The Biography of Elvira Ruocco  (by Elvira Ruocco)  Chapter 6

Starting off in Arese

I let people who read the previous chapters imagine what did it mean for an Alfista like me to leave the Portello site for Arese. Before I begun, I drove there for a reconnaissance tour. I had been struck by the Technical Centre, one of the most beautiful works of the Architect Ignazio Gardella, Genoese by family but Milanese by birth. When some years later I was in charge of the Archive reorganization, I found a hundred drawings including technical details and fitting out schemes for the Technical Centre’s offices, a lot of which have been disclosed in the book “Alfa Romeo. The Architecture Project” published by Abitare Segesta.
As I said, I got an impression of great efficiency, I perceived, and I was then confirmed, that such a building had been thought as a big door towards the factory lying behind made up of sheds of different size, crossed lengthwise by a service backbone, to which it was connected by an external bridge which allowed an easy and quick communication between the departments and the offices. Today, there does not exist any longer any trace of several sheds, they had been torn off.
That was not my new place of work. I begun at the Office District, a couple of kilometres farther, after the tower Silo on which it made a fine show a large sign ligth “Alfa Romeo” that at night-time could be seen from the motorway.
My first work day in Arese stayed in my memory not only because I had been waiting for it for a too long time, but because I was anxious to know what I would have had to do. I remember that I passed a sleepless night, it happens to me always when I have to face a change. On 7:30am I crossed for the first time the gate of the Office District. After a short interview with a personnel manager whose name I do not remember, and during which I managed to get a 8am-5pm working time for family reasons, I was escorted to the offices of the Commercial Vehicles Direction, on the 4th floor, C Block of the house and I was introduced to my new manager, Eng. Parmeggiani. On such occasion, I also met Dr. Enrico Sala, who was at the head of the Sales Division, in the context of which the Commercial Vehicles Direction was framed. It was a friendly encounter, which calmed me and put myself at ease. After many years, that subordinate relation with Dr. Sala turned into a mutual respect which still carries on today that I left Alfa.
In a sunny and modern office through the large windows of which one could see the Museum, I was partnered to Mr. Apino, who was the person in charge of vehicle assignments to the various branches. My assignment was to wirite and send the confirmation facsimiles with the technical specifications of the vehicles which were produced in Pomigliano. It was a repetitive and non-stirring job, but there was also another reason that forced me, after almost one year, to ask newly to change. But about this I will tell you in the next episode.

Elvira Ruocco