Melba Lacayo Figge

July 24, 1922 - January 21, 2015
Melba Lacayo Figge passed away peacefully on January 21, 2015 in Corona Del Mar surrounded by loving family. She is now with Jesus in heaven.
Known for her fun-loving outlook on life, Melba Figge was incredibly loyal to her family, her friends, her church, the University of Southern California and Vin Scully. She was an accomplished photographer/artist who alongside the love of her life, Bill Figge, founded Figge Photography which is still thriving after 70 years in business! Preceding her on the journey to heaven are her parents, Leopoldo and Amelia Lacayo, her brother Leo Jr., her sisters Amelita and Sonia and her beloved husband, Bill.
Melba leaves behind four children. Greg (Melissa), Stephan (Monica), Leslie (Micheal), Eric (Heidi), and adopted daughter Gloria De la Cruz. Also surviving Melba are nine grandchildren. Michael, Tyler, Laura, Erika, Nick, Alex, Brooke, Stephanie and Morgan, along with three great grandchildren (Danica, Erik and Jade), two sisters (the twins, Miriam and Muriel), lifelong friend and companion Emilia Perez (Mimi), and her granddaughter Carina, who both became permanent members of the Figge family, not to mention nieces and nephews, hundreds of friends of all ages and countless people whose lives she touched. If she were here today, she would tell the ladies in the audience, "Tits up!"
Melba Lacayo Figge was born on July 24th, 1922 in Managua, Nicaragua to Leopoldo and Amelia Lacayo. The Lacayos moved to the United States when Melba was a toddler of 18 months and Leopoldo was appointed Vice Consul to the U.S from Nicaragua under Calvin Coolidge. Melba attended Hollywood High School from 1937 to 1941 and had already established herself as a classic beauty and was known for her fabulous sense of humor. In 1941to 1945 Melba attended USC, met the love of her life, William Figge and they married in 1946 after Bill was discharged from the army (having earned a Bronze Star for bravery). Bill and Melba set up housekeeping in Culver City to be near the movie industry (Bill had a degree in Cinematography from USC). The Figges started their family in 1947 with the birth of son, Greg; Stephan came along in 1948. They moved to Glendale and purchased their first home there in 1950. Daughter Leslie was born in 1954 and son Eric in 1957. The Figge family operated out of their home until 1963 when they opened their first studio in Glendale. After the freeway claimed that building, they launched a new, bigger studio in Glendale near the Burbank border and did business there until Bill's untimely death in 1976. That year, the Figges opened a second studio in Newport Beach and operated both studios until 1980 when they moved the business full time to Newport.
Bill and Mel Figge were an internationally known photography team sparked by their association with Playboy magazine. Between 1963 and 1980, the Figges photographed 47 Playmate centerfolds, many with lifelong friend and photographer Ed Delong. Both Bill and Melba achieved Master of Photography from the Professional Photographers of America and continued their close association with USC, donating photography for many of the sports teams, men's and women's. This tradition continues today!
With so many people who she considered friends, Melba was always on the go. After a long day at the studio you could find her in her French class, at the movies or out to dinner with friends. She was such a free spirit and so much fun everyone wanted to hang out with her.
Melba will be sorely missed by all who knew her……….there was only one Melba!
Services will be conducted at St. John Vianney Catholic church on Balboa Island on February 7th at 11:00 o'clock with a reception immediately following at Figge Photography's studio at 250 Newport Center Drive, Suite 104, Newport Beach (Design Plaza near Muldoon's)
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to USC Women's Athletic Scholarship Fund made in her memory and sent to University of Southern California, Ron Orr, Heritage Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90089.