Luigi Salvaneschi

1929 - 2022

Luigi Salvaneschi, a philanthropist, academic and real estate acquisition

specialist passed away on October 6, 2022 in Medellin, Colombia, where he was attending a family reunion. He was 92 years old. Born in Casale, Monferrato , Northern Italy, on October 18, 1929, he was keenly aware that access to higher education was the key that would unlock the rest of his life's journey. Luigi studied languages, history and philosophy and began his academic career teaching at universities in Egypt and Lebanon. He then returned to Italy where he earned his Ph.D. in canon law from the Vatican's Lateran University. He immigrated to the United States in 1959 and started working as a crew member at a McDonald's restaurant in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, but quickly worked his way up the corporate ladder. By 1969, he was heading up McDonald's real estate acquisition department and was an integral part of McDonald's national and international store expansion. In 1983, he joined Kentucky Fried Chicken as vice president of real estate acquisition. Convinced by Wayne Huizenga to join Blockbuster Video, Luigi moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1987 and was soon elevated to President. At the time there were just over 100 stores. As Blockbuster Video's real estate location expert, he would help create the video giant's strategy for locating store sites. After leaving Blockbuster, Luigi authored the book, "Location, Location, Location" to help others find the best sites for their business.

After retiring from the corporate world, Luigi returned to the academic world he loved and began the start of a deep connection with Barry University in Miami, Florida --teaching at Barry University's Andreas School of Business and serving on Barry's Board of Trustees. For more than 20 years, Luigi and his wife, Didi, have been major benefactors of the University including spearheading Barry's most noticeable landmark, the 73-foot Silvester Tower; creating an endowed scholarship at Barry for first generation students with financial need who desire to teach; and his most recent gift of $1 million which funded 50 Opportunity Scholarships. In honor of their generosity, Barry University recently established Salvaneschi Commons at Thompson Hall. During retirement, Luigi and Didi spent many wonderful summers in a rustic and remote log cabin in the mountains of Alpine, Montana, where Luigi would read, write and contemplate his many interests in life as well as take part in one of his favorite pastimes, hiking. Luigi also loved to travel, but particularly enjoyed returning to his roots in Italy.

Luigi is survived by his wife of 23 years, Didi, And his sister Rina Sassone and brother Livio and their children Paolo, Marilena and Maura of Italy, and daughter Margherita DePaulis . Luigi was also very close to and will be greatly missed by Didi's sister, Mimi Bauer (John), as well as sister Clara Goff (Ron) and their children and Didi's family in Colombia to whom he was also very close. Private funeral arrangements are being handled by Fred Hunter with a celebration of life on October xx at xx at Barry University (need to clarify, add information). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Luigi's name to Barry University at (need to add information here and determine if this is Didi's wish).

Arrangements are being handled by Fred Hunter Funeral Home. Services will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, with a Mass at St Gregory Catholic Church, 200 North University Drive, Plantation, following by burial at Lauderdale Memorial Park, 2001 SW 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale. A Celebration of Life will be held later in the month at Barry University, Miami. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Luigi's name to Barry University.