Joe Curran, the chief operating officer at Iconic Marine, died on Wednesday after a fight with cancer. He was 55 years old.
Curran was an integral member of the original management team that revitalized the iconic Fountain, Baja, and Donzi brands. His career in the marine industry spanned 32 years, collaborating with renowned manufacturers such as Wellcraft, Chris-Craft, and Monterey Boats among others.
“When Iconic was established, Joe was my initial hire,” stated Fred Ross, managing partner at Iconic Marine, in a press release. “I couldn’t have made a better choice. Joe’s enthusiasm for boating was clear, and his skills and experience in various areas are unparalleled. We’ll miss him as a leader and a crucial force at Iconic, but most of all, we’ll miss him as a friend.”
Curran oversaw sales, new product development, strategic planning, marketing, and the expansion of the dealer network for Iconic Marine. During his tenure, Iconic Marine launched five new models and revived 11 others, helping the company reestablish its presence in the high-performance and sport boat markets.
Before his ventures in the marine industry, Curran played as a defensive tackle for the Michigan State Spartans in the early 1980s. He had maintained friendships with some of the most notable figures in college and professional football.
Born on April 27, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois, Curran was married to his wife, Julie, for 32 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Jeanne Curran, as well as his two brothers, Robert Jr. and Anthony. He is survived by his siblings: Kathleen (Earl T.) Champion, Madonna Curran, Mary Martha (Dennis) McConnell, Marie Estelle (Mark) Nolan, Susan (John) Loberg, Roy (Claudia) Curran, Jeanne (Rich) Halko, Elaine (Kent) Miller, and Jennifer (Robert) Grandi. He also had many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
The family requests that memorial gifts be directed to the Michigan State University Parkinson’s Research Fund AR9002, University Advancement, Spartan Way, 535 Chestnut Rd., Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824, or to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, 3411 Sherman Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46808.
A memorial service is scheduled to take place at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Elmhurst, Illinois, on April 4, 2019.