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Press Releases Spring 2005
CONTACT: Cathy Summa, Director, Marketing & Communications
(831) 479-6158
casumma [at] cabrillo.edu
January 13, 2005
Music and Memories Inspire Endowment at Cabrillo College
APTOS, CA - Cabrillo College has received a $50,000 pledge from John and Nancy Toso to establish the James and Norma Dal Porto Endowment to benefit the instrumental music program. John Toso is James “Jimmy” Dal Porto’s nephew.
The James and Norma Dal Porto Endowment will be used to purchase instruments, provide instrument repair and maintenance support, increase holdings in the music library and to fund student scholarships to promote private instruction.
“This is such a fitting tribute to Jimmy Dal Porto and his life of playing music in our community,” Cabrillo Foundation Executive Director Melinda Silverstein said.
Mr. Dal Porto was a locally well-known musician who played the accordion at public and private events. He owned and operated the Pacific Accordion Studio and instructed in both guitar and accordion playing.
His musical career spanned more than 60 years when he died at his home in Santa Cruz in 2003 at age 88. Mrs. Dal Porto passed away in July 2004 at age 85. Both Norma and Jimmy are remembered for their shared love of friends, music and dancing, fishing trips, their garden of flowers and their beloved dogs. The couple was married for 67 years and had no children.
John and Nancy Toso traveled from their home in Ashland, Oregon in early December to meet with college administrators and establish the scholarship. They have also donated a CD of Mr. Dal Porto’s music, which will be available to students in Cabrillo’s music library.
"Cabrillo College is community-oriented and focuses on teaching local students,” John Toso said. “Jimmy Dal Porto taught so many people in the community that it seemed like Cabrillo was the right place to establish an endowment in his name.”
"We thought Jimmy would be thrilled that this donation will benefit teachers like himself to inspire new musical careers,” Nancy Toso added.