ACTIONABLE OBIT: EXPIRES 09SEP07 San Diego, CA MC???? Capdevilla, Martin J.
http://www.legacy.com/SignOnSanDiego/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=93350941
http://tinyurl.com/2frcm8
***Begin Quote***
Martin J. Capdevilla
CAPDEVILLA, MARTIN J.
On August 9, 2007, San Diego lost one of its outstanding entrepreneurs, Martin James Capdevilla of Point Loma. Albert Einstein said imagination was more important than knowledge and Marty was blessed with both. A true Renaissance man, he loved philosophy, history, art, music, science and world travel. He was an artist in his own right, as well as a brilliant international businessman and marketer of consumer products. As he often said, he could make the numbers sing. He was a purveyor of ideas who dared to dream big and shared his passions with everyone who would listen. He loved ice hockey, fishing, skiing, good wine and most of all, his family. He had a quick wit, was fiercely loyal and fair, and lived life with gusto. Marty was passionate about making a difference, and was always willing to share his love of education and entrepreneurial spirit with others.
Marty was born in New York on November 19, 1942. He attended Monsignor McClancy High School, and received a B.S. from Manhattan College with a major in Psychology and minors in English and History. In 1966, he graduated from New York University with an MBA in Marketing and Finance. He was very proud to have served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps.
He began his business career at Compton Advertising, working on the Proctor and Gamble account. After quickly realizing he preferred to be a client, he spent fourteen years at Pfizer Inc. in the Leeming Pacquin consumer division and launched several successful new products. His deep interest in international business became reality when he went to Mexico with Pfizer as Marketing and Sales Director of its Vanart division, followed by five years as Marketing Director for General Foods in Mexico. In 1986, he moved to San Diego where he founded Distribuidora MJC in Tijuana. A year later, he partnered with his wife, Wendy Gillespie, in establishing Frontier Trading, Inc. in San Diego. He considered his success with Frontier Trading as his proudest achievement. While the company initially exported and distributed many different brand name products such as Gerber, Ralston-Purina and Hunt-Wesson, the company’s major focus was the initiation and development of the Maruchan ramen noodle soup market in Mexico and Central America over a period of 15 years.
Marty not only provided jobs for people on both sides of the border, he touched so many more in much deeper ways. He didn’t just export soup; he exported hope and opportunities for people to create their own success. You can’t be philanthropic if you haven’t been successful and Marty was both, using his gifts to their fullest potential and sharing them with the world.
One of the living legacies to Marty’s generosity is Junior Achievement’s new home in Mission Valley, housing JA BizTown. Joanne Pastula, President of Junior Achievement believes that “San Diego has lost one of our most dedicated entrepreneurs who epitomized all the positive values of personal achievement…Marty believed in giving back and sharing his love of life, learning and entrepreneurship with the world, especially young people.”
He is survived by his wife and business partner, Wendy Gillespie, his daughter Danielle and son-in-law, Joseph Griffin of Long Island, NY, along with three grandchildren, Joseph Martin, Brendan James, and Connor John. His mother, Kathleen Cronin lives in Rancho Bernardo. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend. Marty will be deeply missed by not only his family, but also the myriad of people whose lives he influenced so positively.
Marty will never really be gone because his passionate love of life and people will remain in the hearts of all those who were fortunate to know him. A celebration of life will be held at his home on Sunday, September 9th from 4-8 p.m. Donations in Marty’s memory may be sent to Junior Achievement of San Diego and Imperial Counties, 4756 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA 92120. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com
Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 8/26/2007.
***End Quote***
Guestbook for your comments is at:
http://www.legacy.com/SignOnSanDiego/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=93350941
http://tinyurl.com/33nnnb
###
###
Capdevilla, Martin J. (MC????)
# # # # #
