Jerry Thirion

Jerry Thirion, who took office in 1999, became the first Bailli of the Naples Bailliage to hold a professional rank since founding Bailli Ed Davis. Bailli Thirion brought with him sophisticated managerial experience and business acumen, having served as General Manager of the Don CeSar in St. Petersburg and The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort in Longboat Key, among others, before relocating to Naples in 1993, where he became Vice President and Managing Director of the Naples Registry Resort. Besides having a stellar career, Jerry was a seasoned Chaîne member, having joined in 1984.

He continued the Naples tradition of designing events around a theme with a Naples Chaine event he hosted early in his administration at LaPlaya Beach Resort, where he had just become managing director. This was a colorful Cuban Fiesta, complete with island music and a cigar roller. “Tastes of Tuscany” followed, held at Mediterra, a club that was to become a favorite site for future Chaîne dining experiences. “Call of the Wild” at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, proved a unique experience, and events at Bleu Provence and Chardonnay were firsts. L’Ordre Mondial events were scheduled for wine loving members, and the opportunity to cook with the “queen of Italian cooking” Marcella Harzan at a demonstration and tasting dinner, was provided.

During Jerry’s tenure, the Naples Bailliage began the popular “Chaîne Discoveries,” a summer program of dine-arounds exploring local restaurants. A Web site for the bailliage was started, and newsletters were initiated.

The year 2001 was an especially important one in the history of the bailliage. It began with an event of epic proportions, a special Naples Chaîne Holiday Celebration Dinner that commanded ten pages in the prominent Naples magazine, Naples Illustrated. The magazine had asked the bailliage for its “dream meal,” and Bailli Thirion devoted six months to the planning of it, personally researching and procuring the distinguished wines served. Each detail was carefully choreographed, with diners outnumbered by the staff that served them.

In 2001, the bailliage also celebrated its 20th anniversary at a glittering induction dinner held at Quail West Country Club. Homage was paid to its illustrious past at the same time it looked to the future by bringing in new members..

The year also marked the beginning of fund raisers to support a scholarship fund established jointly by the bailliages of Bonita and Naples. The first, which was held at Grey Oaks Country Club, was a star-studded gala featuring special guest chefs. An extraordinary meal ended with the eruption of flames from gas torches placed in the floral arrangements. A profit of $18,000 resulted. The following year a Venetian Carnevale theme gala at Mediterra raised twice this amount. Members began to see the results of their generous support as student recipients of scholarships were selected and sent off to study in preparation for careers in the culinary and hospitality industries.

At the end of his tenure, Jerry could look back on a significant list of accomplishments. As a highly respected member in the hospitality industry and a leader in the community, Jerry had been able to harness a great deal of talent for the betterment of the Bailliage de Naples. It was not surprising, then, that when he turned the mantle over to his successor, he was invited to accept the regional position of Chambellan Provincial.