Mardy Cason was a business partner for 3 years. I just saw this and would like to share, as he was a unique person, loved family & a charitable soul

IN MEMORY OF

Marsden 'Mardy' Starbuck Cason

CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA

1942 - May 24, 202

Marsden 'Mardy''s obituary

                       MARSDEN STARBUCK CASON, A MAN WITH MAZE BRILLIANCE

Marsden ‘Mardy’ Starbuck Cason from Tennessee was an incredible blessing to our world. The scope of this man is hard to capture, self-made from the beginning to the end of his life. He created the life he wanted. He had an unwavering passion to help people realize and pursue their dreams just as he had pursued and manifested his own vision and innovations. Most say that working with Mardy was the greatest, most exciting journey they have ever had. He changed countless lives with his generous nature. Mardy’s happiness was contagious, he took pride both in his family and his work. He was unique, one of a kind. With the love of his life, and soul mate Roxanne by his side, they raised a beautiful family enriched by traditions and adventure.

Among the many roles he had in life, Mardy adored being a trusting husband to Roxanne. They shared a dream life of growing, learning and loving, not just with each other, but with anyone who crossed their paths. This power couple cared about improving the world in ways that were both innovative and meaningful. Mardy was the proud father for his three sons: Sean, Regan and Jason. He was thrilled with his role as a grandfather for Zena and Fiona. It was important to him that his family always had a sense of adventure in their lives to inspire and their horizons. This came in the form of surprise trips and explorations across the world. He taught his boys how to ski and deep-sea fish before their 10th birthdays! Roxanne became an outdoor convert, learning to love the wilderness from Mardy through hiking, trout fishing and skiing escapades. Whether they were on shaman-led rituals or traversing mountains in Africa, the Alps, Alaska and Mauna Kea dome in Hawaii, Mardy led adventures that were both challenging and life changing for his family. 

As the Chairman and/or the CEO, Mardy demonstrated the possibilities of investing in and going after what you love. People were inspired by his spirit and drive! His unique combination of genuine understanding and bold confidence made him their ultimate leader and mentor. He took pride in the success of anyone with whom he worked. Mardy had a depth that allowed him to discern when people needed to learn their own lessons and when it was time to step in. Listening intently with a keen intuition allowed him to enable people to discover and to develop their unique skills. He could be tough, yet he was authentic. His genuine support exuded an unstoppable determination, a clarity of the goal unmitigated by outside influences.

Once he made up his mind, he had an unwavering commitment to the things he loved and this constantly opened endless doors of opportunity around him where, often with ease and grace, he fit perfectly into the new opportunity. His positive enthusiasm was ever present.

Mardy was grateful to those who believed in him and paid it forward to those with whom he worked. He recognized the amazing power that this experience had on him and made it his life’s work in business and home. It was impactful for each person, thereby impacting everyone from his colleagues to the friends of his children. Human connection was a gift Mardy shared throughout his life. He was a collector of people’s stories, you were the only one in the room. His powerful presence radiated warmth, love of life, humor and fearlessness. This was him and it was powerful.

In his five decades as a business leader, Mardy completely transformed several industries and companies. His first great success (1978) was Equitec Financial which he built into a four-billion-dollar financial services public company. More recently, he sculpted waning iconic brands into new and innovative brands that surged with new relevance. Converse, The North Face and Cole Haan were three brands that inspired and stimulated new and even older generations. He was a visionary of the possible, a master manifester. People admired his ability to make amazing things happen. Being a man of many hats, Mardy had the flexibility to become whatever the situation required. Mardy was influential and brilliant at managing obstacles. In business, he had a knack to see and seize opportunities.

Mardy loved people with high energy; lack of passion was not of interest to him. In the workplace, it was well known he hired “hawks not buzzards”. Playfully exclaiming “ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?” Mardy’s intense and positive energy was contagious, supported by his “all in” approach to life. His results matched his efforts, constantly leading one winning team after another.

He had a reassuring calm about the future because he could see it. Mardy’s intelligence, vision, unshakable determination combined with this very unique perspective, endowed him with what is called “MAZE BRILLIANCE” which enabled him to see above all obstacles, to know the optimal directions to take a vision and to manifest that vision.

Mardy was a fearless civic leader, adventurist, family man, and philanthropist all in one. A man with deep faith, he insisted on seeing the best and he fought every battle with everything he had, including cancer. He overcame multiple myeloma and prostate cancer. Each time his life was threatened, he simply reiterated that it was not his time yet; he had not finished teaching his boys everything he could. Eventually, he lost the battle to pancreatic cancer, but by then he had given his family a lifetime full of love and lessons. We are all thankful for the time we had with him, albeit too fleeting. Nevertheless, he was fully present giving his all, all the time.

Mardy passed surrounded by his family on May 24, 2020, at his home in Coral Gables, Florida. He was 78 years old. Although no longer with us, Mardy’s amazing legacy remains deeply seeded in the beautiful lives he touched along the way.