25, 2011, the tomb was ransacked and his body, along with the coffin, was stolen. On December 8, 2011, Bongiorno's body was recovered from a field near Milan. Honours and awards Honours In 1996, Bongiorno was made a Commander of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus by Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, the last Crown Prince of the former Kingdom of Italy, and Head of the House of Savoy. On May 26, 2004, on occasion of his 80th birthday, Bongiorno was appointed a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by the then Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. Honorary degree In the autumn of 2007, Bongiorno received an Honorary degree in Television, Film and Multimedia production from the IULM University of Milan. Awards 1984 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television quiz "Superflash" on Canale 5 1985 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television quiz "Superflash" on Canale 5 1986 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television quiz "Superflash" on Canale 5 1987 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game show "Pentathlon" on Canale 5 1988 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game quiz "Telemike" on Canale 5 1989 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game quiz "Telemike" on Canale 5 1990 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game quiz "Telemike" on Canale 5 1991 Telegatto - Best TV quiz, for presenting television game quiz "Telemike" on Canale 5 1992 Telegatto - Best quiz and game shows, presenting "La Ruota Della Fortuna", the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune 1993 Telegatto - Best quiz and game shows, presenting "La Ruota Della Fortuna", the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune 1994 Telegatto - Best quiz and game shows, presenting "La Ruota Della Fortuna", the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune 1995 Telegatto - Best quiz and game shows, presenting "La Ruota Della Fortuna", the Italian version of Wheel of Fortune 1996 Telegatto platinum, for a lifelong career (for the 50-year career in television) 1997 Telegatto - Best Music Program, for hosting "Festival della canzone italiana" 2003 Telegatto - What's on TV, for hosting "Grand Prix International TV" 2006 Telegatto platinum, for a lifelong career 2008 Premio Club Santa Chiara, for a lifelong career 2011 Premio America of the Italy-USA Foundation in memory References External links 1924 births 2009 deaths Television personalities from New York City