Linda-Ann Rossicone

Linda-Ann Rossicone passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025 after a sudden and brief battle with cancer at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas. Linda’s life partner of 14 years, Brad A. Barnds, immediate family members and close friends were by her side throughout the day. Her family and friends are saddened, shocked and grief stricken by the suddenness of her untimely death. Linda was 67 years old at the time of her passing, just 4 days short of her 68th birthday. She was considered the healthiest person amongst her friends given she regularly walked 4 miles a day, practiced yoga, cycled, worked in a community garden she loved so much, taught herself to play the piano and was devoted to a healthy organic lifestyle. Linda was truly loved and cherished as a compassionate and loving person who generously gave of herself to those that mattered most, namely her family, close friends, the Lawrence family, her colleagues, charitable organizations and young children who often came to her community garden to learn about gardening. Linda shared her boundless energy, strength, hope and experience with all. Linda truly wanted to make the world a better place by dedicating her life to family and friends, her community, charitable organizations like the Salvation Army and in pursuit of excellence for the Lawrence family where Linda’s personal and professional contributions spanned medical, conservation, marine and philanthropic causes. Linda is survived by her loving life partner, Brad A. Barnds; her mother, Rose Hubbs; brothers, Daniel and Ray Rossicone; sister, Francine Taddei; nephews, Daniele Taddei and Eric Rossicone; nieces, Rachel Gardiner and Simona Taddei; grandnephew, Hudson Gardiner; and grandniece, Ava Ray Gardiner. Linda was devoted to her family but especially to her nephews and nieces who affectionately referred to her as “Zia Linda." Linda’s love and affection for them and her young grandnephew and grandniece were unmatched. Their health, happiness and welfare were always her top priority. Linda was born on April 7, 1957 in Mineola, New York on Long Island and raised by her mother, Rose Rossicone, and father, Raymond Rossicone, until her father passed early in life of cancer. Her mother Rose subsequently moved to Houston, Texas to resume her life raising Linda’s sister, Francine Taddei. Linda ultimately followed her mother to Houston following graduation from high school where she excelled as a student, gymnast and cheerleader. Linda and brother, Ray, often shared memories growing up as high school athletes and a cheerleader in Long Island New York, where their classmates remember them fondly to this day. Following high school Linda worked for a short time for a local bank and a real estate firm in Houston prior to starting what was to become a 45-year working relationship with Berdon Lawrence, Hollywood Marine, Kirby Corporation and L3 Partners. At the time Berdon was the owner and operator of Hollywood Marine, a growing tug and barge company with operations throughout the United States. Berdon hired Linda as his Executive Assistant in 1980 and it can be said neither of them ever looked back. In 1999, Hollywood Marine merged with Kirby Corporation, the leading tug and barge enterprise in the United States, and Berdon was named CEO and Chairman with Linda as his Executive Assistant. When Berdon retired from Kirby Corporation in 2010 and formed L3 Partners, a small family-owned private equity company, Linda again chose to follow Berdon into the family-owned business and rose to the position of Vice President, L3 Partners, helping to manage a diverse range of corporate entities and assets while overseeing human resources and corporate affairs. It goes without saying that Linda’s standing and recognition in the marine, charitable and philanthropic worlds grew in lock step as the Lawrence family’s holdings grew over the decades. In what would become an incredible 45-year career, Linda became indispensable to Berdon and Rolanette Lawrence, who loved Linda as a trusted colleague and friend but more importantly as an integral part of their family. The Lawrence family adopted Linda as a true member of the Lawrence family in every sense of the word, as she helped and supported 3 generations of Lawrence family members through life’s inevitable ups and downs. Many of Linda’s life-long friends shared her passion for exercise over the years and met Linda at athletic clubs such as Body Rock, the Houstonian, marathon events or doing yoga where Linda was qualified as a yoga instructor. Over the years Linda’s group of friends became affectionately known as the “Falfurrias Floozies," a name bestowed on them for having spent many wonderful weekend trips at the Lawrence family ranch in Falfurrias, Texas. Many of Linda’s friends have known Linda for over 45 years and all will miss her radiant smile, love and the deep respect they had for one another. Besides sharing birthdays, holidays and milestone events, Linda and her dearest friends often traveled together to places like France, Italy, Spain and exotic places like Vietnam and Cambodia where they rented exquisite villas, cruised the Mediterranean and shared wonderful travel experiences together. Linda was a beloved patron of the China Garden Restaurant in Houston for over 45 years where she was affectionately known as Linda Goo Goo, Auntie Goo Goo or BFF of the owner of the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in Houston, a place where she blended friendship and business with China Garden, the Lawrence family and her employers. Linda’s passion for gardening, cooking farm to table produce and community participation led her to the Urban Harvest organization in Houston Texas where she led efforts to build and manage what would become one of the top producing and award-winning community gardens in the Houston area. The garden located near the Nellie Keyes Park in Houston is a living memory of everything Linda brought to this world and how she chose to live life by sharing, loving and giving to those she loved and held most dearly. Her love for cooking and enjoying meals with great friends is considered by all to be their fondest memories of Linda. A good meal with good friends, sharing stories and life experiences was precious to Linda who left this world way too soon with so many more meals, stories and experiences to share with the friends she knew so well. In Linda’s honor and in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center where Linda received the finest care and treatment available, the Salvation Army where Linda generously gave her time and energy as a volunteer, the American Cancer Society or any other charitable organization dedicated to helping those with cancer and their families. There will be a private Memorial Service for invited family and her closest family friends to honor Linda and her life on May 30, 2025 and a Celebration of Life at a date, time and place to be announced later in the year. To leave a condolence, please visit josephearthman.com.

Linda-Ann Rossicone

April 7, 1957 - April 3, 2025