HydraForce co-founder and board member Dick Fontecchio has passed away at age 66

HydraForce, Lincolnshire, IL, announced with sorrow that its co-founder and board member Richard Fontecchio passed away on Monday, September 8, 2014, at JourneyCare in Woodstock, IL. He was 66 and was preceded in death by his son, Mark, and is survived by his wife, Carol, and daughter, Andrea.

Fontecchio began his work in the fluid power industry as an intern in 1965. He graduated from Elmhurst College with a B.A. and earned his M.B.A. from Lake Forest College. In 1985, he co-founded HydraForce with Jim Brizzolara in Northbrook, Ill. Since its establishment, HydraForce has grown into the largest private manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves with 1,100 employees and more than 430,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and operations in the United States, England, Germany, China, Italy, India, France, Brazil, Korea, and Japan.

In remembering Fontecchio, Jim Brizzolara, Co-Founder, President and CEO of HydraForce, said, “Dick was incredibly influential in the development of cartridge valve technology. During his tenure as our Vice President of Sales and Marketing, he presided over the release of some 15,000 proprietary and standard valves and electro-hydraulic controls.”

He continued, “I first met Dick in the spring of 1965 when I hired him as a summer intern following his junior year at Wheeling High School. Years later, while discussing the state of the industry one evening, Dick mentioned his dissatisfaction with the current level of quality and customer service being offered throughout the industry. At the end of the night, Dick declared, ‘We should start our own company and run it the right way.’ Thus HydraForce was conceived and the rest is history. Dick was instrumental in crafting HydraForce’s culture of creativity and exceptional customer service, his direction and wisdom will be sorely missed. On behalf of the 1100 employees of HydraForce, we extend our gratitude for the opportunities Dick helped create and extend our deepest sympathy to his family. May this very brilliant and influential man in all our lives rest in peace,” said Brizzolara.

The visitation for Fontecchio will be from 3-8pm, Friday, September 12 at Davenport Family Funeral Home & Crematory, 419 E Terra Cotta Ave (IL Rt. 176), and Crystal Lake. The funeral service will begin at 10:30 am, Saturday, September 12 at the funeral home with Father Jack Dews officiating. Burial will follow at Crystal Lake Memorial Park, Crystal Lake.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Richard’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, or JourneyCare Foundation, 405 Lake Zurich Rd, Barrington IL 60010.