Born in North Sydney, Australia, Damon grew up in a small country town before going to boarding school at Knox Grammar School in Sydney. At St. Paul’s College, University of Sydney, he earned double degrees in Architecture and served as a resident advisor at the Women’s College. Those years gave him a lifetime of entertaining stories, cherished friendships, and the first taste of croquet, which became his lifelong passion.
With only $100 in his pocket, Damon moved to the Napa Valley in the mid-1980s, helping establish croquet courts and programs at Sonoma-Cutrer and Meadowood Resort and organizing the first World Croquet Championships there in 1986. In 1990, he helped create a Tournament of World Champions at the Chattooga Club in Cashiers, North Carolina, where he met his beloved wife, Jennie, and later became the club’s general manager.
Damon began his career as a commercial real estate appraiser with Meyer Appraisal Company in Charlotte in 1992. In 1995, he co-founded Trident Real Estate Services and in 1997 he launched Bidencope & Associates, a commercial real estate appraisal firm he proudly led until his passing. He became a Designated Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI), participated in the Leadership Development Advisory Council, and served as Vice President of the Metrolina Subchapter of the North Carolina Appraisal Institute. He also gave back locally as a member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Equalization and Review. Damon thrived on intellectual challenges, spent much of his career as an expert witness and he cherished his clients as his friends. He considered the appraisers who worked with him to be family and was so very proud of their accomplishments. Damon’s professional excellence left a lasting impression on colleagues, clients and friends alike.
Damon left an indelible mark on the sport of croquet. A world-class competitor, Damon participated in the Traveling Pro Program and along the way, collected three National Doubles titles, four National Singles titles. He competed internationally for both Australia and USA. In 1986, at the age of 27, he was in the Australian MacRobertson Shield team and in 2006 he was co-captain of the US McRobertson Shield team. In 2016 he was inducted into the U.S. Croquet Hall of Fame. He served on the management committee for the United States Croquet Association in many capacities, culminating in eight years as First Vice President and four years as President completed earlier this year.
His contributions to the sport were immeasurable, however, his biggest passion was in teaching and making the game accessible to as many people as possible. Damon championed the High Performance Talent Development (HPTD) program and threw significant energies behind it. The USCA has honored Damon’s lifetime contributions to croquet by renaming the fund USCA “Damon Bidencope HPTD Fund”. You can read the USCA and Hall of Fame releases about Damon’s career here: Damon Bidencope - USCA; Damon Bidencope - Hall of Fame
Although Damon thrived on croquet, his greatest love was for his family. With Jennie, his devoted wife of 34 years, he built a full and meaningful life and a home full of laughter, adventure and deep love. Through life’s trials, his love for Jennie remained a constant and was a source of inspiration for their children. He adored and cherished his children, Emilie (Emma) and Michael, and was a constant presence in their lives. Damon never missed a teacher’s conference, performance or sporting event. His enthusiastic cheering from the sidelines occasionally earned him a ticket to leave. His children knew that behind the loud voice and relentless encouragement was a father who was endlessly proud. He coached soccer, was involved in Scouts, youth church group, and all of his children’s activities. Damon adored teaching Emma and Michael to ski at a young age, loved family beach trips and vacations, sharing Australia with his family, and making lifelong memories.
Damon delighted in the simple joys of life. He was unapologetically himself—quick-witted, sarcastic, never concerned with vanity or material things. He loved fruit more than anyone and could finish bowls of oranges and apples in one sitting. He hated scary movies, loved Adele, rum and raisin ice cream, and paddling the marshes of Isle of Palms and Goat Island with Jennie, where they made lifelong memories and friendships. An expert skier, he lived for the thrill of the slopes and once chased that passion all the way to heli-skiing in the mountains of New Zealand. He was a proud member of the USCA, The Royal Sydney Golf Club, The Tega Cay Croquet Club, a former board member of the Summit House, and a longtime member of Christ Epsicopal Church.
Those who knew Damon will remember his humor, his loyalty, his kindness, and his unwavering devotion to family and friends. He was a man of energy, purpose, and generosity whose greatest joy was not in accolades but in relationships, laughter, and living fully.
Damon passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 13, 2025, after a courageous battle with melanoma. His final days were filled with warmth and love as he was surrounded by his family.
Damon is survived by his wife, Jennifer King Bidencope (Jennie); his children, Emilie (Emma) Bidencope and Michael Bidencope; his father, Michael Bidencope and stepmother, Barbara, his sister, Dr. Felicity Bidencope; his sister-in-law, Debbie Kinder (Alan); his brother-in-law, Rob King; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews and an aunt and uncle.