Fred DiBona Jr. was a native South Philadelphian who became the president and CEO of Independence Blue Cross and was a leader in Philadelphia’s business community for more than three decades. DiBona led the region’s largest insurer for 15 years and under his leadership, Independence Blue Cross grew from a $1.3 billion traditional fee-for-service insurer into a $9.1 billion managed care company. Sadly, at the age of 53, DiBona died following a courageous 15-month long battle with renal cell cancer.

In 1976, at the age of 25, he was appointed to the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment, quickly rising to become its chairman. Two years later, DiBona was moving up again – this time to become head of the Philadelphia Port Corporation. He led the corporation for four years and was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce in 1983. During his three years there, membership nearly tripled from 1,800 members to 5,000 members.

From the Chamber, he moved in 1986 to Pennsylvania Blue Shield (now Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield) to run its new Keystone HMO. Then in 1990, at the age of 39, DiBona was named President and CEO of Independence Blue Cross.

Fred was well known by his family, friends, and colleagues as the one who always went out of his way to help the “underdogs” – those who were dealt a ‘bad hand’, or were struggling with some kind of hardship. Despite being a driven business leader, he also had a big heart. When he gave his word, he kept it. He was loyal to those he trusted, and he expected the same in return. He loved to laugh, and to make others laugh. When Fred saw someone in need—especially a child—he did everything he could to help.

Despite his many achievements, Fred always preferred to acknowledge the accomplishments of others. He never boasted about his multiple awards, and would not take credit for growing Independence Blue Cross into a $10 billion company or for spearheading the successful effort to locate the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. But there is one thing Fred was never modest about: his family. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Sylvia, and a proud father to his children, Fred and Christine. Nothing was more important to him than family, and he delighted in telling others how much they meant to him.

Following DiBona’s death, his family founded Fred’s Footsteps, which is now a leading non-profit in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Over Fred’s Footsteps’ 15-year history, the organization has awarded nearly $7 million to families experiencing financial hardships due to the care of a critically or chronically ill child.

Photos: DiBona Family