Mario Vecchiarelli Suffers Stroke
Veteran apparel industry supplier Mario Vecchiarelli, co-founder of the Vecchiarelli Bros. supplies and notions store in Los Angeles, suffered a massive stroke this week and is not expected to recover, said his son Joseph Vecchiarelli.
The elder Vecchiarelli has been retired since 1981. He has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease since 1999.
Born in Italy in 1922, Vecchiarelli immigrated to New York and moved to the Los Angeles area in his teens. In 1936, his father, Cosmo, and his brothers, Nick and Lee, established Newark Cutlery at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Pico Boulevard, where the family sharpened scissors for apparel manufacturers. The business grew through several acquisitions and eventually moved to its current location, 121 W. 15th St. With the help of Mario Vecchiarelli’s sons, Joseph and Jim, the company adapted to trends and became one of the largest suppliers of cutting-room equipment and supplies on the West Coast. The business sponsors many fashion college programs.
“My father always said ’the customer is always king.’ We’ve lived by that, and that’s why we’re still here today,” said Joseph Vecchiarelli.
Mario Vecchiarelli had been living in the Lake Tahoe area during his retirement, taking part in outdoor activities such as fishing and skiing as well as practicing real estate. When his Alzheimer’s condition worsened, he returned to Los Angeles to be closer to his children.
In addition to his sons, Joseph and Jim, Vecchiarelli has a wife, Yolanda; a sister, Rose Denton; and a brother, Lee. —Robert McAllister
