Month: June 2022

Robert P. Brubaker​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established 2006​

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Robert P. Brubaker, a veteran U.S. Air Force Pilot, began his career in the food industry at General Foods Corporation in New York. He went on to serve as the vice president of marketing for King & Prince Seafood in 1967 and later became the company’s director in 1971, president in 1980, and then CEO and chairman of the board in 1995. Mr. Brubaker was also involved with the National Fisheries Institute from 1981 to 1992 and served as chairman in 1988. He retired in 2004 to spend more time with his family and engage with his hobbies. ​

Joseph R. Lee​

Living Tribute Fund​

Established 2005​

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Joseph R. Lee served as the chairman and first chief executive officer of Darden Restaurants after the company split from General Mills. Mr. Lee started his career at General Mills in 1967 as a member of Red Lobster’s founding team and manager of the first Red Lobster in Lakeland, Florida. He then became CEO of the chain. Mr. Lee later served as the president of the National Restaurant Association. 

Wally M. Gordon​

Memorial Fund​

Established 2005​

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Wally Gordon founded Mid-Atlantic Foods Inc., a seafood cannery in Pocomoke City, Maryland. Mr. Gordon was described as extremely outgoing and lots of fun by his wife Jackie. He was also very active in his community, as he was involved in the redevelopment of Pocomoke City and served on the board of the Pocomoke River Discovery Center, a river heritage center. Mr. Gordon previously worked for Quaker Oats and other food companies before he decided to start his own business.

George J. Davidson, Jr.​

Memorial Fund​

Established 2004

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A seafood industry leader for more than 25 years, George J. Davidson, Jr. started his career with Shamrock Fisheries. In 1983, Mr. Davidson established Rainbow Seafood, Incorporated. Mr. Davidson is well known in the seafood industry and believed that work should not be stressful. While his philosophy was to do a good job, he encouraged people to have fun every day.

Rich Catanzaro

Memorial Scholarship Fund

2004

Richard Catanzaro passed away in 2004 at age 49. Born in New Jersey, Rich moved to San Antonio, Texas when he became the director of seafood merchandising, procurement, and product development at the H.E. Butt Grocery Company. Mr. Catanzaro led the seafood department at H-E-B for nine years, where he tripled sales. He was an innovator in marketing seafood within grocery stores.

Mr. Catanzaro was a leader at the National Fisheries Institute and active in the Special Olympics, National Shrimp Processors, International Shrimp Processors, Gladys Porter Zoo, and the Blessing of the Fleet. He contributed to “Seafood for Dummies” and “H-E-B’s The Cooking Connection’s Seafood Recipe Collection.”

The scholarships associated with the Rich Catanzaro Memorial Scholarship Fund are used to better understand the market dynamics of selling fish and seafood – an area in which Mr. Catanzaro was an innovative leader.

Richard F. Gutting ​

Memorial Scholarship Fund​

2014

Richard Gutting received his law degree from Stanford Law School and graduated in 1968. He went on to pursue a 45-year career in law, government service, writing, and teaching. Mr. Gutting served as general counsel for fisheries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, counsel for the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation of the U.S. House of Representatives, and legal advisor to the President’s Council on Environmental Quality. He also served as the president of the National Fisheries Institute and partner at the law firm Redmon, Peyton & Braswell.

Abbot Weitzer

Memorial Fund

2008

Abbot Weitzer served as the president of Arista Industries, Inc. Before entering the seafood industry, he served in the South Pacific with the Army in World War II. Once he retired, Mr. Weitzer volunteered with SCORE, an organization that assists people trying to start their own businesses. He enjoyed golf and dancing and was devoted to his family. 

Memorial Scholarship Fund

2004

Rich Catanzaro passed away in 2004 at the age of 49.  Born in New Jersey, Rich moved to San Antonio,  Texas when he became Director of Seafood Procurement and Merchandising at H.E. Butt Grocery Company. Rich led the H-E-B Seafood department for nine years in which time he tripled sales.  He was an innovator in marketing seafood within grocery stores.

Rich was a leader on the National Fisheries Institute Executive Committee and active in the Special Olympics, National Shrimp Processors, International Shrimp Processors, Gladys Porter Zoo, and the Blessing of the Fleet.  He contributed to “Seafood for Dummies” and “H-E-B’s The Cooking Connection’s Seafood Recipe Collection”.  He also helped rebuild the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles in the Gulf Coast.

The scholarships associated with the Rich Catanzaro Memorial Scholarship Fund are used to better understand the market dynamics of selling fish and seafood – an area in which Rich was an innovative leader.