South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
South Florida leaders, colleagues and friends remember Rick Case
An array of business and community leaders commemorated auto dealer Rick Case after his death on Monday.
“Rick had the most amazing mind for problem solving. He set his goals so high, most could not dream that big. His work ethic and passion to succeed was very intense and always had me chasing to keep up. … Let there be no doubt, Rick created, built, and operated his company with a single passion to be the biggest and best. … He was a wonderful husband and loving father. I will miss him so much; he was truly one of a kind and always so positive. I’m so proud of him and thankful to have shared 40 years with such a special, caring, and supportive husband.”
Rita Case, Rick’s wife, president and chief operating officer of Rick Case Automotive Group
“If it wasn’t for Rick I would not be who I am today. He always had my back. … There was nothing better than at the end of [an] event and he came over and said, ‘Great job.’ It was like passing the test.”
Kerry Becker, vice president of corporate events and sponsorship, Boys & Girls Club of Broward County
“You always learned from being with him. He shared the 59 years of work experience with you so you were learning from him in a fun and enlightening way. … (Rick and Rita) saw education as the real differentiating factor and the key to success. They wanted kids to be successful after school and in school. They were always talking to students, getting opportunities to mentor them.”
Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson: CEO, Community Foundation of Broward
“When you lose a loved one, even though I’m a tough cowboy champion and alligator wrestler, I’ve got a lot of feeling about the people I love. Rick Case was a tremendous mentor to my family and a very, very close friend. I met a man that really became a mentor in my life in regards to philanthropy — making a difference for others. … He was one of the most philanthropic men that I ever met, and I was actually inspired by him. I believe that we’ve lost a man that in my eyes is an icon … a man that took all of his success and gave back to others.””
“Alligator” Ron Bergeron, entrepreneur
“This guy was a great American success story, a great American dream story. … I think when they write the history of automotive retailing, Rick will be right up there. I think Rick introduced me to every car owner in the state of Florida. My hand is still a little sore. He was just a character, but a great character, and what he and Rita built together was just unbelievable.”
Jay Leno, comedian and car enthusiast
“I worked with Rick for over 15 years, and I must say that while I’m an outside PR consultant, working with him made all my prior companies and those employees feel like we had a business mentor. He will be missed — even as we deal with media through this time, it’s almost like we are thinking about “what would he ask us to do?” And we are doing it.”
Valerie Zucker, Zucker Lewis Media Group
“Rick Case put this organization on his back decades ago. He was definitely a humble man. It wasn’t necessary to give him the accolades or shine a spotlight. He wanted that light on the kids — on the challenge of the kids growing up. … This one hurts professionally. It hurts personally and when you find somebody like a Rick Case who changed the landscape of the Boys and Girls club over the decades. How do you replace that?”
Matt Organ, co-CEO, the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County
“I certainly feel blessed to have been able to work as closely with Rick as I did and have the benefit of not only his philanthropy, but his business acumen. He was certainly an amazing leader, and Habitat was a family project for the Cases and the Cases as a family are a force.”
Nancy Robin, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Broward County
“Rick was a leader in the auto world and had an exceptional ability to communicate a wonderful mix of vision and compassion. Many know Rick as an exceptional car dealer, and he certainly was that, but he was also a pillar of his community — contributing generously to numerous local charities. On behalf of myself and the entire Hyundai team, we will miss Rick and his indelible spirit. His legacy will continue to inspire Hyundai and our industry for many years to come.
José Muñoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America
“Rick was not just a great competitor but more importantly a good friend. What Rick and Rita have done in the community working with children is simply unmatched. We at AutoNation will miss him.”
Marc Cannon, executive vice president, AutoNation
“Entrepreneurs are the artists of the business world, or the blank space. There’s nothing happening and an entrepreneur comes along and says, ‘Aha! I see how to make this magic happen.’ And they bring it about. So, it’s about creativity in business; it’s an artistic ability. And Rick Case has that — he has it in spades.”
Mike Jackson, chairman & CEO of AutoNation
“There are a lot of car dealerships around, but some just perform better than others. That’s because those dealers have figured how to innovate to stay ahead of the competition in every aspect of their business. That’s Rick Case.”
The late H. Wayne Huizenga, founder of AutoNation, Blockbuster Entertainment and Waste Management Inc.
“The Nova Southeastern University family is shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Rick Case. His passing leaves a huge void in many communities, including Broward County, and NSU has lost one of its biggest supporters, one of its greatest champions and one of its loudest advocates. As a member of NSU’s Board of Trustees, his insight and wisdom were invaluable over the years. It is no understatement when we say NSU would not be the institution of higher learning it is without Rick’s involvement — he simply helped make NSU better for everyone. The entire Shark Nation mourns with the Case family, and our hearts go out to Rita, their children and grandchildren during this most difficult time. Fins Up, Rick – until we meet again.”
Nova Southeastern University said in a statement