The Front Page Online reports that Albert Vera, former Culver City mayor and owner of Sorrento Italian Market died Monday morning of a heart attack. Vera was beloved in his community, running Sorrento for the past five decades, and always, seemingly, working behind the counter. He was uncommonly generous, often doling out free food and wine both to his charities and to his customers. Vera is also said to have owned something in the neighborhood of a hundred working ranches in the Central Valley.

In recent years, he had been caring for his ailing wife Urusula, who has also long been known and loved in the city. Alberta Vera was 75 years old and will be deeply missed.

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