Mike Guzzo of Dominion Colour passed away after a long fight with cancer on Jan. 10, 2018. He was 66.
 
A graduate of Paramus High School, Paramus, NJ, Mike received his bachelor’s degree from William Paterson University, and after graduation, began his career in the pigment industry. He started with Chemetron, and would join Max Marx, where he worked until the company was acquired by Dominion Colour in 2005. He stayed with Dominion Colour, serving as sales manager until the time of his death.
 
Outside of work, Mike enjoyed family, golfing, the Jersey shore and rooting for the NY Giants. 
 
Mike is survived by his mother, Margaret G. Guzzo; a sister, Patricia Brislin; two brothers, Robert and Joseph; his companion, Pamela Zecca; two daughters, Pamela Pullano and her husband Michael of Neptune, NJ and Christina Noval and her husband Joshua of Montclair, NJ, and one grandson. 
 
His colleagues throughout the industry talked about Mike’s character and friendship. Trust Chem VP Alan Barker first met Mike back in the days of Chemetron.
 
“We both started in Chemetron’s New York office, and worked together for a long time,” Barker recalled. “Mike was kind of a jokester with a New Jersey kind of attitude. We spent a lot of time together. He got along with everyone in the industry. I’ll miss him.”
 
Dr. Mark Vincent, CEO of Dominion Colour, said that Mike was “one of a kind.”
 
“In 2005, we acquired Max Marx and Mike joined us,” Vincent said. “He was one of a kind, a great guy to work with, one of the most diligent sales reps I ever worked with. He was very well respected, and always managed to get the deal done. He was a phenomenal guy to work with, and he had a zest for life.”
 
“He was tenacious and a character, that’s for sure,” added Paul Locke, general sales manager for Dominion Colour. “He is irreplaceable.”
 
“I knew Mike a long time, back in the Max Marx days when I was with KVK and I was buying pigment from him,” said Chris Macmurray, COO of Heritage Color, LLC. “He was a very good guy, and would give you the straight story, good or bad news. He was a good all-around guy.”
 
“It’s a shame,” said Richard McEvoy, owner of Decorative Color. “I knew Mike since the Max Marx days. He was extremely direct and got right down to business. He was a good guy, dedicated to our industry and always ready to contribute. We are going to miss him.”
 
“I knew Mike for over 30 years,” said Joe Mele, sales associate for United Mineral & Chemical, who serves as MNYPIA secretary. “I met him when he was at Pope Chemical and I worked at Lawter. Mike was a very good friend who liked to laugh and socialize. He was very knowledgeable in the pigment industry and a true professional. He loved to play golf and was pretty good at the game. I will miss him terribly.”
 
“I knew of him while he was at Pope Chemical many years ago, and became friendly with him as years have gone by, particularly the Metro New York Printing Ink Association (MNYPIA) golf outing,” said Dan Shevkun, MNYPIA president and director manufacturing services at Superior Printing Ink. “Michael always was a supporter of that event. He played better than most and was always in the match, winning most.”
 
Guy Trerotola, business manager for D.B. Becker and MNYPIA VP, spoke of his long friendship with Mike.
 
“The extent of my relationship with Mike over the more than thirty-five years that I knew him was primarily social,” Trerotola said. “I know that may not sound very professional but, in a lot of ways, it makes for a more sincere friendship. We didn’t have anything to sell or purchase from each other so we could dispense with the BS that sometimes gets in the way of relationships that are predicated upon business opportunity. I am pleased to say that our friendship was based upon the genuine enjoyment of each other’s company. 
 
“Our paths would cross at the NAPIM Conventions and the MNYPIA functions,” Trerotola added. “Each time that we met, we would pick up where we left off and recount with humor the latest happenings in our industry. Mike’s whimsy and sarcastic sense of humor was only exceeded by the sincerity of his friendship. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know Mike as a friend.”
 
Tim Polgar, sales manager at Liberty Specialty Chemicals, first met Mike in 1985, and remained close friends with him.
 
“He was a good guy, like a brother to me,” Polgar said. “He was very respected. I first met him in 1985 when he was with Chemetron and I was at Sun Chemical, and we were friendly competitors. In 1991 I started Genesis Dispersions, and got to know him better as he was a supplier to me. 
 
“He was a supplier and a friend, and our families would get together,” added Polgar. “He was fun and jovial, very business-oriented, but would shut down after 5 and enjoy life, his family and the people in the industry. He loved to work hard, loved the industry, loved his family and the Jersey shore. When you dealt with Mike, you dealt with a friend more than a supplier. I wish there were more people like him in the world.”