Alfred Louis Filippini

Alfred Louis Filippini, Ph.D. was born in 1944 in Oakland, California. He spent many happy years with his wife Deborah and his five children before passing from liver cancer on Sunday, June 14, 2009 in his Santa Barbara home. He also lived the last ten years of his life with a completely occluded aorta – it is remarkable that enough blood still found its way to such a big heart.

Al began his career in real estate, tax planning, and investments in 1964. He specialized in tax and estate conservation planning and wealth preservation. Al earned a Ph.D. in United States Tax Law in 1967. Al was an expert in tax strategies, an author, and also taught at both Monterey College of Law and Golden Gate University Graduate School of Taxation. He held an MBA and was a Registered Financial Consultant, a designation earned from The International Association of Registered Financial Consultants.

Al spent much of his time in the 1970s and 1980s traveling throughout California, Hawaii, Guam, and Hong Kong where he operated his tax planning businesses. More recently, Al was named Senior Market Advisor of the Year in 2002 by the Society of Senior Market Professionals. This prestigious achievement was chronicled in a magazine cover story on Al suitably titled “Who’s the Boss?”

Al never backed down from a challenge. During the El Niño storm, while in Monterey, Al took freeway closures as a test for his In-N-Out craving…and somehow got there. Don’t forget the 150 degree latte with four brown sugars. And who else shopped online enough to receive Christmas gifts from Overstock and Amazon?

Al left no goal unaccomplished by the end of his lifetime. Having lived such an incredible life he was left with a modest bucket list – simply spending time with his family. He was truly a man that lived his life to the fullest in a way that only those who witnessed could believe. If it wasn’t the best then he didn’t want it and if was the best then he already had at least one and probably a few.

Among Al’s hobbies were movies, food, and cars. He definitely had a need for speed when it came to cars, even in his final years. There was always this amazing look of excitement and joy when Al hit 100 mph on the freeway on-ramp…and 130 mph by the time he was on the freeway. He also enjoyed traveling to exotic places like Jamaica. The Bay Area always held a special place in his heart having met his wife Deborah there.

Alfred is survived by his wife Deborah, his five children; Alexis, Iaian, Alex, Christeva, Natali, his grandson Drew Lucas Filippini, and his dog Bailey. He passed peacefully surrounded by his family members. Private services were held.

A public service will be held on Monday, June 22nd, at 3 p.m. at The Montecito Country Club in Santa Barbara.