It was with a great deal of sadness that I heard the news last week that industry legend Joe Monteleone had passed away. Many of you knew Joe; even if didn’t know him, you should know about Joe. Joe was one of the good ones.

Joe had a long and distinguished career in the professional liability insurance industry. Joe started his career as a claims attorney and executive, representing several insurance companies. Joe then worked at several different law firms. After he retired in August 2023 from the active practice of law, he continued to work as a mediator, arbitrator, and expert witness. Throughout his more than 40-year career, Joe wrote and frequently spoke about D&O insurance and corporate governance issues. He was also active in the American Bar Association, the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), and the American College of Coverage Counsel.

I was fortunate to know Joe well and to work with him in a variety of capacities. I first got to know Joe way back when he was a claims attorney at the old Reliance National and I was an attorney in private practice. We also saw each other frequently at industry events, where Joe was always, characteristically, cordial and friendly. We later served together on the Board of Trustees of the PLUS. We were panelists together at the very first PLUS Singapore Chapter event, back in 2012. Joe was also instrumental in recruiting me into the American College of Coverage Counsel. Many readers may also recall that Joe was a frequent guest contributor to this site, both as a solo author and as a co-author.

Those who knew Joe will first recall his calm and friendly demeanor. They will then recall his commitment to professionalism and learning. It would be hard to overstate how much Joe contributed over the years to our industry with his writing and speaking, and his general willingness to share his knowledge and experience. Joe helped to educate an entire generation of industry professionals, including me. Perhaps even more important, everyone who encountered Joe knew that he was a good, decent person. He was a mentor and a friend to so many in our industry.

Joe was a good man. He will be missed.

If any of you have memories of Joe you would like to share with others, please send them to me and I will add them to this post.

Here are the notes about Joe that I have received from readers:

From Jennifer Weinstein of Skyward Specialty Insurance:

Thank you for this article.  I worked for Joe early in my career and he was a walking D&O Encyclopedia.  More than that though, he was truly one of the kindest people (if not the kindest) in this industry.  He was the leader of the Claims Group where I worked in the early 2000s and as I have journeyed through this industry, I carry what he taught me throughout.  He will be missed – but memorials like this keep him around for all of us.

From Shasi Nair, Berkeley Insurance Asia:

Thank you for letting us know about Joe Monteleone. I was very sorry to hear that he has passed away. 

Joe was a wonderful person and someone I respected greatly as a claim’s professional. We have lost a great friend and a true professional, and he will be deeply missed. Your blog about him is a lovely tribute. 

From Ronak Shah, QBE Asia:

Thank you for updating us on Joe’s passing, may his soul rest in peace.

A lovely tribute, thank you.

From Aruno Rajaratnam, Retired Insurance Executive, Singapore:

Thank you for letting us know about Joe’s passing. 

This is sad news.

Joe had always been very helpful and ready to share knowledge with us in Asia. 

I shall always cherish the many interactions I had with him at the various conferences in Asia, UK and USA.

May his soul rest in peace.