The impresario whose revival of Luna Park helped Coney Island recover from decades of decline has died. He was older than 70.
His son said the cause of his death had not been determined.
The origins of the Zamperla Group can be traced back to his great-great grandfather, who became an acrobat after marrying a circus horsewoman in the 19th century.
Mr. Zamperla was the president of the group that designs and manufactures roller coasters and other rides and manages amusement parks all over the world.
He gave up day-to- day control to his two sons. Antonio is in charge of making things. Luna Park is managed by the President of Central Amusement International.
The New York City economic development agency awarded a contract to Central Amusement to revive Luna Park in Brooklyn, which was destroyed in a fire during World War II.
Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, roller coasters, water rides, circuses and animal attractions at Luna Park and its two major competitors, Dreamland and Steeplechase Park, were built by the first decade of the 20th century.
Luna Park still has the original 1927 Cyclone roller coaster, a wooden roller coaster that plunges 85 feet at 60 m.p.h., and a steel roller coaster that drops riders 90 degrees.
Since 2010, the company's largest expenditure in any property has been $100 million, according to the company's CEO.
He loved New York and Coney Island because it meant so much to him and his family.
The Luna Park in Coney Island, N.Y., was revived in 2010 and is the proudest accomplishment of the man, according to an interview he gave to We the Italians.
Mr. Zamperla's father sent him from Italy to North America, first to Montreal and then to New Jersey, to develop a market for the coin-operated devices and family friendly rides that the company had designed and developed in Europe.
Mr. Zamperla told The New York Times in 2010 that this is where ideas are born.
The Zamperla Bull, an arcade machine that tests a player's strength as he tries to press the animal's horns together, was one of the games he developed.
The company was invited to design seven of the original 12 rides for Disneyland Paris in 1988 after retrofitting a new mechanical arm. A lot of Disney business and contracts with other theme parks followed. The capital of North Korea was the location of a commission for amusement attractions. Victorian Gardens is a summer replacement for the ice skating rink in Central Park.
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fameducted Mr. Zamperla.
Antonio and Letizia Zamperla had a son named Albert, who was born on February 3, 1951.
He graduated from the Industrial Technical Institute in Vicenza with a degree in metallurgy and went on to serve in the Italian army.
After taking over the company, he divided his time between Vicenza and New York. He is survived by his wife, two sons and three grandsons.
He made more of his company's attractions accessible to children with disabilities and contributed to nonprofits that helped them. He tried to become the mayor of Venice with the slogan "No to boredom, yes to life".
Mr. Zamperla said he likes to fly in the clouds for at least one hundred days a year. I love living in NYC. I am proud to be from Italy. I am a citizen of the world. I enjoy knowing that my job makes kids happy.
He counted himself among them. He had a lot of rubber ducks in his bathroom.
He told The Financial Times that he was a little boy.
Elisabetta Povoledo was a contributor.
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