John Spalvins

John Spalvins, (born Jānis Gunnars Spalviņš, 1936) "Spalvins built up one of Australia's largest industrial conglomerates, which took in David Jones, Woolworths, Metro Meat, food company Petersville Sleigh, beer and wine company Tooth & Co, as well as a tugboat business, before it was put into receivership in 1991."

Early career Spalvins spent the first 13 years of his life in Latvia before his mother brought him to Australia.

For many years, Spalvins and his second wife Gale divided their time between "Kintyre", their home in Springfield, South Australia, their villa on Hamilton Island, and their units in the United States. They continue to spend at least three months each year in the United States at their home in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he indulges his passion for skiing.

Family On 16 December 1961, Spalvins married Cecily Westall Rymill (b. 1939, d.14 April 1991). They had two sons.

After Cecily's unexpected death, aged 53, from a rare blood disease, Spalvins subsequently married Gale.