In Memoriam | December 2022
Oscar H. Barbery | BSBA ’50 | 1927-2022 | Barbery, of Tampa, Florida, passed on November 16. After graduating high school, he served in the Army before moving onto UF, where he earned his degree in Business Administration. Barbery was the owner of O.H. Barbery Inc., a Commercial Glazing Corporation. He was also a member of the Tampa Runners Club and an avid Gator fan. Barbery will be missed by his wife and children, along with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Burnham R. Gross | BSBA ’59 | 1930-2022 | Gross, of Orange Park, Florida, passed on December 1. He enlisted in the US Marine Core after graduating high school and was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal. Soon after, he enrolled at UF to earn his degree in Business Administration. Gross used his degree to gain employment with the Prudential Life Insurance Company, where he dedicated 31 years to his many clients.
Peter S. Sealey | BSBA ’62 | 1940-2022 | Sealey, of Palm Springs, California, passed on December 16. Upon graduating with his undergraduate degree at UF, he began a prestigious marketing career. For many years, he was the Marketing Executive at Coca-Cola, producing the iconic polar bear commercials. He shared his knowledge by becoming a professor at multiple universities and went on to earn his PhD in Information Technology. Sealey’s other endeavors included joining the advisory board of Facebook in its earliest years and becoming the President of Global Marketing at Columbia Pictures, where he provided marketing expertise for classic films such as “Ghostbusters” and “The Karate Kid.” Later in life, he endowed the Peter S. Sealey Marketing Professorship at the University of Florida, as well as the Peter and Elizabeth Sealey Adoption Center at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter.
Coit E. Higginbotham | BSBA ’72 | 1950-2022 | Higginbotham, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed on November 4. He lived a full life with family and friends and enjoyed many intellectual pursuits, such as becoming an amateur radio operator.
Ralph “Kenan” Smith III | BSBA ’80 | 1958-2021 | Smith, of Alpharetta, Georgia, passed on February 26. Known for his kindness and concern for others, he worked with Roche/Genentech for most of his career, holding his last position there as Medical Field Reimbursement Manager.
Dean W. Gross | BSAc ’85 | 1963-2022 | Gross, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, passed on November 23. After graduation, he earned his CPA and spent a successful career in the fields of accounting and insurance. Outside of work, he was known as quick to lend a helping hand to friends and family and made the most of his free time as a deep sea fisherman and talented gourmet cook. Gross was also a Gator fan and enjoyed watching football with his two 70lb golden retrievers, Cali and Cabo, in his lap.
Marshall A. Gibbs Jr. | BSBA ’87, MBA ’89 | 1965-2022 | Gibbs, of Chicago, Illinois, passed on November 6. With his dual degrees from UF and quick intelligence, Gibbs spent a robust career at Target Data, making an impact on his coworkers and employees. At home, he proudly parented his daughters and pursued many hobbies, such as testing technological devices and cooking. He also followed sports, naming their family dog Tebow to help him cheer on the Gators.
Jerricka L. Gunter | BSBA ’93 | 1971-2018 | Gunter, of Kissimmee, Florida, passed on August 5. She used her bachelor’s degree from Warrington to become a successful realtor.
Patricia Donnelly Davis | 1936-2022 | Davis, of Tampa, Florida, passed on November 6. She was a student at UF in the 1950s and was very active in the Chi Omega sorority. During her time at UF, she wrote a weekly article in The Tampa Tribune to keep her hometown up to date on her adventures in Gainesville. In her final year at the University, she decided to drop out to marry the love of her life. They spent 65 years together, enjoying spending time with their children and grandchildren. In her free time, Davis was a competitive athlete, winning club and state tennis competitions. At age 58, she gave up tennis racquet for a golf club and was one of the few to ever achieve a hole-in-one.
