Pioneer real estate executive Iacovetto dies

Like many valley residents, Sam Iacovetto Jr. came to Las Vegas to take advantage of the many opportunities a growing town had to offer.

But in the late 1950s and early 1960s the growth came a little bit at a time, not making the job of a young realtor very easy.

"The realty business was small back then," said Iacovetto's long time friend Frank Sala. "It wasn't as profitable as it is today."

Iacovetto, who persevered and became an integral part of growth in the valley, died Friday at the age of 77. He was a past president of the Las Vegas Board of Realtors and owner of Landmark Realty.

Sala, also a realtor, said property on the strip in the late 1950s sold in the for $2,000 or $3,000 an acre. But getting newcomers to buy a piece of the dusty valley, even at a low price was no easy task.

"Nobody was buying land back then," he said. "People came from the East -- from the farms. They saw the sagebrush and lack of water and didn't think the land was any good.

"In those days you could drive from one end of the town to the other in 10 minutes."

But as the drive across town became a little bit longer, so did Iacovetto's list of clients -- clients he continued to serve long after he retired from the business.

"Even after he retired, he continued to keep realtor's license and a business phone number," said his son Robert Iacovetto. "He had a lot of people he dealt with years back. He never turned his old friends away."

Iacovetto and his wife Billie Ann came to Las Vegas in 1953, from Artesia, Colo. For the first five years, Iacovetto worked in the casino industry. In 1958, he opened Landmark Realty and in 1969, he was elected president of the Las Vegas Board of Realtors.

"His reputation was his high point," his son said. "He was an honest and reputable broker."

The World War II Navy pilot, who received the Distinguished Flying Cross and two air medals, was also the past president of the Evening Optimist club, a member of the Elks Lodge and the V.F.W.

He was also past president of the Las Vegas Parliamentarian Unit. He once served on the board of directors of the Italian American Club, was a member of the Las Vegas chamber of commerce and was a former member of the Paradise Valley and Improvement Association and the Southside Improvement Association.

He is survived by his wife, Billie Ann; one daughter, Sharon Marchiol of Aurora, Colo.; one son, Robert Iacovetto of Las Vegas; one sister, Viola Dunn of Denver, Colo.; six brothers, Jimmy Iacovetto, Raymond Iacovetto, Angelo Iacovetto, Claude Iacovetto and Clyde Iacovetto, all of Colorado, and Victor Iacovetto of San Francisco; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Arrangements were handled by Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. The family asks that donations be made to the Red Cross.

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