Rusty Restuccia, who ran Ford’s minority dealer program, dies at 77
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Rusty Restuccia, a 33-year veteran of Ford Motor Co. and former head of the company’s minority dealer program, died Oct. 31 at his home here. He was 77.
Restuccia joined Ford in January 1962 in sales and marketing. He was later named director of marketing services for North America. In the 1990s he headed Ford’s minority dealer program.
After retiring from Ford, Restuccia remained in contact with the dealers he had assisted.
He researched and wrote extensively about the history of minority-owned dealerships. In 2001, during his retirement, he wrote and published Homer B. Roberts, An Extraordinary Man, a book about the first African-American dealer.
Restuccia is survived by his wife of 51 years, Maria, three sons and 11 grandchildren.
