by InTrieste
The gymnasium at the Giotti-Stuparich schools in Trieste, recently renovated, will be named after the journalist Giovanni Cernoia, a longtime press officer for the municipality who died on January 12, 2024. The decision was approved this week following a proposal by Elisa Lodi, a city councilor.
Born in 1963, Mr. Cernoia — known to colleagues as Gianni — began working at City Hall at the age of 21. By the following year, he had become a professional journalist and went on to play a central role in the municipality’s press office, where he spent decades shaping public communication.
Alongside his professional work, Mr. Cernoia maintained a strong interest in soccer and amateur sports. City officials said the choice to dedicate the newly refurbished school gymnasium to his memory reflects that passion, linking his legacy to a space used daily by young people.
The dedication has been welcomed by colleagues in the city’s Information and Open Government service, as well as by its director, Vittorio Sgueglia della Marra.
Ms. Lodi recalled Mr. Cernoia as a generous and thoughtful professional. When she first began working at City Hall, she said, his guidance proved invaluable, particularly in managing press communications and navigating relationships with the media. She added that she hoped the many students who will use the gym would come to know and remember his contribution.
