Rick Anthony Del Mastro, an executive in the out-of-home advertising industry who was a dedicated family man, civic leader, and philanthropist, died on April 15. A resident of Wainscott, he was 75 and had complications from Covid-19.
Mr. Del Mastro started his own magazine and later launched a number of successful outdoor media companies: OOH Impact, City Outdoor USA, City Streets USA, and City Eventions. At the time of his death, he was a board member of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame last year “in recognition of his innovations and years of service to the outdoor industry,” his family said.
Mr. Del Mastro, who had residences in Miami and New York City in addition to Wainscott, was a devoted supporter of Life’s WORC, an organization in Garden City that serves the developmentally challenged populations of Queens and Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Mr. Del Mastro served as its chairman through April of 2015, when Life’s WORC opened the Family Center for Autism, which was made possible by a donation from his family. He was chairman of both organizations, stepping down in June of last year after a combined 30 years of leadership. Mr. Del Mastro oversaw a growth from 10 group homes to more than 40, as well as the expansion of nonresidential programs, his family said. The charities now provide services to more than 2,500 people.
Born in Brooklyn on March 15, 1945, to John Del Mastro and the former Josephine Crisalli, he grew up there and when he was just 13 years old met the love of his life, Cynthia Ciaburri, who was two years younger. They married in October of 1966 and were together until Mr. Del Mastro’s death.
He attended St. John’s University and entered the publishing industry after his graduation in 1966. He rose through the ranks of the R.H. Donnelley Company, a subsidiary of Dun & Bradstreet. He ultimately left the company to launch the Changing Homes Publishing Company, and while he was publisher and chief executive officer the start-up magazine grew to a circulation of more than six million with distribution in 31 American cities.
His next career move was to the out-of-home advertising industry as president and C.E.O. of Gannett Outdoor, then the largest such company in North America. After Gannett, he started his own outdoor media concern.
Locally, the Wainscott Citizens Advisory Committee was important to him. He joined in 1978 and was chairman for many years until January of 2016, more recently holding the role of chairman emeritus. He served on several committees and was a liaison to a number of East Hampton Town departments and divisions, including code enforcement, highway, hamlet study, and Wainscott cleanup.
He was instrumental in bringing the colorful “Welcome to Wainscott” signs into being, helped install the memorial bench on Beach Lane, and worked with the town police to install speed-limit signs. He recently successfully lobbied against a plan to build a car wash in Wainscott and helped launch the C.A.C.’s annual awards program for members of the business community.
In addition to his wife, Cynthia Del Mastro, Mr. Del Mastro is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Del Mastro of New York City and Dawn Chruma of Rockville Centre. He also leaves triplet grandchildren, Alexandra, Nicholas, and Dylan Chruma, and many members of his immediate and extended family.
A memorial service for Mr. Del Mastro will be held in the future. The family has suggested donations in his memory to the Family Center for Autism via lifesworc.org.
