Tuesday, August 14th, 2018
Richard Brandewie
Richard John Brandewie (1954-2018), 63, of Tampa, Florida, passed away July 14, 2018, at his Burt Lake cottage in the midst of a beautiful Northern Michigan summer.
Richard was born December 31, 1954, in Celina, Ohio, to Lester John and Dorothy Ann (Kramer) Brandewie who predeceased him.
He is survived by his wife Kalyn, sons Beckett and Benjamin, brothers and sister, David (& Holly) Brandewie of Valparaiso, IN, Beth (& Rick) Weber of Montezuma, OH, and Ted (& Debbie) Brandewie of Lexington, KY, and 9 nieces and nephews.
After attending Immaculate Conception through his junior year, Richard graduated from Celina Senior High School (1973). He received his accounting degree from Bowling Green State University (1976).
Richard (Dick to his colleagues) lived in the Celina area when he worked as an accountant at Ford in Lima, then in Dearborn, MI. Dick moved to Midland, MI where he worked at Doan Resources in its Midland branch, then to its Ann Arbor office, after which he received an MBA from the University of Michigan (1980) which led to a career in venture capital.
He relocated to Tampa in 1987 to join South Atlantic Venture Fund, was the one-step-below Chief Financial Officer of Montgomery Tank Lines (now Quality Carriers), and eventually co-founded Ballast Point Ventures in 2001. His professional focus was in the healthcare and biotech industries where he relished investing in and mentoring growth companies and entrepreneurs.
Richard enjoyed exploring the outdoors of Florida, Michigan, and Western Canada with his family - usually on a kayak, windsurfer, or skis. He managed to balance a demanding career with family commitments and was truly a model husband, father, and brother. He will be remembered for love of his family and friends, inquisitive and brilliant mind, generous spirit, and warm sense of humor.
The Brandewie family would like to express sympathy and gratitude for Richard's family who coordinated his care and comprised much of his support team. This included Kalyn, Beckett, Benjamin, Karmen and TC Hayes, Dawn Wernette, Rick Califano, and numerous other friends and caregivers who stood by him during his long, unforgiving illness.
A service and celebration of life will be planned for later this fall in Tampa.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Little Traverse Conservancy, 3264 Powell Road, Harbor Springs, MI 49740. https://landtrust.org/. May God bless you and keep you Richard, with love from your grieving family.
