In 2001, the industry lost several food distribution executives who helped lead the industry to where it is today. Those who died include the following:ate member of the founding family of Giant Food, Landover, Md.Morton Wolfson, 81, owner of a ShopRite in Lincoln Park, N.J.February:Basilio DiGregorio, 88, founder of California Supermarkets, Gallup, N.M.Joseph Obuchina Jr., 76, who worked as vice
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In 2001, the industry lost several food distribution executives who helped lead the industry to where it is today. Those who died include the following:
ate member of the founding family of Giant Food, Landover, Md.
Morton Wolfson, 81, owner of a ShopRite in Lincoln Park, N.J.
February:
Basilio DiGregorio, 88, founder of California Supermarkets, Gallup, N.M.
Joseph Obuchina Jr., 76, who worked as vice president at A. Duda & Sons, Oviedo, Fla.
March:
Norman Leevers, 87, owner of an IGA in Devil's Lake, N.C.
April:
George Chirtea, a former vice president of merchandising at Supervalu, Minneapolis
Lee Korman, 43, owner of a Shop 'n Bag store in Brigantine, N.J.
May:
Jack R. Muratoi, 72, former executive vice president and director of King Kullen, Bethpage, N.Y.
June:
John Farquhar, group vice president of food-safety programs at the Food Marketing Institute, Washington.
David Moore, 69, president of the Western Grocers Association, Bakersfield, Calif.
September:
Cleo Stater, 89, a founding member of Stater Bros. Markets, Colton, Calif.
Robert F. Deweese, who had a long history with various companies
October:
Stanley Ravitz, 80, retired operator of ShopRite stores in New Jersey and Philadelphia
Lex Sewell, 64, co-owner of Memphis-based Sewell-Allen, the largest Piggly Wiggly franchisee in Tennessee
