Vincent Thomas Dipierro

Vincent DiPierro

February 5, 1949 – June 15, 2024

Vince was born February 5,1949 to Angelo and Mildred DiPierro in the French Hospital in New York City.  He grew up in Englewood, New Jersey and at the age of 6, he came to California when his father was sent to open the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 1955.  They lived in West Los Angeles.   Vince attended St Paul the Apostle Grade School, where he was an altar server at St Paul the Apostle Church earning the Gold Sash.  He loved baseball and played in the Pony League.  He went to Norte Dame High School in Sherman Oaks and continued to play baseball as well as run track.  He graduated with the Class of 1967. 

During this time, he was interested in Fast Cars and was a driver for the Ford Racing Team until 1969. His roommate was Graham Hill, who taught him the Art of Fine Dining and Good Wine.  Thus began his interest in collecting wines from Bordeaux.  Back in Los Angeles, he became a member of various wine groups – The Purple Palate, Bacchus, Les Gastronomes, The Grand Cru.  In 1971, he became Director of Catering at The Regent Beverly Wilshire.  In 1974, moved over to the Century Plaza Hotel also as Director of Catering.  During his years at these hotels, he worked with many clients from the entertainment field – Paul Newman, Debbie Reynolds, George Harrison, Madonna, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly – as well as political field – Gerald Ford and Robert Kennedy, Sr. Vince worked with Bobby from March 1968 until that fateful day, June 5th, when he was shot.  It appears he is the only witness to have seen all 8 shots come out of Sirhan's gun when he shot him. 

Vince attended CSUN and graduated with a Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Finance.  Through his entertainment contacts from his days in the hotel industry, he was invited to write for SNL and M*A*S*H TV Series.

In 1977 he joined Warner Brothers Records working his way up to be VP Strategic Sourcing.  He retired in 2001.  While he was WBR, he played golf with his vendors, executives, pros like Jesper Parnevik and in the Chateau Haut-Brion Golf Tournament in June, 1994.

In 1997 he married Renee Moss, who introduced him to classical music; he introduced her to fine dining and red wine.  They also enjoyed traveling.  So they combined all four interests visiting wineries in New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, France and Italy and attended concerts in Leipzig, Germany, where Renee’s mother was born and her great grandfather, Arthur Nikisch, was conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.  They had many dinners and lunches at Chateau Haut-Brion.  Vince had one of their largest collections (over 30,000 bottles).  They met wine makers from Chateau Palmer, Biondi Santi. Gaja, Campagne Duetz, Champagne Veuve Clicquot, Champagne Pol Roger, and Champagne Pierre-Jouet to name a few.  They both loved France so much that they bought an old farmhouse on the Canal du Midi in 1988. They were both very active in various charity wine auctions in Mendocino, San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles.  They were also supporters of the arts and worked with The Soraya at CSUN, Vince’s Alma Mater.

Although retired, he became an advisor for President Obama for eight years and worked with President Biden for three years.

Vince leaves behind his wife, Renee, his cat, Dusty and all the many friends he has made over his 75 years on this earth.

May he Rest in Peace.  He will be missed by all.

In Lieu of Flowers please contribute to SPCALA.com, Friends for Life, or The Concern Foundation, www.concernfoundation.org

Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation at www.mchfoundation.org