Fausto Vitello
Encyclopedia
Fausto Vitello was an American businessman and magazine publisher. Vitello is the creator of Thrasher magazine
and co-creator of Independent trucks.
, Argentina
, but his family left when he was 9 to escape the political terror of the Revolución Libertadora
. His family moved to San Francisco, in the U.S. state
of California
, and he was raised on Frederick Street in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood. Vitello did not speak any English
upon arriving. He taught himself English by listening to San Francisco Giants
broadcasts, starting a lifelong love for the Giants. Vitello spent a year at the University of California, Berkeley
, before transferring and eventually graduating from San Francisco State University
with a degree in Spanish
.
popularity was waning. Vitello and business partner Eric Swenson along with Richard Novak and Jay Shuirman who owned Santa Cruz Skateboards saw an opportunity to work together, subsequently founding Independent Truck Company
. Independent Trucks quickly became an industry leader and the group saw the opportunity to expand and capitalize upon the rediscovery of skateboarding in America.
In 1981, Vitello co-Founded Thrasher Magazine
. The photos and articles brought the latest tricks, fashions, and gear to the attention of the youth of America, contributing to rise of the skateboard culture in America. The advertisements also helped push the success of Independent Trucks, which was quickly becoming one of the largest names in skateboarding. While many were still dismissing skateboarding as a fad, Thrasher helped establish it as a dominant subculture that has evolved into the billion dollar industry it is today.
As Vitello's business empire grew, so did the number of projects he undertook. He started High Speed productions, which publishes Slap Magazine, and the international alternative art magazine, Juxtapoz. He founded two distributions - Deluxe, which carries Spitfire Wheels, Thunder Trucks, Antihero Skateboards, Real Skateboards and Krooked Skateboards, and Street Corner, which carries Hubba Wheels, Think Skateboards, Lucky Bearings and Venture trucks.
while riding on his bicycle with his best friend, Lin Ho. He is survived by his wife, Gwynn, his son, Tony, and daughter, Sally.
Thrasher magazine
Thrasher is a monthly skateboarding magazine founded in 1981 by Kevin Thatcher, Eric Swenson, and Fausto Vitello. It regularly publishes articles , skateboard photography, interviews with professional skateboarders, interviews with and reviews of musical groups, skatepark reviews, and miscellaneous...
and co-creator of Independent trucks.
Early life
Vitello was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, but his family left when he was 9 to escape the political terror of the Revolución Libertadora
Revolución Libertadora
The Revolución Libertadora was a military uprising that ended the second presidential term of Juan Perón in Argentina, on September 16, 1955.-History:...
. His family moved to San Francisco, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and he was raised on Frederick Street in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood. Vitello did not speak any English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
upon arriving. He taught himself English by listening to San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
broadcasts, starting a lifelong love for the Giants. Vitello spent a year at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, before transferring and eventually graduating from San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
with a degree in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
Business life
In the late 1970s skateboarding'sSkateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
popularity was waning. Vitello and business partner Eric Swenson along with Richard Novak and Jay Shuirman who owned Santa Cruz Skateboards saw an opportunity to work together, subsequently founding Independent Truck Company
Independent Truck company
Independent Truck Company is a skateboard truck manufacturer based in Santa Cruz, California established in 1978, owned by NHS, Inc. The trucks are manufactured by Ermico Enterprises, Inc...
. Independent Trucks quickly became an industry leader and the group saw the opportunity to expand and capitalize upon the rediscovery of skateboarding in America.
In 1981, Vitello co-Founded Thrasher Magazine
Thrasher magazine
Thrasher is a monthly skateboarding magazine founded in 1981 by Kevin Thatcher, Eric Swenson, and Fausto Vitello. It regularly publishes articles , skateboard photography, interviews with professional skateboarders, interviews with and reviews of musical groups, skatepark reviews, and miscellaneous...
. The photos and articles brought the latest tricks, fashions, and gear to the attention of the youth of America, contributing to rise of the skateboard culture in America. The advertisements also helped push the success of Independent Trucks, which was quickly becoming one of the largest names in skateboarding. While many were still dismissing skateboarding as a fad, Thrasher helped establish it as a dominant subculture that has evolved into the billion dollar industry it is today.
As Vitello's business empire grew, so did the number of projects he undertook. He started High Speed productions, which publishes Slap Magazine, and the international alternative art magazine, Juxtapoz. He founded two distributions - Deluxe, which carries Spitfire Wheels, Thunder Trucks, Antihero Skateboards, Real Skateboards and Krooked Skateboards, and Street Corner, which carries Hubba Wheels, Think Skateboards, Lucky Bearings and Venture trucks.
Death
Fausto died on April 22, 2006 of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while riding on his bicycle with his best friend, Lin Ho. He is survived by his wife, Gwynn, his son, Tony, and daughter, Sally.