Palermo bids farewell to Salvatore Pezzino: the entrepreneurship world loses the printer of Sellerio’s masterpieces

Last Updated: March 17, 2024

Palermo, addio a Salvatore Pezzino: il mondo dell'imprenditoria perde lo stampatore dei capolavori della Sellerio

The entrepreneurship world in Palermo is in mourning, following the passing of one of the noblest representatives of the typographic art. At the age of 84, Salvatore Pezzino has died, having spent his life printing books, magazines, and much more. He was the third generation of the family who founded the Arti Grafiche in 1913, based on an idea from Salvatore’s grandmother. The typography has long been the driving force of the city’s culture.

This tradition is now called Officine Grafiche, a cooperative since 2012 after merging with another company. Salvatore’s son, Cristoforo, known as Cris, now works there. The Officine Grafiche is located on Prospero Favier Street, in the industrial area of Brancaccio, and continues the work started many years ago by Salvatore Pezzino, printing, among other things, the magazine Il Gattopardo and books from the Sellerio publishing house. A grandfather of two, he leaves behind his wife and two children.

“My father was a workhorse, the first in and the last out. It is often said, but in his case it is all true,” recalls Cris Pezzino, moved. “He had an absolute dedication to his work, felt the weight of tradition and family, and carried everything forward with great commitment, professionalism, and courage. He worked until he was 80, always came to the company, and always wanted to know everything. Then, after Covid, he enjoyed some rest, but he was still the soul of Officine Grafiche.”