Fulvio de Laval

Fulvio Maria Fragiacomo de Laval passed from this life of 101 years Saturday, May 25, 2013, at his home. His spirit now soars, free from the bondage of a depleted body. Fulvio was born in 1911 in Trieste, Austria (now Italy). He attended the Naval Institute of Trieste until 1927, when his family moved to the United States to escape Mussolini's fascism which they refused to accept.  The family took up residence on the East Coast, where he attended the University of Pennsylvania. He initiated a long career in his favorite pursuit, aeronautical engineering, which led to aircraft design at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in Burbank, Calif. He co-founded Century Engineers, Inc. also in Burbank, and finally represented U.S. Aerospace companies abroad, first in Paris and later in London. In 1942, Fulvio married Mary Raymond and made their home in Hollywood, Calif., where their two children, April and Mario, were born. They later moved to Glendale, then Woodland Hills, Calif.  Beside airplane design, in which he held several patents, he found time to expand his interests in the arts and landed a role in a Broadway musical "Carousel," in which he toured the country for 21 months from 1948 to 1949 from New York to San Francisco. The final performance was at the Majestic Theater in NYC.  While living in London, England, marketing flight simulators for Conductron Corporation, he met Virginia Taylor, who would later became his wife. In 1979, they moved to Morro Bay, where they enjoyed organizing tours for friends to cultural events and foreign destinations. Fulvio will be remembered as a man of many talents, a true gentleman, proud of his Italian heritage, who loved his family, music, being in the company of friends, telling stories, and breaking into song anytime, any place. Fulvio is survived by his beloved wife, Virginia; daughter, April Palmer; son, Mario de Laval (Zoya); granddaughter Tatiana Rubio; great-grandchildren Savannah and Jesse Rubio; and two nieces Hedy Glenn (Wayne) and Shari Lama (Tomas). He was preceded in death by his former wife, Mary.   There will be no service.  Memorial gifts may be made to Central Coast Hospice, Alzheimer's Association or San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony.