Vincent N. Pompo, a leader in the Tile & Stone Industry, passed away in his sleep on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at the age of 93.
Born in Los Angeles, CA to his Italian immigrant parents from Naples and Pescara Italy. He grew up in a tough neighborhood and persevered to becoming a successful businessman. He was one of the founders of CTDA, he was the 3rd CTDA president, and he was inducted into the CTDA Hall of Fame.
Donato Pompo, Vince's son, says his dad started his career in the tile business unloading box cars at Gladding McBean the manufacturer of Franciscan Tile and Dinnerware. He worked his way up from warehouse to sales to becoming a sales manager. In 1975, he started Southwestern Tile & Marble Company in San Diego, CA that became one of the largest and most successful importers and distributors in the industry at that time.
Donato says Vince was a proud Catholic, and a proud World War II Navy Veteran who was assigned to the USS Plunkett DD431 Destroyer during his tour in protecting our troops.
According to Donato, Vince was a big hunter. He would go to Steamboat Springs, CO to hunt Elk every year with his buddy and fellow distributor Dick Sokol. He hunted in Alaska a number of times where he got Carabou, Bear, and other game. He was also a big fisherman fishing for Salmon, Tuna, and catching Marlins.
He was always a big supporter of the tile industry and stayed very involved in growing the industry in many ways.
Due to the coronavirus, the family is postponing the memorial to a future date to be determined.