The hundred years of Gavino Sanna

A century of life and over forty years spent at the service of the University: Gavino Sanna, known to all as "Gavino", crossed the 100-year milestone on 5 April, becoming a living symbol of the historical memory of the University of Sassari.

Having entered the University in 1950, in an Italy still engaged in reconstruction, Sanna began his journey under the guidance of the rector Antonio Segni. From that moment on, a career lasting over four decades took shape, intertwined with the transformations and growth of the University.

From his first roles at the Faculty of Agriculture to his experience at the University of Florence, where he obtained a specialization in general fruit growing, Gavino Sanna has gone through eras and changes, eventually arriving at the Rector's offices. Here he worked alongside generations of rectors, including Pasquale Marginesu, Sergio Costa, Antonio Pau, Carlo Bo and Giovanni Manunta. A particularly close bond united him to the rectorship of Professor Antonio Milella, during which he operated with continuity and competence. He finally concluded his career at the Specialization Schools Office.

Professionalism, sense of duty and discretion: these are the traits that, over the course of forty years, have made it a point of reference for teachers, administrative staff, male and female students. A constant presence, silent but decisive, capable of spanning generations while maintaining its commitment intact.

Born in Nulvi on 5 April 1926 and from Sassari by adoption, father of two daughters and grandfather, Gavino Sanna received one of the most heartfelt awards from the city of Sassari in 2018: the Bronze Candlestick.

Today, at one hundred years old, he continues to stand out for his clarity and vitality, embodying a human and historical heritage that goes beyond his personal story. It is a living memory of an era and testimony to a way of making one's contribution to institutions made of dedication and belonging.

On behalf of the entire academic community, the rector Gavino Mariotti wanted to pay homage to this achievement:
« The centenary of Gavino Sanna represents a moment of great symbolic value for our University. His forty years of service reveal a deep bond with the University of Sassari and embody the spirit of dedication that has always characterized the technical-administrative and library staff. Our most sincere thanks and affectionate wishes go to him ».

A birthday that is not only a personal and family occasion, but also an opportunity to celebrate an entire generation that has contributed, with perseverance and a sense of responsibility, to the history of the University. And which today, through figures like Gavino Sanna, continues to speak to the present.