Giuseppe Cecchi

Giuseppe Cecchi, 93, prominent Washington, DC real estate developer and McLean, VA, resident, died peacefully at home surrounded by the love of his family on April 4, 2024. Giuseppe was a devout Catholic, talented cook, avid skier and hiker, and devoted tennis partner to his beautiful wife, Mercedes. Giuseppe’s life was marked by a commitment to hard work, innovation, and generosity, leaving behind a legacy that lives on through his family and the countless lives touched through his professional and philanthropic endeavors.

Born on June 9, 1930, in Milan, Italy, to Carla Sigismund and Antonio Cecchi, the head engineer of the city of Milan, Giuseppe followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and graduated from the prestigious Politecnico di Milano in 1955 with a master’s degree in professional engineering.

In 1959, Giuseppe left Italy to scout U.S. real estate investments for the firm Società Generale Immobiliare (SGI), ultimately finding his own American Dream. In 1961, he arrived in the Nation’s Capital and soon began the city’s first mixed-use development, the Watergate. This seminal project combining residential, office, hotel and retail uses heralded a new era in urban planning, foreshadowing Giuseppe’s penchant for breaking new ground with his company, The IDI Group Companies (IDI), which he founded in 1975.

While famous for the Watergate, Giuseppe considered his proudest business achievement to be the Parkfairfax condominium conversion project, a groundbreaking initiative that would redefine the landscape of attainable housing. With unwavering commitment and compassion, IDI transformed an aging rental complex into a vibrant community of homeowners, ensuring that nearly 1,700 families could keep their homes and realize the dream of first-time homeownership. Parkfairfax stood not only as a testament to Giuseppe’s visionary leadership and talent, but also to the generosity of his spirit.

Under his leadership, IDI has flourished for five decades, spearheading the development of 28 residential communities comprising 14,000 homes, as well as 2.7 million sq. ft of office and commercial space, 1400 hotel rooms, and 2400 acres of land development. With IDI’s successful condominium communities considered national models for their luxurious and abundant amenities, The Washington Post once dubbed Cecchi the “Condo King” of D.C. Giuseppe’s commitment to excellence has earned IDI over 85 industry accolades, cementing its reputation as a paragon of design, construction, and community governance.

Despite his phenomenal business achievements, Giuseppe believed his greatest success to be his 55 year marriage to Mercedes Sánchez Varela of Montevideo, Uruguay. Mercedes came to Washington while working as a purser for Pan Am Airlines, and she and Giuseppe met and fell in love in 1967. They married the following year in Montevideo in a ceremony officiated by Giuseppe’s brother, the Reverend don Piero Cecchi. They learned each other’s languages, cultures, and cuisines, spending many family vacations in Uruguay and Italy, later becoming proud US citizens in 1985. Together they built lifelong friendships, hosted countless dinner parties, and traveled the world, returning year after year to their beloved Vail, CO, and Key Biscayne, FL.

In his golden wedding anniversary toast, Giuseppe said, “The best decision I’ve made in all my life was to marry Mercedes. She gave me 50 years of great love, great happiness, and I love her more today than when I met her.” Their marriage produced four beloved sons, four wonderful daughters-in-law, and twelve adored grandchildren–each a testament to the love and legacy of their Abue and Nonno.

In addition to his devotion to family, a defining aspect of Giuseppe’s character was his philanthropic spirit, often saying, “I have earned more than I need to live happily. I have to share it.” Alongside his family, he generously supported many organizations addressing homelessness, healthcare, and education, leaving an indelible mark of compassion and generosity on the community he held dear.

Giuseppe Cecchi left this world better than he found it, and his loss will be deeply felt for years to come.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. at the Money and King Funeral Home,171 Maple Avenue West, Vienna, VA 22180.

Friends are invited to a funeral mass on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church, 595 Third Street NW, Washington, DC 20001.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Catholic Charities of Arlington, Virginia. https://secure.ccda.net/Give/Give/Donate/Giving.aspx

Giuseppe is survived by his brother the Reverend don Piero Cecchi of Milan, Italy; wife Mercedes Cecchi (née Sánchez Varela); son Antonio Cecchi and daughter-in-law Bobbi Jo Cecchi (née Haislip); son Enrico Cecchi; son Carlos Cecchi and daughter-in-law Lisa Rivas Cecchi (née Rivas Veray); son Giuseppe (John) Cecchi and daughter-in-law Kristin Rae Cecchi (née Irish); daughter-in-law Andrea Cecchi (née Kaufman); and 12 grandchildren, Carla, Malena, Rose, Gabrielle, Enrico, Giuseppe, Fior, Piero, Marco, Antonio, Valentina, and Giuseppe.