Longtime Florida Tech Trustee Harry Brandon Passes Away

It is with sadness that we report the passing of Harry Brandon, who served with distinction and vision on Florida Tech’s Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2017.

Brandon passed away Aug. 9 due to prostate cancer.

A real estate investor and marketing expert with a major philanthropic spirit, Brandon first came to the Space Coast in 1978 when he served as a vice president for Harris Corporation. He had nearly three decades of computer marketing and marketing management experience, including leading worldwide marketing for the Controls Division and Composition Systems Division at Harris, following careers at Control Data, UNIVAC and University Computing. He left Harris in 1982 to start a commercial real estate investing business in Brevard County.

Brandon and his wife, Wendy, were deeply involved in the community. In addition to his valuable service at Florida Tech, he served on many other boards and committees, including at the Melbourne/Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, United Way and the Founder’s Forum, which named him Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005.

He was on the original board of directors of the professional theater group The Ensemble Theater which eventually became home of the Melbourne Civic Theater. He also served two years as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, which continues to present the free Brandon Family Concert. This year’s performance is at 2 p.m. Sept. 23 at the King Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Cultural Arts Showcase 2018.

Brandon is survived by his wife, four children, six grandchildren and a sister.

A celebration of Brandon’s life will be held at a date to be determined. In lieu of Flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. Online condolences may be left at Beach Funeral Home by clicking here.

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