Sean R. Kearney, territory representative for PBI/Gordon Corp., passed away Sept. 18 after a sudden and brief illness. Sean had serviced the company’s Professional Turf and Ornamental Products customers in the upper Midwest states since 2005. Well-known and well-liked by customers and coworkers alike, Sean will be sorely missed.
Mark Miller, vice president of professional sales, stated, “Sean was a great guy, a real team player. He was well-known and respected in the turf industry and a major asset to PBI/Gordon. His life was cut short much too soon and all who knew him will miss him very much."
With 25-plus years of experience in sales and marketing in the green industry, Sean had worked for several industry leaders such as LESCO and ChemLawn before coming to work for PBI/Gordon. Throughout his career, Sean was active in the Minnesota GCSA as well as other industry organizations at both the local and national levels.
Doug Obermann, product manager for PBI/Gordon, said, “Sean was such a good person to work with. His friendliness and professionalism were outstanding. He was extremely detailed and followed up with every need. Sean constantly was learning and looking for more information on a given subject. He touched the lives of many people in the turf and ornamental industry.”
Sean received his BS in Biology at the University of Notre Dame, where he was a National Merit Scholar. He also received Honors in Aquatic Entomology. He is survived by his wife Sheila and son Robert. Services were held Sept. 24 in Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Memorial donations may be sent to Bishop Dwenger High School in Ft. Wayne, Ind. A link is provided on the PBI/Gordon Web site www.pbigordon.com.
Co-worker John Patten observed, “He was a guy you really wanted on your team. I’m so glad I had the chance to know him.”
