Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.
Born	May 17, 1909
Died	Dec 19, 1994

Edward John DeBartolo Sr. (May 17, 1909 – December 19, 1994) was an American businessman who is best remembered as the father of the American shopping mall.

The second of six children, DeBartolo was born in Youngstown, Ohio, a center of steel production that was also a major destination for immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. DeBartolo's parents, Anthony Paonessa and Rose Villani Paonessa, had immigrated to the United States from Italy. DeBartolo would never know his biological father, who died suddenly before his birth.

After Anthony Paonessa's death, Rose Villani Paonessa married Michael DeBartolo, and Edward took his stepfather's family name. Michael DeBartolo emigrated from Bari, Italy with his family at age 17 and became a paving contractor and builder of warehouses and other structures. While a teenager, Edward DeBartolo began working, transcribing paving contracts for his stepfather, who did not write English.

DeBartolo went on to earn a degree in civil engineering at the University of Notre Dame. Next was a decade of construction jobs with his stepfather. Then in view of his engineering skills, DeBartolo found himself serving in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. It was during the War, in 1944, that he married Marie Patricia Montani and incorporated his own company, the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation.

[edit] Adult life and career

After the war ended, DeBartolo served as president of Michael DeBartolo Construction and as founder and president of his newly-formed company. DeBartolo was able to take advantage of dramatic changes occurring across the United States after World War II. As more Americans moved into suburbs, there was a corresponding increase in demand for convenient access to stores. DeBartolo's company was one of the first companies in the United States to build shopping centers in suburban communities. These shopping centers were initially plazas built as long strips, but soon DeBartolo began developing enclosed shopping malls as well, with brother Frank DeBartolo acting as architect.

The DeBartolo Corporation was the undisputed leader in the shopping mall industry from the birth of the industry until DeBartolo's death, owning almost one-tenth of all mall space in the United States. DeBartolo also branched out into other types of urban construction, such as hotels, office parks, and condominiums. He established a work ethic of fifteen-hour days and seven-day weeks, and by 1990, DeBartolo was estimated to have more than $1.4 billion dollars in personal wealth. The malls remained under the DeBartolo family's control, until after Edward DeBartolo's death, when they were acquired by Simon Property Group of Indianapolis.

A powerful strategic thinker, DeBartolo began acquiring department store chains in the 1980s. In 1988, he helped finance Robert Campeau's purchase of Federated Department Stores. When Campeau defaulted on loans to DeBartolo, DeBartolo received Lazarus Department Stores and controlling interest in Federated. DeBartolo's Federated positions were all realigned when Federated emerged from bankruptcy. Also in 1988, he partnered with Dillard's Department Stores to buy Higbee's of Cleveland. In 1992, William Dillard, founder of Dillard's, bought DeBartolo's share, except for the property interest in Higbee's Public Square flagship store in Cleveland (sold to Tower City in 2001), and renamed the chain. The idea of a retail real estate developer erecting new malls easily and quickly by virtue of anchor stores owned by the developer would never become a reality.

DeBartolo's contributions to the campus at the University of Notre Dame include DeBartolo Hall (the main classroom building), DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts, and DeBartolo Quad.

[edit] Sporting interests

DeBartolo purchased the San Francisco 49ers in 1977, giving the team to his son. Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. devoted significant resources to the team, became an expert in team management and player relations, and made it the most successful NFL franchise in the 1980s. Under the leadership of quarterback Joe Montana, the 49ers won the Super Bowl in 1982, 1985, 1989, and 1990.

His daughter Marie Denise's Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team would go on to win the Stanley Cup championship in 1991 and 1992.

DeBartolo was unsuccessful in his attempt to purchase the Chicago White Sox in 1980. The baseball team owners voted against the purchase, fearing a wealthy Italian-American who spoke Italian might have ties to organized crime. Despite such a notion, law enforcement has never found any 'connection.'

DeBartolo owned and developed three thoroughbred racetracks -- Thistledown in Cleveland, Remington Park in Oklahoma City, and Louisiana Downs in Bossier City.

[edit] Honours

• In 1981 He received the Order of Merit from the Italian government.
• In 1988 He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.