John F. Koons III died March 3 at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida surrounded by his family. He was 80 years old. Jack or Bud, as he was known, was beloved for his generosity, his great sense of humor and his deep loyalty to his friends many of whom he had known since boyhood. He was born in Cincinnati, and educated at Kilgour School and Walnut Hills High School. He dropped out of the University of Arizona at the start of World War II to join the Marines. He later graduated from Babson College. He was married for 42 years to Patricia Boyle Koons with whom he raised four children. A very dynamic and successful businessman, his first job was as a paperboy for the Cincinnati Enquirer. He ran Midland Advertising and the Burger Brewery and relished the Brewery's sponsorship of live broadcasts of Cincinnati Reds games. He went on to form Central Investment Corporation with interests in the bottling and food industries in Ohio and Florida and considered his employees to be a kind of second family. He was a lifelong sports enthusiast, both as participant and as fan, starting with little league baseball in the 1930's. He traveled widely with friends and family to ski, fish, hike, kayak, scuba dive, golf and play tennis. He jogged every day for decades and enjoyed racing, running twice in San Francisco's famous costumed Bay to Breakers race, once wearing Cincinnati Reds regalia a year the Reds had 'whooped the Giants'. He had a lifelong interest in history and politics and was widely read in those fields. He enjoyed the friendship of many people in politics and traveled to Ireland with his friend Tip O'Neill when the Speaker was given an honorary degree at Trinity University in Dublin. He was the father in law of the late Jerry Garcia. Bud Koons was a unique personality, devoted to his family, his friends and his work. His children jokingly called him Mr. Enthusiasm because of his positive attitude and the natural gusto he had for life. He had a warm, gregarious nature and helped many people with his humor, his wise advice and his resources. He was a committed member of AA for 20 years. He served on many boards, including those of the Summit Country Day School, Evergreen College, The Cincinnati Automobile Club and The Betty Ford Center. He belonged to several clubs, The Hyde Park, Ryland Lakes, Cincinnati and Burning Tree Country Clubs and the Queen City Club among others. He is survived by his children, Commissioner Jeff Koons of West Palm Beach Florida, Deborah Koons Garcia of Mill Valley, California, James (Mary) Koons of Eugene, Oregon, and Christina Koons of Seattle, Washington and seven grandchildren, Caroline Moore Koons, Kathleen Moore Koons, Maura Louise Koons, Jeremy Boyle Koons, Morgan Nyquist Koons, Nicholas Parlin Koons Baker, and Carson Nye Koons Baker, his former wife Patricia Koons of Indian Hill, former wife Chris Koons of Saint Augustine Florida, his sister Mary Jane Mitchell and her husband Mitch. There will be a memoral service this Saturday at 11:00 at the Summit Country Day School Chapel, 2161 Grandin Road, in Hyde Park followed by a reception at the Queen City Club, 331 E. 4th Street, at 12:30. Donations may be made to the Walnut Hills Alumni Foundation, 3250 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207 and The Hanley Center Foundation, 5200 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407.

Service

Saturday, March 12, 2005 11:00 AM Summit Chapel 2161 Grandin Rd. Cincinnati 45208, United States