Sidney Mitchell Banack Jr, of Vero Beach, Florida passed away on July 20, 2024, a little over a month shy of his 92nd birthday.  His last days were spent surrounded by his loved ones, singing his favorite songs and recounting precious shared memories.

He was born to Sidney and Gwendolyn Banack on August 27, 1932 in Puerto Armuelles, Panama.  He was the son and grandson of pioneers who built the railroads in Central America.  His childhood was spent exploring the jungles, camping with the Boy Scouts  and later hopping on and off  U.S. military ships as they passed through the Panama Canal,

Sid and his sister Flo moved to Brooksville, Florida to live with their grandparents on their farm during high school, where he was active in Future Farmers of America, 4H and many sports.  Summers were spent back in Central America, playing baseball, working in the banana fields and attending dances in the evenings with other "banana kids", with whom he enjoyed lifelong friendships and reunions.

In 1951 Sid enrolled at the University of Florida, where he majored in Agriculture and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.  It was here that Flo introduced him to her sorority sister, Donna Sue Hague.  Thus began one of two love stories, the other being the Florida Gators.  Sid and Donna Sue married in January of 1955, a few days before he was to ship out to Germany to begin service in the United States Army. Donna Sue followed a few months later.  Their oldest daughter Cheryl was born there.

Upon their return to the States, Sid returned to University of Florida to do graduate work in ornamental horticulture, but it soon became clear that it was time to get to work.  His desire was to go into the nursery business, but an introduction to Barney Greene, a fellow UF AGR changed all that. The Farm Bureau was looking for an insurance agent for Indian River County and Barney suggested they meet with Sid.  The rest is history, as Sid became a leading producer year after year.  A change in underwriting philosophy prompted him to open his own independent agency in 1984, Sid Banack Insurance.  His success continued, always striving to do the best job he could to protect his clients.

By 1965, Mitch, Rusty and Stephanie had joined Cheryl, and the two bedroom home Sid and Donna Sue had purchased "in the country" expanded as the family grew.  What was once a 10 acre tomato farm with nary a blade of grass eventually was transformed into a tropical rainforest over the years and Sid loved nothing more than spending time teaching his children and grandchildren the names of each and every plant. Tragedy struck the family in 1974 when Mitch was gravely injured in an accident.  Sid and Donna Sue, with the help of wonderful friends and caretakers were fortunate to be able to care for him at home until his death in 1997.

In addition to building his insurance career, Sid began planting and purchasing citrus groves.  Finally his dream of being involved in agriculture as a grower was taking shape and he worked right alongside his crew.  In 1972 he put together a group of local growers and founded Quality Fruit Packers of Indian River, Inc.  In 2006 an opportunity to become a partner in a Georgia peach and pecan farm led to the formation of Lane Southern Orchards.  He very much enjoyed his new business partners and the friends he met through this association.

Sid never learned the meaning of the word "retire" and when he sold his insurance agency in 2004 he purchased Countryside Citrus, a retail and gift fruit mail order business from his sister and brother-in-law. Over the next 20 years the business grew to include a beachside location and restaurant, which his family insisted on calling El Sid Taqueria in his honor.  Even when his age started to catch up with him, he visited the stores daily, talking to customers and making sure they were being taken care of.   Everyone loved El Sid.

Sid was a gentleman and a gentle man.  He was fiercely devoted to his family and friends and selfless in his relations with them…he always thought of others, not himself. He had a fabulous sense of humor and one was never quite sure which of his stories would turn into a joke.  IYKYK about how Panama got its name.  Many hours were spent around a piano or guitar player belting out El Rancho Grande with those who meant the world to him.  He loved his country, his community and Indian River grapefruit.  His blue eyes and smile were absolutely legendary.  He was an irreplaceable gem of a man.

Sid was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Donna Sue and son Sidney Mitchell (Mitch) Banack III, parents Sidney and Gwen Banack; brother Pete (Jane) Banack and sister Nathalie (Herb) Schulman .  He is survived and cherished by his family - father to Cheryl (Nicholas) Roseland, Rusty (Michelle) Banack, Stephanie Banack; grandfather to Elizabeth Santana, Brittany (George) Williams, Sydney (Andrew) Bosetti, Schuyler (Brad) Wynalek, Annabella Casares and Natalie Odom Banack; great-grandfather to Gracyn Williams, Grady Williams, Palmer Williams and Kate Bosetti; sister to Florence(Fred) VanAntwerp and sister-in-law Sandra (Bob) Yencho; many beloved nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that a donation be made to one of the following non-profits: The Arc of Indian River County , The Food Pantry of Indian River , or Senior Resource Association .

There will be a private family burial and memorial service.  Friends are invited to a celebration of Sid's life at Vero Beach Country Club on July 30th from 5:00 - 7:00pm.