Judy Chubb DeCero, who played a key role building the Orange County Business Journal for more than a decade as an advertising sales manager, died this month of cancer.
Chubb DeCero, who was 45, joined the Business Journal in 1991 and was with the paper during its formative years.
She left in 2005 to spend more time with her family.
During her time with the Business Journal, Chubb DeCero developed the paper’s advertising business with law firms, banks and other clients.
She regularly was one of the paper’s top salespeople and was well regarded by her clients and colleagues.
Several of Chubb DeCero’s former clients attended her memorial service last week at Pacific Church of Irvine, alongside family, friends and Business Journal colleagues.
Known as “Jude,” Chubb DeCero was born in Los Angeles to an aerospace engineer and Irish mother. She spent her early years in Manhattan Beach before the family moved to Costa Mesa in 1964.
Chubb DeCero got her start selling signs for Kroy LLC and Federal Sign Co.
She later worked for the South Florida Business Journal before coming back to Orange County.
At the Orange County Business Journal, Chubb DeCero met husband John DeCero, a banker who dealt with the paper for advertising.
The couple married in 1995 and had two daughters together by 1999.
A few years after the birth of her second daughter, Chubb DeCero left the Business Journal to raise her family in Irvine’s University Park neighborhood.
She was active at Vista Verde School and Pacific Church as well as on her own block, hosting friends and neighbors.
Shortly after leaving the Business Journal, Chubb DeCero was diagnosed with lung cancer. She fought the disease until her death with a strong will and optimistic outlook.
She leaves behind her husband, two daughters, two sisters, her mother, family friend Loida Munoz and many extended family members and friends.
