On 26 December, Attilio Rocchi passed away, finding at last the rest he so profoundly deserved.
Attilio was a fighter – courageous, inquisitive, steadfast, and visionary; a man of peace and generosity, and above all, a friend to all. He was an exceptional professional who, together with a close group of friends, paved with remarkable foresight the path now followed by countless generations of enthusiasts in veterinary anaesthesia, and far beyond.
In the early 2000s, he played an active role in the co-creation of what we now recognise as the SIATAV group within SCIVAC. This circle of “elders” was the driving force behind a long sequence of achievements that elevated Italian veterinary anaesthesia to the forefront of international specialist societies. SCIVAC then provided the means through which this “energy of ideas”, supported and harmonised by the “group of friends”, could secure its place in the history of our profession.
Yet Attilio’s passion could not remain confined within national borders. Before long, he loosened his Florentine ties, leaving behind his established practice to “open the wings of his dreams” towards Vienna. There, he was welcomed by a legend in veterinary anaesthesia, Professor Yves Moens. Yves, ever a visionary mentor, immediately recognised in Attilio unique gifts that were ready to flourish. And so they did: Attilio continued on his specialist path, earning the European diploma (ECVAA), and becoming a pillar of the University of Vienna, where he would spend much of his career.
But, as is often the case with extraordinary spirits, Attilio could not remain “contained”. Mindray, then entering a phase of intense growth, sought a leader of competence and vision. Attilio embodied all these qualities, and he rose to the challenge, becoming Head of Mindray Europe and opening an unprecedented new chapter.
We could recount many more stories of his remarkable career, and of the future he might still have shaped, but fate chose otherwise, halting his momentum. Illness sought to stop his flight, abruptly and without warning. Yet with unyielding strength and extraordinary resilience, Attilio fought back, winning battles that anyone else might have deemed lost before they even began. His courage and clarity overcame exhaustion with astonishing force, until that final day, 26 December 2025.
Today, entire generations of veterinarians carry within them the lessons Attilio shared, but one remains unforgettable above all others: his indomitable passion, always accompanied by a singular kindness of spirit.
Thank you, Attilio, for the gift you have left us.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S146729872600005X
