Obituary
James Edward "Ed" LaGuardia,
1947-2016
Ed went to be with the Lord on New Year's Eve morning. He passed away in the comfort of his own home. He was born June 21, 1947 to James Vincent LaGuardia and Dorothy "June" LaGuardia, in Oakland California. Ed graduated from the University of San Francisco and shortly after was employed as their Director of Development. Ed created the annual giving programs that are currently in place today.
Ed was recruited by the University of San Diego as Director of Development where he acquired his Masters in business. He then went full-time into fundraising for his family in commercial real estate with Grubb and Ellis. There he performed as one of the top salesman for over 25 years, until he retired.
Ed brought his family to Utah, in the very early 1990s. Having had a minor in history, he had a strong love for his Italian cultural heritage. Coming from San Francisco, where the Italian community is a highly visible group, Ed began to look for the Italian community in Salt Lake City. Believing they deserved recognition he started the Italian Center Of The West, hosting free lecture series on Italian culture. In early 2000 he stared the first Italian street fair "Ferragosto" open to the public in downtown Salt Lake City. He would say,"you just had to have an "Italian heart " you do not have to be Italian" to attend!
Gathering many Italian historical stories. Ed started working on producing documentaries to preserve and share this almost lost Italian history. As the president of the Italian Center Of The West, Ed was currently working with the producing of the Italian POW's in Utah documentary. Even though he was failing fast Ed was aware and excited about this dream coming forward. Ed was preceded in death by his sister Patricia Ann Murray. Ed is survived by his parents,
sister Julia Ann Brehm, Wife, married to "Jinger" Virginia Alane Bennett 1976, and their three children. First daughter Regena Nicole LaGuardia Persinger, husband Michael James Persinger,
children Angelina Nicole, Christopher James, Victoria Isabella Persinger. Second daughter Genevieve Antoinnette LaGuardia Boggi husband Bruno Boggi children, Sienna Nikole, and Christian Alexander Boggi. Son, James Anthony LaGuardia, married to Autumn Patricia Palmer LaGuardia, soon to give Ed his 6th grandchild this May, a son.
As a son, husband, father, businessman and friend, Ed transcended the values and love of God. His generosity and joy of giving was unprecedented and will be remembered for generations - he will be missed.
A celebration of life Mass, will be said January 14, 11 o'clock at Saint Ambrose, 2315 East Redondo Ave. Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 and will be live streamed, on YouTube through the Italian Center, "Utah Cultural News" link (www.youtube.com/channel/UCiiFtjXbKq64ABbsaKd3hTg<http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiiFtjXbKq64ABbsaKd3hTg>)
In lieu of flowers online contributions to Ed's project of preserving the Italian POW history can be donated at (www.UtahCulturalNews.com <http://www.UtahCulturalNews.com> ) Or mailed to ICW, PO. Box 3802, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-3802 and is tax deductible
Thank you.
