Ned Bennett

Ned Wesley Bennett, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully in Santa Fe, New Mexico on October 1, 2025.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1942, Ned was the son of Darwin Ellis Bennett and Norma Romaine Bennett Long. He grew up in Upper Arlington, Ohio, alongside his brothers, James Bennett and Paul Oberer. A proud graduate of Upper Arlington High School, Class of 1960, Ned went on to attend The Ohio State University, where he played football as a walk-on for coach Woody Hayes and cultivated a lifelong love of the Buckeyes.

Ned had a passion for both adventure and enterprise. Legend has it, his first job was as a carnie barker at age 5. He enjoyed fishing at Buckeye Lake, playing football, flying his planes and later brought his drive and creativity to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he helped build and operate the Cape Cod Coliseum. His talent for leadership and vision later took him to Poughkeepsie, New York, where he established and managed the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and complex, continuing his work in the entertainment industry.

Ned transitioned into the financial world, first as a branch manager at Heinold Commodities in Boston. Heinold was absorbed by Geldermann Securities, precipitating his move to NYC to run their offices in the World Trade Center. Ned moved to Chicago serving as President and CEO of Geldermann Securities, a ConAgra company that he developed into a major clearing firm, as well as ED&F Man International Securities Inc. Ned then spent several years in Beverly Hills serving in various positions at Pacific Brokerage Services.

Ever the innovator, Ned co-founded optionsXpress Holdings Inc. in Chicago with Jim Gray and David Kalt in 2000, later adding brokersXpress, and served as its Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice Chairman. He, with his co-founders, took optionsXpress Holdings public in January, 2005 (ticker: OXPS). His forward-thinking approach helped reshape the options industry, and the company's success led to its eventual acquisition by Charles Schwab.

Following his success in the financial industry, Ned fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning a radio station, co-founding Bravo Mic Communications LLC, in Las Cruces, NM, where Ned served as President and CEO. Bravo Mic, which currently operates five radio stations as well as an online news outlet and community resource website.

After an accomplished career, Ned retired to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lived with his beloved wife of more than 40 years, Sandy. Together they built a large and loving blended family, sharing countless travels and joyful gatherings.

Ned is survived by his wife, Sandra Zane; his children, Glenn Philip Bennett and his wife Bridget, Amy Bennett Kaser and her husband Steve; his stepchildren, Cathy Galleher and her husband Joe Pulcinella, Chris Galleher and his wife Marla, Jeremy Zane and his partner April Kaiser, and Ian Galleher and his wife Diane. He was the proud grandfather of eleven grandchildren-Declan, Gwendolyn and Vivian Galleher, Fiona, Bryan and Evan Bennett, Pete, Tom and Tina Pulcinella and Wesley and Laura Kaser-each of whom brought him immense pride and happiness.

Ned will be remembered for his humor, generosity, love of family, and ever-present love of ice cream. He and his wife Sandy were both pilots and enjoyed flying whenever they could, and were heavily involved in AOPA. He was a lover of jazz and a musician. In recent years you could find him playing his saxophone at one of the many openings at his wife Sandy's gallery, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art.

A celebration of Ned's life will be held on February 22, 2026 from 2:00-5:00 pm at the Zane Bennett Gallery, 435 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation alz.org/get-involved-now/donate and the New Mexico School for the Arts nmschoolforthearts.org/donate in his memory.