Jerry Della Femina

it was in 1967, after a brief sojourn at one of the largest of the conservative old-line agencies, Ted Bates, that he co- founded Della Femina Travisano & Partners. He worked on such accounts as Isuzu (Joe Isuzu), Meow Mix (singing cat), Beck's Beer, Blue Nun Wine, Chemical Bank, Dow Brands (Fingerman) and Pan Am.Della Femina sold his agency in 1986 and left it in June of 1992. During his six-month sabbatical from the advertising industry, he opened two hugely successful restaurants and a popular food market in East Hampton.

Promising to put the fun back in the business, Mr. Della Femina opened a new agency, Jerry Inc. in December 1992, with the announcement that he had been awarded the Newsweek account. In the first year, the agency added Marvel Comics, The New York Mets and Financial Security Assurance, among others, to its roster of clients. In May 1994, Jerry nc. merged with the New York office of Ketchum Advertising, forming the current agency, Jerry & Ketchum. The alliance with Ketchum brought on board such clients as Coty, Reckitt and Colman, and American Express Travel Trade. Since the merger, Jerry & Ketchum has added such prestigious accounts as The Union Camp Corporation, North Shore University Hospital, Chinet Paper Plates and Ruff Hewn Clothing.

Mr. Della Femina serves on the boards of WNYC-TV, The Children's Aid Society, Citymeals-on- Wheels and an industry-wide initiative called Ads Against AIDS. In recognition of his accomplishments in the industry, Mr. Della Femina recently has been honored as the Czar of Madison Avenue by Smirnoff Vodka.

In addition to his legendary copywriting achievements, Mr. Della Femina has written two books, From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor, which was a best-seller, and An Italian Grows in Brooklyn (which was a no-seller). And now following the lead of his hero, Jimmy Breslin, Jerry Della Femina is the award-winning weekly humor columnist for The East Hampton Independent.

Mr. Della Femina, who was born in Brooklyn, graduated from Lafayette High School and attended Brooklyn College. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Missouri in 1983 and from Long Island University in 1989. He's married to Judy Licht, a television news reporter; they have two young children, a daughter, Jessie and a son, James. He has three grown children by a previous marriage -- Donna, Michael and Jodi. Mr. and Mrs. Della Femina reside in New York City, East Hampton, Long Island and West Palm Beach, Florida.