Businessman, Journalist Albert J. Castelli Dies

Albert (Nick) Castelli, born in Argentina in 1916, died at Harborside Healthcare in Falmouth on Dec. 26.

Educated in Argentina, he served the mandatory year of military service in Buenos Aires, then joined the staff of the prestigious Argentine newspaper, La Prensa. In 1944, Mr. Castelli was recruited by the Inter-American Training Administration, under the leadership of Nelson Rockefeller, to come to the United States for intensive training in the manufacture of paperback books, an industry then in its infancy.

With that knowledge he was to return to Argentina to set up a company there. His office in New York was at PocketBOOKS, Inc., a subdivision of Simon & Schuster in Rockefeller Center. There he met his future wife, Ruth, an administrative assistant.

By 1945, World War II was winding down. With the surrender of Germany, the shipping scene became chaotic, and it was obvious that moving the requisite machinery and materials to Buenos Aires would be impossible. Mr. Castelli was offered the vice presidency of the newly formed company, International Public Opinion Research (later known as International Research Associates) and accepted.

Two years later, he was assigned to open a branch office in Buenos Aires, the seat of the dictatorship of Juan and Eva Peron. During the next four years, the Castellis' two daughters were born. But the political climate, turbulent at best, steadily worsened, and it became increasingly difficult to conduct an organization involving surveys and research analyses. Finally, the branch office was closed, and the Castelli family returned to New York.

Mr. Castelli became a U.S. citizen and served as vice president and a director of International Research Associates for 17 years. He left the company to accept a position as coordinator of international research at McCann Erickson. In 1963, he became an independent consultant and research analyst.

During his career, Mr. Castelli did studies for companies including Standard Oil, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, General Foods, Bovril of London, Time-Life International, NBC, and the Reader's Digest among others.

He was a guest speaker at numerous seminars, including the schools of Business and Journalism at Columbia University and the Official School of Journalism in Madrid, Spain. He was a member of the International Advertising Association, the American Association for Public Opinion Research and the Overseas Press Club, among other organizations.

Known to his friends as Nick, Mr. Castelli was a brilliant man with a keen sense of humor and a deep interest in literature, music and the performing arts. In addition to his business acumen, he was adept with tools, skilled at home design and adroit at carpentry. He was also an excellent cook and prepared memorable paella to the delight of friends he made during the 18 years he and his family lived on Martha's Vineyard. He and his wife moved to Falmouth in 1998, where she continues to reside.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters; a son in law; two granddaughters; and a great-granddaughter, all of whom loved him dearly and will miss him sorely. They and his friends will remember him always for his strength, his kindness, his wit, his loyalty and his generosity.