March 27, 1936 �" June 9, 2009
Born in Venice, Italy, on 27 March, 1936, Mr. Tempo, for forty years the proprietor of Luciano Antiques in Carmel, CA, died peacefully in his home near the Elkhorn Slough of complications from polycythemia rubra vera. A long-time survivor of HIV, he and Traylor Dunwoody, his partner of twenty-eight years, were among the earliest people diagnosed with the disease in California.
Mr. Tempo maintained a residence outside of Marrakech in Morocco for many years after his partner's death, a grand casbah called Tamadot, which he sold to Richard Branson, who converted it into a boutique hotel.
Luciano Antiques was known for decorative objects of scale. Mr. Tempo liked things big, and he had a personality to match. A skillful merchant, he sailed through economic downturns, providing décor for Los Angeles celebrities, Vegas hotels and resorts around the world.
He is survived by two sisters and a brother, all in Italy. Donations may be made in his memory to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
A memorial will be held for him on Saturday, July 18, in Berkeley. For information, write to [email protected] and put "Luciano" in the subject line.