Orlando Phillip Iuele
Orlando Phillip Iuele was born on April 10,1933 in Niagara Falls, New York to Vincenzo Iuele (1895-1996) and Concetta Iaccino Iuele (1897-1952). Orlando’s parents were immigrants in the 1920’s from the Cozenza vicinity of Calabria, Italy. Orlando was proud of his Italian heritage and has travelled back to his Italian ancestral roots many times over his lifetime.
Orlando passed away from heart failure on October 17,2026 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. His mind was still sharp and he was active until October 14 when he went into the hospital. He always hoped he would go quick, so he got his wish.
Orlando graduated from Niagara Falls High School and then attended University of Cincinnati as a co-op student where you had schooling for 3 months, paid jobs for 3 months and start back again on that cycle and graduated from UCI along with his best friend from Niagara Falls, Tony Bruno.
Orlando headed East to New York City where he lived at the YMCA and was a ‘gofer’ at Radio City Music Hall along with other short employments.
Orlando’s father had moved West all the way to Santa Clara, California. Orlando’s brother, Ernest, had also travelled to Yuba City, California area.
Disillusioned with the draw of New York City and his family moving West, Orlando decided to move to Hollywood, California where he accepted a job with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. This was the start of his lifelong involvement in insurance.
While working at “the Fund” he became enamored with a pretty red-haired girl, Peggy Schug. They were married on October 7,1959 in Hollywood. Two children, Deborah and David were born while they lived in the Hollywood vicinity.
Orlando and Peggy made a few trips to Europe over the 38 years they were married, especially visiting Italy where his ancestral roots were.
Around 1965, with agency contacts through Fireman’s Fund, he was offered a position with Armstrong, Jones Insurance Agency on the Santa Barbara Wharf. They bought their first home on Foothill Road near San Roque area. That lasted a short while until he accepted a position with Cahill Associates. He enjoyed walking and would walk a couple miles to and from work.
In 1974 they purchased a home on Crestwood Drive where they lived for about 10 years. We are unsure of the time when he was employed at Manchester Insurance Agency in marketing and underwriting for many years. We believe late 1970’s or early 1980’s.
When his wife Peggy became ill in 1992, he retired early and became her caregiver. After she passed away, he ventured back into insurance with Holmes and Holmes Insurance Agency with a good friend, Kay Holmes.
After Peggy passed, Orlando connected with a former Manchester co-worker. They were together for 30 years. Together they enjoyed traveling and seeing both his and her families and again seeing Italy on a couple more occasions. Going on cruises was another favorite travel destination.
In his retirement years, along with travel, Orlando watched a lot of sports, especially football and basketball, filled up many adult coloring books, did some gardening, played games on his laptop, and read the Bible and many Christian books and biographies.
Orlando was preceded in death by his parents, Vincenzo and Concetta, his brothers John and Ernie, his sister Teresa and his wife Peggy. He is survived by his partner, Gloria, his two children, David (Mary) and Deborah, his two grandchildren, Sarah (Conner Gonzales) and Jacob (Faith), his three great grandchildren, Clark, Parker and Grant, and many nieces and nephews.
Orlando had a deep Christian faith and tried to live his life according to the teachings of the Bible to earn Eternal Life with God. He was well thought of and well loved by his family and friends.
A memorial service will be held in the new year, date to be determined.
