SB PEOPLE | IN MEMORIAM
Racing legend/CEO of STP motor oil company Anthony “Andy” Granatelli recently passed away at the age of 90 from congestive heart failure. Inducted into multiple halls of fame—the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of
Fame of America, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, among others— Granatelli has left his mark on the racing community and Santa Barbara as well. Growing up as an underprivileged high school dropout in Chicago, Granatelli spent his youth working to help support his father and brothers after his mother passed away when he was 12. Upon purchasing Andy’s Super Service—a Texaco gas station turned pit-stop mechanic shop— eight years later, Granatelli’s passion for automobiles began to rev, and he set out on his mission to one day conquer the Indianapolis 500. After a handful of previous attempts and a number of other business ventures—most notably his complete overhaul of STP Oil Treatment—Granatelli eventually mastered the Indy 500 in 1969 with Mario Andretti 78
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behind the wheel and then again in 1973 with Gordon Johncock. A vanguard of the industry, Granatelli quickly became known for his ability to combine innovative technologies with talented race car drivers. After moving to Montecito and retiring nearly 30 years ago, Granatelli—along with his wife, Dolly—was an avid supporter of
local charities and organizations, including Santa Barbara’s Unity Shoppe, and also served as the chair of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Council. An inspiration both on and off the track, Granatelli’s legacy will remain within all who were graced by his presence, ensuring that the spirit of “Mister 500” will live on forever.
HAROLD SIMMONS Entrepreneur and philanthropist
Harold Simmons passed away last December at Dallas’s Baylor University Medical Center where he had battled illness for some time. The native Texan and quintessential American success story—he was worth roughly $10 billion—was a longtime Montecito resident. Born in 1931, Simmons was truly a self-made man from humble beginnings who rose to become one of America’s wealthiest individuals. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, and at the age of 29, he acquired a drugstore called University Pharmacy, from which he built a chain that he later sold for $50 million, thereby launching a career in investment and acquisition. He purchased a home in Santa Barbara in 1982 and was regularly seen at local social functions with his wife of 33 years, Annette Caldwell Simmons. The couple has given generously to a variety of philanthropic causes, widely supporting the arts, medicine, education as well as other numerous private charities, including Casa Esperanza and Unity Shoppe. Simmons also donated to Westmont College (a neighbor of his estate) during its Bright Hope for Tomorrow campaign, helping fund the Adams Center for the Visual Arts, Winter Hall for Science and Mathematics, athletic fields, the new observatory, and other improvements. Although he has been described as a man of few words, Simmons will be remembered
for his political activism. His views about the free enterprise system—to which he attributed his success—spawned generous contributions to conservative politicians, however, Simmons also donated to organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Dallas Resource Center. In all, he believed in sharing his success with the communities he lived in and he will be deeply missed. –CHARLOTTE BRYANT
NATALIE MCFADDEN A kind-hearted mother, giving philanthropist, and passionate florist, Natalie McFadden passed away peacefully last December at the age of 76. Loved by everyone she met, her zeal for fostering
friendships and caring for her close-knit family was evident in everything she did. McFadden gave back to the Santa Barbara community in various ways, including volunteering at Laguna Cottages senior housing, the Assistance League, and Child Abuse Listening Mediation. She also found love in horticulture and floral arrangement, receiving national recognition from The Garden Club of America, for which she eventually served as president of the Santa Barbara chapter. Epitomizing grace and compassion, Natalie’s selfless nature and desire to help others impacted the lives of many. With the goal to leave the world a better place than when she found it, Natalie’s kindness and strength has left an impact on those whose lives she touched. –CARLY BATE S
P H OTO G R A P H : H A R O L D S I M M O N S , T I M S T R E E T- P O R T E R
ANDY GRANATELLI
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