Longtime IEDC Member Gene DePrez, 84, Dies in Rochester, New York
Longtime IEDC Member Gene DePrez, 84, Dies in Rochester, New York
Gene DePrez, a longtime member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and a respected leader in the field of economic development, passed away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in Rochester, New York, at the age of 84.
Written by: Jeff Finkle, former President and CEO of IEDC
Gene played many roles in the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). He was a former board member of IEDC and participated as a speaker at many conferences over the years. Over the last several years, he had served as a senior fellow at IEDC. In that role, he assisted staff in understanding many of the site selection issues that communities they were advising were dealing with and would review conclusions to technical assistance reports.
What set Gene apart from many of IEDC's members was that his primary role in the field of economic development was that of a site selector. He worked for PHH Fantus and followed Bob Ady onto the IEDC board.
As a site selection consultant, he had his own firm, Global Innovation Partners, but also worked for Global Location Strategies at IBM Global Business Services, Global Location Strategies at Fluor Corporation, and Global Location Strategies at PwC, all after working at Fantus Consulting.
But what set Gene apart from many site selectors is that he left site selection and joined former IEDC chair Ian Bromley as Chief Innovation Officer at Creative Sheffield City Development Company in England.
When word spread that Gene had passed, many people responded with great accolades for Gene as a professional, friend, and family member. If you knew Gene, you also knew about his wife, Patty. You learned about his children and knew he was devoted to all of them. If you knew Gene as an economic development professional, you knew that he was honorable and would answer your questions and give advice to help solve a problem. All of us learned from Gene. Gene loved his hometown of Rochester, New York, and he and Patty went back to Rochester as he was wrapping up his career.
As I write this, I note today is Gene's birthday and this is a tribute to his grand career. I had the opportunity to call Gene in late November. He knew that his disease, Interstitial Lung Disease, was going to be fatal but would tell you in a very straightforward way how he was doing and what the stages of his disease would be.
Frankly, I did not know what to say to Gene other than to say that he had been important in my career, that he had been invaluable to many in the economic development profession and had assisted many communities and IEDC staff in his role as a Senior Fellow at IEDC.
We never spoke again, but like others, I thought the world of Gene and am a better person having known him.
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Personal Life and Passions
Gene DePrez, a native of Rochester, New York, was a loving husband, devoted father, and a cherished brother, uncle, and friend. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Donahue DePrez; son, Michel "Mike" DePrez, and his spouse, Karon Aghotte; sister, Debbie DePrez-Campbell, and her spouse, Bruce Campbell; brother, Jim DePrez, and his spouse, Nancy DePrez; and sister-in-law, Ellen Donahue. He is predeceased by his daughter, Therése DePrez; brother, Tom DePrez; and his parents, Jean and Eleanor DePrez.
DePrez was a passionate lover of live theater, classical organ music, and choral groups. He enjoyed exploring his beloved city of Rochester on his bicycle. One of his favorite roles was as Director of Communications for the Rochester Strasenburgh Planetarium, where he said, "it was fun playing among the stars."
Professional Achievements
Recognized for his visionary accomplishments, DePrez had a storied career beginning at Kodak and the Rochester Institute of Technology. As founding partner of Global Innovation Partners, he expanded his practice globally, advising more than 400 Fortune 1000 companies. He received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Economic Development from the IEDC and was a keynote speaker at international events. His professional affiliations included the IEDC, Partners for Livable Communities, the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Vignelli Center for Design Studies, the International Society for Strategic Management, and the American Society of Association Executives. He was listed in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in America and received the President’s Award for Public and Private Partnerships.
Final Tributes
A requiem Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church, 15 St. Mary’s Place, on Friday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m., which would have been DePrez's 85th birthday. Burial will follow at Sepulchre Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at the Rochester Yacht Club, where all are welcome to attend in typical Gene DePrez fashion.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Rochester Area Community Foundation, 500 East Ave., or the Gene E. & Patricia D. DePrez Family Fund.
Gene DePrez will be deeply missed, but his legacy of professionalism, kindness, and dedication to economic development will continue to inspire many.