Founder, Chairman, Gemini Industries
WHY: Longtime entrepreneur, philanthropist; company reclaims metals from catalytic converters for use in chemicals work.
RECENT: Exercizes love for opera in SoCal, including at Orange County School of the Arts (see Ralph Opacic entry).
NOTABLE: He and his wife, Marybelle, big Chapman University supporters: Italian Studies, Musco Center for arts, music, nursing school at Brandman (see Daniele Struppa, Gary Brahm entries). Prefers low-profile, but always good for a quip or quote about age, hard work—he heads into office in his 90s.
FUN FACTS: Favorite film, “Inherit the Wind”; favorite book, “Leaves of Grass.”