John Pagano, the owner of multi-line rep firm JAC Marketing, has died.

Pagano, who was born in New York City and attended Pace University, entered the promo products industry in 1964 with Latama. At first, he worked in a variety of jobs – assembling packages, pricing orders and doing anything else that was needed. By 1969, he had become a sales manager there and about three years later was promoted to national VP of sales. In 1979, Pagano left Latama to found JAC Marketing. “I wanted to create my own destiny,” Pagano said, after the move.

Pagano was a key contributor to SAAGNY’s board, serving as president and treasurer before ultimately being elected into the association’s Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1991, Counselor named Pagano the winner of its independent multi-line rep of the year award. Friends remember Pagano as a mentor who had a “no-filtered approach to speaking his mind.”

Eileen Lynch of BIC Graphic (asi/40480) said: “May he rest in peace – but he is probably telling God a thing or two.” Former industry supplier Rick Friedman added: “We traveled together for three to four months a year. I have such vivid memories of those great times. An awful lot of my younger life was spent being schooled and taught by John.”

Pagano is survived by his wife of 25 years, Laura, and his daughters Patty, Francesca and Catherine, as well as their spouses and children. Funeral services were held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.