Brevard Philanthropist Harry Brandon Passed Away at Age 85 Aug. 9 Due to Prostate Cancer

By  //  August 12, 2018

greatest passion was to assist the cultural assets of the community

Harry Ellis Brandon was born on December 19, 1932, in Bremerton, Washington, and passed away on August 9 due to prostate cancer that had been in remission for more than 30 years. 

BREVARD COUNTY • INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH, FLORIDA – Harry Ellis Brandon was born on December 19, 1932, in Bremerton, Washington, and passed away on August 9 due to prostate cancer that had been in remission for more than 30 years. 

He graduated from the University of Washington and shortly thereafter started working in the growing computer industry in Seattle. He worked in marketing for a number of companies and traveled the world in furtherance of his career.

By the time he met his wife Wendy at a blackjack table in Lake Tahoe, Nevada in 1975 he was getting ready to change careers. He had always wanted to invest in commercial real estate but wasn’t in a position to do so until he was relocated with Harris Corporation to Melbourne in 1978.

After working for several years as the Vice President of the then Harris Controls and Composition Systems Division he and Wendy started their commercial real estate investing company.

At first, they bought small office strips and a small motel and then gradually bought bigger properties and renovated them. Most notable was the 1900 Building in Downtown Melbourne (owned 1984-2004) which was in disrepair, had no windows and the top floor was vacant and stripped bare. Once renovated, the building filled with tenants and helped further the growth of the downtown Melbourne redevelopment area.

Harry and Wendy’s properties prospered and they contributed back to the community in many ways. Harry served on numerous committees including The Melbourne/Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Commission, United Way and the Founder’s Forum. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Florida Tech.

But his greatest passion was to assist the cultural assets of the community. He was on the original board of directors of the professional theater group The Ensemble Theater which eventually became the home of the Melbourne Civic Theater. He also served two years as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra and was a fervent supporter of that organization.

Harry had many friends in our community and many of them were entrepreneurs like himself whom he loved to mentor as they pursued their dreams.

Harry is survived by his wife Wendy, his sons Brian Brandon (Coleen), and Steven Brandon (Angela), his daughters Beth Jensen (Chris) and Melanie Brandon (Kim) and grandchildren Conor Brandon, Kiera Brandon, Jack Jensen, Sam Jensen, Colette Brandon and Dylan Brandon and sister Muffette Diaz.

A Celebration of Harry ‘s life will be held at a date to be determined. In lieu of Flowers, please send contributions to the Brevard Symphony Orchestra.

Online condolences may be left at beachfuneralhome.com

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