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Mario Segale, Developer Who Inspired Nintendo to Name Super Mario, Dies at 84 Mario Segale, Developer Who Inspired Nintendo to Name Super Mario, Dies at 84
(35 minutes later)
Mario A. Segale, a Seattle-area real estate developer who unwittingly lent his name to perhaps the most famous video game character in history — Nintendo’s Mario — died at a local hospital on Oct. 27. He was 84.Mario A. Segale, a Seattle-area real estate developer who unwittingly lent his name to perhaps the most famous video game character in history — Nintendo’s Mario — died at a local hospital on Oct. 27. He was 84.
The death was of natural causes, according to Kim G. Brown, a funeral director at the Marlatt Funeral Home in Kent, Wash., which was handling the arrangements.The death was of natural causes, according to Kim G. Brown, a funeral director at the Marlatt Funeral Home in Kent, Wash., which was handling the arrangements.
Starting in the 1950s, Mr. Segale built a small empire in construction and real estate in Tukwila, a suburb of Seattle. Around 1980 he rented a 60,000-square-foot warehouse to Nintendo, a Japanese company, as it sought to expand to the American market.Starting in the 1950s, Mr. Segale built a small empire in construction and real estate in Tukwila, a suburb of Seattle. Around 1980 he rented a 60,000-square-foot warehouse to Nintendo, a Japanese company, as it sought to expand to the American market.
In his book “Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World,” the author David Sheff wrote that the company’s small team was gathered in the warehouse one day, struggling to come up with American names for the characters in the arcade game Donkey Kong. They were stuck on a squat carpenter wearing a red cap when there was a knock on the door.In his book “Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World,” the author David Sheff wrote that the company’s small team was gathered in the warehouse one day, struggling to come up with American names for the characters in the arcade game Donkey Kong. They were stuck on a squat carpenter wearing a red cap when there was a knock on the door.
It was Mr. Segale, who had come to berate Minoru Arakawa, then the president of Nintendo of America, for being past due on the rent.It was Mr. Segale, who had come to berate Minoru Arakawa, then the president of Nintendo of America, for being past due on the rent.
Mr. Arakawa was already under great pressure to succeed, and Mr. Segale “blasted him” in front of everyone. A flustered Mr. Arakawa vowed that Mr. Segale would get his money soon.Mr. Arakawa was already under great pressure to succeed, and Mr. Segale “blasted him” in front of everyone. A flustered Mr. Arakawa vowed that Mr. Segale would get his money soon.
And as soon as he left, Mr. Sheff wrote, the team knew it had its name: “Super Mario!”And as soon as he left, Mr. Sheff wrote, the team knew it had its name: “Super Mario!”
Super Mario had a supporting role in Donkey Kong, but by the 1990s, he had become Nintendo’s beloved mascot and the star of one of the most popular video game franchises to date. (He also changed professions, from carpentry to plumbing, when he got his own game.)Super Mario had a supporting role in Donkey Kong, but by the 1990s, he had become Nintendo’s beloved mascot and the star of one of the most popular video game franchises to date. (He also changed professions, from carpentry to plumbing, when he got his own game.)
The game designer Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that Mr. Segale inspired Mario’s name with a simple nod of his head in a video published by Nintendo in 2015.The game designer Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that Mr. Segale inspired Mario’s name with a simple nod of his head in a video published by Nintendo in 2015.
Mario Arnold Segale was born in Seattle on April 30, 1934, to Louis and Rina Segale. An online obituary on the funeral home’s website describes his parents as Italian immigrants who worked as farmers, and he was an only child.Mario Arnold Segale was born in Seattle on April 30, 1934, to Louis and Rina Segale. An online obituary on the funeral home’s website describes his parents as Italian immigrants who worked as farmers, and he was an only child.
He started his company, M. A. Segale Inc., with a single dump truck, the obituary states. It became a major construction contractor in the Northwest. Mr. Segale also continued his parents’ practice of buying land around Tukwila, and he established a business park there in the early 1970s. He was described as a generous but demanding boss.He started his company, M. A. Segale Inc., with a single dump truck, the obituary states. It became a major construction contractor in the Northwest. Mr. Segale also continued his parents’ practice of buying land around Tukwila, and he established a business park there in the early 1970s. He was described as a generous but demanding boss.
Mr. Segale sold the construction business in 1998 to concentrate on Segale Properties, the family’s real estate business. The company also owns commercial properties in Seattle and agricultural land, including a vineyard, in eastern Washington.Mr. Segale sold the construction business in 1998 to concentrate on Segale Properties, the family’s real estate business. The company also owns commercial properties in Seattle and agricultural land, including a vineyard, in eastern Washington.
The family is famously averse to speaking with the press. A 2010 Seattle Times article about a planned mixed-use project noted that Mr. Segale and his son, Mark Segale, had not spoken with reporters since the 1990s. (They did not speak with The Seattle Times for that article, and they did not return calls from The New York Times on Friday.) The family is famously averse to speaking with the press. A 2010 Seattle Times article about a planned mixed-use project noted that Mr. Segale and his son, Mark Segale, had not spoken with reporters since the 1990s. (The family did not speak with The Seattle Times for that article, and did not return calls from The New York Times on Friday.)
Along with his son, Mr. Segale is survived by his wife, Donna, whom he married in 1957, and three other children, Lisa Atkins, Tina Covey and Nita Johnson, and nine grandchildren.Along with his son, Mr. Segale is survived by his wife, Donna, whom he married in 1957, and three other children, Lisa Atkins, Tina Covey and Nita Johnson, and nine grandchildren.
His obituary noted that Mr. Segale was the inspiration for the name of Super Mario, but said that he “always ducked notoriety and wanted to be known instead for what he accomplished in his life.” His obituary noted that Mr. Segale was the inspiration for the name of Super Mario, but said that he “always ducked the notoriety and wanted to be known instead for what he accomplished in his life.”
He did break his silence in 1993, shortly after the story of Mario’s name was published in Mr. Sheff’s book. The Seattle Times asked Mr. Segale what he thought about his name being used in a game that was so hugely popular.He did break his silence in 1993, shortly after the story of Mario’s name was published in Mr. Sheff’s book. The Seattle Times asked Mr. Segale what he thought about his name being used in a game that was so hugely popular.
“You might say I’m still waiting for my royalty checks,” he said.“You might say I’m still waiting for my royalty checks,” he said.