‘Mayor of Corona del Mar’ Sansone dies

June Casagrande

Philip Sansone, the gruff-talking former mayor of Newport Beach who

left an indelible impression on the city and especially Corona del

Mar, has died. He was 83.

“He’ll really be missed,” said Evelyn Hart, also a former mayor,

who served with Sansone on the council. “He was loved so much.”

Sansone died Wednesday at his home in Kona, Hawaii, leaving behind

a legacy of service to his community and countless fond memories

among friends and admirers.

“I found him to be a treasure, not only in terms of his knowledge

but also his ability to relate to people and to get things done in a

spirit of teamwork,” said Joy Brenner, former Parks, Beaches and

Recreation Commission, who helped found the Corona del Mar Residents

Assn. with Sansone.

Sansone entered public life in Corona del Mar after retiring from

long and successful careers in business and the military.

Born in 1919 to Italian immigrants in Malone, N.Y., Sansone’s

first big successes were on the baseball diamond. At age 18, he began

playing semiprofessional ball in Canada. He got a baseball

scholarship to Clarkson University, where he met his future wife,

Nadine. Shortly after a shoulder injury in 1940 caused him to quit

baseball, Sansone, who had joined the National Guard five years

earlier, was called to active duty.

He was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps, later the U.S. Air

Force, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. During World

War II, he served as an aircraft radio operator and as a

communications-electronics officer. He served in Iceland, Iran, North

Africa, Italy, Greece and Southern France.

During his military career, he was part of six combat campaigns.

He earned a Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal and the Air

Force Commendation medal.

In the fall of 1942, two years after he began active duty, he

returned home to marry Nadine.

After he retired from the military in 1960, Sansone worked in

management positions with RCA, Collins Radio and the SAN/BAR Corp.

In 1966, the couple moved from Texas to Corona del Mar -- a move

that would change them and the community forever. It wasn’t until

after Sansone retired from business in 1980 that he found new life in

civic service.

Sansone was elected to the Newport Beach City Council in 1986 as a

dark horse who quickly won the respect of colleagues and

constituents. He became mayor pro tem in 1989 and served as mayor in

1991 and 1992. He left the City Council in 1994.

He was known for a gruff, no-nonsense style that sometimes ruffled

feathers, but always earned respect.

“The first time you met him you thought, ‘My goodness. There’s a

gruff man. But I know of no one who, after getting to know him for a

while, didn’t respect and like him,” former City Manager Bob Wynn

said. “I worked for the city for 35 years. I probably worked with 40

council members at that time, and he was among the top.”

One of Sansone’s most important accomplishments was to unify a

disparate group of small homeowners’ associations and hold monthly

meetings that helped build a voice for all of Corona del Mar.

“He represented his district probably better than any council

member in the city before him and probably after, as well,” said

Dennis O’Neil, former mayor and Corona del Mar’s immediate successor

to Sansone on the council. “He distinguished himself in representing

the district so well that he was thought of as the mayor of Corona

del Mar.”

One of Sansone’s most important accomplishments on the council was

to reduce the area on lots in Corona del Mar that could be built on.

He successfully led the effort to reduce it from twice the lot size

to one and a half times.

Sansone also helped win funding for improvements at Corona del Mar

State Beach, an accomplishment commemorated by a bench at Big Corona

that bears his name. Sansone was also instrumental in approving the

1987 update of the city’s general plan; the Circulation Improvement

and Open Space Agreement with the Irvine Co.; the new central

library; the Balboa Bay Club modernization plan; two Fashion Island

expansion plans; preserving the John Wayne Airport Settlement

agreement; and fighting for commercial use of the El Toro Marine

base.

“He had principles, he was trustworthy,” said Paul Salata, founder

of Irrelevant Week and a longtime community leader in Newport Beach.

“No matter what, he was always fair and equitable. He had the best

intentions of the city in all his actions.”

Sansone moved to Hawaii to be with his children in 1999 after his

wife died. Funeral services have not yet been announced by the

family.

“He was kind of a one-of-a-kind type of guy,” O’Neil said. “He had

real integrity and he was a fine fellow. I’m sorry that he’s gone.”

Longtime friend and golf buddy Jack Oldham added, “Phil was the

kind of guy who lighted up your life.”

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].