Don DePerro, who recently retired as the president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, has passed away at age 66. The Chamber confirmed this to local media yesterday. The cause of his death has yet to be disclosed as of the latest updates.
DePerro took leadership of the Chamber in March 2016 and served through a momentous period until his retirement, with Derrick Clay announced as the incoming president and CEO in November 2024 and officially taking the reins last Monday. Previously, in a career spanning 31 years at American City Business Journals, DePerro held the position of publisher for Columbus Business First, as was mentioned on his LinkedIn profile.
A statement obtained by NBC4i from Chamber President Derrick Clay expressed deep sorrow over DePerro's passing, "Don was a visionary leader whose passion and dedication profoundly shaped the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the greater Columbus Region." Clay credited DePerro with spearheading transformative initiatives that bolstered the Chamber’s mission and advocated for economic growth within the community.
In reflecting on DePerro's contributions, Kenny McDonald, President and CEO of One Columbus, described how DePerro, having worked closely together for 15 years, made the Chamber healthy and positioned the organization strongly, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch. Among the business community of Columbus, his absence will be dearly felt for his advocacy and enthusiasm for the city. McDonald recounted DePerro as a "prince of a guy."
The Chamber and One Columbus, sharing an office building, cultivated an environment of collaboration under DePerro's influence. Clay, who also considered DePerro a dear friend, elaborated that his mentorship, support, and warmth significantly and profoundly impacted him, according to WBNS. The statement further praised DePerro's ability to forge connections and engender respect and admiration from all quarters.
In an intimate message shared just before his demise on his LinkedIn page, DePerro had expressed deep emotions about departing from the Columbus Region business community, reinforcing his dedication and love for the work and people he served. He had scheduled to speak at the Chamber's annual meeting on February 19. His alma mater, Buffalo State University, where he completed a degree in journalism, forms part of his long history and commitment to the field of communication, further evidenced by his 32-year tenure at American City Business Journals. Don DePerro's legacy is poised to continue inspiring the Columbus Chamber's efforts to fulfill his passionately upheld vision.
