The industry is mourning the passing of FELD Entertainment’s Mark “Radar” Hennen, who lost is six-year battle with cancer on Sunday.
“Known for his compassion, gentleness, and unconditional love, Hennen was much revered by his friends, his family, and the hundreds of venues and industry executives he interacted with throughout his 18 years in the industry,” Dave Brooks wrote in a wonderful tribute in Venues Today.
IAVM Chairman John Bolton, CFE, and Hennen were close friends for nearly two decades.
“We hated negotiating with each other, but I loved hearing his sighs on the other side of the phone when I wouldn’t agree to what he wanted,” said Bolton, vice president for SMG Entertainment. “We would argue and mostly laugh back and forth until we had a deal both of us could live with going forward.”
Bolton said that one of the things he admired most about Hennen was his spirit and openness in sharing his journey with cancer.
“It really was an inspiration, and his positive attitude about it was truly eye opening,” Bolton said. “Last summer, we both ended up on Cape Cod for summer vacation at the same time. It was such a joy to see him there surrounded by his best friends having the time of his life. I’m so thankful I was there. ”
Christy Jacobs, IAVM’s director of marketplace sales, remembers meeting Hennen for the first time at VenueConnect in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“He walked up to me, smiled, and said ‘I’m Radar, now let’s talk toppings,'” Jacobs said. “We both laughed out loud, as he had totally caught me off guard. He was referring to the ice cream social that FELD hosts at our Arena Management Conference, and he wanted to make sure we didn’t have just the ‘typical sundae topping(s).’ He wanted a list of varieties and all of the options. He was a lot of fun to work with and he always had a wonderful, positive energy. Radar will be truly missed.”
I encourage you to read Brooks’ story about Hennen, and please share your favorite memories about him with us in the comment section.
(Image: Venues Today)
It is with extreme sadness that I read of Radar’s passing; but it is with great joy that I remember him. I guess that’s why I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face, all at the same time. I worked with Radar on and off for the past 20 years. Though it had been a while since I dealt with him directly, I always asked about him and kept up with him the best I could. And in February at Pollstar Live I actually got to meet him in person after a telephone and email relationship of so many years. We talked for a long while and it totally made my week! I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with him. To all those who love him, family and associates, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you traverse this valley of sadness. Rest in peace, Radar, my dear friend. Rest in peace. I’ll definitely be seeing you again!
Radar – What a guy! He always had a story, a laugh, and a way to make me smile no matter how he felt. Damn, Dona miss him big time!
I think the last time I saw Radar was at the Billboard conference last Fall…and he was so optimistic about the future. This is so sad. I remember first meeting him in the early 2000’s…he was super buff…worked out a lot. I think he was working with Frank Roach at the time…always routing some tour. Such a creative, always smiling person. I will miss seeing him at the trade conferences…
My sincere condolences on Radar’s passing. He was a person of great passion and spirit. It was funny to read the story and realize that he obviously negotiated with everyone the same. We would have great conversations and the usual “tug of war” to get the contract done but in the end, I always felt like I was dealing with a friend. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Sincerely, Regina McDuffie, Former GM – Macon Centreplex
I have so many stories, don’t know where to start. I will simply say Radar was one of the best people to work with in this business and I am already missing him dearly. Not only was a business associate, but a good friend. Rest in Peace!!
Like so many others, I am so so sad to know he’s gone. Radar has been such a buddy for so many years, a fixture and a friend I’d look for at every industry event. I got to know Radar in my first year as a GM working with him on my contracts. He was just so great. . . . what energy, what a guy. I would love to see IAVM somehow attach his name to one of our events, so that we can all continue to smile and think of him whenever we get together as an industry. Or perhaps Feld’s perennially popular Ice Cream Social can get a new name?
What I remember about Radar was his willingness to listen and talk. I of course met him in the context of IAVM meetings, although I was never a sales prospect for the shows he represented, owing to my venue type. But Radar and I would have delightful conversations nonetheless, and we enjoyed catching up whenever our paths crossed. There was a genuineness about his personality that was instantly memorable. Our industry is the poorer for his passing.
Despite occasional negotiating “disagreements,” Radar was always fantastic to work with, mainly because he knew it wasn’t just business: he infused the human element in all that he did. Although we didn’t have the opportunity to work together much, it was always good to see him at conferences, and I’m glad we had time to chat at the closing reception last year. He will be missed.