CMAA Notes Passing of Past National Board Member Jay DiPietro, CCM
With great regret, CMAA announces the passing of Past National Board Member and The Club Foundation Chairman, Jay DiPietro, CCM, on March 6, 2022. Growing up in Boston as the oldest of seven first-generation Americans, Jay learned responsibility at the tender age of 11 years, earning his first wages at the Hampshire House. As a young man, he proudly served his country in the Korean War. After seeing the Army’s Mess Hall, he jokingly said that he now understood why it was called the Mess Hall. He requested that assignment and with his creativity and ingenuity, it became the Grand Mess Hall of choice. Thus, paving his way into the hospitality industry.
His career started as a manager trainee and later as a manager with the Playboy organization, followed by Holiday Inn Hotels, Restaurant Associates New York and Boston, and Longchamps of Florida. He managed and operated five high-end restaurants in Miami/Dade County before he began his career in club management in 1975 at the Bal Harbour Yacht & Beach Club. In 1985, Jay became the President and General Manager of Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, FL, where he would serve for 32 years.
Jay joined CMAA in 1977. He earned his Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation in 1989, and joined the Honor Society in 2009. He was elected to the CMAA Board of Directors in 1990 and was reelected in 1991. He was an active volunteer with CMAA’s Committees and the Florida Chapter.
Known throughout the industry for “giving back,” Jay founded and Chaired the CMAA Seminole Region Chapter Charity Golf Tournament and Gala for the benefit of underprivileged children. Under his leadership, more than $6.7 million was raised for Special Olympics Palm Beach County, SOS Children’s Village Florida, Place of Hope, Florence Fuller Child Development Center, 4Kids, Unicorn Children’s Foundation, the George Snow Foundation, First Tee of Palm Beach Gardens, and Achievement Centers for Children in Delray Beach to name a few.
He led The Club Foundation as its Chairman from 2005 to 2014. His leadership and enthusiastic fundraising helped the Foundation raise much needed funds to support the professional development of current and future club management professionals.
In 2019, Jay was selected for the inaugural class of CMAA Fellows, which honors dynamic and active club industry luminaries who have made a significant impact on the club management community through exemplary service and leadership, accomplishments, and other major contributions to CMAA and the club management profession.
Services are planned for Monday, March 21, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
