Albert Salvatore Traina

 

photo of Al Traina Albert Salvatore Traina, a resident of Chebeague Island ME, formerly of Scarsdale NY, died early Monday morning, November 30th at Sedgewood Commons in Falmouth, ME from complications of Parkinson’s disease.
Mr. Traina, known as Al, was a WWII Navy veteran, publisher, and community services advocate. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 30, 1927, the son of Salvatore and Giulia LaBarbara Traina.

 After finishing high school, Al served in the US Navy 1945-46. In 1950 he graduated from Seton Hall University. He was then awarded a NY State War Services Scholarship, which he used to do graduate work at Columbia University and to earn his MBA at New York University in 1954.

Al began his career in magazines at Fairchild Publications, NYC from 1951-54. He joined Ziff-Davis Publishing, NYC as Eastern Advertising, then Advertising Manager of Modern Bride Magazine from 1954-58. He worked for Hearst Magazines, NYC from 1958 until 1970, serving as publisher of Bride & Home, Sports Afield, Town & Country, and Harpers Bazaar.  Al served as President and CEO of Bartell Media Corp., NYC 1970-74. He rejoined Ziff-Davis Publishing from 1974-85. He worked as President of the Ziff-Davis Magazine Network, Group VP Ziff-Davis Pub. Co., Sr. VP of Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., and President of Ziff-Davis Consumer Magazines. When Ziff Davis Consumer Magazines was purchased by CBS, he became Executive VP Magazines CBS. Al then formed a magazine consulting and training company Traina Associates, NYC. He trained salespeople from many of the major publishing companies from 1985 until he retired in 2000.

Al was a member of the National Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of America 1979-92, and Chairman of the Board from 1988-92. He acted as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Chebeague Island Library from 1997-2001. He was President of the Board of Directors of the Chebeague Recreation Center from 1998-2003. He served on the Board of Directors of the Chebeague Island Historical Society from 2002-2008.

A fierce competitor and dedicated athlete, Al played football and basketball in high school. He played tennis, paddle tennis, and squash all his life. He enjoyed running, and bicycling. Al was a devoted family man and loved spending time cooking.

 Al is survived by his wife Vail Devereux Traina; their daughter, Caroline Hawks, her husband Clayton, their children Clayton Albert, Ross, and Eleanor of Bath, ME; their son, Brooks Traina, his wife Lauri, their children Philip and Shaun of Windham, ME; his brother, Edgar Traina and his wife Helen of New York City, their children and grandchildren; and numerous cousins.

There will be visiting hours at Lindquist Funeral Home in Yarmouth on Friday, December 4 from 5 to 7 P.M.  The funeral will be held at the Chebeague Island United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 6 at 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be sent to any of the non-profit organizations on the island or to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

See the memorial site for photos