PHOENIX (BRAIN) — Current and former Cannondale employees were gathered outside the Marriott Hotel at the IBD Summit swapping stories about Steve Gooch, a longtime friend and mentor to many. Gooch was found dead Sunday after what might have been a fall while hiking a favorite trail in Virginia.
Dorel, the parent company for Cycling Sports Group and its Cannondale brand, sent out a formal note Monday to its employees.
"We are saddened to inform you of the passing of one our fellow employees, Steve Gooch. Steve unexpectedly passed away over the weekend. Steve has been an outside sales rep since he joined the Company in 1987. He was one of our longest tenured employees, and he will be dearly missed," it said.
Kevin Bennett, western sales director for Cycling Sports Group, recalled first meeting Gooch at his home in State College, Pennsylvania, where all new company reps went to "Gooch School." "Steve started at Cannondale in 1987 — that's when Joe Montgomery owned the company," Bennett recalled. "We'd all go to Gooch School for a few days and he would teach us about the company's computer system and that's where we would get our laptops.
"We'd have breakfast every morning at his home. He was extremely knowledgeable and we went to his home to be trained by him," he added.
Tom Kattus, now Campagnolo's general manager for North America and also a former Cannondale rep, said Gooch was the kind of person who loved to share what he knew about the industry with newcomers.
"He was so patient and he loved to share what he new. He was also dearly loved by many of his dealers," Kattus said. "He bled Cannondale. And he was a great ambassador for the company," he added.
Pat Hus, currently Interbike's vice president, was formerly Cannondale's national sales director, and had known Gooch for years. "Steve was one of the most loyal team players I have ever worked with," he said. "And everyone went to Gooch School."
Information on services was unavailable and will be announced by his wife, Deb Chestney, and his family, the Dorel notice said.
