Having a collector's flair and passion, he continued his father's private collection of precious and ancient Chinese pottery and sculptures but, typically of Tiberio he also developed his own very fine collections: a striking collection of famous motorbikes of various periods and lands; some precious historical models of cars (both sports models and urban cars of fabulous brands). He also, at a certain moments of his life, indulged in, always with great care and humility, a fine collection of splendid wrist watches.

Having a great talent and taste for interior decoration Tiberio took as much pleasure in creating these collections as in setting them up in their superbly suitable environments designed by him.

But his real passion was always the textile machine world and he was one of those lucky men who could definitely and undoubtedly say " My Life is my Work" (La mea vita ? il mio lavoro).

With his loss Italy has lost one of her champions in the textile machine industry. The world will be poorer without him and his throne within the international pantheon of textile machine entrepreneurs will remain an indelible one amongst his peers. He combined generosity, courage and dedication with that remarkable humility in learning and pride in working - the ?Golden Rule? he had absorbed from his father.

He leaves a very strong legacy in his Group and many of his employees will keep his memory alive close to their hearts. In the same silent way that he always kept a flame alight in the form of a lit candle under the small photos of his admired father and beloved mother in his office at Santoni.

The stream of workers from all the companies of the world famous Lonati Group who could not hold their tears at the official lying in State set up in his sober office at the Santoni Company on December 17t, and at his funeral the next day, is the best sign of homage to a particularly cherished man and leader who was not only greatly admired and respected but also loved.

He is survived by his two brothers Ettore and Fausto, by his wife Joanna, his four children Francesco, Andrea, Adele and Mateo, and his 10 grandchildren.

Tiberio Lonati: born 27th June 1944, died: 16th December 2013