EVOLVE editorial board member Mike Jiloty remembered

Michael J. Jiloty, a member of the EVOLVE Business and Entrepreneur Magazine editorial board, died Dec. 25 at the age of 69.

Jiloty was born in Highland Park, Illinois, and grew up in the Glenview and Naperville suburbs of Chicago. As a teenager, he was a contributing photographer for The Naperville Sun and The Penfield Post-Republican. He moved with his family to Rochester, New York, and it was at Penfield High School where he met the love of his life, Mary Kay Rudman.

After high school, he earned a journalism degree at the University of Missouri. While at “Mizzou” he served as president of his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, and later served as the Southern Division Vice President. His professional career began in 1974 in the marketing department at First Federal Savings of Rochester. He moved to Florida in 1977 to accept a position in the marketing department of Heritage Federal Savings and later managed an Orlando advertising agency before opening his own firm, Jiloty, Shipley & Associates, in 1980. The firm became Jiloty Communications in 1986 and operated until 2002, when Jiloty became president of Lord & Lasker/Florida in Ormond Beach.

Jiloty joined the EVOLVE editorial board in 2017.

“Mike represented Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation (TVEDC) on the board, but his contributions went far beyond that,” said EVOLVE publisher Howard Holley. “His eye for both overall magazine content and design was certainly appreciated. One of the features we launched with Mike and TVEDC was the TVEDC Investor Profile. Mike interviewed the investors and pulled together the content. He was very insightful.”

Holley said Jiloty will be remembered not only for what he did, but for who he was.

“We will certainly miss Mike’s wise and experienced marketing and communication counsel,” Holley said. “But more importantly we will miss the man: his demeanor, his style and his humanity.” 

Jiloty’s dedication to the area and its people was echoed by EVOLVE editor John Guthrie.

“Mike brought an important piece to our editorial board,” Guthrie said. “Mike has developed so many relationships and was truly focused on shining a light on success in the community.  His knowledge of the area, professionalism and friendship will be missed, but his contribution to our community will be remembered.”

In addition to an award-winning career in marketing, Jiloty was active in community affairs and held various volunteer leadership positions including serving as president of United Way of Volusia-Flagler, the Daytona Beach Advertising Federation, and the FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of the Daytona Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and former Vice Chair of the Advanced Technology Center.

His involvement in the community made him a valuable member of the EVOLVE editorial board, according to EVOLVE managing editor Elesha Mavrommatis.

“I had the pleasure of working with Mike for nearly five years, during his tenure on EVOLVE’s editorial board,” Mavrommatis said. “He was deeply knowledgeable about the community and brought a unique perspective to our meetings. But more than that, he was generous with his time and incredibly kind. I will miss working with him.” 

He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Mary Kay, and their children Jordan (Summer), Lauren (Steve Slupski) and James (Meredi); his eight grandchildren, Jackson Jiloty, Ethan Jiloty, Abigail Jiloty, Charlie Jiloty, Turner Jiloty, Gabriel Slupski, Claire Slupski and Adrian Slupski; his brothers, Rick Jiloty (Mary Wollesen) and Joe Jiloty (Debbie); several nieces, nephews and cousins; and his beloved Uncle Dick Nojeim and Aunt Anne Saliba.

A visitation will be held on Jan. 13 from 4-6 p.m. at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 548 North Nova Road, Ormond Beach. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. at St. Brendan Catholic Church, 1000 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach. The Rite of Committal and burial will be held at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Notre Dame, Indiana at a later date.

Donations in Mike’s memory may be made to the Community Foundation of Volusia-Flagler or the Conklin-Davis Center for the Visually Impaired.