William Joseph Scarpino, Jr., 80, of Oxnard, California, passed away on March 3, 2026.
Born in Oakland, California, on August 31, 1945, William spent his youth living in many parts of the United States as the son of a Navy commander. In the 1950s, while his father was stationed in Coronado, California, William first learned to sail, beginning a lifelong love of the ocean. He also lived in Newfoundland and Maine, where he met his first wife, Linda.
During the Vietnam era, he served in Army intelligence and was stationed in Augsburg, Germany. While stationed there, he and his wife Linda embraced the opportunity to travel throughout Europe, creating many memorable adventures together.
Following his military service, William built a distinguished career in real estate development and management within the restaurant industry. He served as senior vice president of real estate and construction for Los Angeles-based Sizzler International Inc., formerly Collins Foods Inc. During his career, he also served as president of Collins Property Portfolio Inc., the real estate management company for the Collins Group. His leadership helped guide the development and management of numerous restaurant properties and played an important role in the company’s growth.
After retiring from Sizzler, William continued working for many years as a corporate franchise real estate consultant, advising companies such as Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, and others. He was also known as a skilled negotiator and mediator and shared his insights in his published work, Seven Secrets of Winning Without Losing a Friend.
William was also deeply committed to his community in Mandalay Bay. For decades he served on the board of the Channel Islands Waterfront Homeowners Association in numerous roles and was a tireless advocate for the neighborhood. He played a key role in seawall repair efforts and worked closely with the City of Oxnard, carefully reviewing plans, studies, and policies affecting the waterfront community he loved.
Outside of his professional life, William maintained the deep passion for sailing that he developed as a teen and spent many happy hours on the water. He enjoyed countless boating adventures over the years and felt most at home at sea. Friends often joked that on sailing trips he never wanted to stay on one island for too long, always eager to get back out on the water and head toward the next island and the next adventure. He also loved to travel by land and, later in life, he and his wife Diane shared many travel adventures together.
Those who knew William will remember his lively spirit and his ability to fill any room with smiles and laughter. He enjoyed good company, good conversation, and a well-made gin martini.
William was preceded in death by his former wife, Linda Scarpino, who passed away in 2014 after 46 beautiful years of marriage; his mother, Helen Scarpino; his father, William Scarpino, Sr.; and his sister, Priscilla Ann Johnston.
He is survived by his spouse, Diane Sabol; his daughter, Tracy Scarpino; his niece, Mandy Murphy; and nephew, Mac Johnston.
William will be remembered and deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. He was not afraid of death and often joked that he looked forward to one day enjoying martinis in heaven with his loved ones who passed before him.
As it says in his favorite book, Don Quixote, “The road is always better than the inn.” We wish him safe travels as he sails off on his next adventure.