A father named Brisa: "Brigidi and the pug: in the eyes of the people of Pesaro, they were one and the same."

Brigidi

It was 2010 when my father, Sauro Brigidi, received an award as former editor-in-chief of the Pesaro edition and was immortalized for the occasion alongside his successor, Paolo Nonni, in a snapshot that still survives among the many articles and mementos. Today, for the newspaper's 140th anniversary, I've been asked to tell the story of my father, and I'd like to start from a time when neither I nor my sisters Gloria and Roberta were born, and his career—or rather, his desire to become a journalist—was just beginning.

A reading of his typewritten CV reveals his extraordinary passion for the profession, along with some of his most distinctive character traits: tenacity and perseverance in realizing his dream of writing. He listed his first experiences in journalism, beginning in 1941, at just 17 years old, with local news articles. After completing his studies, he devoted himself to other activities, including that of an elementary school teacher, of which he was always very proud, leading to his first collaborations with the Resto del Carlino. Initially, these were brief substitutes for editors on vacation or illness, but he nevertheless devoted himself to journalism with the hope of being hired permanently, as evidenced by these words with which he concluded his CV in the late 1950s: "Now he would like to secure a stable position within the 'Resto del Carlino' family, aiming solely at the profession of journalism."

In 1965, he was hired as a professional journalist and for 20 years served as editor-in-chief of the city's edition in Pesaro, becoming known to the people of Pesaro at the time as "Il Carlino." Among the typewritten letters still preserved, those he sent to the directors and editors-in-chief of "Il Carlino" stand out, demonstrating his patience and tenacity in realizing his dream. Also noteworthy are those he received from prominent figures such as Giovanni Spadolini and Enzo Biagi, who served as editors of "Il Resto del Carlino" from 1955 to 1968 and from 1970 to 1971, respectively, and which demonstrate their mutual respect and affection.

During the early years of our still-young family, the newspaper's editorial office was on the same landing as the apartment where we lived, and Dad's activities piqued our curiosity as children. Then the editorial office moved, and visits to the newspaper's offices in Piazzale Matteotti gave us the opportunity to learn about the intricate layouts of Pesaro's news, the lively discussions with collaborators, and even the "mysterious" machine, the teletype that daily transmitted the final layout of "Carlino Pesaro" to Bologna.

Sauro Brigidi, curious and consistent, was always deeply in love with his Pesaro, which he painted with brief brushstrokes from the beginning of his career in "Taccuino di città," a column particularly appreciated by readers who, as they do today, enjoy reading the journalists' brief reflections and insightful commentaries alongside the news. Even after retiring, he couldn't tear himself away from "his" newspaper, which he devoted to reading first thing in the morning, before hopping on his bicycle to cross the editorial door once again and find a way to have his say. Then, with childlike amazement, he became familiar with the computer, writing concise and witty lines that shed light on the city's shadows and demonstrated to readers that "Brisa" was still attentive and eager to care for his Pesaro.