Giovanni Orrù turned 101 yesterday afternoon in Iglesias, celebrating his centenary. He celebrated this long-awaited milestone at the Santa Lucia nursing home, a few kilometers from the town center, in the company of the facility's staff and other residents. It was a special birthday, marked by the gift of a commemorative plaque donated by the municipal administration and presented by Angela Scarpa, Councilor for Social Policies.
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"Mr. Giovanni, who joyfully celebrated his 101st birthday, achieved an extraordinary milestone," says Scarpa. "His long life is a precious memory for the entire community. Mayor Mauro Usai and the municipal administration extend our heartfelt wishes to him, along with special thanks to the Santa Lucia facility and all the staff for the care and affection they show him every day."
Giovanni Orrù's life is one worthy of a book. Born in Gadoni in 1924 into a humble family and moving to Meana Sardo at a young age, Orrù lost his father at just 15. From that moment on, he began taking on all sorts of jobs to support his family, which consisted of two brothers and two sisters. At 22, he moved to Iglesias with his family and began working in the Monteponi mine. Married but childless, he suddenly became a widower at the age of sixty. Despite the pain, his desire to work never wavered: until he was 85, he continued to travel to the countryside for small jobs.
Today, due to his advanced age, Orrù requires assistance and lives in a nursing home. His positive spirit, however, has not faded: "At 99, he was still walking and independent," says Valentina Zucca, the facility's director. "He's a very lively grandpa: he loves to sing, and we're all happy and honored to be able to celebrate with him."