Edward Sebastian Obituary

Edward J. Sebastian 63, died July 3, 2010, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center from congestive heart failure. Born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Stephen George and Helen Smith Sebastian. Edward Sebastian was the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SMR Group LLC, a private equity investment firm located in Newport Beach, California. Before retiring in Newport Beach, California, he was the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Resource Bancshares Corporation, "RBC", headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. RBC was a holding company which included commercial banks located in South Carolina and Florida, as well as Laureate Capital, and Resource Bancshares Mortgage Group. Resource Bancshares Mortgage Group went public in 1993 and merged with NetBank, Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, in March 2002. Previously, Ed Sebastian was Vice Chairman of the Board for Bankers Trust of South Carolina and Corporate Executive Vice President of NCNB Corporation, which are both now part of Bank of America. Prior to banking and investments, he began his career in 1968 with Price Waterhouse in New York, New York. Ed Sebastian was appointed by the late Governor of South Carolina, Carroll A. Campbell Jr., as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the South Carolina Research Authority. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of The South Financial Group, a financial institution headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina; JMP Group, Inc, a full-service investment banking and alternative asset management firm located in San Francisco, California, and was active on the boards of advisors of various venture capital funds, including Baker Communication Fund of New York, New York. Ed received his BS degree from Pennsylvania State University. Surviving are his wife, Susan S. Sebastian and two daughters, Rosalind S. Mills and her husband John F. Mills of Corona Del Mar, CA., and Ashley F. Sebastian of Santa Monica, CA.; as well as one grandchild, Olivia F. Mills. A memorial service for Edward Sebastian will be held in Newport Beach, CA., in early August. Interment will be private.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Jul. 8, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Edward Sebastian

5 Entries

July 12, 2010

Roz - I am so so sorry to hear about your father. He was always one of my favorite Heathwood Dads - so friendly and extraordinarily kind. I know he was a wonderful father and will be missed!! My father passed away 11 years ago and I still think about him eveery day! Love, Eleanor LaBorde Morrison

Kirby Oblachinski

July 9, 2010

A true gentleman,leader,friend and advisor.Ed always had time to listen to me and his encouragement was a inspiration to me.he always treated everyone regardless of financial status with kindness and respect.We have lost a great one.

Briggs Christian McGee

July 9, 2010

Susan and family, I cannot tell you all how very sorry I am to learn of Ed's passing. Having worked with Ed at Bankers Trust with Mr. Duffie and others was one of my fondest memories. His vast knowledge and experience at such a young age and the willingness to share so much of it with anyone; to teach and advise; guide and mentor--that was Ed. There are no words, but please know you are all in prayers. May you have strength and peace in knowing that God has reasons and we are all blessed in having known such a wonderful, kind man. Thank you for sharing him with all of us. God bless you and him. Briggs

Huel Adams

July 8, 2010

Susan, Roz, and Ashley,
I was shocked and saddened to learn of Ed's death. He was a TRUE friend in every sense to me and was responsible for my getting the BEST job I ever had- working for Hootie and Virgil @ BTSC. Even after I left the bank, it was Ed who engineered the loans that kept me out of trouble when I got too ambitious. His smile, his humor his gentle spirit belied the mark of a gentleman- he always came though when he did not HAVE to. The true mark of character and integrity.
I will never forget sitting in that lofty office at the "new big house" on Hampton Ridge and listening to Ed tell about ideas that I thought, at best were "pipe dreams." He indeed made then all come true!
Carolyn, Austin and I will always remember fondly how we, THE FIRST FAMILIES of HAMPTON RIDGE, planted the easy going seeds of a new community. Susan, you and Ed helped shape that character of a great neighborhood.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you all. May you find peace in having known a man who dreamed dreams and ACTUATED them without grandiosity or arrogance. God's peace to you all.
I laugh thinking that Ed has already been asked to help God restructure HIS portfolio and to help HIM diversify HIS investments.
Thanks Ed for having done an excellent job of making the world a better place. Rest in Peace.

Huel Adams
Charleston, SC

David Frier

July 8, 2010

Susan, Ashley, Rosalind, John, and Olivia, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. I will always remember Ed for his gentle smile and kind ways. He went about his life in a quiet manner and was so very much a true friend to me. I am humble to have known him and to relate to you that he told me on many occasions of his love for you all and how proud he was of his family.

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