Staff was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in December and passed away Tuesday at his farm in Bucks County, Pa.
He joined Calvin Klein in 1989 as senior vice president of retail development and licensing and in 1994 took over the position of president and chief operating officer of the Calvin Klein men’s wear division of GFT USA Corp., where he was responsible for management and operations of the $70 million clothing, furnishings and sportswear business.
In March 2004, Staff led the J.W. Childs acquisition of JA Apparel Corp., owner of the Joseph Abboud trademark, and was named CEO. He described his approach to life in this way: “As a child, people told me to reach for the stars — but all I ever wanted to do was wander above them.”