• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, June 13, 2013

Sad news out of Interpublic’s Deutsch Inc. today—agency founder David Deutsch passed away. He was 84.

Deutsch founded David Deutsch Associates in 1969 as a boutique agency with Oneida as its signature account. The agency became known for its sophisticated creative for prestige brands including Crouch & Fitzgerald and Letts of London diaries.  

David’s son Donny joined the agency in 1983 and the firm was renamed Deutsch Inc. in 1989. A year later Donny Deutsch was named president and CEO. David Deutsch retired in 1993. IPG acquired the company in 2000.

Prior to opening his namesake agency, David Deutsch worked as a creative director at Ogilvy & Mather.  After retiring from the advertising business, he pursued a career as an artist and was awarded for his work in juried shows at galleries including: Wally Findlay Galleries International Inc. in East Hampton, New York and Palm Beach, at the Noho Gallery and Veridian Gallery in New York, and in Florida at the Florida Cornell Museum, Boca Raton Museum of Art, among others. 

"We are incredibly saddened by the passing of David Deutsch,” stated Linda Sawyer, North American CEO Deutsch Inc. “He was a remarkable man with tremendous talent and a big, caring heart.  As the founder of Deutsch, we proudly stand on David's shoulders each and every day.  We share Donny and his family's grief." 

In addition to Donny, Deutsch is survived by his wife Francine and his daughter Amy. A funeral is set for Friday, June 14th, at 11:45am at Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York City.