Thomas Brian Edmondson

Brian Edmondson, 68, died at home in Venice, Florida, on Saturday, January 10, 2026, after a brief illness. His family and many friends were blessed by his generosity, his constant supply of jokes, and a love of all things Old Florida.

Venice was a much smaller town when Brian was born there on May 7, 1957. As a boy, he assisted his father delivering milk and got to know dozens of local families along the route.

His lifelong interest in agriculture and botany centered on Edmondson Farm in Nokomis, which had been operated by his grandfather since 1947. Brian was also born with a green thumb. His great-grandfather, Vincent Louis Beyer, moved to Sarasota in 1920 to direct the planting of orange groves for the Palmer family.

After graduating from Venice High School, Brian received an associate's degree from Manatee Community College, then attended the professional horticulture program at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. He was employed by Disney World, then at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, FL.

Independently, he established his own arboriculture business, doing landscape installation and management. He met a fellow horticulturist, Nancy Zareski, at Fairchild and they were married in 1987. In 1989, Brian and Nancy moved to Venice and began cultivating tropical plants on their own property.

Brian worked as a contract farmer and landscaper for ranches and businesses in the Sarasota-Manatee area. He also owned a forested retreat near the Suwanee River. But his heart and countless hours of labor went into the family farm, where he assisted his parents and ran his own cattle and goats.

A portion of the Edmondson Farm property was purchased by Sarasota County to add to the Curry Creek Preserve in 2023, an achievement Brian helped attain. He was particularly proud that the property's wetland and its gopher tortoises, swallow-tailed kites, and other species will be permanently protected

He was an old-fashioned conservative who wanted to conserve nature and community. His scruffy appearance and battered pickup truck belied a wide range and depth of knowledge and a sly wit. He loved joking and bantering, and he had a rare ability to set anyone at ease.

Brian was predeceased by his parents, Thomas O. and Meredith (Senterfit) Edmondson. He is survived by Nancy; a sister, Melissa (Bausman); two brothers, Brad and Michael; three nephews, Will, Nolan, and Morgan; and two nieces, Lindsay (Estrada) and Emma.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a date to be announced.