The Gubbio community and the wider sports world are in mourning following the death of Lucia Colaiacovo, who passed away at the age of 58 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, after a long illness. The news spread rapidly through the city, stirring deep emotion among those who knew her for her human and professional qualities. Colaiacovo leaves behind her husband, Rosario Zoppis, a former player and historic flag-bearer of Gubbio Calcio, and their two children, Laura and Giovanni.
A Legacy Beyond Industry: From Colacem to Wellness
Born and raised in Gubbio, Lucia Colaiacovo was the daughter of Giovanni Colaiacovo, one of the historic founders of the industrial group Colacem, a leading company in the national economy. She was a partner in the Giovanni Colaiacovo Holding alongside her sisters Maria Gabriella and Maria Carmela, and brother Ubaldo. Despite belonging to one of the symbolic families of the region’s industry, she chose to forge a profoundly independent professional path, dedicating herself to the study of movement and personal care.
After earning her diploma from the ISEF in Perugia, Colaiacovo built a solid experience in postural gymnastics. She expanded her expertise over the years to include Pilates and Hatha Yoga. From 2007, she focused her research on facial gymnastics, developing her own specific methodology which she taught consistently. This professional commitment culminated in 2015 with the publication of her book, My facial exercises (My Face Gymnastics), a compilation of her expertise in the field.
The Heart of the Community: A Personality Defined by Vitality
While her professional accomplishments are significant, it was her personal character that left the most enduring mark. Lucia Colaiacovo was described as solar (sunny), vitale (vital), and passionate (passionate). Her presence was capable of communicating energy, with a smile that was perhaps her most immediate and authentic trait. Her passing leaves an entire community in pain.
Her connection to Gubbio was profound. She represented a bridge between the town’s industrial heritage and a professional path dedicated to health and personal care. This duality is reflected in her family life: a daughter of one of the historic founders of Colacem, married to a historic flag-bearer of Gubbio Calcio.
| Key Relationship | Entity | Connection to Lucia Colaiacovo |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Giovanni Colaiacovo | Father, one of the historic founders of the Colacem industrial group |
| Family | Rosario Zoppis | Husband, former player and historic flag-bearer of Gubbio Calcio |
| Professional | ISEF of Perugia | Institution where she earned her diploma |
| Professional | Umbria TV | Media outlet whose board member, Maria Carmela Colaiacovo (sister), received their condolences |
Community Pays Tribute to Lucia
The news of her demise has prompted numerous expressions of solidarity from local institutions, the associative fabric, and the Eugubino sporting world.
“Beyond her professional activity, it is above all the person who leaves the strongest memory: Lucia was sunny, lively, passionate.”
This sentiment captures the essence of how she will be remembered.
As the community processes this loss, attention turns to the final farewell. The funeral for Lucia Colaiacovo will be held on Sunday, November 8, at 3:00 PM at the Chiesa della Vittorina in Gubbio. The service will be a gathering point for a community united in grief, celebrating a life that was deeply interwoven with the town’s social and economic fabric.
Gubbio is now mourning one of its beloved figures. Lucia Colaiacovo's legacy includes industrial heritage, a career dedicated to wellness, and a personal spirit that energized all who knew her. Her passing is a major loss for the Eugubina community.
