Self-storage veteran Richard (Rick) Jeffery Yonis, president of Sentry Self Storage and past-president of the Florida Self Storage Association (FSSA), passed away peacefully at his home in Grapevine, Texas, on Nov. 14 after a fight with sarcoma, a rare kind of cancer. He was 61.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville, Texas. The event will be sports-themed to reflect Yonis’ passion for New England teams. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be sent to Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas. Online condolences can be made at www.bluebonnethillsfuneralhome.com. A second memorial has been tentatively scheduled for Dec. 2 in Danvers, Mass.
Yonis is survived by his wife, Robin; children Caitlin Lewis, and David and Joshua Yonis; stepson Stephen Davis; father Joseph Yonis; brother Steven Yonis; sister Susan Wilens; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren, according to his obituary.
Yonis was born April 17, 1957, in Lynn, Mass., to Joe and Joyce Yonis. He graduated from Masconomet High School in Boxford, Mass., in 1975. He was passionate about sports, coaching baseball and soccer. His favorite teams included the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. He attended spring training for the Sox every March in Fort Myers, Fla., and several NFL Super Bowls and MLB World Series games, the obit stated.
Yonis was a generous, witty and dedicated individual who loved a challenge, no matter what it was, and was passionate about helping others by sharing and teaching his knowledge, family and friends said.
He served as president of the FSSA from 2007 to 2010, and was division vice president at Storage USA for 13 years prior to joining Sentry, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla., Sentry manages more than 30 properties in several states, and works with 14 ownership groups.
Sources:
Dallas News, Richard Jeffery Yonis
Facebook, Florida Self Storage Association