Henry A. "Hank" Macchio

Henry Andrew Macchio Henry "Hank" A. Macchio, age 70, of Solvang, passed away suddenly, Wednesday, April 14, 2010 of a heart attack while walking with friends in Santa Ynez. He was born in New York City, NY on October 6, 1939 to Henry and Helen Macchio. Hank graduated from Manhattan College in 1960 with a BEE in engineering and 1962 he earned a Masters Degree in electrical engineering from New York University (NYU) in NY. He continued at NYU and completed extensive pre-Doctoral work in Operations Research. He was a senior telecommunications executive with more than 40 years in the industry. His career spanned international and domestic telecommunications with experience in wireless communications, satellite communications, cellular telephony, fiber optics, and switching systems. He had a combined 13 year career with International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) and Hughes Network Systems. In 1990 Hank was a co-founder and charter member of the Irwin and Joan Jacobs School of Engineering at University of California San Diego. Later, he was recruited as President and CEO of UC Wireless (now WI-LAN Technologies in Calgary, Canada). In 1994 he served as General Chairman of the IEEE International Conference on Universal Personal Communications in San Diego. He was recruited to UC Wireless in Santa Barbara as President and CEO. Later he negotiated the sale of that company to WI-LAN Technologies in Calgary, Alberta where he served as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. He recently founded and President of Trilogy Enterprises, LLC. Hank was a board member of VISTAS Lifelong Learning; an avid golfer, member of the Janin Acres Hiking Club, and the Winchester Canyon Gun Club. He also was very active in the RCIA program at Old Mission Santa Ines, where he was a Lector. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of 47 years, and his children, Dianna, Elena and Henry. His sons-in-law David and Michael and his daughter-in-law Kelley. He is Gramps to 5 grandchildren, Lindsay, Henry, Max, Paul, and Vincent; his sister, Elaine Caligiuri, and many nieces and nephews. Rosary/Vigil was held on Monday, April 19th, 7 PM, at San Lorenzo Seminary in Santa Ynez. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, April 20th, 9:30 AM, at Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Mission Santa Ines Council, P.O. Box 408, Solvang, CA, 93464. Loper Funeral Chapel, Directors