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If you spend the waning days of every summer at the New York State Fair listening to concerts, cruising the exhibits, eating fried food and enjoying the entertainment, you have Joe LaGuardia to thank. As marketing director, LaGuardia, who died at age 63 on May 14 after having been diagnosed with amyloidosis, a rare blood disorder, was as responsible as anyone for the growth and success of the Fair from his hiring in 1976 under Tom Young to his abrupt retirement in 2007 under Dan O’Hara.
Regardless of who held the title of director, LaGuardia was the go-to guy in many ways and a stabilizing influence when the Fair transitioned to a new director, generally the practice when a new gubernatorial administration takes over in Albany. He served under both Democratic and Republican governors, winning numerous industry awards for his expertise and professionalism. The night before eulogizing LaGuardia at his May 18 funeral at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, former State Fair director Peter Cappuccilli Jr. called him “the single all-time most valuable asset the Fair will ever have. His 32 years of experience and advice are what made the Fair what it was.”
Although he started out handling public relations, the job took him in many directions, most notably booking acts to play at the Grandstand and the stage currently known as Chevrolet Court. The significance of concerts grew exponentially during his tenure, becoming the expo’s major drawing card.
“His unparalleled standing in the entertainment industry and the media was built by a simple, honest, straightforward approach and a whole lot of hard work,” Cappuccilli said. “He had an unbelievable ability to get top acts, especially signing them a month or two before they would win a CMA {Country Music Association} award, which would then double their price.” Two especially impressive “gets” by LaGuardia were the 2000 appearance at the Grandstand by Britney Spears, and 2002’s concert by Alicia Keys at the same venue.
LaGuardia’s passing was acknowledged at a recent meeting of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 78. “He was one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable men I ever met about the music industry, “remarked Local 78 executive secretary Joe Carfagno. “All of the awards that he won from different fair organizations, he deserved every one of them. He had a great affection for musicians and live music. He’s going to be missed by a lot of musicians.”
During LaGuardia’s three decades, the Fair expanded from a seven-day event drawing 536,284 visitors in 1977 to the current 12-day format that has seen attendance exceed 900,000 every year since 1999, including a record 1,011,248 in 2001. He was the point man in garnering sponsorship agreements with such major companies as Miller and Budweiser beers, Agway, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Verizon, Pepsi and Chevrolet, fueling growth and funding infrastructure improvements and an explosion of entertainment events.
For many who worked with LaGuardia as Fair employees, media covering the Fair or vendors and exhibitors on the grounds, he’s being remembered as thoroughly professional, a model of integrity, always polite and completely unflappable. When stormy weather, massive crowds, accidents or incidents turned up the heat, LaGuardia kept his composure and invariably made the right call.
“Whenever there was a problem with the Fair, you knew Joe was going to be there when the problem occurred and he’d resolve it within minutes,” said Carfagno, who knew LaGuardia from childhood and served under him as assistant music director at the Fair. “He was the kind of guy who, if you were in the service, you would want to go into combat with because you knew he would stay cool and protect you. In the 32 years I worked with him, I never saw him become flustered or angry.”
During the funeral, Cappuccilli said his close friend played a pivotal role in the lengthening of the Fair and praised his sage counsel, especially in times of crisis, such as the Labor Day 1998 wind storm that caused the deaths of two workers on the grounds. “For 10 years Joe was by my side for every critical situation with precision advice,” he recalled, “especially during the Labor Day Storm. Joe played a role in almost every decision made at the Fair.”
While recognizing LaGuardia’s community activities and leadership, Cappuccilli expressed one reservation. “One thing we all know and regret,” he asserted, “was that he never received the public credit, recognition or send-off that he deserved at the New York State Fair. His career at the Fair and his accomplishments there were simply remarkable and could never be duplicated by any individual.”
After he retired from the Fair, LaGuardia took the reins of the Lakefront Development Corporation, retiring in 2010, before ultimately becoming a partner at Motto LaGuardia Events LLC.
The Fair will open this year on Aug. 23 and those who knew LaGuardia will no doubt remember him fondly and respectfully as they navigate the grounds. Everyone who attends, friend or stranger, will find a Fair that Joe LaGuardia’s guidance and passion helped significantly to make into something of which New York can truly be proud.
