Dave Funston, manager, national fleet operations for Mazda North American Operations, passed away on April 1, 2021, following a three-year battle with colon cancer. He was 61.He has the distinction, to date, of being longest reining fleet manager in the history of Mazda North American Operations.
Gerald (Jerry) Frick, retired director, commercial and government sales for North American Fleet, Lease & Remarketing Operations (NAFLRO) for Ford Motor Co., passed away on Feb. 10, 2021. He was 73.
In addition to Avis, Vittoria served in a global role at Hertz. After car rental, he developed a line of sailing superyachts.
As the industry heads into 2021, we look back on the lives and careers of those who left their mark on the fleet industry.
Beatrice Coolican, a past president of the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association, passed away on Dec. 26, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19.
James N. (Jim) Hutchinson, who was chief executive officer of Heavy Duty Trucking and its parent company Newport Communications Group for eight years, died Sept. 24 in Newport Beach, California, following a heart attack.
Through his marketing campaigns, government relations, and ability to manage a powerful group of franchisees, the former Budget CEO is credited with propelling the brand “into the major league of car rental.”
Al Cavalli, one of the founding members of the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA), a past NAFA president, and inductee in AF’s Fleet Hall of Fame, died of heart failure on Jan. 16, 2020. He was 96.
Joseph Holman, chairman emeritus of Holman Enterprises, passed away on Dec. 12. He was 93.
Jim Hoffer, 78, who retired in Argos, Ind., died on Dec. 6, 2019 at Miller's Merry Manor in nearby Culver, Ind., where he was rehabbing from back surgery. He was 78.