Larry Cantamessa, president of PBAC & Associates and a longtime member of the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry (MAFSI), passed away at age 63 after succumbing to cancer.
Cantamessa joined PBAC, a manufacturer rep company based in New York, 27 years ago as a sales trainee. He quickly rose through the ranks as a key producer and in 2017 became president and co-owner of the company. He is remembered as a person who developed many friendships in the industry and was quick to volunteer and provide guidance or help in any way he would. He was also very active in recruiting young professionals to join the foodservice industry in many different capacities, including through his involvement with the Partridge Scholarship Foundation, an organization of New York foodservice executives dedicated to providing scholarship assistance to leading culinary schools.
Cantamessa was a dedicated and tireless supporter of MAFSI, having served on the MAFSI board for more than 15 years. He also served as the MAFSI Region 03 – New York Metro chapter president. In 2016, Cantamessa received MAFSI’s Pacesetter Award for demonstrating the highest degree of devotion and distinguished service in conjunction with MAFSI projects and activities.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah, his daughters, Olivia and Hailey, and his stepchildren, Samantha and Nathan. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or the Partridge-Invitation Scholarship Foundation.