Vincent L. Lombardi

1932 - 2020

Vincent L. Lombardi

Carlsbad, CA - On Dec. 27, 2020 Vincent L. Lombardi, loving husband and father of four children passed away at the age of 88, at home in Carlsbad, CA in the loving care of his family. Vince was born on Nov. 25, 1932 in Providence, R.I. He was the second child born to Domenic and Elvera Lombardi of West Warwick, R.I.

The importance of work was instilled in Vince at an early age. Most of the adult males in the family were serving in the military in WWII. This left the running of his grandmother's and family dairy farm to a very few. So, before going to school, in the wee hours of the morning, he would help his father deliver milk to their customers. In summer he toiled on the endless rows of planted vegetables before sending them to market. In 1954 he received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of R.I. Soon after graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His orders were that he was to be stationed in France for two years. Prior to leaving he married Margaret (Peg) Petrarca. He returned to civilian life upon completion of his military duty and began working for the Corp of Engineers in the Boston area. He, at this time, began to feel that he wanted something more than a job as an engineer. Thus, began his pursuit of higher education with his enrollment in a masters program at his alma mater, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. In 1962 he began teaching at Michigan State University as an instructor in the Dept. of Social Science. He retired in 2006, Prof. Emeritus, Dept. of Psychology and Integrative Studies. In addition to scholarly writings he published two works of non-fiction and one of fiction. He spent sabbaticals doing research in England and Italy. Taught several undergraduate overseas programs in both the U.K. and Italy. He loved teaching at Michigan State and shaping the minds of University students. He covered a wide array of topics in his classes and enjoyed pushing his students to expand their view of the world, be open-minded, think for themselves, and delve into difficult topics that could apply to day-to-day life and current events. He cared very deeply for teaching and making a difference in the world. In 1971 Vince and Peg bought 13 acres bordering the Rose Lake conservation area. Perhaps it was reminiscent of the childhood days spent on grandmother Lombardi's farm that he wanted to complement his academic life with a small working farm. Summer days were filled with mowing grass with the old John Deere tractor, cultivating a huge garden and being in and enjoying nature. He especially enjoyed walking to the pond to feed the fish. They were able to sense the vibration of his steps and that would bring them close to the edge of the water where they would wait to be fed handfuls of food. Shortly after his retirement Vince recognized that maintaining the house and acreage would be far more than he and Peg could handle. With the encouragement of friends living in San Diego, they decided to buy a house in Carlsbad, CA. Devoting his life to his family and many students, Vince's compassion, generosity, wisdom and optimism has touched the lives of many and left an indelible and enduring mark. Vince was preceded in death by his parents, two siblings Lillian and Domenic Jr. He is survived by his wife Margaret (Peg), son Bryant Lombardi, Lompoc, CA, daughter Ann Marie Lombardi, M.D. (M.D. Stanton) Louisville, KY, son Thomas Lombardi, M.D. (Janet), Carlsbad, CA, daughter Krista Lombardi (Victor Zuniga) San Diego, CA and grandchildren Matthew and Elena, Dona Lombardi niece, John and Stephen Lombardi nephews and many cousins. In remembrance, donations may be made to West Coast Hospice, address: 3133 Tiger Run Court, Ste. 113, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, for their care and dedication, or UCSF Foundation, Memory and Aging Center (memo line: Fund B 1871), address: P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA, 94145. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.