I was devastated to learn today that someone I spent a lot of investing and teaching time with passed away recently, and I’m still in shock. In fact, if it weren’t for him, I would have never discovered the Dominican Republic.
I met Bryan Rundell about 5 years ago, and we quickly developed a strong friendship with our mutual passion of real estate investing and teaching. I spoke at an event that Bryan and his business partner Mike Williams had organized in 2005, and we ended up teaching several courses on Tax Liens & Deeds across North America.
Bryan was always excited about investing internationally, and he convinced me several years ago to visit the Bahamas, in order to look at investments – but we felt like the market had already moved and we were looking for better opportunities.
To the left is a picture that typified how Bryan, Mike and I spent a lot of our time together – scrambling through rough jungle and forest, in search of undiscovered ocean front land. That’s Bryan with the backpack, and his business partner Mike Williams in the red. This was in the backwoods, researching some beach land in the Bahamas.
Bryan excitedly called me one day about 3 years ago, telling me about going down to the Dominican Republic for the first time, and I had never heard him so enthusiastic or focused — “Greg, you just GOTTA come down, man. I’m telling you. THIS IS IT.“
He told me that he felt that after doing so many years of research and work, that he had finally found the opportunity of a lifetime.
He was convinced that it was going to explode from an investment and development perspective.
And like a lot of other times, Bryan was completely right. He convinced me to visit the North Coast of the Dominican, and the rest is history. Aside from having a few investment properties down there, I’m now involved in development projects and assisting with the animal rescue foundationin Sosua.
And owe my discovery of the North Coast to Bryan.
Bryan was a true entrepreneur at heart, and there are so many things that I am grateful for, having had the chance to spend so much time with Bryan.
Hearing of his sudden passing really hit me today, and caused me to think about what really matters, and what’s important in life — that it can all go away in a flash.
Today has been a very emotional day for me, reflecting on the good memories with Bryan, feeling sorrow for his family and his business partner Mike, and feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for my own family and the life I’ve created.
I think when I see my baby Cooper tonight when I get home, I’ll feel another rush of emotion, and my time with him and my wife Raylene will be just that more special for me.
Bryan, thank you for all you brought to the world and the many people you helped, including me. Several key decisions in my life over the past few years were a direct result of having had you in my life, and for that I am grateful.
You were an incredible spirit, and the world has lost a true entrepreneur and teacher.
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