SEVERIN WUNDERMAN ?1939-2008: Gucci House builder Wunderman dies in France

Severin Wunderman, who built the South Laguna oceanfront mansion many still call the Gucci House, died June 25 in France. He was 69.

Wunderman was an international businessman and art collector. He is credited with building the Gucci Timepieces into an enterprise worth millions, before the connection was severed. At the time of his death, Wunderman owned Corum, which manufactures Swiss luxury watches.

While living in Southern California, Wunderman established a museum in Irvine to showcase his collection of Jean Cocteau art. He sought permission from Laguna Beach to transfer the collection to a location on Ocean Avenue, which is reserved for resident-serving businesses.

“The city refused and we got Big Dog,” City Councilwoman Toni Iseman said. Wunderman took the collection to France and a museum is to be built in Menton, France, serendipitously recently selected as Laguna’s sister city. Iseman said France knighted Wunderman for the donation.

— Barbara Diamond