Travel Goods Association

On Wednesday, November 26, our friend and colleague Anne DeCicco lost her courageous battle with cancer. Anne was an inspiration to all of us, not only for her vision and guidance, but for her unwavering devotion to TGA and the entire travel goods industry. She was a demanding boss who expected the best from her staff and would tolerate nothing less. We will all miss her.

TGA President Anne DeCicco Dies

Anne L. DeCicco, president of the Travel Goods Association and publisher of the industry's trade publication, Travel Goods Showcase, passed away on November 26 after a long illness. She was 53.

According to Tom Sandler, TGA chair and president of Samsonite Americas, "It was a privilege to work with Anne on TGA matters over the last few years. She brought tremendous energy, vision and leadership to the travel goods industry. She has been an invaluable spokeswoman and advocate for our industry. We have all lost a real friend and she will be truly missed."

Anne was instrumental in TGA becoming an all-inclusive association in 2000. She was hired by TGA (then known as the Luggage & Leather Goods Manufacturers of America) in October 1996 to succeed Robert Ermatinger. According to Skip Kotkins of Skyway Luggage, "Anne had a vision and saw a much greater potential in LLGMA than we did and an opportunity to reinvent an association." In November 2000, LLGMA officially became the Travel Goods Association. "Anne was able to elevate the association's image and credibility through the power of persuasion and the forging of alliances," Kotkins said. "As a result, TGA became a major player and influenced policy on issues, such as carry-on regulations, post-9/11 travel industry recovery efforts, Travel Industry of America security processes, and TGA's successful defense against the imposition of safeguard quotas from China."

Anne previously served as president and chief executive officer of Somerville, NJ-based New Jersey Health, a non-profit integrated delivery network of health care services. Prior to her tenure at New Jersey Health, Anne was corporate vice president at the New Jersey Hospital Association. She had held that position for 14 years during which time she designed the association's strategic planning system, developed its marketing function, and provided leadership to two major downsizings and organizational restructurings. Concurrent with her role at the Hospital Association, Anne served her community as a trustee and as an officer of the Somerset Medical Center.

In 1999, Anne was recognized by the American association community with its highest award, the ASAE Key Award, and was the first American to hold both the American (CAE) and European (ECAM) certifications in association management.

Anne is survived by her four children, Geoff DeCicco, Melanie Tindall (nee DeCicco) and Benjamin and Wynne Hydo. Also surviving are her mother, Nancy Lommel of Whitehouse Station; and three sisters, Laura Millen of Readington, NJ, Cris Thompson of Hull, MA and Sue Tavaglione of St. Petersburg, FL. Condolences may be sent to the family at 75 Ashford Drive, Plainsboro, NJ 08536. A memorial service celebrating Anne's life will be held on Saturday, December 6th, at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, NJ, 22 So. Main St., Cranbury, NJ, 609-395-0897. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Community Food Bank of New Jersey, 31 Evans Terminal Rd., Hillside, NJ 07205.