Marty Orban lived life to the fullest. The poinsettia drive-through will be his memorial
Orban Nursery’s annual open house has become a tradition in the Bradenton area with acres of blazing red poinsettias on display, offering a brilliant start to the holiday season.
Sadly, this year’s open house will also be something of a memorial to nursery owner Marty Orban, who died Nov. 6 after a long battle with cancer. He was 67.
Although Mr. Orban didn’t live to see this year’s open house, he knew that it would be a good one with a beautiful crop, family members say.
Orban’s 29th annual open house is set for Nov. 30 at 9601 Ninth Ave. NW, Bradenton, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to drive through the property and its tens of thousands of poinsettias. They are also invited, for this one day, to stop to buy poinsettias before they are shipped to Publix supermarkets and other destinations.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the fight against cancer, the disease that Mr. Orban fought so hard and for so long.
The family is rallying behind Mr. Orban’s son, Tyler, to carry on the operation of Orban’s Nursery. Tyler becomes the fourth generation of the Orban family to manage the operation, although in fact he has been at the helm since 2016 due to his father’s failing health.
“We are really proud of Tyler. The crop this year is really beautiful,” his sister, Whitney Bradberry, said.
Orban’s Nursery was born more than 100 years ago in Ohio, but has been at its current location since 1975. Marty Orban’s father, Balazs Martin “Bill” Orban, a World War II bomber pilot, brought the business to Florida in 1946. In 2013, Bill was awarded the Manatee County Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year Award, with Marty in attendance. Bill Orban died in 2016 at age 93.
This week, the Orban family was still processing the loss of a father, husband, and business leader.
“He was just a rock for all of us,” his wife, Becky, said. “I will miss a million things about him: his kindness, his love for these kids, and his smile for sure. These kids were everything to him. He told us he was lucky to have us, but we were the lucky ones. He was a good man.”
Tyler Orban added that his father was always there for his family.
“He was just an awesome dad. He never missed one of our events,” Tyler said.
Daughters Remy Orban and Whitney Bradberry said they will remember their triathlete father’s smile and his zest for life.
“He loved biking, skiing, and running,” Whitney said.
He lived by the motto “Work Hard, Play Hard.”
One year, Mr. Orban went to Colorado to cycle up Mount Evans with his son-in-law, Andrew Bradberry. Another time, the two cycled Mount Mitchell in North Carolina.
Following his father’s death, Tyler Orban said it’s been inspiring to him to hear so many loving remembrances from Orban’s employees, some dating back four decades.
Marty Orban was born in Medina, Ohio, on Feb. 13, 1952, to the late Balazs (Bill) Orban and Shirley Chaminade Orban. He passed away at his home in Bradenton on Nov. 6, after a long difficult fight against lung cancer. He was surrounded by those he loved most.
He is survived by his wife Becky Orban; three children Whitney Bradberry (Andrew), Tyler Orban (Kelsea), and Remy Orban; mother-in-law Christine Rogers; two step-daughters Katie Pinto (Danny) and Cara Aliotta; step-grandchild Christian Parmer; two sisters Carillon Orban (Robert) and Audrey Moeller (Devin), and two nieces and nephew.
Mr. Orban graduated from the University of Florida in 1975 with a degree in Horticulture. That same year, he took over Orban’s Nursery in Manatee County from his father Bill Orban and ran it until Tyler took the reins.
His family said he will be remembered most for the love and kindness he showed to his family and the community. Beyond his work, he enjoyed spending time with his family, biking, skiing, trips to the mountains, and living and loving life to the fullest.
His memorial will be held 4 p.m. Saturdayat the home of beloved friends at 3612 16th Ave. E., Palmetto.
