The Kraken lost the man most responsible for bringing an NHL franchise to his beloved Seattle, David Bonderman.
The club’s owner and governor passed away on Wednesday morning at age 82 surrounded by family.
A successful entrepreneur and financier, Bonderman was honored in a number of ways based on his involvement in a great variety of passions, including music, conservation and education.
As for the hockey club, it’s very likely the team and arena wouldn’t exist without him. From a portion of the club’s news release:
“David also co-led the effort to construct the Climate Pledge Arena, a state-of-the-art facility and the world’s most sustainable arena, under the historical roof of the old Key Arena. As the Kraken team worked through the selection of a name and design of their logo, it was David himself who notoriously stood up in a meeting and pointed to the location where a red ‘eye’ should be inserted in the Kraken “S,” now the signature element of the logo”
Bonderman’s daughter Samantha Holloway represents ownership at most events and all of its press conferences.
She became a co-owner and chairperson of the team’s executive committee in 2022.
Holloway and her siblings released the following statement on their father’s passing.
“We are all grateful for having experienced his wisdom, wit, generosity, and love. His zest for life, and his passions, especially sports and music, were infectious. He was always there for his friends and family, and we will miss him greatly.”
A portion of the league’s thoughts:
“The National Hockey League celebrates David Bonderman’s remarkable life and mourns his passing. We send our deepest condolences to his five children, three grandchildren and the entire Seattle Kraken organization.”
