Loving Memories of Louis Graziadio, October 23, 1949 – October 17, 2022
Louis Graziadio was one of a kind, a true original. A loving husband, a doting father, and a dyed-in-the-wool Palos Verdes family man. He was a lifelong avid surfer, an extraordinarily successful businessman, a generous philanthropist, an innovator, a world traveler, and a man who was a friend to everyone.
Louis Graziadio, also called Luigi, embodied the Aloha spirit. His friend Bobby Hill said, “Louis was a living example of Aloha.” That was evidenced at a paddle out recently held in his honor. “When so many from near and far come to celebrate the life of a person for whom they deeply cared, it is extraordinary. I wish this on everyone, live aloha,” Hill reminds us.
Louis is survived by his wife Beth and children Gina Graziadio, Carra Graziadio, Gino Graziadio, and Marianna Graziadio. A remarkable person with a spirit of entrepreneurship that provided incredible success in business and allowed him to make a significant impact in the world of surfing.
He was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Second Southern Corp., the managing partner of Ginarra Partners, LLC, a closely held California company involved in a wide range of investments and business ventures, and a member of the Graziadio Board of Directors at Pepperdine University. Equally essential, he was an original founding partner of the Surfing Heritage Culture Center (SHACC) located in San Clemente, CA.
In honor of Graziadio, family, and friends share their special memories with the community.
“I will always remember Louis as a driven, hardworking individual who had an insatiable curiosity about all things and was passionate about life in general. He loved his family and friends more than anything in the world and I will always cherish the amazing journey we shared over the last 30 years.” – Beth Graziadio, Louis’ Wife
“Louis told me that the only thing he wished he could do is ‘catch one more wave.’ A surfer until the end! For all Louis did in his life, to hear him say that, will have a lasting effect on me. I’ll surf to Luigi for the rest of my life and can’t wait to get back in the water to do what he asked and ‘keep the Aloha spirit of surfing alive.’” – Glenn Gragg, Louis’ Nephew
“I had so many fun times and dinners with Louis. I knew how fortunate I was to have him as my friend! Whether it was a round of golf or talking about worldly matters, our time together was always enjoyable. Louis was the brother I never had.” – Mark Nicholson, Louis’ Friend
“He was honestly, one of a kind. He enjoyed doing things for people and I am very proud to have called him my best friend. I have so many fond memories of our times together – hunting, fishing and just hanging out. I loved him with all my being and think of him every day.” – Don Bedell, Louis’ Friend
“Louis was a lifelong friend, and our friendship was lifetime surfing. He was unique and special in many ways. In the last 25 years, Louis would come over and always bring a photo of us, a special T-shirt, wonderful wine, work gloves for our employees, and even a copy of the Declaration of Independence. He was such a Patriot. Love my Broski!” – Chris Bredesen, Louis’ Friend
“My dad was always most relaxed when he was on or around the water. He lit up when he told a story about an epic surf session or a great fishing trip. He was most at peace when he could hear the waves crashing. Growing up as a daughter of a surfer, I spent most of my childhood on beaches. Whether we were at our home in the Hollister Ranch, visiting Hawaii, or at our local RAT beach, some of my most cherished memories are packing picnics and heading down to the beach with Dad. My older sister Gina and I would play, while Dad surfed. When he finished, he would take us out and push us into waves.” – Carra Graziadio, Louis’ Daughter
“My little brother was right up there with the sixties! He was always very special to his many friends and even had his marijuana-growing garden under the house. It was very successful, and I think that is what got him into business at a young age. One Christmas, he even climbed on the roof and put Christmas lights up on a huge peace sign. It was very popular, and living on Palos Verdes Drive, everyone loved it. It was great; we got lots of calls.” – Alida Calvillo, Louis’ Sister
“In his early teens, Louis came up with the idea to build a surf reef at Rat Beach. So, we assembled a team of locals, Louis came up with the bags for the sand, my brothers and I brought the shovels, and we started the reef on the day of the lowest tide of the month. Bag after bag, trek after trek to waist-deep water, we placed the 80-pound bags carefully in a triangular shape to make a right and left-breaking wave when the tide came up. After about four hours of backbreaking work, we realized the bags we had set in the ocean were sinking into the soft sand – what a total bummer! So, we had to settle for the waves as they were at Rat Beach in those days.” – Dave Constable, Louis’ Friend
