Mario Segale, Real Estate Developer Who Inspired Nintendo's Super Mario Name DEAD @ 84

Mario A. Segale, was a Seattle-area real estate developer who rented a warehouse to Japanese video-game company Nintendo.  At the time Nintendo was just starting in the US and was behind on the rent.  "Mario" came by the warehouse demanding his rent and after being promised he would be paid, he went on his way.  Once he left Nintendo's president who was struggling to come up with a name for his new character named him Super Mario.  Arguably, the most famous video game character in history.

Super Mario became so popular.  By the 1990s he had become Nintendo’s beloved mascot.  

 https://goo.gl/KzoYbv