By Carolyn Gray Anderson
In 2000, Luis Serrano (’02), whose life and business were comfortably established in his native Spain, matriculated to UCLA Anderson — with every intention of earning his MBA in the U.S. and resuming his career in Europe. But on his first day of class, he found himself in an orientation event sitting next to an outgoing American named May Hasso (’02). Students were each asked to introduce the classmate beside him or her, and Luis fumbled through what he remembers as an earnest introduction in which he complimented May’s beauty.
“I was very wet behind the ears as far as U.S. social conventions,” he confesses. But if his gallantry that day was on the effusive side, it broke the ice for a relationship that led to their marriage in 2003. “You have to be open to what’s in front of you,” he says about his decision to change his life’s plan.
Luis describes May as extremely bright, lively and social. In 2010 they founded the aptly named Sunshine Retirement Living, a boutique management company for senior housing communities, now thriving with 800 employees and 20 locations in eight states across the country. She assumed the helm as CEO, he served as president.
UCLA Anderson remained an integral part of the Serranos’ personal and professional lives beyond that first day of orientation. Luis, who serves on the board of the Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, says that Senior Associate Dean Al Osborne was particularly encouraging of his entrepreneurial interests as a student. He and his best friend Zach Sterngold (’02) attempted to launch a business together while they were still in school. Throughout the process, Serrano felt supported at Anderson, and persevered in applying his b-school training to his entrepreneurial endeavors. “Everything I learned about structuring deals and leveraging assets, I use every day in leading a company,” he says.
Sadly, in July 2014, May Hasso Serrano was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer just two weeks before giving birth to a son. She passed away in May 2015, survived by Luis and their three children, Ava Noelle (10), Luis James (8) and Sawyer Alexander (2). The numerous friends the couple made in those formative years at Anderson also formed part of their support network. “We made amazing connections here that will last a lifetime,” says Luis. “We had a lot of fun and it’s where we met so many friends in common.”
Luis, his four children and his close family have decided to acknowledge the significance of UCLA Anderson in their lives with a $1 million gift. He will honor his late wife with the May Hasso Serrano Classroom, located in the new Marion Anderson Hall, which is scheduled to break ground in fall 2017.
Luis says that well before May became ill he felt compelled to give his time and financial support to Anderson. Afterward, he was inspired by the generous example set by Marion Anderson and considered the building that will bear her name a fitting place to pay tribute to May. Luis chose an active learning space that accommodates 90 people because it will reflect May’s sociability and love of learning and collaboration.
Luis believes the new state-of-the art building represented the best way to honor May’s memory because it’s such a visible testament to the Anderson ethos of sharing success. This is the first naming opportunity to be claimed in Marion Anderson Hall and Luis hopes that his family’s gift will inspire other alumni to give as well.
He didn’t make his decision alone. Motivating him were fellow Anderson alumni and supportive colleagues and family. Among those in his close circle was May’s good friend Lindsey Hassen, with whom May managed a Westwood boutique after graduating from Anderson. Lindsey later worked with May at the rapidly growing Sunshine Retirement Living. Lindsey became Lindsey Serrano when she married Luis in 2016 — a chapter of the story Luis feels was written by a higher power. In March 2017, Luis and Lindsey felt blessed to add a fourth child to their family, their son Blake Grayson.
“May always looked at life with a different sensitivity than the rest of us,” Luis says, as he recalls how he once again opened himself up to what was in front of him. “She wanted us to move on and be happy. And she would have loved to have a permanent imprint on the school.”
Luis learned from Marion Anderson’s example to support efforts that “make sure future generations have an even better experience than you had.”
Luis cherishes his memories of those early years following his arrival in the U.S., but he says today’s joy with life and family inspired him to make this gift.
Very inspirational and a wonderful tribute to May.
Posted by: Brett | 08/26/2017 at 12:06 PM