When you’ve driven past San Damiano for 45+ years, the place becomes a part of your personal landscape. For this month’s Volunteer Spotlight, we’re thrilled to feature a longtime Monona resident whose dedication, craftsmanship, humor, and heart have helped shape San Damiano from the inside out – Tim Turino.
Recognizing a Treasure Worth Saving
Before San Damiano was officially in the City of Monona’s hands, Tim already knew the property was special. “I was one of many who recognized the value of the property and house immediately,” he says. So when the City closed on the property and asked for help, he jumped in with both feet.
Tim started with the original cleanup crew—hauling trash, pulling up old carpeting, and tackling the long list of repairs needed to get the house and garage into safe, functional shape. Leaks? Fixed. Critter entry points? Sealed. Anything else? He was already on it.
“Volunteering is part of my nature,” Tim says. And with past roles like Monona Youth Dream Park co-founder, Optimist Club President, and Monona Community Festival President, Tim's spent a lifetime stepping up for the community he loves.
Moments That Stand Out
His favorite San Damiano memory? The San Damiano Biergarten earlier this summer, which drew more than 1,500 people.
“That really showed the power of place and how Monona comes together, as well as how well our crew of volunteers worked together,” Tim says.
A close second was giving a detailed tour to board members, walking them through the house’s strengths and weaknesses based on the 100+ hours Tim’s spent inside. His deep hands-on knowledge even helped compare real-time observations with the City’s official status report.
The Magic of San Damiano
Why does this place matter so much to Tim? “It just makes so many people happy,” he says.
Tim’s recommended way to understand San Damiano’s power: “Drop by to see the people watch the sunset. You will see what I mean.”
A Fun (and Unexpected) Fact
Tim once captured eighteen bats inside the house during that first summer after the City’s acquisition – humanely, of course.
“I caught them in the top floor and released them after they promised not to return,” he jokes. The City crew awarded him the title ‘Bat Wrangler,’ and thankfully, the bats have kept their promise.
Life Beyond Volunteering
Now in his 48th year as a chiropractor (currently practicing one day a week), Tim keeps himself more than busy with projects, be it home projects or office building projects, adding that by doing so it seems to be his “…lot in life to keep Menards in business”. He’s also been dubbed “Director of Infrastructure” for his son’s arcade bar on Willy Street.
Looking Ahead: Reimagining the House
What excites Tim most about the future? The day the house – “the jewel of the property” – takes on a vibrant new life.
Once a single-family residence, the house has been “remuddled” as Tim describes it a variety of times through the years by its various owners. Tim looks forward to seeing it “reimagined, functional, and useable in a viable, self-sustaining way.”
We’re beyond grateful for volunteers like him—people who show up, roll up their sleeves, and help bring the promise of San Damiano to life.
If you see Tim around the grounds (or rescuing any stray bats), be sure to say hello!
