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A true legend and a friend. You will be dearly missed, David. Thank you for all the guidance and support over the years.
Co-Founder, Bellco Capital Co Chairman, Breakthrough Properties Co-Founder & Sr. Managing Partner, Vida Ventures Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, Allogene Therapeutics Co-Chairman, Symbiotic Capital
David Bonderman: my business partner, my mentor, my friend. To the world, he was a powerhouse - a man whose presence filled the room, and whose intellect often outmatched everyone else at the table. If you sat on the other side of a negotiation with him, you likely left the room on the receiving end of a tough outcome. But there was no shame in it. Much like standing on a field with sports greats, you were honored to play alongside him. He was a maestro of business, commanding respect and admiration few ever achieve. That’s how we met David, 39 years ago. My wife, Rebecka, sat across from him in a real estate deal. While this was one of the few times in life where she ever "lost" at a negotiation, we gained something infinitely more valuable - a friendship that would span decades. That friendship was boundless, unshakable, and rooted in trust and loyalty. David’s brilliance wasn’t confined to the boardroom - it radiated into every aspect of his life. The world may celebrate his extraordinary business acumen, the companies he built, the sports teams he helped create, and the cultural endeavors he passionately supported. But when I think of David, I also think of the lives he saved. That same fierceness David showed in the Boardroom was applied to a deeply personal commitment to improving human health. Long before it was commonplace, David invested in biotech. In 1996, he supported me in the founding of Agensys. In 2009 and the early days of Kite, he was one of just a few who backed us, where he ultimately joined the Board and shared his wisdom as we navigated new waters. His commitment did not stop there when supporting new drug development. He continued by supporting the formation of Allogene where he served as the lead, Independent Director and the founding of Vida Ventures where 46 investments have been made to support companies striving to bring forth innovative therapies. Because of David, dozens of life-saving drugs exist today. Without his courage to back therapies that had yet-to-be tested or proven, those breakthroughs might never have seen the light of day. Amidst his countless achievements - too many to list - it was the small, endearing quirks that offered a peak into the man behind the brilliance. His deep passion for music. His good-natured, mischievous comments that could spark a roomful of laughter. And his inability to resist a Häagen-Dazs ice cream bar or the siren’s song from a scoop of stracciatella. All charming reminders that even titans of industry find great joy in simple pleasures. Our friendship with David and his family will remain boundless, even now in his passing. He was an inspiration, a force of nature, a man whose legacy will endure in the lives he touched, the innovations he championed, and the people he loved. David Bonderman has been called many things over the course of his extraordinary life. We are profoundly honored to call him our friend. And we will miss him beyond what words could ever express.