Valentine L. Corradi

VALENTINE CORRADI Valentine "Val" Corradi, 90, of Bloomfield Hills, died January 7, 2013, surrounded by his devoted family and supported by the comforting care of Beaumont Hospice. The son of Valentine and Helen F. Corradi, he was born in Newburg, NY, on November 29, 1922, and grew-up in Washingtonville, NY, where his parents owned a local business. In 1942, he graduated from Rider College, Trenton, NJ, with a major in journalism. Following graduation, he served in the US Coast Guard from 1942-1946. In 1947, he received an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. Throughout his academic years, he made The Dean's Honor List and was a member of various professional fraternities. After graduation from Northwestern, he joined D.P. Brother Advertising Agency, Detroit, on the Oldsmobile account. In 1967, D.P. Brother merged with Leo Burnett and in 1977 Val retired from Burnett to join the Newspaper Advertising Bureau (NAB) in Detroit. In 1987, he retired from NAB and managed his own consulting company until 1991. From 1992-2003, he was the first person to work in a non-paid position for The Advertising Council as Detroit Manager, calling on local Detroit and Michigan media to promote pro bono PSAs (Public Service Advertising) campaigns. Active memberships included Adcraft Club of Detroit (Past-President & Hall of Fame); Michigan Advertising Industry Alliance (MAIA); International Visitors Council of Metro Detroit (IVC); Michigan Council on Economic Education (MCEE); Nomads Inc.; Oakland Hills Country Club; Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church. His interests varied from international travel to golf, Broadway & Off-Broadway theater, literature, and all spectator sports. He was a volunteer extraordinaire (Presidential Call to Service Award 2007) and generous supporter of charitable events and organizations. In a 2007 article, Crain's Detroit Business wrote that in 1969 Val, Doug Dalgleish (Cadillac dealer) and the late Jerry Bielfield (Ford dealer) "formulated the idea together at a Detroit restaurant" for the first official Detroit Auto Show Charity Preview. Val was preceded in death by his adored wife, Virginia, in 1991. He is survived by his daughter, JoAnn (Mitch) Bonnett of Bloomfield Hills, a grandson, Bryan Bonnett, and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 4-7 p.m., Friday, January 11, 2013, at Kirk in the Hills, 1340 West Long Lake Rd., Bloomfield Hills, MI, 48302. The funeral service will be held in the sanctuary of the Kirk at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 12, 2013. Memorials may be sent to the Beaumont Foundation, PO Box 5802, Troy, MI 48007-5802 or The Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund, PO Box 33099, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 48303-0003.