Albert Angelo Sr., 87, former mayor of Vancouver, Washington
Charlene
Vancouver real estate mogul, former mayor Al Angelo Sr. dies
Friday, March 23, 2007
By CAMI JONER, Columbian Staff Writer
Albert C. Angelo Sr., who spent a half century making a mark on Clark
County as a Vancouver businessman and civic leader, died Friday
morning. He was 87.
Angelo founded the Al Angelo Construction Co. in 1947, led Vancouver
as the city's mayor in the late 1960s and was a member of numerous
community organizations. Those who know the city's history say Angelo
was part of a small group of business people who helped guide
Vancouver through a robust period of expansion.
"These guys were the foundation, the pioneers, of this community from
which we're creating the new Vancouver," said Vancouver Mayor Royce
Pollard about Angelo.
Jim Justin, a colleague and a former Vancouver mayor, credited Angelo
with improving the city's quality of life with numerous construction
projects.
"He provided options from housing to office and retail developments,"
Justin said. "I don't think any of us can put our arms around all the
work that company is responsible for."
Born Feb. 14, 1920, to Italian immigrant parents living in Skamania
County, Angelo attended school in Cape Horn and Washougal and then
spent several years working for his father's bridge- and road-building
business.
In the 1940s, he launched his own enterprise with an $8,000 loan from
a real estate broker named A.A. MacDonald, who encouraged Angelo to
build homes for shipyard workers arriving en masse during World War
II. Angelo purchased seven residential lots near 45th and Columbia
streets in Vancouver for $250 each. He built seven homes and sold each
for $4,000.
Profits went into buying a prune orchard at West 26th Street and Fruit
Valley Road, where he and a crew built 52 two-bedroom homes, which
quickly sold at prices between $5,800 and $6,100. The subdivision was
called the Al-Kay Addition for Angelo and his new bride, nicknamed
Kay.
He married Katheryn Beatty in 1948, shortly after launching the Al
Angelo Construction Co.
As two younger members of the downtown business crowd, Al and Katheryn
Angelo opened offices near Fifth and Main streets. The company
continued to build subdivisions, adding commercial construction
projects in 1955. The company built and still owns its first
multifamily project, Brandt Terrace, a 214-unit complex considered a
standard for federal HUD-built properties and The Highlands, a 147-
unit complex near Delaware Lane and Garrison Road. The Al Angelo Co.
grew with Clark County's population into the 1980s, when it began
developing and managing its own commercial buildings and eased into
the property management business. The company now controls substantial
real estate holdings in 22 cities in six Western states --- 3,200
apartment units here and throughout the West and over 1 million square
feet of commercial buildings.
"Always a gentleman"
Angelo's work ethic is well remembered by longtime members of the
business community.
"Always a gentleman... that was his hallmark," said Ed Lynch, a
Vancouver businessman and philanthropist. "Al built a stable,
profitable business. He dealt with people honestly, and that is
certainly the thing that leads to a good community," Lynch said.
Jim Justin agreed.
"He was open, affable and easily approachable," said Justin, 74, now a
commercial real estate agent, who has known Angelo since the 1960s.
"I listened to whatever he had to say because he had the ability to
make things happen."
Angelo, who never officially retired from the business, continued to
advise his children until his death.
"His health prevented him at times from coming to the office but we
just took our business questions to him," said Angelo's son, Craig.
The Angelos developed commercial buildings along Chkalov Drive in east
Vancouver, Four Seasons, a mixed use development in Orchards and in
1999 built the $25 million Heritage Place retail-condominium project
on Esther Short Park, which kick-started downtown redevelopment.
Government role
Angelo was appointed to the city building code board in 1955 and the
Vancouver Planning Commission in 1959. He was elected to the city
council in 1962 and installed as mayor in 1966. He served as mayor
until 1969.
Angelo did not seek re-election at the end of his second term. At the
time, he told a Columbian reporter that he wanted more time for his
family and his business. He said he was most proud of his role in
leading the Vancouver City Council to purchase the Orchards Water
System.
"Obviously, Al Angelo was a visionary," Pollard said. "Our water
system is the envy of a lot of people in our area and around the
country. It's what's allowed us to grow."
Angelo served on several community and business organizations boards,
including St. Joseph Community Hospital, the Navy League of the U.S.
and Vancouver Federal Savings & Loan Association. He received the
"Good Government Award" in 1967 and was appointed to a special state
study group by Washington Gov. Dan Evans in 1969.
Angelo's sons Albert C. "Corky" Angelo and Craig Angelo joined the
family business in 1973, launching an unprecedented period of
expansion that grew from their father's substantial land holdings.
That land inventory gave the Angelos the freedom to finance their own
projects throughout the 1980s. Today, the Al Angelo Co. is a
multidisciplinary real estate investment company that develops,
builds, owns and manages while still headquartered in Vancouver.
Proud of his children's accomplishments, Angelo told a newspaper
reporter in 1981, "They have expanded the company far more than I
would have been able to do."
The latest project is a nine-story office building on the former
Denny's restaurant site at Mill Plain Boulevard and 15th Street.
"Dad grew his business with only one thing in mind...keep it in the
family and never sell," said Corky Angelo. "He was always our best
adviser. His approach to life is the very thing that made him a great
husband, dad, grandfather and successful businessman... it was just
plain old honesty." Today, the family firm is moving into its third
generation of ownership with Al Angelo III now in the business.
Angelo is survived by his wife, Katheryn, five children, Al "Corky"
Angelo Jr.; Craig E. Angelo; Gary A. Angelo; Larry A. Angelo; and
Kathy Angelo, 19 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all
Vancouver. He is also survived by his brothers Lewis Angelo and Ted
Angelo, both Vancouver.
"The family could move the business anywhere they want," Pollard said.
"They choose to stay in Vancouver because their roots are here and
this is where their father started the business."
Pollard said he got to know Al Angelo Sr. about five years ago, when
he (Pollard) joined a group of longtime Vancouver businessmen who meet
on Wednesdays, calling themselves "The Good Old Boys." Angelo was a
key member, known among the group as "the Mayor," Pollard said.
"He was a fairly quiet guy, but he wasn't shy about responding, or
about criticizing me," Pollard said. "I liked the Mayor. He was a good
friend of mine and I will miss him."
Services are pending.
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