Jorge Brunet-Garcia

Jorge Brunet, a brilliant, creative, mercurial, and affectionate husband, father, and friend, passed away peacefully on the evening of December 18, 2024, surrounded by those who loved him. He was 76.

Jorge is survived by his wife Diane (Kilpatrick), and brother Carlos Brunet and his wife Eileen. He leaves behind son Joash and his wife Bronie, son Justin and his wife Elle, and granddaughter Sadie. There are many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and close friends who will miss him dearly.

Born to Jesus Brunet and Annie Brunet-García in La Habana, Cuba, Jorge immigrated to the United States after the Cuban Revolution at the age of 12. He grew up in Miami and Puerto Rico, then spent most of his adult life in Atlanta and Jacksonville. 

As a Cuban-American, Jorge truly “lived life on the hyphen.” He navigated the imperatives of tradition and translation by the force and measure of his attitude and achievements. At various points in his life, he was a rebel, a hippie, an adman, and an inspiration to the many young creatives and professionals he mentored at Brunet-Garcia Advertising, the social impact marketing firm Jorge founded with his wife Diane. Jorge’s antics were legendary, and those who knew him well have their own stories to tell. He said what he meant and meant what he said. Jorge never apologized for the choices he made and the life he led. He also loved deeply, very deeply. Family and friends came above all else. 

Jorge was an artist, designer, and doer of things. He had impeccable and eclectic tastes, loving country music just as much as he loved jazz. He liked fast sports cars and boats, and he also loved to drive his granddaughter around in his Ford Bronco. Jorge spent much of his life near the sea, but recently, he discovered the joys of the mountains and was renovating a home in Lake Lure, North Carolina. His family will work to finish his vision for the home and looks forward to celebrating his memory there for years to come. 

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, January 16th, 2025 at 2pm at the Garden Club of Jacksonville. Please direct donations to either the Cuban Artists Fund or the American Advertising Federation's Mosaic Center, in Jorge’s name and to honor his rich legacy in the advertising industry. 

 American Advertising Federation Donation: https://www.americanadvertisingfoundation.org/Foundation/Foundation/Fundraising/Mosaic-Center-Fund.aspx?hkey=a01d480e-6073-44a6-a4b0-7612cde76e67%20target=                                                                                        

Cuban Artists Fund: https://cubanartistsfund.org/donate

"Into a dancer you have grown

From a seed somebody else has thrown

Go on ahead and throw some seeds of your own

And somewhere between the time you arrive

And the time you go

May lie a reason you were alive

That you'll never know."

Jackson Browne