One of the seven founding City College Board of Trustees members, Wilbur L. “Poppy” Fillippini died the morning of Aug. 21, 2014. He was 92-years-old.
He’s known for being an outstanding citizen and contributor to the community, as well as a dedicated family man. Dr. Katherine Alexander, another founding board member, said he would be remembered for being an “amazingly able man.”
Fillippini was born Nov. 13, 1921, at St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara. He graduated from Hope Elementary School, La Cumbre Jr. High School, and Santa Barbara High School according to the Santa Barbara News-Press.
The Santa Barbara News-Press reported Fillippini married the love of his life Elsie and soon after shipped off to serve in World War II. During the war he was able to utilize his abilities as an aviation metal smith for the United States Navy, where he was tasked with repairing aircrafts on the New Hebrides Islands.
He and Elsie started their family upon returning from the war where they had two daughters, Sharon and Linda.
Fillippini still found the desire and time to serve the members of his community with his many leadership positions including President of the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union and Financial Secretary of Santa Barbara Building Trades. He also assisted in the Standing Committee on Legislation, the California Labor Federation, The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.
Fillippini retired Jan. 1, 1989. He and his wife Elsie built their home in Solvang where he lived out the final 25 years of his life.
A mass will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Santa Ynez Mission in Solvang to honor Fillippini’s life.
