Marine industry veteran Joe Curran, the COO of Iconic Marine Group, died on March 11, 2019. Curran was 55 years old and was fighting stomach cancer, according to information released by Iconic Marine.
Over a 32-year career in the marine industry Curran earned a reputation for honesty and a no-nonsense approach to business. At the time of his death Curran was engaged in the challenging assignment of reviving the Donzi, Fountain and Baja boat brands under the Iconic Marine umbrella. With Curran at the helm, Iconic introduced five new models and revived eleven models in less than two years, and is poised to be a driving force in both the high-performance and sport-boat markets. Just weeks ago Curran was working the docks for Iconic at the Miami International Boat Show.
“When Iconic was formed, Joe was my first hire,” said Iconic Marine Managing Partner Fred Ross. “I couldn’t have made a better choice. Joe’s passion for boating was obvious, his talent and experience in so many areas unmatched. We’ll miss Joe as a leader and a driving force at Iconic, but more than anything we’ll miss him as a friend.”
Curran’s diverse career also included key roles at US Marine, Harris Kayot, Wellcraft, Chris-Craft, Monterey Boats, Brunswick, Forrest River and Crest Pontoons. While boating was his first love, Curran was also a gifted athlete who was a star defensive tackle for the Michigan State Spartans football team in the 1980s. Curran enjoyed lifelong friendships with some of the biggest names in college and professional football.
Joe was born on April 27, 1963 in Chicago, Ill. He was married to his wife, Julie, for 32 years. The family requests that memorials be made to 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.
Memorial services were held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Elmhurst, Ill on April 4, 2019.
