In 2019, Mr. Zamperla was inducted into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame.
Alberto Zamperla was born on February 3, 1951 in Pieve di Soligo, within the province of Treviso, north of Venice, to Antonio and Letizia Zamperla.
He attended a boarding school run by Salesian priests, graduated in metallurgy from the Industrial Technical Institute in Vicenza and served within the Italian Cadore Alpine Brigade from 1975 to 1976.
In 1994, he took over the corporate from his father and eventually divided his time between Vicenza and New York. In addition to his sons Antonio and Alessandro, he’s survived by his wife Paola; one other son, Adriano; and three grandchildren.
He was known for making more of his company’s attractions available to children with disabilities and supporting non-profit organizations that benefited them. In 2015, he enthusiastically but unsuccessfully ran for the position of mayor of Venice under the slogan “No to boredom, yes to life”.
“I prefer to fly within the clouds around our beautiful planet for a minimum of 100 days a yr,” Zamperli quoted the corporate as saying. “I really like living in New York. I’m proud to be an Italian Alpino. I’m proud to be, above all, a citizen of the world. I’m glad to know that my career makes children of all ages around the globe glad.”
Mr. Zamperla was one in all them. Indeed, he kept a solid collection of rubber geese in his bathroom.
“I’m somewhat boy,” he told The Financial Times in 2016, “and can proceed to be somewhat boy.”
Reporting was contributed by Elisabetta Povoledo.
