His sufferings of a life on the margins of society ended last year, but no one in Capoterra has forgotten the man who lived for months in a car parked on Maddalena beach. Luigi Dessì , originally from Serramanna, died at 79 in September 2024 in a nursing home in the Oristano area. All that remains is his old car, still parked on municipal land, and a countless number of items, which will now be sold by those who helped him, with the proceeds going to Caritas.
Watches and comics
Twenty-five watches, a slew of work tools, coffee makers, binoculars, cameras, 155 Tex Willer comics, and even a model of the Eiffel Tower: only those who met him at least once can understand how Luigi Dessì managed to cram so much stuff into the cabin of his station wagon. Giovanni Ruggeri, condominium administrator of Maddalena Spiaggia and owner of the pizzeria overlooking Viale Sant'Efisio, has organized a meeting for Sunday at 5 p.m. to exchange Luigi Dessì's little "treasure" for donations to support those less fortunate: "A year has passed since his death, but the memory of Uncle Luigi, as everyone now called him, lives on in the memories of those who knew him, listened to his story, and reached out to him. After his hospitalization, his car was transferred to a municipal construction site: in the presence of the local police commander, Roberta Maxia, I emptied the cabin and compiled an inventory before taking everything over. It's incredible how much stuff he had accumulated in there; much was thrown away, but the small objects that marked his daily life were saved and boxed up. The intrinsic value isn't great, but each of those objects belonged to a good and lonely man, and the end of his life should give us pause for thought.
Solidarity
The decision to give a new lease on life to Uncle Luigi's belongings stems from a desire to offer a small helping hand to those who, every day, devote themselves to helping the invisible, those society refuses to see: "I don't know how much we'll be able to raise," Ruggeri admits, "but we'll donate every cent to Caritas, to help other Luigi Dessìs." Commander Roberta Maxia applauds the idea of holding a small auction to resell the items of the elderly man who lived in Maddalena: "I remember his story well, and I'm sorry for how things turned out. I think giving a new lease on life to his belongings and helping those in need is a good way to remember him."
