ACT Today! Salutes Philanthropist Virginia Viola with 2014 Visionary Award

Virginia Viola

2014 Visionary Honoree

October 21, 1924 - March 30, 2014

Virginia’s journey through life began in Los Angeles as the only child of an Irish Immigrant mother and a WW1 veteran from Colorado. In her youth she worked for Hal Roach Studios making limited appearances in Our Gang & Little Rascals movie shorts. At 13 she acquired her business savvy in the family restaurant, due to the untimely death of her father. At 17 she declined a scholarship in mathematics at Stanford University in order to help her mother run the family business.

It was in the early WWII years when her course was redirected by a US Naval officer by the name of Ralph Viola that danced his way into her heart. They were married in February of 1944, and landed in Oxnard to start their family and construction company.

As the co-founder of Viola Inc., Constructors she was instrumental in the financial success of the company for 68 years. Together they built many landmark projects in Ventura, LA, and Santa Barbara Counties. They were honored to work extensively with the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

Virginia’s aptitude in math allowed her to balance the books of four companies to the penny and fueled her passion to play Bridge. She was an early member of the Ventura County Dance Club and the treasurer of the Assistance League where she was influential in the purchase of the Chapter House in Ventura. She and Ralph were involved with the Contractors State License Board, AGC and other organizations that led them to dinner at the White house under two separate administrations.

She was a devoted wife, exceptional business partner, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.