October began with the loss of four remarkable figures in the diving world: Jerry Beaty, Michael Menduno, Nancy Easterbrook, and Lance Rennka – each leaving an enduring legacy of leadership, innovation, and passion.
Jerry Beaty – Manufacturing, Travel,
Publishing, DEMA Leadership
Jerry entered the diving industry in the late 1970s as a manufacturers’ sales rep, later co-owning All Sun Tours, a wholesale dive travel company serving retailers and their clients. In 1996, he joined Dive Training magazine, rising to Associate Publisher of both Dive Training and Dive Center Business. After the magazines ended print in 2020, he continued as a consultant, helping tourism bureaus build dive tourism platforms. Jerry served on the boards of DEMA, Reef Renewal International, Sea of Change, and the Shark Research Institute. Remembered as “the nicest guy” who “knew everyone,” he was known for his suit-and-tie presence at DEMA and his signature tropical shirts elsewhere. A memorial will be held Nov. 13, 2025, at the Rosen Centre during DEMA… Click here to read the full article!