Vincent Paul "Vince" Mancini

1937 - 2024

Vincent Paul "Vince" Mancini

June 26, 1937- April 27, 2024

Salt Lake City, Utah-Beloved husband and father, Vincent Paul "Vince" Mancini passed away peacefully at home on April 27, 2024, with his loving wife of 45 years Janet and family by his side, at the age of 86.

Vince was born in Wooster, Ohio on June 26, 1937, to Vincent James and Pauline A. (Sorenson) Mancini, and spent his early years in Wooster, Reno, Nevada and Duluth, Minnesota-all of which he felt were great places to grow up. He developed an early love for the outdoors: camping, fishing and hunting with his friends at every opportunity. Vince was an energetic and ambitious child who had a strong work ethic and an innate sense of entrepreneurship. At the age of seven he sold newspapers in Wooster and trapped muskrats on his uncle's farm. He and his sister, Bella, would harvest produce from their father's garden and sell it door to door. In Reno he had a large paper route, mowed lawns and continued trapping muskrats, the pelts of which he now sold to Sears Roebuck. As a teen in Duluth, he worked at a service station and was quickly made a manager. These early endeavors helped hone his innate sales and time management skills. Vince was very proud of the fact that he never took an allowance from his parents. After his junior year in high school Vince enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve. Following his 1955 graduation from East High School in Duluth, Vince attended the University of Minnesota at Duluth.

In 1957, Vince began what became a remarkable career in the grocery industry with an entry-level position at Chun King Chinese Foods, founded by legendary businessman Jeno Paulucci. Despite success and rapid advancement at Chun King, the entrepreneur in Vince longed for something more. In 1962 he moved his young family to Salt Lake City, Utah and founded V. Mancini & Company Food Brokerage. Before long, his drive and work ethic turned the fledgling company into a flourishing enterprise. Recognizing opportunities was one of Vince's strongest assets. He enlisted one of his first employees, Paul Groesbeck, to open a branch office in Seattle, Washington. The enterprise grew quickly and was renamed Mancini & Groesbeck with offices in eight states (UT, ID, WA, OR, CO, MT, CA and AZ). In terms of geography, it was the largest food brokerage in the country at the time. Over the years his companies won numerous Broker of the Year awards, and Vince served on several advisory boards and was widely recognized as an innovator and a leader in the grocery industry. Vince retired in 2002. The company continues to thrive under the direction of Vince's son Tad, and now operates under the banner of Mancini Rodon Group.

When a planned hunt in Mexico was canceled at the last minute, Vince and 3 friends rerouted to Acapulco. It was there that Vince met the woman who would become his forever copilot, Janet Kirkaldy, a Canadian banker who was there on vacation. Vince and Janet were married on May 25, 1978, and they spent the next 45 years navigating life's adventures together. True partners, they were rarely apart and loved being with each other. Janet was Vince's confidante, soulmate, and best friend-terms that only begin to capture their profound bond. She was the steady hand that kept their world of family, work, home, and hobbies in balance. Her support and organizational prowess were indispensable, she was truly the "wind beneath his wings."

Vince's life was a tapestry of varied pursuits and interests, which reflected his vibrant personality. His true passion, after his wife and family, was aviation. He started flying at the age of 22 and over the years earned certification on several types of aircraft: multi-engine, amphibious, turbine and even a WWII era fighter trainer. Logging nearly 9,000 hours at the controls he was an accomplished and well-respected pilot. Vince often stated that aviation took him to places he wouldn't have otherwise seen and introduced him to people he wouldn't have otherwise met. This love of flight was a key aspect of his life and adventures with Janet, exploring the scenic beauty of the United States, Canada and Mexico together. It also allowed them to easily travel to two of their favorite places: McCall, Idaho and Palm Springs, California, where they cherished time spent with family and close friends. When not in the air, Vince enjoyed spending time at the airport with his fellow pilots, swapping stories, discussing the capabilities of different aircraft and generally sharing their joy of flinging themselves into the sky unfettered and free.

Vince loved food, and was an adventurous eater, eagerly trying out new and different cuisines. More than eating though, he really enjoyed cooking and was an outstanding chef. Like everything else he did, Vince threw himself into the culinary arts with full passion and commitment. It was about more than just the preparation though. Vince and Janet loved the sharing of good meals with friends and relatives. They especially enjoyed preparing a feast for the entire family on holidays and special occasions. He derived special pleasure from sharing his knowledge with his grandchildren: teaching them how to make fresh pasta from scratch or homemade sausage from the Mancini family recipe handed down for generations.

Vince took immense pride in his eight grandchildren and cherished every moment spent with them. He captivated them with stories, blending wisdom with laughter, and was a regular presence at their sporting events, recitals, and graduations, taking great pride in their accomplishments. As they grew, Vince assumed the role of a valued mentor, offering guidance and counsel on important life decisions.

Vince's life-long love for the outdoors never waned and throughout his life he continued to hunt, fish and camp. He and Janet also enjoyed hiking together, and never tired of their regular outings to City Creek Canyon in Salt Lake, the mountain lakes of Idaho and the trails of the Agua Caliente Reservation near Palm Springs.

Beyond his hobbies, Vince had a uniquely engaging personality. An avid reader with an inquisitive nature, he was a great conversationalist. He enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life and was genuinely interested in learning about their lives, experiences and families. With a ready smile and sparkling blue eyes, Vince quickly put people at ease. From cab driver to corporate CEO, he was gifted at making all feel relaxed and comfortable.

Those who had the good fortune to know Vince will always treasure his friendship and the wonderful times they had in his and Janet's company. Although he has joined the formation of those whose final flight preceded his, and is now soaring free of earthly pain, he will forever remain in the hearts of all those who knew and loved him.

Vince was preceded in death by his parents Vincent and Pauline, his brother Ken and his father and mother-in-law, Ken and Dorothea Kirkaldy.

He is survived by his loving wife Janet and his five children from a previous marriage: Vincent "Tad" (Mary), Chris (Sharon), Tim (Kassi), Mark (Anna), Judy (Adam) Warden. Additionally, he leaves behind 8 grandchildren: Megan (Adam), Mikelle, Vince, Emmi, Joey, Abbi, Hailey and A.J, and 2 great grandchildren Sloan and Finn. He is also survived by a sister Bella, a brother Michael, sister-in-law Barb (Fred), brother-in-law Doug and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial for Vince will be held on May 13, 2024, at Larkin Mortuary 260 E South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT. Visitation will begin at 2:00PM and memorial services at 3:00PM. A private burial will be held at a later date.

To watch the services live or view the recording, please refer to Larkin Mortuary's website.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Vince's memory to The Huntsman Cancer Foundation would be appreciated.