Public celebration of life planned for Laguna activist, philanthropist and publisher Vernon Spitaleri, 94
The family of Laguna Beach resident Vernon Spitaleri, an influential businessman, newspaper publisher and philanthropist, will hold a public celebration of his life in late April. Spitaleri died in January at age 94, according to a statement released Friday by the family.
Spitaleri’s influence stretched throughout Laguna. The World War II veteran, engineer, singer, dancer and sailor served as president of several organizations during important periods in their histories.
Kris Spitaleri, one of Vernon and his wife, Cherry’s, four children, called his father an “incredible leader.”
“Anytime anything in this town needed doing, he said he can help get it done,” Kris Spitaleri said, referring to his dad.
Take the South Coast Medical Center — now Mission Hospital.
Vernon Spitaleri was among a dozen people who raised money and pushed for development of a hospital in the city in the 1950s after a Laguna Beach police officer bled to death of a gunshot wound on his way to an Anaheim hospital, according to a 1997 Los Angeles Times article.
As Laguna considered purchasing land for a park, Spitaleri arranged a meeting at his house between city leaders and various landowners, his son said. The city eventually succeeded in acquiring property at Main Beach for a park in 1968.
In the 1990s, as president of Motivated Museum Members, Spitaleri led the rallying cry to unravel the merger between Laguna Art Museum and the Newport Harbor Art Museum.
The merger was short-lived. The two sides settled and Laguna Art Museum regained its independence.
“He was a tireless advocate for saving the art museum,” said attorney Jim McQueen, who represented the Motivated Museum Members, adding that Spitaleri held “countless” meetings at his house to discuss the issue.
“Such a fabulous city deserves everything we can do,” Spitaleri told the Coastline Pilot in 2010. “I hope I can do more before I cash it all in.”
Spitaleri was born in 1922 in New York to immigrant parents who instilled in him a love of music and also taught him business skills and the value of a good work ethic, the family statement said. Nightly family entertainment included Spitaleri and his two sisters playing instruments and singing.
At 16, Spitaleri entered Carnegie Mellon University and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
The president of the Juilliard School in New York invited Spitaleri to study at the acclaimed performing arts conservatory, which he did for two years, developing a “beautiful lyrical baritone,” the statement said. Spitaleri sang at Carnegie Hall and in churches and synagogues. He also performed in musicals.
Opera was particularly dear to Spitaleri.
He honed his leadership skills in the U.S. military, where he commanded a unit of flat-bottomed assault ships designed to land infantry onto beaches during World War II. One of those assaults occurred during the D-Day invasion: Spitaleri led a unit during the first wave of the attack.
Spitaleri received three Purple Hearts, which are presented to soldiers wounded or killed during combat, and a Presidential Unit Citation.
His professional career spanned various industries, including newspapers. Spitaleri held management positions at multiple Fortune 500 companies, along with top-level jobs with the American Newspaper Publishers Assn. and Knight Ridder. He was founding director and president of Suburban Newspapers of America.
Locally, Spitaleri was editor and publisher of the Laguna News Post, a combination of the South Coast News and Laguna Post, from 1967 to 1981.
His contributions to Laguna spurred then-Mayor Elizabeth Pearson in 2010 to declare Jan. 22 Vernon Spitaleri Day.
Spitaleri enjoyed people, his son said.
“Money did not define who he hanged out with,” Kris Spitaleri said. “He always said, ‘Everyone is a good person, a decent person, unless you prove him wrong.’”
Some of his mantras, according to the family’s statement, included: “Always be fair and honest; treat people with respect; and society gives to us, so give back to society.”
For more information on attending the April 29 celebration in Laguna Beach to honor Spitaleri, email mspitaleri@aol.com.
Spitaleri is survived by his wife, sons Marc, Kris and Eric, daughter Lynn, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to charitable organizations such as the Laguna Beach Historical Society, Pacific Wildlife Project and Idyllwild Arts Academy.
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
