Vincent J. Sainato
Vincent J. Sainato of Forest Hills, NY, and Ipswich, passed away January
8, 2022 in Ipswich after a prolonged battle with cancer.
He is survived by his husband Martin Ruzicka of Ipswich, parents Kay and
Vincent of NY, brothers Dominic and Darrin, his niece and nephews, and
dear friends who he loved and leveled with like family.
He was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1966 and received a BFA from the School of
Visual Arts in NYC. With a career in visual design that spanned over 25
years, Mr. Sainato redefined the way theater and entertainment are
marketed as he helped premiere countless Broadway shows and turn them into
long-running hits, launched popular TV series, rebranded cable stations,
and elevated iconic institutions.
His early work as an Art Director at Viacom included branding MTV, Comedy
Central, and Nickelodeon. In 2002 he joined the newly incorporated SpotCo
agency, where, as Art Director, he masterminded the first Tony Award
campaign to influence a historic upset for Avenue Q, innovated on razzle
dazzle for Chicago’s famous shimmering billboard, and stewarded some of
Broadway’s most memorable brands, including Billy Elliot, West Side Story,
In the Heights, and Rent, as well as institutions like Lincoln Center, The
Metropolitan Opera, Cirque du Soleil, and New York Botanical Gardens. In
2013 he became Vice President of Creative Services at Serino Coyne,
working on shows including The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera,
Wicked, An American in Paris, and Dear Evan Hansen. In total, the
productions he worked on won 237 Tony Awards, including 72 Best Musicals
and Best Plays.
Along the way he developed working relationships and friendships with
talented photographers and mentored countless designers and copywriters
with his inimitable standards for artwork, crackling creativity, and
flawless eye for detail. He had the rare gift of being extremely fun and
creative under pressure, finding humor and conjuring beauty in the most
stressful moments. A conversation with Vinny always meant great laughs and
colorful truths. His former colleagues and friends describe him as
brilliant, hilarious, occasionally tough, and completely singular.
A longtime resident of New York City, Vinny alternated weekends with Marty
at their homes in New York and Ipswich. After first facing cancer in 2018,
Vinny left the bustle of Broadway and moved primarily to Ipswich. But the
lure of Broadway meant he soon came back part-time, launching his own
business, Vinny J. Sainato Creative Consulting, providing marketing and
art direction for Six on Broadway, The Prom, The Emerson Colonial Theatre,
and The Huntington Theatre. His most recent work reflected his newfound
joie de vivre, spending more time in his happy place with his beloved
Marty.
An impeccably well-groomed man who never lost his mischievous smile or
twinkling dark eyes, and who lived life as his damn self with few
apologies, Mr. Sainato lived by the credo “Basic is Boring.”
Funeral services were private. Arrangements by the Whittier-Porter Funeral
Home of Ipswich. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Stand Up to
Cancer. To celebrate his life’s work, please visit vinnyishappy.com
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