Claude Innocenti, former President of La Grange, who served on the Board of Directors for over 20 years, has died. Club members Tom Byrnes, Bill Burrell, Jay Slater, and Marco Fantone have shared some special memories and photos of a very special man. Please take the time to read and learn about the incredible commitment Claude had to our club. He will be missed but never forgotten.
Claude and Michelle Innocenti. They were married for 33 years.
Claude and Michelle
Written by Tom Byrnes:
I met Claude about twenty years ago. He looked like a French movie star, with his good looks, flowing silver hair, ready smile, nice eyes and his English, with a French accent. And, always well dressed. At some point in time after being a La Grange member, I asked Claude about his last name (Innocenti), as it sounded Italian (which it is) to me. He told me that his name was Italian, but that he had been born and raised in Nice. I had been to the Nice and Cannes area about ten separate times and love that area, so we had places and things to talk about.
Claude had four brothers. The oldest brother immigrated to New York City and became the captain of a mainly French amateur soccer team in NYC. Claude was recruited by his brother to come to New York and play with the soccer team, as Claude was a pretty good goalie. Claude came to NYC, joined the soccer team and his brother got him a job in a restaurant.
Claude continued working in the restaurant business, ultimately working his way up with Conrad Hotels (Hilton’s international division) as Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage Worldwide. He traveled the world opening the new properties owned by Conrad in Europe, Australia and the Caribbean. While working in Australia opening a Hilton Hotel, he met his wife Michelle.
Claude told me how he was officially introduced to La Grange. He had enjoyed meeting and talking with Raymond. Raymond invited him to go for a bike ride (maybe the Sunday Nichols Ride) and Claude readily accepted. Claude showed up at the ride start wearing tennis shorts, a t-shirt and sneakers and riding a cruiser-style bike. Raymond arrived on his road bike wearing his La Grange cycling kit.
Claude obviously made the adjustment. He soon embraced cycling. When he retired from Hilton International, he seemed to go to work for Velo Club La Grange. My recollection is that he was the President of La Grange for about eight years, and he actually served as President twice, and then became the Club Treasurer for about fifteen years. But, whatever the actual number of years, for many, many years Claude gave significant time and attention to La Grange. When I joined the Board, Claude was the Treasurer.
Claude appears to be the last of the Frenchmen of La Grange. Claude always made sure that the Club remembered Raymond. He stayed in touch with Raymond and visited with him often at Raymond's house in El Segundo and later his care facility in Culver City. Claude always reminded the club of Raymond's birthday every year (December 26th, as Marco just reminded everyone). Claude would order a birthday cake for Raymond and for a few years, Claude, Marco, Jay, Stu Press, Dean Smith, me and others would bring the cake and visit Raymond at his care facility in Culver City.
Claude was also instrumental in arranging to pick up Raymond from his care facility to transport Raymond in a wheelchair accessible taxi van to the Brentwood Grand Prix each year. The Club would take Raymond, Alex Baum (another Frenchmen and deservedly called the "Father of Cycling in Los Angeles"). It was always wonderful to see and listen to Claude, Raymond, and Chef Rudy together speaking French.
Claude was a very good athlete. Besides playing soccer when he was younger, Claude also loved playing tennis. He avidly followed the pro cycling peloton and the grand tours. Claude was well into his 70’s when we went up to the Russian River area to cycle for a week a few years ago.
I feel very fortunate that I met and became friends with Claude. He was a great person. All who knew him will miss him.
Claude embraced life and set a good example for the rest of us. Carpe diem.
Best always to all,
Tom
Raymond’s 90th Birthday Dec 2010: Raymond Fouquet, Marco Fantone, Alex Baum, Claude Innocenti
September 2004 Annual Piuma Hill Climb: Claude Innocenti (center), Duncan Lemmon (right).
Written by Bill Birrell
Claude Innocenti was THE MAN!
He had it all. The classic movie-star looks. The presence. The principles. The drive and determination. The George Clooney level class. Oh, yeah. And that accent!
I am lucky he was my friend.
I met him on a LaGrange Club ride or at Starbucks thereafter sometime in 1993. You couldn’t help but be drawn to his circle as he held a cup of coffee in one hand, and your whole shoulder in his other as he regaled you with a broad variety of stories stretching from his home above a grocery store in Nice, France during WWII to the latest Sepulveda sprint not 15 minutes before.
I have a distinct memory of shaking his hand. It was huge! It engulfed my own. His grip was like his character: Firmness exuding confidence, yet soft and gentle at the same time. The texture was completely smooth.
Claude loved his wife Michelle, his birth-place France, his sports car (with a racing clutch so stiff you had to be a sprinter to shift it), fine food and wine, cycling, Raymond Fouquet and Velo Club LaGrange.
Claude applied the lessons he learned as Head of Food and Beverage for Hilton International to his service of Velo Club LaGrange. For many years he served as its President and thereafter as its treasurer. While he could master the management of people and even the opacity of early digital accounting software, for some reason he could not fathom the system settings on his Mac computer. As his neighbor, I often became his system administrator. He was always incredibly gracious about my efforts to help him.
Claude made a tremendous contribution to the club. All of us who enjoy the multitude of club benefits - from the sponsors, to the support, and even the friendships VCLG brings us - owe him a debt of gratitude.
Merci beaucoup
Bill Birrell
April 2006 La Grange Annual Picnic
December 2004: La Grange Night at Helen's
November 2011 Raymond Fouquet and Claude Innocenti
Written by Jay Slater
I joined La Grange in 2001. I remember meeting Claude early in my membership. Claude was never shy about giving his opinion. We would ride together occasionally and he would wax on about the Club he loved and had choice words for the Board.
I remember one ride when somehow we got on the subject of Social Security! I mentioned how I was really looking forward to the day I could begin to collect at age 62. He looked me square in the eye, and with a dead serious look, said he was looking forward to that day too! I looked at him and said “Claude, you are ten years older then me so you are eligible already”. He told me “No, I’m only 59!”. I knew that I had unleashed the Jack Benny of La Grange.
We joked about that ride occasionally. When I became President of La Grange, Claude had no shortage of advice for how to run the Club. In all honesty he gave me what turned out to be really good ideas.
I will miss him and his very real bon ami!
Jay Slater
November 2011 La Grange Annual Banquet: Claude and Chef Rudy.
December 2005 Claude Innocenti
2001 Claude Innocenti
Written by Marco Fantone
I first met Claude in 1997. I knew right away that he ran the club with an iron grip. You didn’t just get to join the club back then, you had to know a current club member and then be accepted. Luckily, I passed muster and soon thereafter I was at Claude’s home picking up my first ever La Grange jersey. I was so stoked!
If I had to sum up my relationship with Claude it would be that I felt I really needed to earn his trust in order to be taken seriously which I don’t believe happened for quite a number of years. That seemed to change during my term as LG president. What this ultimately shows is his passionate commitment to the club and its success. He needed to know that those on the Board with him were as committed as he was.
Claude had a heart of gold. I will deeply miss his character and everything French about him because that’s what really helped make La Grange the club and race team that it was under his leadership.
Bon Voyage Claude!
Marco Fantone
November 2016 Marco Fantone and Claude Innocenti.
Raymond Fouquet and Claude Innocenti
Brentwood Grand Prix: Dan Weinberg, Alex Baum, Tom Brynes, Raymond Fouquet, Mystery Lady, Claude Innocenti
Thanksgiving 2013. L-R Jay Slater, Brian Pera , Dean Smith , Raymond Fouquet, Tom Byrnes, Marco Fantone, Claude Innocenti