Gary Davis, former president and owner of Russ Davis Wholesale (RDW) in Wadena, Minnesota, died at his home Jan. 3 after a long battle with cancer. 2017 marked 60 years since Mr. Davis started selling fresh produce with his father, Russ. “Over the course of 50 years he leveraged a tremendous work ethic, significant smarts, […]
Tag: obituary
Delicato Family Vineyards Founding Family Member Dies At 84
Vincent “Vince” Indelicato, a founding family member of Delicato Family Vineyards in Napa, California, died Dec. 17 in Modesto. He was 84. Mr. Indelicato was born at San Joaquin County Hospital on Sept. 2, 1933, to Gaspare and Caterina Indelicato. He spent his childhood working in the Manteca cellars and vineyards of Delicato Family Vineyards, […]
Remke Succumbs To Cancer At Age 41
Mr. Matthew Robert Remke, 41, of Villa Hills, Kentucky, passed away in the early hours of Sunday, Nov. 19, at his home after a battle with cancer. Mr. Remke was the fourth generation to run his family’s independently-owned grocery business, Remke Markets, and was president up until its sale in early 2017. He leaves his […]
Ocean Mist Farms’ Hugo Tottino Passes Away At 91
Hugo Tottino of Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned produce grower, passed away Nov. 6. He was 91 years old. Known for his warm and welcoming spirit, Ocean Mist says Mr. Tottino greeted employees every day one-by-one. “His hard work ethic and loyalty to his family and employees motivated countless long-tenured Ocean Mist Farms employees,” […]
Joseph ‘Joie’ Scolari Of Scolari’s Food & Drug Passes At 86
Joseph “Joie” Gordon Scolari died on Sept. 2 at his home in Pismo Beach, California, at the age of 86. Mr. Scolari was born Dec. 12, 1930, in Santa Maria, California, and was a lifelong resident of the Central Coast. Mr. Scolari met his future wife, Eldeen Mann, when he was in the fifth grade […]
Patriarch Oral Edwards, GES Founder, Passes Away In Arkansas
He was a confidant of the future President Bill Clinton and with his wife twice met Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Not bad for “a couple of folks from Arkansas.” Mr. Oral Winston Edwards, 87, of Forrest City, Arkansas, passed away Sept. 29. A self-made man, Mr. Edwards founded GES Inc., which today operates stores […]
Sweet Potato Industry Leader Carson Barnes Passes Away
Carson Barnes, a driving force in the North Carolina sweet potato industry, passed away late Saturday evening. He was 82. Barnes began farming in 1960 with three-eighths of an acre of sweet potatoes and eight acres of tobacco. His company, Barnes Farming Corp., has grown to become the largest sweet potato grower and shipper in the country. […]
IHA Executive Dies After Fall At Yellowstone National Park
Jeff Murphy, VP, international, at the International Housewares Association (IHA), died Wednesday, June 7, during a hiking trip to Yellowstone National Park. The 53-year-old’s death was the result of a fall near Turkey Pen Peak in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, according to National Park Service officials. He went missing on Wednesday and a search began […]
Former Certified Grocers CEO Dies At 85
Mr. Everett William Dingwell II, who served as president and CEO of Certified Grocers—now Unified Grocers—died April 11 at his home in Sacramento, California, surrounded by family. He was 85. Mr. Dingwell was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Everett and Esther (Van Scoyoc) Dingwell. He was the oldest of five children. When he was […]
Longtime Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream CEO Dies At 74
Mr. T. Gary Rogers, former longtime chairman and CEO of Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, passed away May 2. He was 74. He died doing what he loved, playing tennis at his home in Oakland, California, according to his obituary. Mr. Rogers was the chairman and CEO of Oakland-based Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream for 30 years. […]
AG Of The South’s Former CEO Dies Unexpectedly
Mr. Gerald “Gerry” Totoritis, the former president and CEO of Associated Grocers of the South, based in Birmingham, Alabama, died of a heart attack on April 25. “He had just finished one of his favorite activities, a round of golf with friends at Craft Farms in Gulf Shores,” according to his obituary. Mr. Totoritis had […]
Redner’s Markets Founder Remembered As Innovator, Risk Taker
Mr. Earl Redner, the founder of Redner’s Markets, died April 5 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was 91. Known simply as “The Chief” by many, Mr. Redner’s vision helped guide the company to where it is today, according to a statement on the Pennsylvania-based chain’s Facebook page. Born in Bridgewater, Virginia, on Sept. 19, 1925, […]
New England C-Store Chain Owner And Former Gubernatorial Candidate Passes Away
Two-time Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Mr. Christy Mihos, 67, the former owner of Christy’s convenience stores, died March 25 in Stuart, Florida, following a recent cancer diagnosis. Christy’s once had 144 stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine. Most of the stores were sold to 7-Eleven. Mr. Mihos served as vice chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike […]
‘Father Of Stevia’ Dies At 80
The man known as the “Father of Stevia,” Mr. James A. May Sr., has died. He was 80 years old. Mr. May was the founder and CEO of Wisdom Natural Brands, makers of SweetLeaf Stevia Sweetener, and is widely recognized for his contributions to the natural and organic sweetener industry, including being the first to […]
Harmons CFO Dies At 56, Services To Be Held Thursday
Mr. John Ward, executive board member and CFO for Harmons Grocery Stores of Utah, passed away unexpectedly Feb. 22. He was 56. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 2. “In his 17 years of service to Harmons, John’s dedication and commitment have played an integral part in the company’s success and growth,” said Harmons […]
Jack Walsh, Formerly With The Griffin Report, Passes Away
Mr. John D. Walsh, who was an ad sales representative for The Griffin Report of the Northeast prior to his retirement, passed away at his home in Plymouth, Massachusetts, surrounded by his family, on Jan. 22. Mr. Walsh had fought a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 78. “Jack,” as he was known […]
Former Leader Of Starn’s ShopRite Remembered
Mr. Fredrick Elwood Starn, 92, former president of Starn’s ShopRite Supermarkets of South Jersey, died Dec. 11. During the time Mr. Starn served as president, he and his family expanded the business to five supermarkets in the South Jersey area, employing 800. He retired in 1986. Mr. Starn was born in Northfield, New Jersey, and […]
Final Thoughts At Jack Brown’s Memorial Service Come From The Late Leader Himself
by Bob Reeves/VP-West Leave it to Jack H. Brown to get in the final word. Even at his own memorial service. At the longtime Stater Bros. leader’s celebration of life service, held Saturday at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, a recording from 2008 found in Mr. Brown’s office desk drawer following his death […]
Stater Bros.’ Jack H. Brown Passes Away
Stater Bros. Markets’ longtime leader—Mr. Jack H. Brown—has died, the company announced today. He passed away at 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, surrounded by his family. He was 78. A native of San Bernardino, California, Mr. Brown began his supermarket career as a box boy at Berk’s Market Spot in San Bernardino at the age […]
Chex Finer Foods’ Founder David Isenberg Dies At 73
Mr. David Isenberg, owner and co-founder of specialty food distributor Chex Finer Foods, Mansfield, Massachusetts, died Nov. 12. He was 73. In 1965, Mr. Isenberg and his father Jay started Chex Finer Foods out of a small garage in Sharon, Massachusetts. Mr. Isenberg worked in all aspects of the business, serving as president for 25 years. He […]
