Sometimes there's a man -- I won't say a hero, because what's a hero? -- but sometimes there's a man, and I'm talking about Robert Emilio Cargni-Mitchell here. Sometimes, there's a man, well, he's the man for his time and place. He just kind of fits right in there -- a renaissance man.
Beloved brother, uncle, great-uncle, friend and colleague, Robert passed away at home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Monday, May 1. Born Robert Cameron Mitchell in Portland, Oregon on February 18, 1954 to Charlotte Nitta Cargni Mitchell and Ralph Cameron Mitchell, he joined the family with his older brother, John, and later, Richard, Carla and Stephanie.Robert grew up in East Portland on Mt. Tabor, attending Ascension Catholic Grade School and Mt. Tabor Elementary School, and graduated from Lincoln High School. A lifelong learner, Robert matriculated at Portland State University, University of Oregon and University of Pennsylvania.We were raised in a matriarchy by our Italian grandmother, Gemma Emilia Brichetto Cargni, and our mother for the first half decade of our lives. Our father, a school teacher, worked in remote locations of Oregon. We didn't really know our father until he secured a teaching position in Portland.
In 1958, the family moved to the Cherry Park neighborhood on the eastern outskirts of Portland and welcomed Richard and Carla into the family. In 1961, we moved to the Mt. Tabor neighborhood, closer to Ascension Catholic Grade School and welcomed Stephanie, completing our family of five.
We played on various and sundry sports teams, particularly baseball, and one year competed on the same club, Kings Drive-In, coached by our Dad, in the Montavilla Little League (Robert is first row, far left; John is top row, third from the right; Dad is the second coach from the right).
In the mid-1960s, Dad bought beachfront property in Road's End, the northernmost village in Lincoln City on the Central Oregon Coast. All of us at one point or another spent weekends during the school year and summers helping build and finish the structure over a period of time.
The siblings also accompanied their father on weekend camping excursions in the High Cascades of Oregon. Later, the boys joined their father on mountain climbing expeditions, particularly Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood (Robert, standing toward the front on the left, below).
As long-suffering fans of the University of Oregon football team, we were all excited when the team's fortunes improved in the mid- to late-1980s. When the Oregon Ducks were invited to their first bowl game in 26 years, Robert joined me in Shreveport, Louisiana for the Independence Bowl. Despite unseasonably cold temperatures in Shreveport, the Ducks squeaked out an exciting 27-24 victory over the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Robert managed two movie houses, the Aladdin and Oregon theaters, while majoring in film studies at PSU. In 1985, he moved briefly to Los Angeles, then College Station, Pennsylvania to attend a dog training school before relocating to Philadelphia. He married Elaine Petrov in 1987.
Once settled in Philadelphia, we would see Robert on occasion when he would travel back to Oregon, and also when some of us would venture to the City of Brotherly Love. Yet, we always kept in constant contact by way of phone, text and email often to keep up on what was happening in our lives.
In Philadelphia, Robert worked for a nonprofit film theater specializing in repertory, independent and avant-garde film, and as the projectionist and technical support analyst for International House's S.A. Ibrahim Theater. He was promoted to Associate Director of International House in 2014.
At the nonprofit film theater, Robert focused on showcasing artistically significant and socially relevant motion pictures and programs from around the world, rescuing many films from obscurity. He was also the Special Programs Curator for the America-Italy Society at Penn.
In addition to his family, Robert was adored by his many friends and colleagues in Philadelphia. Said one: "Robert was loved and esteemed by many. His passing is an irreparable loss for all of us, but his memory, sweet smile, profound attachment to his friends, and cinema legacy will remain."
More tributes: "May the world of moving images and sounds cover his gentle face and memory." "Robert was a wonderful curator of films and a great asset to the Philadelphia film community." "He was the soul of kindness. He mentored and gave freely of himself to so many."
While we continue to grieve the loss of our beloved brother, uncle, great-uncle, friend and colleague, plans are currently underway by family and friends for celebrations of the life for Robert Emile Cargni for later this summer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Portland, Oregon.
Editors note: This is the first in a series of posts on the life and times of of Robert Emile Cargni, the artist formerly known as Robert Cameron Mitchell. Future posts will focus on his wide spectrum of interests: movies, television, music, art, automobiles, sports and so much more.
