Vito Pascucci, 80; Founded Instrument Maker G. Leblanc

Vito Pascucci, founder and chairman of G. Leblanc Corp., which manufactures musical instruments, died Monday in Kenosha, Wis. He was 80.

Pascucci learned to play trumpet as a student in Kenosha’s public schools and, while serving in the Army during World War II, was assigned to care for and maintain the musical instruments for the Glenn Miller Army Air Corps Band.

While serving in France, Pascucci befriended Leon Leblanc, head of an instrument-making company dating to 1750.

He learned manufacturing techniques from Leblanc and after the war started a branch of the company in Kenosha, which grew into a nine-brand corporation with 450 employees in the United States and Europe.

Brian Majeski, editor of Music Trades magazine, said Pascucci was a key figure in reviving music industry sales after the war, working with retailers to create the concept of instrument rentals for schoolchildren.