Dr. Louis C. Vaccaro

Born July 25, 1930, in Los Angeles, Dr. Vaccaro was the second child and first son of Louis C. Vaccaro and Louise M. (Vinciguerra) Vaccaro. The grandson of Italian immigrants, Lou grew up during the Depression at a time when most children worked to help support their families almost as soon as they were able. Lou was no different, working at a variety of jobs, including hawking newspapers and shining shoes. He was proud of his Italian roots and the work ethic he learned from his father. This work ethic took him to college at the University of Southern California, where he earned both an undergraduate and master’s degree, and his doctorate in higher education/sociology from Michigan State University in 1962.

Lou was the beloved husband of Linda, whom he married July 25, 1987; dearest father to Mary Lou Cummings and Therese Vaccaro, both of New Hampshire; Victoria Vaccaro and Michelle Vaccaro, both of Iowa, Frances Vaccaro of New York, Justin Vaccaro of Idaho, and James (Michelle) Lasher of North Carolina; and adored grandfather to Eric Theisen, Tess Theisen, Sean (Katie) Lewis-Brinkman, Rachel Leon, Curt (Megan) Cummings and Adam (Leah) Cummings, and Kyler Pilla, and five great-grandchildren all of whom survive him.

Lou also was the cherished brother of Virginia Kistler, and Joseph, Michael, and Vincent Vaccaro, all of whom preceded him in death, as well as Gerard Vaccaro and David Vaccaro, who survive him. In addition to his parents and four siblings, he was preceded in death by his beloved granddaughter Jordan Leon, and his son-in-law, David Pilla.

In 1950, he enlisted in the Air Force (Bangor, ME) and was honorably discharged in 1953. He was grateful for the educational opportunities he received through the GI Bill, which he felt changed the course of his life and of his children's lives.

While working at Pacific Bell and attending night school at USC, Dr. Vaccaro decided to pursue a career in higher education. For Lou, education was the key, and he wanted to help others to experience the vast opportunities awaiting them through higher education. Finding his niche first as a professor at Cal Tech and St. Mary's College in South Bend, he then went on to build his career in higher education administration at Marquette University and the University of Portland, followed by presidencies at Marycrest College (IA), Colby-Sawyer College (NH), Siena Heights University (MI), and the College of St. Rose (NY), as well as interim president at Trinity College of Vermont and Georgian Court University in New Jersey before his official retirement.

Beginning in 1975, Dr. Vaccaro began what would become his lifelong passion of enhancing international education opportunities for both faculty and students which would enrich hundreds of lives. Dr. Vaccaro was an advocate for academic freedom and over the course of many trips to Brazil, China and Turkey he recruited and hosted faculty and student exchange programs with leading international colleges and universities. Lou also received several awards and honors during his career, including honorary degrees. In 1996, he was designated as Honorary Distinguished Professor of Dalian Normal University in China. Following his retirement, he was awarded a Senior Fulbright Specialist in both Honduras and Indonesia.

Lou published seven books and more than 100 academic articles in his professional career. Learning and education for others remained central to his life even after his retirement. Throughout his life, he continued to impact the lives of students worldwide by connecting them with educational opportunities. His inner sense of what his grandparents sacrificed to make a new life in the U.S. fueled his tireless efforts to provide those students with as many opportunities as possible. He was a true lifelong learner with a passion for education whose influence will be felt for generations.

When Lou was not pursuing academic endeavors, he loved listening to jazz, big band/swing, opera and classical music, dancing, reading, playing tennis and badminton and making pasta dinners for friends and family as well as taking in the beautiful sunshine on their patio in Las Vegas. For over 30 years, he and Linda would spend summers at the lake home which was built by her great-grandfather in Old Forge, NY. This lake home was often the meeting place for their many friends and family members, and he loved taking in the sunshine there as well. He cherished watching those he loved take in this peaceful environment and sharing in the life he had helped to create.

Our loss of Lou is Heaven's gain. His Catholic faith remained at the heart of his long life and reflected on his eventual “communion with the Saints”, saying; “we are all part of one spirit and Heaven is being able to commune or rejoin that spirit”. We know God holds Lou and all those he loved in the palm of His hand, reunited until we all meet again.

Friends and family are invited for a visitation on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 2-5 PM at Palm Cheyenne Mortuary in Las Vegas, NV. This will be followed by a reception from 5-7 p.m. The funeral service for Lou will begin at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church on Friday, Jan. 31 at 10:30 AM with a Eulogy followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, beginning at 1:20 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, 1501 Las Vegas Blvd North, Las Vegas, NV 89101.