Jay A Litt's Obituary
September 03, 2023--Jay A. Litt of Delray Beach, Fl, passed away with his family by his side. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 22nd, 2023 at 2:00pm, at Beth Israel Memorial Chapel: 11115 Jog Road, Boynton Beach, Fl 33437. Afterwards, the family will meet at a local restaurant (TBD) to share a toast in Jay's memory, then respectfully request to mourn in private. Out-of-town guests: please contact Rachel at [email protected] for a list of nearby hotels.
Jay, the youngest of three, was born to Helen Lyman and Samuel Litt on April 4, 1946. Jay and Mayra Aviles married in 1975. Jay leaves behind his sister, Ruth Lipman; his wife, Mayra; his two children, Samuel and Rachel Litt; his grandchildren, Mila, Lucy, Jack, Julian and Noa; and devoted son-in-law and daughter-in-law, Richard Castleberry and Annie Litt.
From Brooklyn, New York, Jay lived a varied and astounding life. In 1971 he returned from a two-year stay in Asia--where he planted rice with the Peace Corps in the Philippines--to meet with Florida International University (FIU) dean Tony Marshall, who granted him the job as busboy at the Fontainebleau Hotel. He graduated as FIU valedictorian in 1973, with a B.S. in Hospitality Management (after earning a B.A. in Sociology from Parsons college). He remained in the hospitality industry until last week, working as General Manager at the St. Regis Hotel and the Sheraton Bal Harbour; as Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President of Operations, Senior Vice President of Operations for the Americas Resorts Group, and Chief Procurement Officer of Wyndham International Inc; and Senior Vice President of Operations for Interstate Hotels. Jay and son Samuel are LittKM, a hotel design and construction management firm. Jay served on both the boards of FIU School of Hospitality and the Rancho La Puerta Spa.
To write this obituary is an overwhelming task, not only for the suffocating grief in losing a best friend and head of family, but for his outrageous scope of accomplishment and influence. It's impossible to whittle down such a large footprint into few words, so we use a recent interview with FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, in which Jay offers advice to students entering the vast arena of consultancy, to give a glimpse into his colorful take on life.
"What tips can you give students interested in hospitality consultancy?"
Jay: Learn to walk before you can run. Don't worry about money. Let the field train you. There's no rush, it goes quickly.
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
Jay: With G-d's help I'll be doing exactly what I do now. And I'll be playing with the grandkids, making sure everyone is happy.
"Any New Year's resolutions?
Jay: Make sure timing in life matches earth time. I follow two trains of thought--stoicism and taoism. It's very important for me to slow down and get into the rhythm of what's occurring around me--not to push the world around me, but to let it push me. Having a balance between your spiritual, business, athletic and personal life is critical. Even working 60-hour weeks I was always able to find the extra time for my family, and to make sure my vehicle, my body, is in good shape. Great wine, careful diet, steady as she goes.
"If a genie could grant you three wishes..."
Jay: World peace. I'd like to see the world catch a break. I'd make sure my kids & grandkids are healthy and have a great future, successful in everything they do. I have to give my partner a high-five; my wife has moved with me 15 times with this industry. So, living out my life with my partner, making sure we're both healthy and can enjoy the years we have.
In an effort to stave off famine in the Philippines, Jay joined the Peace Corps and worked with locals to plant rice that became three times as fertile as native rice. For two years he lived without running water or electricity. Jay often credited these years as a profound but simple answer to the big questions in life. He found happiness in small and tired smiles, in plain honesty and in hard work. He found peace in a family pool party, in a hooked-arm Jameson cheer, and in propping up the self worth of those around him. He fought until the very end, and his impact reverberates with the greats throughout time and space. Jay is a friend to all who met him.
Comfort.
Dignity.
Family.
We love you fiercely, Dad. Mom, Rachel, and Sam.
A link to the live stream of the service is:
https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/92158/hash:6DF42A07F3BB40EB
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