Citizenship and politics in Dronera are in mourning for the death of Professor Sergio Rebuffo, for years the municipal administrator and a leading figure in the local Christian Democracy. For some time ill, his health conditions have worsened in recent weeks. The death occurred yesterday morning at the “Carle” hospital in Cuneo, where he had been hospitalized since before Christmas. Born in 1941, his father, Giuseppe, an entrepreneur in the wood sector, was the owner of an important sawmill in Dronero. As a young man, a frequent visitor to the Salesian Oratory (with fond memories that always moved him) he had been a very good football player. Sporting passion that had led him to also wear the Pro Dronero jersey, with the role of stopper and captain’s armband. Career that was also affected by a serious injury during a match at the “Paschiero” stadium in Cuneo, in front of the eyes of mother Giovanna and sister Laura.
Sergio Rebuffo entered for the first time in the municipal council of Dronero in June 1970, in a list of independents, with the administration of the mayor Umberto Clerici. List then merged into the DC. He had therefore been part of four successive administrations led by the mayors Enrico Conte (1975-1985), Pier Giuseppe Reineri (1985-1990) and Gianfranco Donadio-Valter Perano (1990-1995). He held the positions of deputy mayor and councilor, with delegations to Agriculture, Public Works and Sports. He was the promoter of numerous initiatives, such as the twinning with the Tuscan town of Castelnuovo Garfagnana, the historic running event Palio dei Rioni, the construction of the cycle path towards the hamlet of Monastero. He was also responsible for placing panels at the entrance and exit of the town with the words «Welcome to Dronero», «Dronero greets you, goodbye», an absolute novelty for those times. Together with other administration colleagues, such as Paolo Riba and Gianfranco Donadio, in the 1970s he conceived, edited and hosted for Radio Stereo 5 the very popular weekly radio program «News from Dronero and Valle Maira», with numerous guests in the studio including Giovanni Pellegrino «Pajalunga».
Graduated in Agriculture, Sergio Rebuffo taught Estimation to the student surveyors of the Bonelli Institute in Cuneo. After leaving school he devoted himself full time – with passion and ingenuity – to the family farm, in the hamlet of San Maurizio, then carried on by his son Alessandro.
He leaves his wife Teresa, his children Alessandro and Daniela (employee of the Municipality of Saluzzo and municipal councilor in Dronero) and his beloved grandchildren. The funeral today (Friday 31 December), at 4 pm, in the parish church of Dronero.