Friends Rally to Help an Ill Benefactor

St. Mary’s School students set aside their studies Thursday to paint tiles for a special friend who is battling cancer and has no medical insurance.

Paul Codispoti, well known owner of Giovanni’s pizza parlor on Williamson Avenue, “is the most generous man we’ve ever known, so I canceled all classes today to do this for him,” said Assistant Principal Elsa Barrios.

The pupils each paid $12 to paint the tiles as part of a weekend fund-raiser for Codispoti. The tiles will be mounted on a wall at Giovanni’s next month and the proceeds given to the restaurateur to help pay his medical bills.

Play in the Mud, the tile business that is sponsoring the “Wall for Paul” fund-raiser, has been flooded with phone calls from people who want to participate. Play in the Mud owner Pam Stegall expects the event to raise about $2,000.

She described Codispoti, 47, as “a man who has consistently given of himself by supporting youth sports organizations, Boys and Girls clubs . . . and the interests of children in the community.” Residents now want to give something back, she said.

Student Amber McCall, who painted “Thank you Paul” on her tile, said she doesn’t know Codispoti but has benefited from his generosity. “He supports our school and gives his money, and now he doesn’t have any money for his hospital bills,” the 8-year-old girl said. “He is very ill, and I want him to get better because he is a good man.”

The plight of Codispoti, the Chamber of Commerce’s Man of the Year for 1989, is also drawing an outpouring of support from public schools and sports teams.

“The whole community is uniting behind someone who has given of himself and has never asked or expected anything in return,” said friend Tom Knoll.

Codispoti, who has begun chemotherapy treatments for cancer of the lung, liver and colon, was denied medical insurance because he has diabetes.

Over the years he has donated money, meals and free pizza coupons to worthy causes in town as part of his advertising strategy, Codispoti said.

He said he is deeply grateful for the community’s support and is stunned that so many people want to help him. “I’m really amazed,” he said.

Those who know him, however, say they are not surprised.

“Paul is a very shy man, but he’s got a heart of gold, and his heart certainly isn’t shy,” Barrios said.

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How to Help

The public may take part in the following fund-raising events for Fullerton resident Paul Codispoti, who has cancer:

* “Wall for Paul” at St. Mary’s School and at Play in the Mud, 400 and 418 Commonwealth Ave., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Sunday. A $12 donation is suggested. Information: (714) 680-4367.

* Dinner and auction, MG Disposal, 201 S. Balcom Ave., 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 8. Tickets are $50. Information: (714) 871-1967.

* Musical performance by Orange Empire Chorus, several school choirs and Fullerton College’s Lemon Street Stompers, 7 p.m. Dec. 12, Pacific Christian College, 2500 E. Nutwood Ave. Admission is $10 per person. Information: (714) 879-9628.

* Donations also may be sent to the Paul Codispoti Fund, Fullerton Savings Bank, 200 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832.

Source: Individual programs; Researched by MIMI KO CRUZ / For The Times