Giuseppe Cecchi Obituary

Name: Visitation for Giuseppe Cecchi
Start: 2024-04-11T17:00:00.000Z
End: 2024-04-11T19:00:00.000Z
Location: Money & King Funeral Home

Giuseppe Cecchi, 93, prominent Washington, DC real estate developer and McLean, VA, resident, died peacefully at home surrounded by the love of his family on April 4, 2024. Giuseppe was a devout Catholic, talented cook, avid skier and hiker, and devoted tennis partner to his beautiful wife, Mercedes. Giuseppe's life was marked by a commitment to hard work, innovation, and generosity, leaving behind a legacy that lives on through his family and the countless lives touched through his professional and philanthropic endeavors.

Born on June 9, 1930, in Milan, Italy, to Carla Sigismund and Antonio Cecchi, the head engineer of the city of Milan, Giuseppe followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and graduated from the prestigious Politecnico di Milano in 1955 with a master's degree in professional engineering.

In 1959, Giuseppe left Italy to scout U.S. real estate investments for the firm Società Generale Immobiliare (SGI), ultimately finding his own American Dream. In 1961, he arrived in the Nation's Capital and soon began the city's first mixed-use development, the Watergate. This seminal project combining residential, office, hotel and retail uses heralded a new era in urban planning, foreshadowing Giuseppe's penchant for breaking new ground with his company, The IDI Group Companies (IDI), which he founded in 1975.

While famous for the Watergate, Giuseppe considered his proudest business achievement to be the Parkfairfax condominium conversion project, a groundbreaking initiative that would redefine the landscape of attainable housing. With unwavering commitment and compassion, IDI transformed an aging rental complex into a vibrant community of homeowners, ensuring that nearly 1,700 families could keep their homes and realize the dream of first-time homeownership. Parkfairfax stood not only as a testament to Giuseppe's visionary leadership and talent, but also to the generosity of his spirit.

Under his leadership, IDI has flourished for five decades, spearheading the development of 28 residential communities comprising 14,000 homes, as well as 2.7 million sq. ft of office and commercial space, 1400 hotel rooms, and 2400 acres of land development. With IDI's successful condominium communities considered national models for their luxurious and abundant amenities, The Washington Post once dubbed Cecchi the "Condo King" of D.C. Giuseppe's commitment to excellence has earned IDI over 85 industry accolades, cementing its reputation as a paragon of design, construction, and community governance.

Despite his phenomenal business achievements, Giuseppe believed his greatest success to be his 55 year marriage to Mercedes Sánchez Varela of Montevideo, Uruguay. Mercedes came to Washington while working as a purser for Pan Am Airlines, and she and Giuseppe met and fell in love in 1967. They married the following year in Montevideo in a ceremony officiated by Giuseppe's brother, the Reverend don Piero Cecchi. They learned each other's languages, cultures, and cuisines, spending many family vacations in Uruguay and Italy, later becoming proud US citizens in 1985. Together they built lifelong friendships, hosted countless dinner parties, and traveled the world, returning year after year to their beloved Vail, CO, and Key Biscayne, FL.

In his golden wedding anniversary toast, Giuseppe said, "The best decision I've made in all my life was to marry Mercedes. She gave me 50 years of great love, great happiness, and I love her more today than when I met her." Their marriage produced four beloved sons, four wonderful daughters-in-law, and 12 adored grandchildren–each a testament to the love and legacy of their Abue and Nonno.

In addition to his devotion to family, a defining aspect of Giuseppe's character was his philanthropic spirit, often saying, "I have earned more than I need to live happily. I have to share it." Alongside his family, he generously supported many organizations addressing homelessness, healthcare, and education, leaving an indelible mark of compassion and generosity on the community he held dear.

Giuseppe Cecchi left this world better than he found it, and his loss will be deeply felt for years to come.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Money and King Funeral Home, 171 Maple Avenue West, Vienna, VA 22180.

Friends are invited to a funeral mass on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church, 595 Third Street NW, Washington, DC 20001.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Catholic Charities of Arlington, Virginia.

Giuseppe is survived by his brother the Reverend don Piero Cecchi of Milan, Italy; wife Mercedes Cecchi (née Sánchez Varela); son Antonio Cecchi and daughter-in-law Bobbi Jo Cecchi (née Haislip); son Enrico Cecchi; son Carlos Cecchi and daughter-in-law Lisa Rivas Cecchi (née Rivas Veray); son Giuseppe (John) Cecchi and daughter-in-law Kristin Rae Cecchi (née Irish); daughter-in-law Andrea Cecchi (née Kaufman); and 12 grandchildren, Carla, Malena, Rose, Gabrielle, Enrico, Giuseppe, Fior, Piero, Marco, Antonio, Valentina, and Giuseppe.

The online guestbook is available at

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Published by The Washington Post from Apr. 7 to Apr. 10, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Giuseppe Cecchi

13 Entries

Suzanne Ives

March 30, 2025

Gone but never forgotten...

Trish Cooper

May 15, 2024

Mecedes and Giuseppe made my family feel very welcome in the Potomac School community. I have warm memories of the friendships formed by Maceo and Nia with Enrico. Guiseppe provided moral support and advice for me when I was a building official in the District of Columbia.
Mercedes, you have my prayers and my love.
Sincerely,
Trish Cooper

Suzanne Ives

April 14, 2024

Giuseppe was a great leader, intelligent, inspiring, generous and sharing. I weep.
Suzanne Ives. Public Relations Counsel to Giuseppe and IDI since his days at Watergate.

Colette Winston

April 11, 2024

Mr. Cecchi had a tremendous impact on so many members of my family. We will always be grateful for his kindness and creativity. My mother, Tina Winston, was Mr. Cecchi's trilingual secretary (Italian, French, English) and his right hand for many years at Watergate Improvement Associates. When he was looking for someone with real estate and retail experience to manage the commercial area and open a mall at the Watergate, my mother asked if my father could apply. Mr. Cecchi readily agreed and the interview yielded a position for my father, Henry Winston, which would span decades. My father established and opened Les Champs at the Watergate, a mall patterned after the famous Les Champs on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. My father brought Jean-Louis Palladin to the Watergate to introduce Nouvelle Cuisine at Jean-Louis at the Watergate Hotel. All this, under the tutelage of Guiseppe Cecchi, a man with foresight and amazing business acumen. My father managed the stores in the commercial area as well and was the FBI contact when the Watergate break-in occurred.
My mother and aunt, Mimi Jabes, opened Colette of the Watergate, a women's clothing boutique with immense popularity. All this, thanks to Mr. Cecchi who was supportive and kind. My father went on to establish Winston Management, where he worked with Mr. Cecchi at Techworld in D.C. Together with his great team - Orion, Mary Alice and the late Maude Thorpe, they managed the complex, filled the offices, and built an amazing Japanese garden with music you could hear as you walked through the pagoda.

My aunt, Gemma ("Mimi") Jabes dated Mr. Cecchi before he met his amazing wife, Mercedes. Mercedes also had a shop at the Watergate, Malena, that had imports from her native country.

If that was not enough, I worked for Mr. Cecchi at Watergate Improvement Associates one summer during college - I revamped the entire file system for all three buildings or stages of the Watergate and helped the receptionist when she was away or on a lunch break. I remember Mr. Ward, Mr. McFillin and Mr. Onorati and many of the secretaries.

My sister, Gigi Winston, co-founder with Henry Winston of Winston Real Estate, worked with the Cecchi family and shared their business acumen and foresight.

Mr. Cecchi will forever be in our hearts and will never be forgotten. Thank you, Mr. Cecchi, for providing such amazing opportunities for my family. You made a difference. Rest in peace.

Colette Winston
Vienna, VA

Edda Osele Silvestrini

April 10, 2024

Eulogy

Worked with Giuseppe Cecchi during his mastering the Watergate project , in the early sixties.
The Watergate, his original and present IDI office in Arlington, Va., the cupola of St Stephen church, all visible from my residence, brought him and memories to mind reading his obituary today.
Thank to Kristin for the photo.

To Mercedes and all of the family , my deepest condolences.

Janet Jaworski

April 10, 2024

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Cecchi family. Lifting you up as you mourn this profound loss. What a legacy of love he leaves behind.

Polly Doran Togni

April 8, 2024

Blessings for a man who was a pillar of strength for so many. Everyone he impacted gained strength from his wisdom and I am grateful for all he taught me. He was always opening doors - never closing them. His presence lives on. Peace be with the entire family.

Susan Barth

April 7, 2024

Giuseppe Cecchi was a godsend. Purchased my first home in Parkfairfax in 1979 for $36,000. Unbelievably lovely. Never met Mr. Cecchi but remembered his name and generosity. This condominium townhouse represented the beginning of financial independence for first-time homeowners. Wonderful man and generous soul.

Mary Ellen D'Agostino

April 7, 2024

I remember many occasions Giuseppe, bearing the same name as my husband, shared dinners benefitting Nyumbani, a charity for HIV abandoned children in Kenya, begun by Rev, Angelo D'Agostino, SJMD. He and Mercedes were not only generous donors but became family friends. He will be missed for his caring and heart and spirit. Our family will donate to Nyumbani remembering him.
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen D'Agostino

Bruce Rieder

April 7, 2024

Sending my condolences to the Cecchi family in memory of your dear Giuseppe. Holding you in my heart. Bruce Rieder

Noël Manuel ( Smith)

April 7, 2024

I am so saddened by the news of Mr. Cecchi’s passingI worked with him at IDI Group Cos. and I can truly say that he was the kindest, most considerate employer that I’ve ever work for. The world has truly lost a great human being and God has gained a true angel. He will surely be missed by many people & organizations in the DMVand the world at large.

Joseph F. Munroe

April 7, 2024

I began my design career working for Sherman Associates, along with Holle, Lin & Shogren, architects, as part of Mr. Cecchi's design team for Montebello, the Astoria, the Belvedere, the Vista International Hotel and Porto Vechio. From there I continued as an Interiors Architect, working for developers and his projects truly cut my Design Teeth. He was a Gentleman to the core and hired and honed a Design team capable of achieving his Vision. He was far smarter than The Smartest Man in the Room as some of his contemporaries thought of themselves and his attention to detail was amazing. He was also very loyal to his Team including all of the subs responsible for providing the cabintry, flooring finishes, fixtures.etc. I was incredibly lucky to work for him. Condolances to his family and may he forever Rest in Peace.