Don DePerro, the recently retired president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, has died, The Dispatch has confirmed.

Don DePerro, who stepped down this month as CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, has died at the age of 66. DePerro was publisher of Columbus Business First from 1996 to 2016, when he left to take over the top role at the chamber. He and his wife, Lia, raised three children and called Dublin home.

DePerro, who died unexpectedly Saturday at age 66, helped rebuild the business advocacy organization and forged new partnerships in the community.