It is with unprecedented sadness that we share the news that Loretta DeLuca, our CEO, passed away on April 3, 2025, after a courageous battle against cancer. We are all experiencing an immeasurable loss of a leader, friend, and keystone in the association and nonprofit community. Below are some of the memories that have been shared by Loretta’s family, friends, and colleagues. Read more about Loretta’s amazing and rich life here: Our Founder, CEO, and Friend Loretta DeLuca – DelCor.
Read memories submitted by Loretta’s family, friends and colleagues.
Share a Memory
So many of us have been touched or influenced by Loretta. If you’d like to share a memory or a photo, please do so below. The DelCor team will review all memories and add them to the feed of memories.
Memories
Michelle Freeman
How are you connected to Loretta?: My husband, Donald, worked closely with Ms. DeLuca.
Sadly, I was never able to meet Ms. DeLuca in person, but she changed the trajectory of my family’s life forever by cultivating a company culture that allows my husband to support our family, and to thrive in his career. Our children are fed, warm, and clean, thanks to Delcor, and in turn, Loretta. She leaves a great legacy in Delcor, and I am forever grateful to be a part of the Delcor extended family. I send my wishes for peace to all who are grieving the loss of such an incredible human.
Tracie Harris
How are you connected to Loretta?: DelCor brought us together
A recent memory is feeling so nervous to tell Loretta that I was learning Italian for a trip to Italy last year. Once she found out, her face lit up and she wanted to hear every detail of our travel plans and patiently listened (and coached) as I tried out some basic Italian pleasantries.
Loretta, our time together was far too short, but the impact you made on me will last a lifetime. I'm forever grateful that our paths crossed. 🥂 💕
Gretchen Steenstra
Organization: DelCor
How are you connected to Loretta?: I am a proud DelCorian
My strongest memories of Loretta are around the countless times that I shared an idea with her. Once she determined it was worth pursuing, she would say, "Just go do it. Everything will work out." If she didn't think it was a good idea – she would tell you. Loretta was personally invested in the success of individuals.
Loretta was also the grammar queen and would catch the smallest error miles away!
I'll miss her regular phrases: "all righty then" or "ookkkaaayy". She took picture of flowers everywhere – including table arrangements at events.
What I will miss the most is her faith in me and constant encouragement at work, as a parent and as a person. I will honor this gift for the rest of my life.
Joanna Pineda
Organization: Matrix Group International, Inc.
How are you connected to Loretta?: I met Loretta a long time ago. We are fellow women CEOs in the association space. She and DelCor have been good friends to me and my company for decades.
When I started Matrix Group, I called Loretta to give her the news. A few weeks later, she invited me to co-present with her during an ASAE brown bag luncheon that she was doing about the web. I picked up one of my very first clients at that event. I will never forget her kindness and thoughtfulness.
