The following statement was recently released by Donato Pompo of Ceramic Tile and Stone Consultants, Inc.:

“It is with sadness and a lot of pride in my father, Vincent N. Pompo, and for his accomplishments that I want to notify the tile and stone industry that on July 13, 2020, he passed in his sleep. He was 93 years old.

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 the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA), the third CTDA president and was inducted into the CTDA Hall of Fame.

Vince 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, which became one of the largest and most successful importers and distributors in the industry at that time.

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.

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 caribou, 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.

He will be missed, but he will be remembered for his accomplishments and his devotion to his family.

Vince is survived by me and my wife, Tricia, and my two sons, by his daughter, Lesah Mutscheller, and her two children and two grandchildren, and by his daughter, Linda Perrenoud, and her four children and her 10 grandchildren.

Due to the Coronavirus, we are postponing the memorial to a future date to be determined. Although we are and will continue to celebrate his life.”