Former New Jersey resident Ron DiMenna, founder of Ron Jon Surf Shop who turned surf culture into a lifestyle, passed away on Sept. 6 in Florida at the age of 88.
Michele Goodwin, president, Ron Jon Surf Shop, announced the passing of the entrepreneur whose vision helped transform the perception of beach culture in the U.S. “The entire Ron Jon family mourns this loss,” she said. “On behalf of our board of directors, management team, and employees, we extend our deepest sympathy to Ron’s wife, Lynne DiMenna.”
DiMenna founded Ron Jon Surf Shop more than 65 years ago in 1959. In 1961, at 24 years old, he opened the original Ron Jon Surf Shop located on Ninth Street in Ship Bottom on Long Beach Island. The original shop became a four-story surf emporium that included one of the world’s longest surfboards — more than 24 feet, over the sales floor. The iconic Ship Bottom store was torn down this past July.
DiMenna moved to Florida in the early 1960s and established headquarters at Cocoa Beach. The flagship store of Ron Jon Surf Shop is the chain’s largest at 52,000 square feet.
He eventually opened six other stores in Florida and others in Maryland, Alabama, and South Carolina. According to news reports, Ron Jon expanded into the world’s largest surf retailer.
DiMenna caught the wave of interest in beach culture and attire and built an empire. Besides equipment for surfers, his vision included lifestyle apparel and gear that appealed to both surfers and those attracted to the surf culture.
Together with his wife, Lynne, DiMenna founded Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation. This 501(c)3 charitable organization supports organizations with like-minded missions to protect the health of Florida’s beaches and address issues such as coastal pollution and beach ecology.
