The Industry's Best Friend, "Uncle" Rick Caro Passes Away
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Rick Caro, Inaugural HFA HOF Inductee
Richard "Rick" M. Caro, Jr., 79, of New York City and Sarasota, Florida died suddenly on August 31, 2025 at Weill Cornell Hospital. Rick spent his last day doing what he loved; attending the U.S. Open, which he had done every year for the last 71 years (asterisk for 2020 due to COVID) and having dinner at home with his adoring wife of 24 years, Susan Denison, whom he loved passionately and unconditionally.
Rick was a Co-Founder of the Health and Fitness Association into whose inaugural Hall of Fame class he was inducted earlier this year. He was the President of Management Vision, providing consulting services for over 1,900 clients in the health and fitness industry. In addition, Rick served on many for-profit and not-for-profit boards.
Rick received his undergraduate degree from Tufts University and his MBA from New York University. Rick prided himself on mentoring young entrepreneurs and was instrumental in the development of many of their businesses and endeavors.
Rick was an avid sports fan and closely followed the Yankees, Giants and Rangers. But, perhaps his biggest love, only second to his wife, was his "Dukies." He rarely missed Duke basketball games on TV and often went in person to see his beloved Blue Devils. His wife knew that March Madness was sacrosanct, and she would not make any plans that would conflict with it.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister, Cathy Caro-Bruce, and her husband, Calvin, of Madison, Wisconsin; his brother, Peter Caro, also of Madison, and his sister, Patty Caro Levine, and her husband, Steve, of Port Charlotte, Florida, as well as many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Rick had asked that in the case of his death, donations be made in his memory to the Safe Children Coalition in Sarasota, Florida (sccfl.org) or to Augie's Quest (augiesquest.org).
Comments From Friends/Colleagues
John McCarthy, 25-year Executive Director Emeritus of IHRSA:
Rick was a staunchly loyal and thoughtful friend to me and to hundreds of his IHRSA and industry colleagues. For years, Rick and I had lunch together in New York at the time of the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. He was an immensely loyal man to all his friends and colleagues. And, can you believe it, every year, he sent birthday cards to each of my four children. Rick was a World Champion in the art of warm and thoughtful friendship. I will miss him. We all will miss him.
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Daron Allen, Co-Founder of VFP:
Daron Allen, Rick Caro and a Longhorn
Rick was a great mentor and friend. I first met Rick in 1995 when I attended the IHRSA Institute for Professional Club Management at Wheaton College as a young club manager. He taught the Financial Management course. The following year, I got to know Rick quite a bit better and spent more time with him at the Institute held at Michigan State.
Rick became a mentor, and over time, a great friend. I engaged with Rick to provide consulting for my clubs and learned so much. If you knew Rick, you know he liked to talk. If you were focused while talking, you learned. If you were patient, you learned a LOT. Rick had access to what I call "the way back machine." The way, way, way back machine with regards to industry knowledge. His wealth of knowledge was amazing and will be missed. As the old saying goes, Rick probably forgot more than many in the industry ever learned.
One of my fondest memories of Rick was from 2016. Rick asked me to help him coordinate a Roundtable trip to Austin. He moderated the Faust Roundtable #1 group, now part of REX. If you know Rick, preparation and detail are key. I thought it would be a little different to have the dinner at my house, and I was able to keep a few details away from him, surprising the group by renting a huge Longhorn for my front yard (See Photo on This Page). It was a hit and a very "Texas" experience. Rick, his wife, Sue, and the entire group loved it. Rick would love to share his memories. So, I thought I would share some for him. Here's to you my friend. May you rest in peace.
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Eddie Tock, CEO of REX:
Always Learning... Rick Caro at the 2025 REX Leadership Academy
I was fortunate to know Rick since my first day in the fitness industry. He was the consultant to the IHRSA Board member, Jim Farrell, of three Sportset Clubs in New York that I got to see on a very regular basis. In my second year, I went to Rick and asked for a marketing budget telling him I did a $1.2 million dollar increase in revenue... he responded, 'You didn't seem to need it last year; I am sure you'll figure it out.' Over those 42 years, he became a good friend and my mentor, helping me grow REX Roundtables from four groups in 2008 to the 28 we have today.
He was never boastful or egotistical but rather always caring and thoughtful. His passion and desire to share as well as his generosity of always talking with and helping others made him an amazing person. It's because of Rick that we have grown as an industry, as he's responsible for the start of IHRSA, The IHRSA Institute, The Profiles of Success, as well as our industry getting the attention of Wall Street and so much more.
Some of my most memorable conversations were not talking about work but when we were talking about the Yankees. I will miss that part of Rick the most!
Rick was instrumental in our decision to bring back the IHRSA Institute, which he was a huge part of, and rebrand it as the REX Leadership Academy. He helped us shape the agenda, but the best part was having Rick spend a day with us in person at the REX Leadership Academy this past July (See Photo on This Page). He told me he was so proud of all of us for making it even better than any IHRSA Institute!
I speak for all REX Members around the world when I say we are all grateful, inspired and appreciative for what Rick has given us and done for our industry! As a result, we have created a scholarship to the REX Leadership Academy in his name.
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Rodney Steven II, Owner/President of Genesis Health Clubs:
One of a kind - Rick Caro. Our most valuable asset is our time, and Rick would literally give you as much time as you needed on any topic and as often as you would want to discuss it. He would never forget a topic and would ask you how you are doing on the topic from literally years ago.
He would remember all your kids names and what they were involved in, and he was genuinely sincere with his follow-up on how the family was doing and growing. When Rick would call me, I would get so excited because it would be such a highlight of my day. He made me feel very special, and I will always be indebted to him for the time he gave me and the free wisdom he so kindly and sincerely shed.
These types of people come around once in a lifetime --someone dedicated to making all of our lives better in this small industry-- there isn't anything he wouldn't do for us or this industry. I am forever grateful.
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Sean Gagnon, CEO of The Abs Company:
When we just started the company 18 years ago, I was getting my feet wet attending all sorts of industry events. I'd see Rick at many of them, and he always took the time to say, "Hello." He would always compliment me on the business and tell me about something we were doing. It always struck me as incredible, because in those days, we were new and not very established. Yet, he knew about us and took time to give me his thoughts. Not only was it educational but extremely humbling that a guy in his position was noticing us. Now, 18 years later, I still remember those early conversations. He was an incredible human, and I wish him eternal peace.
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Geoffrey Dyer, President of CR Fitness Holdings:
Rick has been a true friend and mentor to me these past 30+ years. When Rick would visit Sarasota in the winter months, we would assemble a group of club owners to share best practices and learn from Rick. Of course, Rick did most of the talking! He took a genuine interest in the success of each of us and knew all about our family and friends. I will miss Rick, but the breakfasts will continue in his honor. Prayers and condolences to Rick and Sue and their family members and friends. I am still in shock that he has passed.
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Jim Worthington, Owner of Newtown Athletic Club:
It is not an exaggeration to say that the fitness industry as we know it would not be what is today without Rick Caro. One of the few pioneers over 40 years ago that founded what became IHRSA and now the Health & Fitness Association, Rick was the leading fitness mind and consultant in the world sharing his knowledge with literally hundreds of thousands of fitness professionals at the annual international convention as well as his writings, webinars, roundtables, IHRSA Institute etc. His clients, which consisted of the Who's Who in the Industry, was extensive, who when asked, credited Rick with much of their success. I, for one, can attest that meeting Rick in 1982 at the second IRSA Trade Show and Convention was the turning point in my career and that of the Newtown Racquet Club, now known as the Newtown Athletic Club - NAC. It is truly hard to believe and imagine our industry without Rick Caro, an icon who gave so much and was loved by all who knew him. Rest in peace friend, and God Bless both you and your loving wife, Sue.
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Michael S. Levy, President and Chairmen of Zenith Fitness:
I first met Rick in 1982 at the IHRSA Conference in Las Vegas. Here was this tall man, dressed in a navy suit, with a cowboy hat and boots. His smile welcomed everyone, and he made me feel like I belonged. Over the past 44 years, I have spent so much time with Rick and Sue... first, on the Board of IHRSA where his mentorship and guidance was instrumental in our ability to learn and grow. Rick and Sue, and my wife, Caren, and I traveled together to Europe and China... it was fun, and we laughed for days on end. Rick was the kindest, most giving and thoughtful person I have known. His memory will be a blessing to all that knew him. Rest in peace.
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Larry Conner, Regional VP/Club Acquisition in the South of Genesis Health Clubs:
Rick Caro's Financial Panel
Rick was the financial guru with the industry, and I learned so much from him. It was a special day when he asked me to take over the financial part of the IHRSA Institute the year before COVID hit. I am so glad I got to experience that honor.
He was always approachable, and he kept in touch with everyone over the years. Rick was the best and will be missed deeply. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family. I just hope they know how much he meant to all of us.
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Dave Cardone, General Manager of Memorial Athletic Club:
Rick was a constant foundation to our industry, from the start of IRSA, to IHRSA, to HFA... Always advocating for our recognition in the private and public financial markets. Rick generously spent hours on the phone with me following a hurricane and many other times along the way. He'll always be on the Mount Rushmore of our industry. Thank you for all you've done for us.
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Adam Zeitsiff, CEO, Dominique Dawes Academy:
What a very sad day. Rick was a true pioneer who, for 40+ years, helped to shape what the U.S. fitness industry has become today. He was also a gentleman and genuinely supportive to everyone he met in the industry. Rick would make it a point to call me out of the blue to congratulate me about a new role, give me his advice and supportive warnings, and provide me with encouragement about my future. He didn't even know me that well, yet he shared and cared and supported me as if we had known each other forever. Our industry lost a great one and he will be sorely missed.
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Lynne Brick, Co-Founder of Ohana Growth Partners and John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation:
Rick Caro's Long Name Tag
I am so saddened to hear of Rick's sudden passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to Sue, Rick's family and our entire industry. Rick's legendary contributions, coaching and collaborations will truly be missed. As well as his very, very, very long "signature" IHRSA name tags with multiple credentials and titles (See Photo on This Page). May he rest in peace. And, may our industry reflect Rick's wisdom in all we do.
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Fausto Di Giulio, Owner and CEO of Medical Sport, Fitness and Physiotherapy Center:
Rick Caro was an architect of our industry and a mentor to so many of us around the world.
His wisdom, vision and generosity shaped not only the fitness business, but also the people fortunate enough to cross paths with him. I will always carry with me his lessons and his example of leadership rooted in kindness, integrity and passion.
Together, with Howard Ravis and Will Phillips, they were my mentors since my very first IHRSA Congress in 1995, and they helped me to start my international path. A great Italian-American person, who made an everlasting impact on my life and on our industry.
My deepest condolences to Sue and the Caro family. Rick's legacy will live on in the countless lives and organizations he inspired. May he rest in peace.
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Alan Leach, CEO of West Wood Club:
Rick was one of the true greats of our industry. Over the past 35 years, whenever I met him at conferences, he was always so open, generous with his knowledge and genuinely kind. He always asked me about Ireland, which showed the personal warmth behind his professional brilliance. He was an absolute gentleman and a legend whose influence will live on in all of us he inspired. My deepest condolences to Sue, his family, and all who were fortunate enough to know him.
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The Club Industry's Best Friend
As Published in January 1995
By: Norm Cates
This story is about a great man. The health, racquet and sportsclub business has undergone radical improvement and change in the last 15 years. Much of this massive club industry change can be traced back to the brilliance and efforts of this man. He is the club industry's best friend. His name is Rick Caro.
My good friend, Rick Caro, objected vehemently when I told him that I wanted to publish a front-page article about him in our January, 1995 edition. This is typical of Rick. Always low key. Always wanting to remain behind the scenes. Always giving but not expecting to receive the credit he deserves. But, ignoring Rick's objections, I now present to you the story of an incredible human being.
Rick Caro grew up in Scarsdale, New York, an upscale suburb of New York City. He graduated from high school in 1963 and enrolled at Tufts University near Boston. While at Tufts, Rick majored in psychology but took on many advanced-level courses because he wanted to be challenged more and felt that, even though he did not have the prerequisite courses, he wanted a rigorous liberal arts education.
He graduated from Tufts in 1967 and entered New York University to obtain his MBA in Marketing. Rick excelled at NYU, earning high honors with a 3.93 G.P.A. and finishing second in his MBA class of over 600. He was awarded NYU's Hector Lazo Award as the top Masters' student in marketing. A highlight of this accomplishment was when he carried his school's flag during NYU's graduation ceremony held in the Madison Square Garden.
Immediately upon graduation, Rick was selected to become the Assistant Dean in charge of the full-time MBA Program at NYU. He also served as a member of the faculty in the Marketing Department. All at age 23! During his 3 1/2-year tenure at NYU, he worked with and came to know two men: Peter Drucker and Edwards Deming, who have since gone on to earn fame in the world of management and total quality management.
"Gang Buster"
In 1972, Rick was approached by the Chief of Staff of the Mayor of New York City (John Lindsay) to help straighten out the Youth Services Agency (YSA), an organization devoted to helping underprivileged New York City children. The former Commissioner of the $50-million Youth Services Agency had embezzled over $900,000 and left the organization in a state of disarray.
Rick spent eight months in this position. Part of his responsibility in this role was to wear a beeper and be on call for situations where New York City youth gangs were going to war. Once, Rick was called to go to a section of New York City which was rife with gang activity. You may recognize the area... it was called Ft. Apache in a movie a few years back. On his way to meet with the YSA Director for the area, he encountered one of the gangs which was preparing for war. The gang leader challenged him about why he was treading on their turf. Explaining his mission, Rick was invited by the gang leader to tour the gang headquarters.
Rick was astonished at what he observed. He came away with three distinct memories: (1) The gang headquarters had the most sophisticated and high-tech stereo system that he had ever seen anywhere. (2) The gang's arsenal was huge... with weapons of all sizes and descriptions only seen in Schwarzenegger and Van Damme movies. (3) The sociology of the organization was amazingly sophisticated with a very well-structured leadership and with all roles of the gang members well defined and understood with perfect lines of authority and responsibility.
New Career
After his experience with the Youth Services Agency in New York City, Rick began to research new business opportunities along with two local friends who would ultimately become Rick's partners. After significant research and study, the trio decided to enter the recreation industry, specifically in the field of indoor tennis clubs. Going into the club business, they believed that, ultimately, the laws of supply and demand would dictate the future of their business.
At the time, the tennis business was booming. They also went into the indoor tennis business with a sense that, ultimately, a plain vanilla indoor tennis club providing only indoor tennis would not last and would some day need to be changed into a multipurpose club in order to survive. They had a vision of today's multipurpose club, but they were not sure of what the exact components for the future club would be.
CitiSport, Inc. was born in early 1973. The CitiSport Club group grew to eight locations: three multisport clubs in Syracuse, New York; three multipurpose clubs in Connecticut; one pure tennis club with air structure enclosures on Long Island and one Westchester County indoor and outdoor tennis-only facility. They operated the Westchester County facility only on a summer basis. With singles programs, adult and youth tennis group teaching programs, they were able to make it profitable in the first year, when they had been warned that such facilities in summer were losers.
After eight years, illnesses in the family of one of Rick's partners forced that partner to turn his attention to his family's diamond business. Other family obligations which came along at this time with the second partner made the partnership decide that they should sell the clubs. Starting in 1981, they began to sell off each of the eight facilities. The experience was enlightening because each club had its own set of issues and conditions that needed to be handled in order to accomplish the sale. Due to that fact, they had to develop eight different strategies for the marketing effort to sell the clubs. The last of the eight clubs was sold in mid-1983. Interestingly, one of their clubs was sold to a local Jewish Community Center, one was sold to the village where it was located, and another sold to their nearest competitor.
IHRSA Was Born
During the timeframe when they were selling their clubs, Rick was serving on the Board of Directors of both the National Tennis Association (NTA) and the National Court Club Association (NCCA), the racquetball club owners' trade association. Rick was President of the NTA in 1979. He was the only person to ever serve on both Boards.
Once, Rick was scheduled to attend an NTA Board Meeting on one weekend and an NCCA Board Meeting the next weekend, both at the same Chicago O'Hare Hotel. While attending the second (NCCA) Board meeting, Rick accidently pulled out of his briefcase the meeting agenda for the NTA meeting held the previous weekend. It was not until the NCCA meeting had reached the fourth item on the written agenda that Rick noticed that he was looking at the wrong agenda (the NTA agenda). Rick was surprised to see that the first three items on both agendas were the same!
This experience caused a light bulb to go off in Rick's head. While serving on these two Boards, Rick had seen the NTA begin to languish and become stagnant, going downhill as time went by. The NCCA, on the other hand, was on the move with new ideas and innovations for its members. However, neither Association was doing well financially. The more Rick examined the situation, the more he became convinced that the two groups were both after the same results and were in fact duplicating many of their efforts needlessly. These two organizations also could be expanded to attract other types of clubs where racquet sports were not the featured element.
Rick believed that a new Association could be created by combining both the NTA and the NCCA. However, he also believed that this vision should be shared with others representing the groups before they could move forward. Rick set up another meeting at a Chicago O'Hare Airport Hotel. This meeting was not to be attended by Rick. Instead, three people from each Association were selected to go to the meeting to discuss the idea of merging and to discuss the common ground that they all shared. Dale Dibble, Curt Beusman and Todd Pulis were selected from the NTA Board (Curt could not attend due to a last-minute conflict). Jennifer Michell, Peter Donahue and yours truly were selected from the NCCA Board. We met for a full day. And, we were to report back to Rick to let him know how we felt about his idea.
The meeting was fantastic! It turned out to be an eight-hour roundtable session in which we talked about all kinds of club issues and challenges. Through this illuminating time together, we all agreed that Rick's idea of the merger of the two Associations was an outstanding idea, and we should immediately pursue it. That we did! Three weeks later, another meeting was scheduled, this time in New York City at Rick's office. Attending representing the NTA was Caro, Dibble, Beusman and Pulis. Attending representing the NCCA were Caro, Michell, Donahue and Cates. On that day, in 1981, The International Racquet Sports Association (IRSA) was born.
By the time the meeting was adjourned, we had discussed staffing, the name, key objectives, the first convention, winding down the offices, integrating the two Boards of Directors into one, and we even elected the first President of IRSA. I still wonder what these people were thinking when they elected me to serve as the first President of this new Association. And, Rick would have no part of our desire to elect him as the first IRSA President, instead feeding us some story that, because the NCCA people might be sensitive to the new merger, the first IRSA President should come from the NCCA. Rick Caro should have been the first IRSA President, but he declined. The next year, however, we elected him as IRSA's second President.
By spearheading the effort to create what has become known as the most significant force in the club industry in the world today, now called IHRSA (The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association), Rick Caro ignited a fire in the development of new, professionally-operated clubs. IHRSA has been instrumental worldwide in truly revolutionizing the club industry. The changes and improvements in the club industry since the founding of IRSA have been huge and for the good of the club consumers of the entire world. IHRSA now has over 2,400 clubs in over 35 countries (Today, HFA now has 7,500+ member clubs in 60 countries). What is more, the IHRSA clubs have begun to see the standard by which all clubs everywhere are measured. All because of a very good idea.
Management Vision
In 1983, after selling the CitiSport Clubs and founding IRSA, Caro established Management Vision, Inc., a New York City-based Club Management Consulting Company. Rick got into the club consulting business because during the early days of IRSA, he was frequently asked to help other club operators with their challenges and issues.
Once, he went to a faraway place called Idaho to do what he called, "helping out a friend." He worked with the club owner for a few days, and then, they went fishing. On the way to the airport, the owner asked Rick to tell him how much he owed for his services, so that he could write a check before Rick got on the plane. Rick was stunned because he thought he had come there to "help a friend and to go fishing." Instead, his paid consulting career was born.
Management Vision, Inc. provides club feasibility studies, expert witness testimony, club valuations, business plans, loan packages, marketing guidance, advice on buying and selling clubs and operational analyses. Rick's work in every area can best be described as, "the best you can get." He is extremely detailed almost to a fault. You can rely on him to provide excellent work... work that truly sets a standard in his field of consulting. Those who know him have a deep respect for his judgement, his vast knowledge, his intellect, his credibility and his ethics. In two words, Rick Caro's consulting services can be best described as "world class."
A couple examples of the results Rick obtains for his clients are: (1) He saved $740,000 on a real estate tax reduction for two clubs over a 10-year period! (2) He created a transition system after the sale of a club which resulted in $150,000 in savings in refunds. But, here I am talking about what he does that he bills clients for and gets paid to do. What he does for people in our industry everywhere, where he does not get paid, is to me the most incredible thing about this guy.
He has written industry articles for 20 different publications. He authored a book called Financial Management in 1986. He served as an editor/contributing writer for videotapes and books. He served as a faculty member at the IHRSA Institute since its inception and reincarnation. He has also served as a teacher/lecturer for fourteen different organizations worldwide. He was named IRSA's Person of the Year in 1985 (He later received IHRSA's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 and was inducted into the HFA Hall of Fame's Inaugural class in 2025). Rick has a club business nickname which will probably stick with him forever... "Mr. Cost Control" and is the #1 expert on the subject in the club industry world. He also is called "Dr. Caro," "Coach" and "Uncle Rick" by some.
In addition to operating Management Vision, Caro serves on the IHRSA Advisory Council and is the Founder and Charman of the Board of Trustees of UBAC (Urban Business Assistance Corporation), a New York-based minority business development organization. He is an Electee to Who's Who in Tennis, he is a Club Council Board Member of ACE and he is on the Standards Committees for both IHRSA and the American College of Sports Medicine.
In closing, I want to tell an interesting story about Rick relative to a consulting job he had in Oregon. He had been retained in a court case to testify and argue on behalf of a club owner about a club tax assessment which was way out of line. During the court trial, Rick had the opportunity to educate the judge about the inaccuracy of the local assessor's work. In doing so, he impressed the judge, who then forced the assessor to reduce the annual tax bill by $22,000! The local tax assessor thereafter spread the word to his local tax assessor peers in other counties in Oregon to use great diligence and care in future tax assessments of athletic clubs in the area. This led to two county assessors contacting Rick directly, resulting in major savings in real estate taxes for two clubs (who did not even know Rick was involved). These assessors were reputed to have been warned by the original assessor that, "you don't want to let that guy from New York come out here."
Closing Comments from Norm Cates and Justin Cates
Norm Cates, Founder and Tribal Leader of Club Insider:
Rick Caro, Norm Cates and Justin Cates
I have known Rick Caro for 50+ years, and in that time, he has made my life and the lives of countless others around him better. That includes so many in this great industry. Over the years, my son, Justin, and I, called him "Uncle" Rick. That's because, to us, he was that wise family member we all hope to have. And, he was the Industry's Best Friend. That began in the 1980s when he had the idea to merge the NTA with the NCCA to create IRSA, which eventually became IHRSA then HFA as we know it today. Throughout the history and evolution of the Association, Rick was indispensable, and his annual Financial Panel was a must-attend event every year. In 1993, through the late Dr. Gerry Faust's Roundtable #1, Rick, Gerry and others around that table helped create Club Insider, which once again changed my life, and I hope, helped the industry. There will never be another like Rick. I wish his beloved, Sue, the best in this hard time.
MAY RICK CARO REST IN PEACE.
• • •
Justin Cates, Publisher of Club Insider:
As long as I can remember, Rick Caro has been in my life. That's why we always called him "Uncle." He's held me as a baby and shaken my hand as a man. He has been a confidant and mentor, both personally and professionally, helping guide me through the easiest of times and the hardest. All along the way, I knew I was not alone in receiving such kindness and attention for lack of a better word. That is just who Rick was. Somehow, he always found a way, made time and offered a word. The most incredible symbol of that to me was his birthday cards. He never missed one, and they always had a personal message, funny joke or word of advice to me. Uncle Rick, you will be missed, but rest easy knowing it is impossible for you to be forgotten because of the legacy you have left in all of us.
