Los Angeles, CA – Bob Dallmeyer will be remembered this Summer at a “Celebration of Life” memorial in Los Angeles, the family of the late trade show legend said Monday. Tentative plans call for the gathering to take place over the July 4 holiday so that Bob’s hundreds of friends and industry colleagues from around the world can make plans to attend.
Bob passed away at his home on Saturday, February 8 while battling throat cancer. The 50-year veteran of the trade show industry had turned 76 on January 1. He was diagnosed in late 2013 and required major surgery in December. His personal Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/bob.dallmeyer) provided updates on his heroic fight and became a focal point for messages of loving support and now sad condolences for his family. He is survived by husband John Vannucci, daughters Kristen and Kimberly, and five grandchildren.
THE WORLD LOSES A LEGEND AND FRIEND
“Despite his pain, and difficulty in speaking, Bob mustered the strength to open his home to a steady array of family and friends in the final days of his life,” said Darlene Gudea, president of Trade Show Executive Media Group. “His trademark warmth, sense of humor and gracious manner were still evident, and his characteristic interest in what was going on in everyone’s else’s life rather than his own once again reflected the unselfish and giving nature of the man we loved for decades.” Gudea said the trade show industry will never see a more gifted and generous leader. “The trade show industry lost one of its greatest statesmen. We are at a loss for words in dealing with the passing of our beloved colleague and friend. However, we will forever remember him and be enriched by his lasting contributions to the exposition industry, reflected in his teachings, books and writing, and his legendary Power Lunch column.”
“The exhibitions and events industry lost an incredibly kind and exceptional visionary, entrepreneur, leader, mentor, educator and friend,” the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) said in a statement issued Monday. “Bob’s contributions through his vast experiences, unwavering dedication, deep knowledge and never-ending humor shaped the industry and made it what it has become today.”
TSE, UNITED TO CREATE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Bob was also the longtime Power Lunch columnist for Trade Show Executive (TSE), which in the coming days will announce the creation of a scholarship fund in his name. United Service Companies will launch the fund with the first contribution.
“Bob Dallmeyer was a highly respected leader of the trade show industry and one of its finest ambassadors,” said Richard Simon, president of United Service Companies. “This scholarship fund will seed the next generation of industry leaders, and we think Bob would be delighted that his legacy of training new leaders will live on.”
IAEE has also created an education fund in Bob’s name and said it was accepting donations through its Dallas headquarters.
Bob was a long-time member and past chairman of IAEE and the Trade Show Exhibitors Association – the only person to hold both posts during his career. He received IAEE’s Legend of the Industry Award and was inducted into the Convention Industry Council’s Hall of Leaders in 2006. He had also been a regular speaker at trade show industry events and a teacher who passed on the insights and experiences he earned to students of the exhibition industry in Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Beijing, Peru and other countries around the world.
A total of 84 industry leaders sat down for Power Lunch interviews with Bob over the course of his seven-year association with TSE. Some of the sessions were in front of a live audience at the TSE Gold 100 and Fastest 50 events.
The roster of Power Lunch guests included such legends as Mike Russbridge, chairman and CEO of Reed Exhibitions, and Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association. He was equally adept at bringing out the best ideas from executives the age of his grandchildren. One of his dynamic interviews last year was with Andrew Ortale, Ryan Brown, Stacey Correcha-Price and Chris Harar, a quartet of young and accomplished second generation executives at National Trade Productions.
Reach Darlene Gudea at (760) 630-9111 or dg@tradeshowexecutive.com; Richard Simon at (800) 248-8558 or rsimon@unitedhq.com; Beverly Elliott, who is in charge of donations to the IAEE Bob Dallmeyer Education Fund, at (972) 687-9203 or belliott@iaee.com
GOT PHOTOS?
If you have a favorite photo of Bob that you would like to share, send it to Kathleen Maloney at kmaloney@tradeshowexecutive.com and we will post as many as possible in the slide show tribute.
