Vince Giovannotto was a rare combination of things to me: friend, former CEO (at Rentals.com, before it was acquired) and former landlord (through Vittoria Management), and, for a period, all at the same time -- stop and think for a moment if anyone outside of your parents has simultaneously occupied so many important roles in your daily life (and then ask if you are still good friends with them!).
Vince Giovannotto passed away unexpectedly two weeks ago at only 38 years old, and his family and friends gathered for a memorial to honor his life yesterday. It is a true measure of how many people's lives he touched when a standing room only crowd of over 500 people showed up to pay their respects, including Frank Quattrone, property managers, local politicians, firemen, policemen, Internet CEOs, star engineers, etc. While there were many intense and heartfelt moments (there wasn't a dry eye in the room after his father Sal's cri de coeur), ultimately it was a celebration of Vince's life, times and his impact on everyone around him. He leaves behind a wife and three young children and will be dearly missed.
Below is the Palo Alto Weekly obituary.
Vincenzo "Vince" Giovannotto passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep on February 18, 2007, of natural causes. He was just 38 years of age. A beloved father of three, husband, eldest son, brother and friend, Vince will be dearly missed. Vince was born on May 6, 1968, in Carmel, California, the first child of Sal and Stella Giovannotto. When Vince was born, Sal was so excited that the delivery room nurse told Sal that he needn’t bother telephoning his father in Sicily with the news, as his joyous shouting could surely be heard across the ocean. A lifelong resident of Palo Alto, Vince grew to become a pillar of his family, his community and his industry.
As the chief executive of Vittoria Management, a firm that focuses on the acquisition and management of real estate properties, Vince presided over the largest expansion in the company’s thirty year history. Under his leadership, Vittoria Management rapidly grew beyond its Bay Area roots into most major California markets and into new real estate asset classes. At the same time, Vince pioneered the use of computer and Internet technology to manage and market residential real estate, demonstrating his techniques to heads of real estate investment trusts and public corporations. In recognition of these achievements, last year Vince became the youngest Board Member of the Tri-County Apartment Association. All the while, Vince maintained a ceaselessly positive and amiable disposition, as epitomized by his playful “Apt Guy” license plates.
Vince’s boundless energy spilled over into community involvement. Youth athletics could count on him as a reliable sponsor and coach of baseball and soccer teams. Local schools could count on him for loyal support and generosity with his time. And everyone within earshot could count on Vince for the daily gift of warm smiles, gentle humor and sincere words of encouragement.
Above all else, Vince believed in the value of family and in carrying forward the traditions of his Sicilian heritage. The strength of this devotion served as the common thread that tightly wove the family together. How appropriate that the final conversation in his too short life was a late night telephone call to insist that a family lunch be held prior to his sister’s return journey to the East Coast.
A memorial for Vince Giovannotto will be held at 1:30 PM, Sunday, March 11th, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. In lieu of other expressions of condolence, the family kindly requests that attendees bring photos or stories to document his character for the future reference of his young children Salvatore, Hannah and Massimo. The family wishes to thank all of those who have shared so much of their compassion and love through this time of immense sadness.
