George Gund III

George Gund III (May 7, 1937 – January 15, 2013) was an American businessman and sports entrepreneur.

George Gund III
Born(1937-05-07)May 7, 1937
Cleveland, Ohio, US
DiedJanuary 15, 2013(2013-01-15) (aged 75)
Palm Springs, California
NationalityAmerican
Known forCo-ownership Cleveland Cavaliers (1983–2005); San Jose Sharks (1990–2002)
Spouse(s)Iara Lee (?-2013; his death)
Parent(s)George Gund II
Jessica Laidlaw Roesler
RelativesAgnes Gund (sister)
Gordon Gund (brother)
Graham Gund (brother)

Gund was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 7, 1937 to Jessica Roesler and George Gund II, a powerful banker in Cleveland.[1] A high-school dropout, Gund joined the United States Marines in 1955 when he was 18 years old. His early years in the Marines brought him to the city of San Francisco, where he soon took up residence.[2]

After his military service, Gund attended Menlo College in Atherton, California, but never graduated. He instead began bringing in Eastern European films and distributing them around San Francisco and the US, using his membership in the San Francisco Film Society as a catalyst.[2]

Gund was also dedicated to the world of sports.[3] Earlier NHL-related business involvements included terms as president of the Cleveland Barons, chairman of the Minnesota North Stars, and partner with the California Golden Seals and the San Jose Sharks. Gund was also a member of the International Council of USA Hockey, a chairman and trustee of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, and a trustee of the USA Hockey Foundation.

He and his younger brother Gordon purchased majority interest in the Cleveland Cavaliers from Ted Stepien for $20 million on April 7, 1983. Stepien's Nationwide Advertising Service Inc. and new cable television station Sports Exchange were also part of the sale.[4][5] The transaction was approved by the National Basketball Association (NBA) Board of Governors one month later on May 9. The league also arranged for the Gunds to pay a cash sum for a first-round selection in each of the subsequent four NBA drafts to recover the ones traded away by Stepien.[6]

While married to Iara Lee, Gund produced many of her films, including most recently Cultures of Resistance, along with earlier films Synthetic Pleasures and Modulations. He was President of Caipirinha Productions, which produces Lee's films and, along with Lee, also founded the Iara Lee and George Gund III Foundation, which is involved with "philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking."[7] In 1989 he was a member of the jury at the 16th Moscow International Film Festival.[8]

Gund died on January 15, 2013 at the age of 75 after a lengthy battle with stomach cancer.[2][9]

References
  1. Galbincea, Pat (January 16, 2013). "George Gund III, ex-Cavs, Barons owner and philanthropist, dies Tuesday at age 75". cleveland. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  2. Guthrie, Julian (January 15, 2013). "George Gund III, SF Film Society head, dies". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  3. A vision for Cleveland
  4. "Stepien Selling The Cavaliers," The Associated Press (AP), Friday, April 8, 1983. Retrieved December 3, 2020
  5. "Gund agrees to sell Cavs to mortgage magnate Gilbert," The Associated Press (AP), Monday, January 3, 2005. Retrieved December 3, 2020
  6. "Sale of Cavs Approved," United Press International (UPI), Tuesday, May 10, 1983. Retrieved December 3, 2020
  7. http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/91-2146075/iara-lee-george-gund-iii-foundation.aspx
  8. "16th Moscow International Film Festival (1989)". MIFF. Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  9. "Original Sharks co-owner George Gund dies". United Press International. January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
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