Don Francesco Pergolini di Emidio e Rosa Coppa

Don Francesco Pergolini was born in Roseto degli Abruzzi, to Emidio and Rosa Coppa, on 2 July 1911, and died on 12 February 1999 in Fontecchio. He was ordained a priest on 1 April 1934 and first became parish priest of Lame di Cortino, then of Guazzano di Campli. On 21 March 1946 he was appointed parish priest of Controguerra, where he carried out his priestly ministry for 47 years. He replaced, at the helm of the parish of San Benedetto Abate, Don Alberto Di Pietro, who became the parish priest of Giulianova. In Controguerra, Don Francesco opened the first parish cinema in the town, in 1949, and was also the first Vibratian parish priest to broadcast Sunday mass via radio, through an audio system that connected the church of San Benedetto to the nearby Radio Andromeda headquarters. Furthermore, he promoted associations and sporting activities for young people. For his merits he was appointed Chaplain of His Holiness. On 31 March 1993 he became parish priest emeritus and, for health reasons, he retired to the Casa Santa Maria della Pace in Fontecchio. Even today Don Francesco is fondly remembered by the counter-guerrillas.