The fitness industry mourns the passing of thought leader Stephen Tharrett, the co-founder and principal at ClubIntel, and remembers his legacy.
Stephen Tharrett passed on December 22, 2020. He is remembered as a thought leader and advocate to the industry for over 30 years, working both internationally and domestically in all facets including health, fitness, golf and country clubs both public and private. Tharrett was recognized worldwide for his innovative, human-centered approach to club operations and diligently helped many clubs and manufacturers.
Fellow industry leaders shared their memory of Tharrett in a LinkedIn post announcing his passing:
“Steve was a wonderful man, a great friend and someone that connected others,” said Bill McBride, the co-founder, president and CEO at Active Wellness. “Steve was a proven leader in many organizations — he delivered results and success, but more importantly, culture. Steve had a brilliant mind and with his partner, Mark Williamson, created a lot of credibility in our industry through data analytics. Steve was an industry icon and true friend.”
“Steve was always an inspiration and became a dear friend to me as well as everyone he would meet,” said Phillip Stika, the senior vice president of operations at ClubCorp. “He had time for everyone.”
“I met Steve in 1988 and he guided my career over the past 30-plus years,” said Jim Franklin, the director of fitness and wellness at Desert Mountain Club. “He was a great mentor and leader, and he will truly be missed.”
Tharrett’s family is inviting the industry to share any words, photos, audio or video for a forthcoming memorial video to rememberingstephentharrett@gmail.com.
