Oviedo, Florida (July 15, 2024) – DUDA BB #:189666, a 98-year-old family-owned and –operated diversified company headquartered in Oviedo, Florida, has announced the passing of former CEO Ferdinand Stephen Duda on Friday, July 12, 2024. He was 84.
Ferdinand, known as F.S. to family and friends, was a third-generation descendent of company founder Andrew Duda. He officially began his career with DUDA in 1961 as the assistant unit manager at the company’s Belle Glade farm. He held various influential positions within the company before being appointed chief executive officer in 1998, a role he held until his retirement in 2004. His tenure as the chairman of DUDA’s board of directors then began in 2005, lasting until 2013.
F.S.’s significant contributions to Florida agriculture were acknowledged by various industry organizations over the years, including the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA), where in 1993 he served as president and chairman of the board and, in 1997, received the FFVA Distinguished Service Award. He served on the Florida Council of 100 until 2011 and was a longstanding member of the Florida Land Council. In 2015, F.S. was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame alongside his cousin Edward Duda and brother Joseph Duda.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, F.S. actively contributed to and volunteered at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo, Florida, and served on the board of trustees for the Lutheran Haven Retirement Center in Slavia, Florida. He also dedicated numerous years to the school board of St. Luke’s Lutheran School.
“F.S.’s conviction and impact on both DUDA and Florida agriculture as a whole cannot be overstated,” says DUDA CEO Sammy Duda. “His commitment to both has helped us grow into the thriving business we are today. I will remember F.S.’s legacy with gratitude and humility, knowing the groundwork he laid is a significant reason for our continued prosperity and strength. His memory will continue to inspire and guide future generations.”
F.S. is survived by his beloved wife and partner of 63 years, June; their four daughters and their spouses: Lauri Duda, Tracy (Marc) Chapman, Amy (Mark) Kinder, and Wendy Clark; their eight grandchildren: Emily Buckley, Sarah (Austin) Brown, Amanda Chapman, Gary Clark, August Kinder, Emma Chapman, Macon Kinder, and Hayden Kinder; their two great-grandchildren: John Ferdinand Buckley and Keira June Buckley; and his siblings Joseph Duda, Eleanor Hrncir, and Susan (Richard) Hanas.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Anna Duda; his father, Ferdinand Duda; and his sister, Elaine Duda Lavender.
Following a private family burial, a memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 18, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to St Luke’s Lutheran Church and School or the Lutheran Haven Retirement Center.
About DUDA
A 98-year-old family-owned and –operated diversified company headquartered in Oviedo, Florida, DUDA traces its roots back to 1909 when Andrew Duda immigrated to America from the Slovak region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Andrew was one of the original founders of the small Slovak colony of Slavia in Central Florida. After years of struggle, Andrew and his three sons harvested their first cash crop of celery in 1926 and established A. Duda & Sons. The company was formally incorporated as A. Duda & Sons, Inc. in 1953.
Today, DUDA’s operations include:
· Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of DUDA that operates as a nationwide quality grower, shipper, and marketer of fresh produce.
· Duda Ranches, an operating division of DUDA that manages the company’s diversified agricultural operations, including sod, sugarcane, citrus, and cattle;
· The Viera Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of DUDA whose vertically integrated real estate operation, including Viera Builders, Viera Commercial Properties, Viera Pools & Outdoor Living, and Duran Golf Club, manages the development of DUDA’s non-agricultural land and is the master developer of the planned community of Viera, Florida;
· And DUDA Commercial Properties, an asset management portfolio managed by DUDA that further strengthens DUDA’s diversified land assets and business operations with the acquisition of agricultural lands and commercial properties across the country.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Donna Duda
donna.duda@duda.com
Cathleen Conley
cathleen.conley@duda.com
