Alexander Marino Vagliano

Alexander Marino Vagliano died at home in Norfolk on Thursday, (November 13, 2003) of complications of diabetes. He was born in Paris, France, on March 15, 1927, to Barbara Gallatin Allen Vagliano and Andre Marino Vagliano. He came to the United States in 1940, and was naturalized in 1945 after service in the United States Army. He was a graduate of St. Paul's School, Harvard College, and Harvard law School cum laude. He served six years as an associate at White and Case in New York before joining JP Morgan and Co. as Assistant Treasurer. He became a vice-president of Morgan Guaranty Trust Co., and held a number of executive positions with Morgan, including as CEO of Banca Vonwiller in Milan, Italy. He also served as Director of the Office of Capital Development and Finance for the Near East and South Asia in the Agency for International Development during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. In January 1981, he was one of twelve bankers who, on the eve of Reagan's inauguration, negotiated the release of frozen Iranian assets in American banks in exchange for the return of 53 American citizens being held hostage in Iran. One of the hostages was his cousin Moorehead Kennedy. He retired later that year from Morgan as Executive Vice President and head of the International Division. After his retirement from Morgan in 1981, Mr. Vagliano became a sheep farmer in Norfolk. His business associations included the presidency of Sunset Ridge Farm Inc., directorships of Michelin Finance Corp., Holographics Inc., Equity Linked investors, First Los Angeles Bank, and Moller Steamship Co. Mr. Vagliano served as the President of the Parks Council of New York, trustee of the Institute for French Studies at New York University, founding trustee of The French-American Foundation, governor of the Atlantic Institute for International Affairs, trustee of the Council for Excellence in Government, and adviser to the Yale Center for Economic Growth. The French government awarded him the rank of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, The Brook, and the Planning and Zoning Commission of Norfolk. He is survived by his wife, Sara Ector Vagliano; his children, Barbara, Andre and Justin Vagliano; a step-son, Dan Via; a sister, Lally Segard; and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Norfolk Library on the Village Green in Norfolk at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 6. The family will also receive friends in New York City at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to the Norfolk Library, Norfolk, CT 06058, or to Foothills Visiting Nurse and Home Care, 32 Union Street, Winsted, CT 06098.