Jack Bendat

Jack Bendat (6 May 1925 – 17 February 2022) was an American-born Australian businessman most known for his ownership of the Perth Wildcats basketball team between 2007 and 2021. Previously involved in construction and media businesses with longtime business partner Kerry Stokes, Bendat was involved in philanthropic and sporting interests.

Early life Bendat was born in the United States to a Polish-born father. He served as a private in the United States Army during World War II, including in Papua New Guinea. He migrated with his family from California to Perth, Western Australia, in 1966.

Career Bendat, along with business partners, Kerry Stokes and Kevin Merifield, were involved in the development of shopping centres in Perth and regional Western Australia. His business accomplishments include building Bunbury Plaza, one of the first country shopping centres in Western Australia, and went on to work on development of 11 shopping centres around the state. He also established country media service GWN. In December 1989, Bendat purchased radio station 6KY from Wesgo.

One of Bendat's major contributions has been the Bendat Family Comprehensive Cancer Centre at the St John of God Subiaco Hospital. Bendat's contribution to the community was recognised as WA Citizen of the Year in 2002. In 2006, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Western Australia, and in 2009 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

Bendat bought the Perth Wildcats basketball club in 2007. In his time as owner, the club won six NBL championships: 2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19 and 2019–20, and expanded significantly, drawing larger crowds to their new home court at Perth Arena. In April 2015, Bendat purchased the licence for the Perth WNBL team, the West Coast Waves and renamed them the Perth Lynx, and the following month, on his 90th Birthday, the WA Basketball Centre was renamed the Bendat Basketball Centre in his honour. He sold the Wildcats in July 2021.

Personal life and death Bendat's father died in 2005 at 101 years old. They had two children. Their son, Paul, died of cancer in 2017. Bendat died on 17 February 2022, at the age of 96.

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