12:15pm | As you may have heard, Long Beach lost one of its finest this past weekend. Shaun Lumachi, publisher of the Long Beach Post, and President of Chamber Advocacy, passed away in a car crash while representing Long Beach at a conference in Miami, Florida. He was an innovator, a successful businessman, a community leader, a great son, and a wonderful husband to his wife Dezire. Shaun was in a car with two others attending the conference from Long Beach who fortunately survived the crash and have been released from the hospital.
Shaun was my best friend, a mentor and advisor, and the person who made me laugh more than anyone. We met 12 years ago when Shaun was a student leader at Sacramento State University and I was president of the student body at Cal State Long Beach. Shaun served as Chair of the California State Student Association, and was an incredibly effective leader and organizer. He convinced me to run for Chair of the Association the year after, and we have been close friends ever since
A few years after we both graduated from college, he surprised me one day and told me he was moving to Long Beach and had accepted a position with the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. He was hired as the Vice President for Government Affairs where he helped build their government affairs program. He later started his own company, Chamber Advocacy, where he was represented Chambers across the state including our Long Beach Chamber.
In 2007, Shaun and I had a crazy idea to start a news website. A few months later, the Long Beach Post was born. The Post, as he affectionately called it, was a labor of love for both of us. The Post became an over-night success, thanks to Shaun’s hard work, innovative ideas, and love for Long Beach and journalism. The Post will live on, grow, and continue Shaun’s vision.
Shaun was also an incredible community leader, and was Chair of the Gateway Workforce Investment Board, Chair of the Long Beach City College Small Business Development Center Advisory Board, and on the board of the Long Beach Symphony, Arts Council, US Vets, and numerous other organizations. Additionally, he was incredibly involved in the Long Beach Unified School District Education Foundation and served as the Principal for a Day Chair for numerous years.
Shaun was awesome, irreplaceable, and has left an incredible legacy. We will all miss Shaun greatly, and I will personally work to honor his memory and support those he loved
His wife Dezire has been incredibly strong these last two days, and I know she appreciates your love and prayers.
In the coming days, I will let you all know about his life celebration and how one can support Dezire and honor Shaun.