RIP Jerry Powers
Michael Capponi, Jerry Powers, & Seth Browarnik at Haiti Art Expo Opening Night on December 2, 2010
Miami Beach, FL – June 18, 2020 – Jerry Powers was a true visionary and a South Beach pioneer. He along with a handful of others helped make South Beach what it is today. Jerry and his business partner, Jason Binn, highlighted the epicenter of culture and society that Miami Beach was in the 90’s by publishing the first of its kind, the glossy magazine appropriately named Ocean Drive, illustrating the glamorous South Beach lifestyle.
I have had a long-standing relationship with Jerry that goes back many years. As a 19-year old intern working for OceanDrive.com (which was a decade ahead of its time), I was thrown into a whole new world. I was exposed to the booming nightlife scene and had access to some of the best parties that I have ever been to, to this day. I would take pictures, go home, and immediately upload them for the world to see what went on behind the velvet ropes in South Beach’s hottest clubs. Twelve years later, I founded WorldRedEye.com with the same principles I learned back then: capture important moments and entice people to want to be a part of what we were doing.
Jerry had a skill for finding talent, and none of this would have been possible if he hadn’t seen the passion, drive, and loyalty that I shared for what he first created. There were some of us that were with him for years, others for decades; we were a family. Many people have gone on to start their own businesses, magazines, and other ventures, myself included. I have also remained at the publication now for over 23 years, even after he sold the magazine in November 2007.
Jerry helped jump start my career and was one of the reasons I started WorldRedEye.com 10 years ago. I can’t thank him enough for his support over the years. He was an important figure in the community and helped shape our city and its culture to what it is today; we will never forget his influence and I am grateful for everything he has done. World Red Eye is honored to have captured Jerry throughout the years and have gathered some of our favorite moments to reflect on. With over 10,000 photos of him, I did my best to pull photos of people and moments that were the most meaningful to Jerry at some point in his life.
– Seth Browarnik
Jerry Powers & Jason Binn at Ocean Drive Magazine 15th Anniversary at Midtown Miami on February 16, 2008
Jerry Powers & Muhammad Ali at Ocean Drive Magazine Offices on August 8, 2002
Nicola Siervo, Jerry & Sandy Powers at Mynt Lounge on February 14, 2003
Marcus Schenkenberg, Calvin Klein, Glenn Albin, Jerry Powers, Jason Binn, & JC Chasez at Ocean Drive Magazine Volleypalooza Model Volleyball Tournament on February 21, 2004
Louis Aguirre, Jamie Foxx, Timbaland, Colin Farrell, & Jerry Powers at Miami Vice Party at The Villa Casa Casuarina on June 4, 2005
Jerry Powers, Dwyane Wade, Sandi Powers, & Tim Hardaway at Miami Heat Season Opening Party at Shaquille O’Neal’s Private Residence on November 11, 2005
Jon Bon Jovi, Jerry & Sandi Powers, & Emilio Estefan Jr. at Ocean Drive Magazine Anniversary Party at The Sheraton Bal Harbour on February 11, 2006
Alonzo Mourning, Jerry Powers, Shaquille O’Neal, Shareef Malnik, Jason Binn, DJ Irie, & Tommy Pucci at Jerry Power’s 60th Birthday at The Forge on June 5, 2006
Jerry Powers, Noah Tepperberg, & Jacquelynn Powers at Ocean Drive Magazine Dinner at TAO on June 8, 2006
Jerry Powers, Bill Clinton, & Jorge M. Pérez at Jim Davis Fundraiser Hosted by Jorge M. Pérez & Bill Clinton at Jorge M. Pérez Private Residence on October 20, 2006
Jerry & Sandi Powers, & Kobi Karp at Jim Davis Fundraiser Hosted by Jorge M. Pérez & Bill Clinton at Jorge M. Pérez Private Residence on October 20, 2006
Jerry Powers & Ugo Columbo at Assouline Book Signing at The Related VIP Booth at Miami Beach Convention Center on December 6, 2006
Sandi & Jerry Powers, Katie Holmes, & Tom Cruise at Market America Super Bowl XLI Party at Ocean Drive Magazine Village on February 3, 2007
Navin Chatani, Lana Bernstein, David Grutman, Jerry Powers, & Francis Milon at Ocean Drive Magazine & Sony Ericsson Open 2007 Players Party at SET on March 21, 2007
Sandi & Jerry Powers, Pat Riley, Danny DeVito, & Christine Rodstrom at Ocean Drive Magazine presents The Grand Opening of DeVito South Beach on June 13, 2007
Melania & Donald Trump, & Jerry Powers at Trump The Magazine Launch on September 25, 2007
Sandi Powers, Ingrid Casares, Nicole Miller, Ariel Stein, & Jerry Powers at Social Miami at The Sagamore Hotel South Beach on November 2, 2007
Jason Binn, Sandi Powers, Alec Baldwin, Jerry Powers, Pharrell Williams, & L.A. Reid at Sean “Diddy” Combs’s Birthday at Combs Residence on November 10, 2007
Jerry Powers, Paris Hilton, & Shareef Malnik at Ocean Drive Magazine & Paris Hilton Private Dinner Celebration at The Forge on December 6, 2007
Jason Binn, Michael Carr, Alex Rodriguez, & Jerry Powers at Ocean Drive Magazine 15th Anniversary at Midtown Miami on February 16, 2008
Melissa Katz, Seth Browarnik, Jerry & Jacquelynn Powers, Michele Addison, & Rich Santelises at Seth Browarnik’s 30th Birthday at The Forge on May 11, 2008
Glenn Albin, Sandi & Jerry Powers, Michele Addison, & Carlos Suarez at Fashion is Rock at Ocean Drive Photo Studio at Midtown Miami on September 23, 2008
Sandi Powers, Wayne Boich, & Jerry Powers at Wayne Boich House Warming Party at ICON South Beach on November 21, 2009
Nick D’Annunzio, Ken Gorin, & Jerry Powers at STK South Beach at The Gansevoort Grand Opening on January 12, 2010