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Cocoa Beach, Fla. – Ron DiMenna, the visionary entrepreneur who turned a single surf shop into one of the most recognizable beach brands in the world, has died at the age of 88, the company announced Saturday.

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DiMenna opened the first Ron Jon Surf Shop in 1959 in New Jersey, later expanding to Long Island Beach two years later. What began as a small business catering to surfers grew into a cultural phenomenon. Today, Ron Jon Surf Shops can be found across Florida in Cocoa Beach, Lake Buena Vista, Fort Myers, Key West, Panama City Beach, Clearwater Beach, and Pensacola Beach, as well as in Maryland, Alabama, and South Carolina.

A Surfing Pioneer

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From the beginning, DiMenna was more than a retailer—he was a surf enthusiast who believed the sport could connect people with the ocean in a profound way. His passion for surfing and beach culture helped popularize the lifestyle far beyond coastal communities.

“Ron was known as a free spirit and his love for the beach and the sport of surfing endured throughout his life,” said Michele Goodwin, president of Ron Jon Surf Shop, in a statement. “He lived life on his own terms and created a retail empire that remains one of the most successful beach shopping destinations in the country.”

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Legacy Beyond Retail

Over six decades, DiMenna expanded Ron Jon into a brand synonymous with surf culture. The Cocoa Beach superstore, often referred to as the company’s flagship location, became a landmark in its own right and a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists.

Together with his wife Lynne, DiMenna also founded Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that funds initiatives to protect Florida’s beaches, combat coastal pollution, and preserve beach ecology. Proceeds from the “Endless Summer” specialty license plate help finance these efforts, ensuring protection of beaches for future generations.

Remembering a Free Spirit

In a statement, the company emphasized that daily operations will continue as normal, with Ron Jon Surf Shop Corporation carrying forward DiMenna’s vision.

“The Ron Jon Surf Shop Corporation will continue to function as it has and nothing will change in the company’s day-to-day operations,” the company said. “Ron’s vision and legacy will live on for generations through Ron Jon Surf Shop and Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation.”

DiMenna is survived by his wife, Lynne DiMenna.

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