and pass on the benefit of his experience. He built a business in Milan that dominated international moving in the city and it was not a difficult decision for me to hand him the President’s Award at SIRVA in 2015.

More than anyone I have met he was also his own man. When no smoking rules were introduced in hotel rooms, Frigo would happily pay the fine and carry on smoking. Life was to be enjoyed and few were prepared to stop him. Indeed, probably the only person he would listen to would be his beautiful partner, the late Giuliana Mirotta. To spend time with them both were moments to cherish. The poised and elegant Giuliana chiding Frigo as he complained about whatever was on his mind at that moment.

I am grateful to Giovanni Moscarello for telling me about his diagnosis in October and for motivating me to call him. Not really knowing what to expect, he seemed genuinely happy to hear from me. He was naturally the same old Frigo and optimistic about beating the illness. I encouraged him to attend the FIDI Conference in Edinburgh and he seemed hopeful about the idea. I was contemplating another call to check on him when I received the news of his passing.

To those readers that may be too young or did not get to meet the man himself, I would leave you with the following:

• ▪Before there were spreadsheets and move management systems to calculate job costings and margins, there was Frigo, who knew exactly how much a move was worth.

• ▪Before there were timid voices that feared upsetting people, there was Frigo, who would tell you exactly what he thought.
• ▪Before there were sustainability policies and remote working, there was Frigo, happily walking to work through the streets of Milano.
• ▪Before and after business casual became fashionable, there was Frigo, always impeccably dressed.
• ▪Before there were badges of quality in the international moving industry, there were Frigo standards, perhaps more meaningful than any of today’s accreditations.

• Before there were spreadsheets and move management systems to calculate job costings and margins, there was Frigo, who knew exactly how much a move was worth.
• Before there were timid voices that feared upsetting people, there was Frigo, who would tell you exactly what he thought.
• Before there were sustainability policies and remote working, there was Frigo, happily walking to work through the streets of Milano.
• Before and after business casual became fashionable, there was Frigo, always impeccably dressed.
• Before there were badges of quality in the international moving industry, there were Frigo standards, perhaps more meaningful than any of today’s accreditations.

A British broadcaster and writer, Clement Freud, once wrote, “If you resolve to give up smoking, drinking, and loving, you don't actually live longer; it just seems longer.” For Frigo, I sense that life did not ever seem too long.

mark@oakeshottconsulting.com

Editor’s note

I too have my Enrico Frigo stories. I walked into his office one day in Milan, into a haze of blue smoke. The law had recently changed to outlaw smoking in offices and the pristine ‘no smoking’ signs obligingly decorated the walls. I raised a quizzical eyebrow towards Enrico who grinned: “I never smoke when other people are here,” he said. That evening we went to dinner. He drove. There was nowhere to park so he just abandoned the car outside the restaurant ignoring the ‘no parking’ signs. Again I looked puzzled. “It’s my town,” he said. Very Enrico.

Photo caption: Enrico Frigo receiving the President’s Award at SIRVA, from Mark Oakeshott, in 2015.