Tributes continue to pour in for an Observatory mother, business owner and social and civic activist who died in a shark attack on Sunday, September 25.
Kimon Bisogno, 39, affectionately known as Kiki, was swimming at Plettenberg Bay’s central beach when she was attacked by a shark. She was on holiday with her partner and daughter.
In a statement, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said NSRI Plettenberg Bay and the police services were alerted of a shark incident at central beach at 7.53am.
“The sea rescue craft Eric Stratford was launched. On arrival, the body of a 39-year-old female from Cape Town was recovered from the water and brought to the beach. Police have taken the body into their care together with government health forensic pathology services and police have opened an inquest docket.”
News of Kiki’s passing sent shock waves through the Observatory community and was felt by the many organisations she had worked with over the years.
Kiki has been described as an incredible woman with a ferocious appetite for supporting those in need, a paradigm shifter and an integral part of the Obs community.
Kiki ran Ferdinando’s Pizza with her partner Diego Milesi. She also helped found the Obs Pasta Kitchen, which serves home-made pasta to homeless people once a week, has assisted various organisations with social development issues and fund-raising for various projects.
Observatory Civic Association (OCA) spokesman Edwin Angless said Kiki led their social issues portfolio from 2019 and took them through the toughest of times during Covid-19 and its associated lockdown.
“When so many people were faced with destitution, Kiki was the ball of energy, along with many volunteers, who organised nutritional meals for people in Obs unable to access food for themselves. Kiki was fearless in doing the right things and doing so with grace and an incredibly warm spirit. We looked to her for guidance and ‘groundedness’ in many matters of community cohesion,” he said.
Mr Angless said OCA would miss her endless enthusiasm, her pep and zep, and can-do motivation.
“We can only wish Diego and Luna Stella and Ferdinando strong hearts to cope with such sudden and wrenchingly unexpected loss,” he said.
Observatory Improvement District (OBSID) CEO Amanda Kirk said Kiki was a friend to OBSID – as a supporter of their work, as a sounding board to her and as a much valued support system to their social development clients.
“From the early days of ‘Working Wednesdays’, she actively looked for ways to improve the lives of those living on the streets in Observatory while aligning with OBSID’s social development programme wherever she could,” she said.
Ms Kirk said she had the privilege of working closely with Kiki since she joined the OBSID in 2018.
“We’ve spent hours discussing ideas, working out plans, supporting each other through the rough times and having a laugh when one was desperately needed. Kiki’s drive to make the world a better place impacted everyone she met really positively. We worked side by side throughout the pandemic, ensuring that we were able to get food and fresh water to this community in the toughest lockdown levels,” she said.
Ms Kirk said Kiki was a great support to OBSID when they opened housing for previous street-based people and helped with fundraising and the supply of much needed food. She also worked closely with their work-based rehabilitation team each week for over two years, teaching human values, stress management techniques and advancing her vision for peace in the community any way she could.
“Our entire team is devastated at her passing and shocked by the suddenness of it. I can’t wrap my head around the magnitude of this loss for the community of Observatory,” she said.
The Liesbeek Action Campaign, said: “Kiki was not only a community leader, she embodied the meaning of creating safe spaces for people who needed it most. Kiki always had a warm aura, a loving smile and a heart dedicated to serving others. We will miss her spirit, kindness and welcoming nature. May she rest in peace.”
Daniele Diliberto, founder of Ladles of Love, said he met Kiki through one of the courses they did through the Art of Living.
“She would often volunteer with us in the beginning days of Ladles of Love and would bring freshly baked bread from the pizza oven which Diego prepared at their restaurant. Three years later Kiki decided to start her own kitchen and so Obs Pasta Kitchen was born, but with a difference. It was not only about providing food, but also about encouraging healing and learning through her meditation and breathing. The Obs homeless community were also treated to a seated bowl of freshly prepared pasta in the local community hall which made the kitchen even more dignified and everything that Kiki stood for and the way she loved life,” he said.
Kiki, he said, signified passion, life and most importantly, love.
“It always seemed her only goal was to laugh and smile as much as she could. Kiki was a small woman but her presence was gigantic. A fallen angel we will certainly miss.”
Fox Force 5 soccer team coach Eugene Ngambi said they shared great moments of winning the Mixed League Bowl, awards, off airplay at tournaments, but nothing came close to the lessons and the love he received from Kiki in any meet-up, meal or emotional breakdown they would have had together.
“Nothing would be too huge for Kimon to lend a listening ear. One that was deeply interested in taking action and after deliberating on the way forward, it would always be time to share a moment outdoors, you name it: the Obz Car Boot Sale, the Bisognos get-togethers, nature walks, celebratory pizzas but most of all, the pinnacle would be chip rolls and the impromptu lunches,” he said.
The Observatory Neighbourhood Watch said Kiki was always the first to put her hand up to volunteer – no matter the task, she was there to help.
“In spite of how busy her life was, running a business, being a mom to a beautiful baby girl. Kiki lived to serve her community, no matter who they were or where they lived and she did so with her incredible smile and heart-warming laughter.”
Just this Saturday, Kiki spent two hours outside the Spar before heading off on her holiday – serving hotdogs for the watch’s Heritage Day membership drive. She signed up 16 members – their best sign up to date – which signified the kind of warm, welcoming human she would always be remembered as, the watch said.
