Friends who were familiar with my real-estate-focused Integrated Marketing, Branding & Public Relations Firm, Renaissance Creative (1996-2011), I wanted to share some sad news about my close friend and former business partner, Ed Bondi. Ed passed away last weekend in Colorado, shortly after his 77th birthday. He was battling kidney disease and other health issues, including a difficult recovery from hip replacement. A fighter and a rebel at heart, he was also a cancer survivor for over 20 years.
Ed was one of the most well-respected, creative, and talented individuals I’ve ever known. A registered architect, extremely talented graphic designer, and brilliant marketing strategist who helped create the branding and marketing programs of many of Northeast Florida’s largest and most successful communities, his iconic work in the form of logos, entry monuments, signage, clubhouses and more is evident all throughout Jacksonville, the State of Florida, and beyond.
Ed was a beloved personal mentor who taught me so much about design, marketing, business, and life that I cannot begin to convey it all here. He focused relentlessly on doing great work– work that truly stood out and rose above. He knew that was the key to winning more work, attracting the best talent, and driving buzz. He helped us win hundreds of marketing and design awards over the years and contributed to our firm being named one of Jacksonville’s Best Places to Work, and one of its Fastest Growing Companies for 5 years in a row, during one stretch.
More than anything, Ed was a man of impeccable character, integrity, and faith. He lived by the Biblically-based idiom, “Always take the high road”. I remember him explaining that inherently, that would always be the harder road, but the one worth taking in the long run, given eternal perspective. I never once in my life saw Ed deviate from that path, or stray from any of his core values. He was a devout Christian who trusted God for everything, and he lived with an unyielding sense of gratitude, even in the most challenging times.
Ed was driven and had an exceptionally strong work ethic, but he was a family man who was also so happy when he finally decided to retire to Colorado Springs with his wife Cindy. He loved being out in nature, and I know how much he enjoyed being able to slow down, relax, and get out in it with his wife and sons Matt and Eric, in the years following his stellar career. RIP, Ed. We love you, we’ll miss you, and we’ll see you again.
