Duane Roth, R.I.P.

from the Lincoln Club of San Diego…

Past Chairman and Member Emeritus Duane Roth
1950-2013

Duane Roth, CONNECT CEO and former Chairman of the Board of the Lincoln Club of San Diego County, died Saturday from head injuries sustained July 21 while bicycling in the Cuyamaca Mountains. He was 63.

In addition to serving as one of San Diego’s tech giants and business leaders, Roth was widely known for his civic pride. He loved San Diego and invested a great deal of time into improving our City.

Tributes poured in as soon as news of Roth’s death broke.

“CONNECT has lost a champion, and the community has lost a tireless advocate for big ideas – ideas that can truly enhance our region and our world,” CONNECT said in a statement. “The moving tributes that are flooding the social media can only scratch the surface of how deeply we are saddened by the loss – too soon – of an incredible human being.”

Joe Panetta, president and CEO of BIOCOM and Lincoln Club Board Member, released the following statement:

“I speak for the BIOCOM board, staff and the entire BIOCOM family in saying the life science industry has lost one of its most devoted champions. Duane’s passion for the industry first as a company executive (with Alliance Pharmaceutical) and later as CONNECT’s President and CEO was unwavering. His contributions to San Diego are not limited to the life science industry, and his loss will be felt throughout our community.”

Roth took over at CONNECT in 2004 and immediately breathed new life into the struggling organization.

The Daily Transcript recently wrote: “As CEO of Connect, Roth has facilitated its contribution to the growth of over 900 companies and has helped raise over $11 million in capital.”

Roth served on numerous boards and in 2006 he was appointed to the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee for the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and was elected Vice Chairman in 2009. Roth was also a member on the Governor’s Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth and was co-Chair of the Affordable Housing Working Group.

Roth served as the Lincoln Club’s Board Chair in 2003 and 2004, and as a Board Member for over 10 years.

Current Club Chairman Bill Lynch said of Roth, “Duane was a tremendous leader who will be greatly missed.”

“I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Duane Roth,” added Lincoln Club CEO T.J. Zane. “It will take a while to sink in. Duane meant so much to so many. He was a wonderful man and a great San Diegan.”