We mourn the death of one of our own, Randy S. Ponzini.  Randy was our colleague, our friend, and part of our family.  He started working at Schmidt Dell Associates, in February of 1999, and proved to be an integral part of our organization through each and every year. Below are thoughts and memories of all those that he touched:
 
We are all deeply saddened with Randy’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Randy’s family and friends. Randy meant so much to those with whom he worked. He came to work with a smile every day.

His nickname was Handy Randy because he could fix anything, from the telephone system to the kitchen sink. He had the right tool, the knowledge and the willingness to take on any task, always cheerful for the opportunity to be a part of the team.

He was the project manager on most of the complex military design/build projects because he could organize and lead a team. He loved big meetings because it gave him a chance to demonstrate his knowledge. He knew the project requirements better than anyone in the room, even the Owner. I was always extremely proud of the way he represented this firm.

Just a few weeks ago, I got a call from Diane Baxter at Okaloosa Walton College. They were having problems with their sound and lighting systems at The Arts Center. I knew Randy could help. A week later she sent me this in an email:

“Thought you should know. Thank you very much for sending Randy over. He was a tremendous help and a great guy. You guys are really the best.” – Diane

“A tremendous help and a great guy.” That was Randy. Whether you knew him for a lifetime, for seven years like I did or for just a few minutes, that’s the feeling Randy left with you.

He gave his best every day. The best of what he knew and the best of who he was. He will never be forgotten. - Gene Schmidt
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Randy was our colleague, our friend, and part of our family.  He was a Marine, a father, an Electrical Engineer, a pilot, a sound man, a runner, a Stones fan, and an all-around Mr. Fix-it, thus the nickname of "Handy Randy". He actually came to my Halloween party as "Handy Randy." He was kind, humble, and always had such a sunny disposition. He also possessed an unique sense of humor and we all shared in the laughter.  He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but his memory will remain close to our hearts.  I will miss you Randy! - Stefanie Hughes
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When a co-worker is kind enough to take time to talk to your child about when they were in scouts and pass on words of encouragement, it makes a difference. Randy was always willing to listen to Heath's entire sales pitch. Thanks Randy!!!!!! We both will miss you! - Karen and Heath Gomez
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Our hearts are heavy by the tragic loss of Randy. We went though a scare with Randy last year and were delighted that he had such a quick recovery. Randy could have taken full disability, but that was not his nature. He was a fighter, a Marine till the end. He told me in the hospital while he was recovering from surgery, that he would be back….and he was in record time.

I admired Randy from the first time I met him. At that time, he worked for an electrical contractor. I told Randy that I would like to have him work for us (and we had a couple of airplanes) and he came on board. From the first day, Randy was always eager to take on a difficult task and would lead the charge.

A couple of years ago, the Marine Band was playing at the Naval Museum. My wife and I invited Randy and Pam to join us. It was a wonderful evening, but at one point during the show, the Marine Band played the Marines fight song. Randy stood at attention. I have always been proud to be an American, but at that moment, I was in awe. Beside me stood one of America’s finest. I could see it in his face. It was his character.

Over the years, I have spent many hours with Randy, both at work and at play. He was always there if you needed him. He had a quiet confidence and a great sense of humor.

We will all miss him greatly. Our heart felt sympathies for Randy’s family and friends. - Lynn Dell
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You never know what you have until its gone. Mr. Randy, as Haley would call him, was an incredible person to have met and worked with so closely. I never saw Randy with a sad face. He was always so chipper and full of life. I am so fortunate to know that my daughter and I was able to have meet someone with that outlook. When he went through his surgery last year, I remember him calling me one Sunday morning from the hospital to let me know he was doing fine. Before he got off the phone, he told me that he loved me. It was strange to hear that from a co-worker, but I completely knew what he was feeling. Haley and I visited him, and called on a regular basis. Haley thought it would be nice to write him a get well card. She wrote everything as I spelled it. The card read "GET WELL MR. RANDY. I LOVE YOU!" He never stopped thanking me for that. Just last week, he told me how much he appreciated Haley giving that to him, and how much it meant to him. It was not only last week that he had thanked me either. He had told me at least seven times since receiving the card. That was the type of person Randy was. He never took anything for granted. Everything meant so much to him. He even told me last Thursday that I had been smiling a lot lately, and how much that made him happy. He always seemed to find even the smallest things to comment on. He was like that with not only me though. He was that way with everyone. I was upset when I heard the news this weekend, but nothing hit harder than not being greeted by him in the conference room for our Monday morning meeting. It was Monday morning, but he was always happy about starting a new work week. My heart goes out to his family and friends during this time. You all are in my prayers. - Heather and Haley Callaway
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Randy will be deeply missed by all the folks at Bullock Tice Associates who enjoyed working closely with him over the past few years. His knowledge and engagement was always appreciated, and his humor helped balance the seriousness of the work at hand. His frequently used quip “It’s not in the RFP” helped relieve more than one planning issue through a bit of laughter… and solid reasoning that couldn’t be ignored.

Last week, after a few Brooklyn-ese exchanges, we talked about a new project about to start up and how it would be good to work together again-- picking up where we left off right before he got sick last fall. He was looking forward to that and so was I, since things seemed a bit unfinished in that sense. I’ll always miss that not happening, but I’m grateful for being able to talk to him one last time, share his thoughts, and joke with him a bit too. Good bye Randy. –Mik Fawzy
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God's plan is above us all, and he knows best. It doesn't make sense at times but we have to believe and have FAITH! I'll pray for his family and all of you at SDA too! - Mickey D. Price
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He was ... is a great guy... one of the most genuinely friendly and gentle men I have ever known. - Gayle Lasater
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Randy and I connected on a personal level from the first day I began working at SDA. He was so personable, easy-going, and always quick to make someone laugh. He was always a friend instead of just a co-worker and he'll always be remembered that way. I'll never forget his diligence and the joy he always seemed to take in his job. We used to always laugh and joke about working at the Civic Center as well as Schmidt Dell and I never got tired of his stories of the military. Being a military brat, all of his stories really hit home for me. Randy always seemed to bring out the best of memories and I don't ever remember him without a smile on his face or in his heart. I'd like his family to know that they'll remain in our hearts and we wish them the very best through this trying time. We'll miss you Randy!!! - Karin Sheridan
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He was a joy to work with. - Johnny Olsen
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Randy was by far the happiest person I've ever known, I think moreso after his initial surgery some 9 months ago. He was always cracking jokes and took pleasure in making people smile. Randy was given the gift of an extended stay in this lifetime and he never took it for granted. I'm honored to be one of the priviledged few to have shared Randy's last lunch and experience his trademark profuse sweating over spicy food. I will deeply miss Randy's "It's not in the RFP", or when he clasped his hands together at lunchtime and said "mmmm, what are we having for lunch." Randy left us in a way I can only hope to experience - going out on top. He had a fullfillment of happiness and didn't sweat the small stuff, (except maybe spicy foods). I am greatful to have known him and will deeply miss him. - Josh Logan
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We will miss you… - Mark Lishen
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I didn't know Randy long or well but he impressed me with his determination to make a quick recovery. And despite losing his health all at once I never heard him complain about his situation. He teased me the day before he died: "Hey Cutsheet Carter! Where's my cutsheets?" Then he reminded me that teasing was a sign of affection. Thats how I will remember Randy: loyal, determined, upbeat and with much affection. - Carter Somerset
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I have spent many many hours working and flying side by side with Randy for the last 6.5 years, I have seen the real Randy, there are no words to describe what an outstanding example this man has set for the rest of us to try and follow. He is by far, at the top.

Randy, I miss you. - David Owsley
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It makes me sad, too. He seemed to have made / be making a full recovery. He was an inspiration to me. The timing of his telling me his story was perfect. It really helped allay my fears, hearing what he had been through and seeing his sunny, can-do attitude. I mean, Randy was living a normal life with an artificial aorta! That they could *do* that gave me confidence they could pull off what they were going to do with me -- fashion a substitute rectum from my descending colon.

I really thought it was no coincidence that Randy was with us on that trip. He was there for me.

All I can say is, HEVVN must have needed Handy Randy for an important project. We were lucky to have shared his spirit, basked in his smiles, and to be recipients of his good deeds.

I only met Randy Ponzini one time. He played a part in the continuing project of saving my life. His well-timed, enthusiastic, matter-of-fact telling of his own surgical story lent me the courage to continue on my own difficult journey.

I am grateful to Schmidt Dell & Associates, David Owsley and the Angel Flight Southeast organization for introducing me to Randy. Had I never met him, my life would not have been enriched with his trademark brand of humor and heartfelt helpfulness. - McKenzie Oerting

(HEVVN is an intersection in the sky out over the Gulf where airways intersect, like a roadway intersection, just in the sky for pilots. The first flight taking McKenzie down to Ocala which Randy was on with me, I was directed by the air traffic controllers to fly to HEVVN then direct to Ocala, FL. McKenzie naturally was listening in on the radio conversation and Said WOW you guys are taking me through HEVVN this is so cool, or something along those lines. Ever since then she always request we go through HEVVN so I request it each and every flight just for her.) - David Owsley
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Randy was without a doubt the most consistently up-beat person that I have ever worked with. He always had a positive outlook.

I took some instrument flying lessons from Randy back in 2000. He had just started teaching and I was one of his first instrument students. We had some wonderful times flying around, making IFR approaches and just flying the planes. I especially remember flying one night, shooting approaches. It was beautiful up there. Randy told me a great story about the time he flew in the back seat with the Blue Angels.

He had his first coronary problem about the time that I was having open heart surgery last year. I talked with him last week and he asked how I was doing. I said, "I'm doing great. How are you doing?" He said that he was doing great, walking more, getting back to normal.

What a great guy he was. We will miss him. - Fred Bond
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Randy was always an upstanding and helpful man but the thing that really amazed me was the fact that I never heard him utter a harsh word. We've all had our bad days but if Randy had them he never seemed to show it. He always had a pleasant greeting early in the morning and even late into the afternoon, he always had time to help, and he was happy to do it. I found a quote by Charles Schwab that I feel really fits Randy..."Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone about you, and you will be surprised what a happy life you will lead." To me Randy seemed to be a happy individual and that’s no wonder at all considering how he went out of his way every day to spread his own brand of kindness and good cheer to those around him. We will miss you. - Kris Merritt

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I am saddened by Randy’s passing and will miss him greatly!! Although, my connection to Randy was mostly on a work related level, you could feel through his smile that he was a good person that genuinely cared about the people around him which made him everyone’s best friend. The one thing that I will always remember of Randy was his ability to sneak a little humor into any conversation or in a meeting that started to become a little too stressful that helped to remind everyone that life is to be enjoyed, as he did. I am grateful for the opportunity to have known Randy and can only hope to have the same positive outlook on life as he did. - Bob Maggiore

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Angel in the Outfield:

The Schmidt Dell Softball Team hasn't had a great of a history of wins, however, Randy remained the team's "Number One Fan" through it all. He even played on the team the season before his heart surgery.

SDA's current season has been filled with losses until this past Tuesday, April 18th. Before the game, the team huddled together and dedicated the game to Randy. Our team won 27 to 9, the first win of the season. Every player gave 110 percent...just like Randy would.

Effort aside, there was a greater force at work - our angel was in the outfield. Handy Randy saved the day yet again. Thanks, Randy!