Kerry Koen: Teacher, Mentor, Leader

Chief Kerry Koen was an innovator. He built our modern day fire department in Delray and also led Boca Fire.

We lost a great man last week.

And the loss weighs heavy.

Even though we knew it was coming… the loss weighs heavy.

Former Delray Beach and. Boca Raton Fire Chief Kerry Koen passed away April 11. This is a tremendous loss for the thousands of people whose lives were directly impacted by Kerry and for the communities that benefited from his vision, courage, intellect and care.

Every time someone dials 911 in our community they benefit from Kerry’s  contributions and ideas.

At heart, Kerry Koen was a teacher. He was also a protector and a public servant whose body of work made our hometowns safer for all.

**************

Four of us went to see Kerry a few hours before he left this world and we were grateful to have one last memorable conversation  with a man who has occupied a big piece of our hearts for a long time now.

We sat bedside and he calmly told us he was dying. And when we left he said he would see us on the other side. He said he loved us and we said we loved and respected him.

In between, we shared stories, looked at his memorabilia and marveled at the breadth of his life and the strength he has exhibited through a series of health crises these past two years.

He was with us the whole time. It was a last gift, a last lesson in life, service and love.

To the end, our friend Kerry was involved in the communities that he loved–Boca Raton and Delray Beach. He sat with mayors and city managers, mentored fire chiefs and those climbing the ranks and worked hard to find a way to keep our cities on track. He told me he wanted to be relevant. And he was, until his last breath and now beyond because Kerry Koen’s accomplishments, lessons and example will inform leaders for years to come.

**************

We throw the word greatness around with abandon these days.

But Kerry Koen was the real deal. He was a great man. A great fire chief.

Some people come along in our lives and words just can’t adequately describe the impact they make on our world.

Kerry Koen was one of those men.

In the past few days, I’ve heard from firefighters, business and civic leaders and friends of Kerry who were touched in deep, lasting and profound ways just by having known him.

I’ve known Kerry for about three decades. He became a teacher, mentor, friend and sounding board.

We spoke frequently and toward the end we ended our conversations with “I love you’s.”

That’s not a common sign off for guys.

But Kerry, who always led with his heart, had grown even softer and more sensitive as he aged and as he gracefully navigated a series of health issues that would have leveled another man.

We saw his strength. We saw his resolve. We saw his fighting spirit and we saw his soft side as well.

It was all a gift. Kerry Koen was a gift. They don’t make them like this anymore and we are worse off as a result.

While Kerry led with love; love for his country, love for his firefighters, love for his cities, he also led with a sharp intellect.

He was well read. He was a deep thinker and someone who saw trends before anyone else.

He was the smartest person I’ve ever met when it comes to understanding what makes cities work. He saw the big picture and shared his knowledge generously. If you were smart enough to listen you got a master class every time you spoke with him. Every single time.

He loaned me books and articles. Showed me photos that he took and those that he loved. He invested in me as a friend and as someone active in the community. We worked well together when I was on the City Commission. But we grew closer after I left.

I loved him.

The great ones leave their marks on our hearts and our minds. If we are lucky they arrive in our lives and in our communities and if we are smart we listen, learn and appreciate.

I did.

I listened. I learned. And I’m thankful for it all. I’m not alone. Kerry touched so many of us in just this way. I’m thinking of those people too today, because I know losing Kerry weighs heavily on their hearts.

And I’m thinking about his lovely wife Lynne as well. Lynne is so very strong. So kind. So loving. What a team these two have been. How lucky we are to know them and to love them.

*********

I wanted to share the message shared by our fire union. I thought it was perfect. Here it is.

With heavy hearts, IAFF Local 1842 honors the life and legacy of retired Fire Chief Kerry B. Koen, one of the most influential and respected leaders our department has ever known.

 

Chief Koen didn’t just lead Delray Beach Fire Rescue, he built it.  He laid the foundation for the professional standards we stand on today and gave generations of firefighters the opportunity to wear this badge with pride.  For many of us, he was the one who gave us our chance to serve.  That kind of belief changes lives, and it changed many of ours.  He taught us what service truly meant—not just responding to calls, but showing up for your crew, your city, and your values, day in and day out.

 

He wasn’t interested in politics or personal praise.  He was interested in making things better…better training, better equipment, better leadership, and a better future for those who answered the call.  He gave a voice to firefighters and fought for our safety.

 

Chief Koen led with heart and backbone.  He didn’t flinch in the face of hard decisions, and he didn’t hide when things got tough.  He showed us what real leadership looks like: calm in the storm, humble in success, and relentless when it came to protecting both his firefighters and his community.

 

We’ve lost more than a former chief, we’ve lost a pillar of our department and community. But his legacy lives in every firehouse, in every crew, and in every firefighter who still strives to live up to the standard he set.

 

Rest easy, Chief. We’ll take it from here.

Honoring Perry

The City of Delray Beach gave much deserved recognition to Delray Citizens for Delray Beach Police founder Perry DonFrancisco last week.

Perry, who ran the police support organization as a labor of love for four decades, recently stepped down and handed the reins to the very capable Chuck Halberg. He leaves behind a long legacy of caring for the men and women of the Delray Beach Police Department and the broader community as well.

I’ve written extensively of my admiration for Perry in the past, but I couldn’t let the occasion pass without saying that people like Perry are rare finds in life. He’s been Delray Beach’s best friend—there in every season, through every storm, a beacon of decency, civility, grace and kindness. He has worked a whole lot of behind-the-scenes magic over the years, quietly solving problems, mediating disputes, providing invaluable guidance and leading by example.

Whether you know the man or not, please trust me when I tell you that if you live, work or play in Delray, you have benefited from his hard work and steady presence.

Perry Don Francisco is the definition of a great man and a great citizen.

 

 

Seeds Build A Village

Frances and her crew. From left, Scott Porten, Elise Johnson Nail, Bill Branning, Frances, Joe Gillie and me.

Planting seeds.
Those were the two words I came away with after spending a weekend celebrating a special leader who changed Delray and a special couple whose passion and hard work has enabled all children to play baseball.
On Friday evening we joined about 170 people to honor the founder of Old School Square Frances Bourque with a scholarship named after her that will last forever.

We had a lovely dinner with friends, watched a short film that captured the origins of the cultural arts center and listened to speakers talk about what Frances meant to their lives.
Elise Johnson Nail, Scott Porten, Bill Branning and Joe Gillie spoke about how Frances’ passion for the arts and people brought them together in a common mission.
I also had an opportunity to speak and I thanked Frances for being a mentor, inspiration and muse.

I sat next another mentor of mine, former Mayor Tom Lynch who worked with Frances in the early days of Old School Square when Delray was still trying to jumpstart a moribund downtown and find its way.
Tom’s steadfast leadership and vision made him a natural ally of Frances as she and her team created a cultural center out of a once derelict building.
The word “center” in this case has more than one meaning.

Old School Square became the centerpiece of a civic revival, one that gained national attention.
As I surveyed the room, I saw the architects that made the revival possible.  Two legendary directors of our Community Redevelopment Agency, a few former mayors and commissioners, key donors, talented staff (who were always overworked and underpaid) supportive city staff (now retired) and patrons who enjoyed decades of entertainment and programs.
The visuals filled my heart.

This is what a village looks like.

This is what it takes: good people, working together over a long period of time to move a community forward.
In this case, toxic politics pulled the plug on success. It’s a shame and I’ve written extensively about why the termination of Old School Square was a horrible and expensive mistake.
There’s no point in relitigating the issue, but there’s a point in celebrating the past, thanking people who deserve our gratitude and planning for the future.
That’s what the wonderful people of Old School Square are doing.
They are still hosting a popular “Six by Six” event which features local artists and raises funds for arts education. And now there is an endowed scholarship at the Conmunity Foundation to honor a civic heroine for the ages.
Well done.

Miracle League Founders Julia and Jeff Kadel.

On Saturday, we went to Opening Day at the Miracle League at Miller Field,
The Miracle  League of Palm Beach County is celebrating its 20th season this year and that is something to cheer.
I had the honor of throwing out the first pitch. What a hoot!
20 years ago, I threw out the first pitch as Mayor. Our city commission had given league founders Jeff and Julia Kadel a $10,000 grant to seed the new league.  20 years later, I came back to see the fruits of that seed, and it was emotionally satisfying for everyone who attended.

We saw a parade of children, joining their teammates and coaches as they got ready for another season. We saw another civic heroine, Julia Kadel, run the show with love and passion. We saw sponsors and volunteers and players and parents and business people who stopped by to cheer the kids on. It filled my heart.

I was really happy to see our fire department represented. The men and women of Delray Fire Rescue have been volunteering and supporting the league since it’s inception.  It has been a rough couple of years for our fire department, but from what I see and what I know we are absolutely blessed to have these brave people protecting and serving us.
That’s a good segue to tell you that our former fire chief Kerry Koen was honored with his own day in Boca Raton recently. Kerry was chief in both Delray and Boca. He was a remarkable chief, and he is a remarkable man.
I speak to Kerry few times a week and he always manages to teach me something.
On our last call, he told me about the honor and how much it meant to him.  I was so pleased to hear that he was given the news by Mayor Scott Singer and City Manager George Brown,  two  terrific public servants.
Well done Boca.

Back in the village, Frances planted lots of seeds in Delray Beach that are blossoming everywhere you look. I see Old School Square alumni giving back everywhere.  Volunteering for the Achievement Center, leading at the Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, giving their time their talent and their treasure to good causes throughout our community.

Julia and  her wonderful husband Jeff Kadel planted seeds 20 years ago and this weekend we celebrated volunteers who have been with them for 10, 15 and 20 years.  They planted seeds and those seeds have grown.
And my friend, Kerry Koen…well… he continues to mentor, teach, think  and help behind the scenes to ensure that our community is well protected.
He planted seeds and those seeds became leaders who continue to serve.

On Tuesday, I will attend a luncheon with former Mayors hosted by our chamber. We are addressing the current class of Leadership, Delray.  I am an alumni of the program. I know that current and future leaders are in that class.
The education the chamber provides serve as seeds.  I can’t wait to see those seeds bloom.

Have a wonderful week.

Create For No Reason

Kate Volman’s wonderful podcast is available on platforms such as Youtube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It’s a weekly dose of inspiration.

I’ve been a fan of Kate Volman for many years now.

I first met Kate when she was starting her career at the Boca Chamber of Commerce. Later, she hosted “Delray Morning Live”, wrote a book and started a wonderful podcast called “Create for No Reason” (available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts).

Anyway, Kate is creating what they call a portfolio career. She does multiple things well and is constantly reinventing herself. What I admire most about Kate is her positivity and her future orientation. She believes in tomorrow, appreciates today and is someone who is laser focused on learning, creativity and helping others shine.

We need more Kate’s!

I had the privilege to be on her podcast recently. Here’s a link to the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/4-5szqiuWDo?si=LG-Feo8A0z1wWkTY

If you think I have a face for radio, search “Create for No Reason” on Spotify or Apple and tune in if you can. I also urge you to listen other episodes. She has some amazing guests and some short podcasts that challenge us to be better creators.

Our world needs creativity. We have this notion in our society of life as a pie. Either we are growing the pie or slicing the pie, depending on our world view.

If we believe in abundance as I do, our goal should always be to grow the pie so that others can benefit. If we believe that the pie is limited, we tend to horde our slice of that pie to the detriment of others.

Creators believe in abundance. They seek new avenues of growth and prosperity. They believe that life’s possibilities are infinite, limited only by our imagination or unwillingness to experiment.

Kate’s work offers a platform for creatives to learn how to grow and explore. I was honored to share my story which is about saying yes to the very things that frightened me the most.

Entrepreneurship, politics and writing requires risk. We are asked to be vulnerable; we are asked to risk—we can lose money and even our reputation if things don’t go well.

Critics may hate our writing. Voters may reject our ideas. The market may look at your beverage, hot sauce or product and yawn.

It can be scary.

In my new line of work, philanthropy, my teammates and I often remark that we are building the plane while being asked to fly it. We are starting something new and we are not yet deeply experienced in this field which can be both daunting and liberating.

But try we must.

Growth comes from going out on that limb and taking risks.

That goes for our personal lives as well. If we love, we can lose. But we must love anyway.

Kate Volman’s formidable interviewing skills allowed me to open up about the scary part of my journey and the joy I have found by risking. I’m not alone.

When I survey my friends, all of them have taken some pretty big risks.

I know a former mayor who left a steady teaching job to try his hand at insurance and built an agency for the ages.

I know several real estate entrepreneurs who rolled the dice on this town when it wasn’t a sure thing and ended up changing a neighborhood or a key street.

I know of a volunteer, the wife of a doctor, who looked at a dilapidated set of old buildings and envisioned a cultural jewel and made it happen.

And I know of a college drop-out who left a job managing a Miami Beach Walgreens to start a vitamin company that changed the world and then took that win and changed the energy drink industry.

Kate gives these types of stories a voice. I urge you to take a look at her important work.

Here’s to the risk-takers, they create magic in every nook and cranny if we care to look.

Tina Heysler was a trailblazer in law enforcement.

Tina Heysler, a life of service

We lost a wonderful person and community servant recently with the passing of Tina Heysler.

Tina was a friend and someone who was a trailblazer at the Delray Beach Police Department. I watched with great pride as she ascended the ranks retiring as the assistant chief of police after 30 years of service.

She leaves a legacy of kindness and warmth and set an example for all officers in Delray Beach.

We bonded over our love of dogs and her care for the community. She was a true gift and will be remembered and missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Anniversary Filled With Lessons

Covid marked its 5th anniversary recently.

It’s a sad occasion, one we’d rather forget. But we shouldn’t forget. We should reflect and learn.

I’m afraid we won’t.

Five years and millions of lives later, vaccines are on the ropes, trust in government is virtually non-existent and overseas monitoring of future pandemics is said to be at risk thanks to government cuts.

But all that noise aside, there are many lessons we should be taking away from our Covid experience among them: working remotely for extended periods of time does harm to our social networks, downtown economies and company culture.

Also, closing schools for extended periods of time has a big impact on children’s social and educational development.

We should also learn that messaging around vaccines must be done carefully.

It turns out mRNA vaccines provide meaningful protection but don’t provide guarantees against infection.

One would also hope that medical supplies would be shored up and that we would have learned some lessons about supply chains and the importance of essential workers.

Are you confident that we have?

One takeaway I have is that “medical infrastructure “is a real thing and an essential piece of a resilient community.

We need top notch healthcare professionals, great emergency medical services and best in class hospitals.

Community leaders should be running SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analyses on a regular basis to ensure that we are ready.

Some public health doctors fear that Covid has called into question whether “health is a collective endeavor, a public good at all,” according to Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician.

“The deeper message is that we’re all on our own, fighting our private battles,” he wrote in the New York Times recently. “I fear we will come to regret it.”

We will.

Meanwhile, Florida is suffering from a shortage of nurses, and I can personally attest from my own experience as a Covid patient that nurses made all the difference in my recovery and I’m sure that of others. They are the unsung heroes of our medical system doing the dirty work in the trenches that save lives.

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that its been five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. In some ways it feels like a lifetime ago. In other ways, Covid has never left us. It has never left me. I’m just not the same after my 39-day stint at Bethesda Hospital.

Few could have predicted its lasting economic and social transformation. Half a decade later, the world economy bears lasting scars. According to news sources, government debt has increased 12 percent globally and labor markets have been fundamentally altered.

Scientists are only now discovering the lasting impacts of the virus with “long COVID “ impacting cognitive function, cardiovascular systems, lung health and gut health.

I’m particularly concerned about recent cuts to the National Institutes of Health and USAID.

While there is no doubt that we need to cut spending (and increase growth) and weed out waste, fraud and abuse it’s pennywise and pound foolish to cut spending that may help prevent or mitigate the next global health threat.

Perhaps philanthropy will step up their already Herculean efforts in this space, but government has a role. These are investments not sunk costs.

“Move fast and break things” may work in Silicon Valley but it’s no way to run a railroad or a government. Strategic thinking and the use of a scalpel not a wrecking ball is a better way forward.

We have a choice: political and economic turmoil or innovation and progress.

It’s an either or proposition, you can’t have both.

 

Saying goodbye to a local news legend

Long time WPTV Channel 5 anchor Michael Williams retired recently.

I consider Michael a friend and I’m happy for him and his family.

Michael enjoyed an amazing career in local broadcasting and leaves with a stellar reputation and an amazing body of work.

When I reached out to congratulate him on his retirement and thank him for his fine career, I was pleased to learn that he will be launching a podcast soon.

That means he will be continuing to tell stories and keep us informed as nobody else can. Michael’s attention to detail,  his cool under pressure and deep experience will be missed on TV, but listeners will benefit from his voice soon.

Remembering Fred Stolle

I’ve been remiss in not commenting on the passing of tennis Hall of Famer Fred Stolle who passed recently.

The Australian great who was adept at both singles and doubles served as honorary tournament chair of the Delray Open for many years. I got to know him in that capacity and once spent a memorable evening watching the matches with him.

Fred was a tennis encyclopedia and a keen analyst of the sport. He not only explained to me what was happening but what was going to happen. His theory: whoever won game 7 in a set would ultimately take that set. I haven’t watched tennis the same ever since.

A kind and affable Aussie, Fred Stolle was a true legend. Just another amazing character who touched our community in an unforgettable way.

Coco launches A Shoe

Speaking of tennis, please check out the advertisement for the New Balance Coco Gauff Delray tennis shoe. It’s amazing and available on YouTube. Here’s a link. https://youtu.be/g8BpIuS3bjI?si=YIKi5QwS_aFJ-pro

Our friend Yvonne Odom and Delray itself features prominently in the ad. It’s a classic.

Remembering a special philanthropist

Last week, Lynn University announced the passing of Elaine J. Wold, a cherished member of the Lynn University family. As a philanthropist whose generosity touched many, Elaine’s legacy included the creation of the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center—she also founded “Elaine’s Musical Treat,” a theater program connecting Lynn students and acclaimed actors.

Elaine’s commitment extended to healthcare, supporting Boca Raton Regional Hospital and numerous local organizations. In 2014, she received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Lynn. Elaine’s kindness, grace, and vision will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Our condolences to her family and friends.

Remembering Kitty Dukakis

For a few years in the 90s, Michael Dukakis and his wife Kitty spent their winters in Delray Beach.

The former Massachusetts governor and 1988 Democratic (and it’s Democratic not Democrat party) presidential nominee taught classes at FAU and could be seen jogging on George Bush Boulevard. He also spoke at several political and civic club events.

His wife Kitty volunteered her time at recovery facilities in Delray.

I had the privilege of getting to know Gov. Dukakis well. He was extremely interested in our community policing efforts and we went on a few ride-alongs together. I found him to be kind and very intelligent.

I met Mrs. Dukakis once or twice. She was also nice and devoted to helping people in recovery.

Mrs. Dukakis died last week in Brookline, Mass.

She was a dedicated volunteer and was extremely transparent about her struggles with diet pills and alcohol. Her positive example served as an inspiration for a generation of people who shared similar struggles.

She will be remembered fondly by those whose lives she touched.

Jesse Colin Young

Get Together

We suffered another loss with the death of music legend Jesse Colin Young recently.

Mr. Young enjoyed a long career and will be remembered for the classic song “Get Together” which was released by The Youngbloods.

A few years back, when we owned the Delray and Boca Newspaper, I had a chance to interview Mr. Young prior to his show at the Funky Biscuit in Boca.

He was a delight.

Here’s what he had to say about “Get Together.”

“I remember the first time I heard the song,” he said. “It hit me right away…unlike any other song, before or since. And I immediately knew I wanted to record it. I felt the song was destiny for me, in some way. I have a love for it. It’s spirit is what I believe in and it’s what the world is crying out for. It’s incredibly special.”
Indeed.

May he rest in peace.

 

 

 

 

Mayor Rebecca and Mayor Rita

Boynton Beach Mayor-elect Rebecca Shelton.

My dear friend was elected Mayor of Boynton Beach last Tuesday.

Rebecca Shelton captured 56 percent of the vote in a crowded field, a testament to her popularity and her campaign acumen.

I’m not surprised by either.

Rebecca—Mayor-elect Shelton— is a terrific person; warm, caring, hardworking and smart. She’s also an expert at running and winning political campaigns.

I can personally attest to her skills as a campaign consultant.

I think I was her first client 25 years ago when I first ran for a Delray Beach Commission seat. She was all of 24, when I hired her to steer my first campaign. It was the best decision I could have made.

We were two rookies, but Rebecca took command and organized a winning race. I think we got 82 percent of the vote and that was against a very good opponent.

We ran a “kitchen table” campaign inviting volunteers to stuff envelopes and put out signs. I think we raised $20,000. No PACs, no TV ads, just door knocking and mail that we designed at my kitchen table.

Those were different days.

I immediately saw a lot in Rebecca. She was so organized, so determined and so tough in the right kind of ways. She told me that she was from Youngstown, Ohio and that meant she was a combination of resilience and Midwest nice. It’s a good combination.

We became friends. And I’ve marveled at her success ever since.

She became a go-to campaign consultant for judicial races, a successful real estate broker, and an amazing dog mom rescuing pets and giving them a great home. She also watches other people’s fur babies—including my own over the years. The dogs love being with Rebecca. Dogs have a nose for good people and for those who love them.

In short, my friend Rebecca is really something.

When she called me a year ago and told me she wanted to run for mayor I was surprised. I didn’t know that was something she would be interested in doing. She told me last week that she surprised herself too. I’ve learned that the best things in life happen when you surprise yourself and take some risks.

On that call, Rebecca asked my opinion and I told her the good, the bad and the ugly of the job. Now mind you, I left that life 18 years ago this month, so my perspective is dated, but I would imagine that some things have remained the same.

I told her I thought she would do a great job but also cautioned that the commitment was enormous. I know how Rebecca is wired, and I know she will give this job her all. For her it will become a job to do, not have, and there’s a difference. It means she will do the right thing and endeavor to leave a mark, not just kick the can down the road as so many do.

Boynton Beach is a big city with lots of moving parts. Rebecca knows the city well. She also understands politics, constituent service and her smarts will come in handy as she navigates municipal finance, economic development challenges, public safety issues and any number of things that can land on a mayor’s desk. It’s a big job.

It’s also a wonderful job. You have a chance to make a real and meaningful difference and that’s an opportunity that is frankly awesome.

It’s an honor to serve. It will be exciting for me to see my friend come full circle and be a mayor that matters.

It will be fun to watch and fun to root for my wonderful friend. She gave me my start and now I get to see her thrive.

Go Rebecca! Your brother is watching and is proud and your first client will always be in your corner.

We were celebrating the opening of a new park. From left, me, Commissioner Pat Archer, Rita Ellis, Commissioner Alberta McCarthy and Commissioner Jon Levinson.

Remembering Rita

When I learned that former Mayor Rita Ellis passed recently, I experienced a flood of memories and emotions.
I served with Rita on the City Commission and she succeeded me as mayor when I was term-limited in 2007. When Rita won her election she became the first woman to be elected mayor of Delray Beach and the second ever female mayor after Catherine Strong who served in the 50s.
Rita was a trailblazer and I remember being excited when she joined the commission in 2003, taking my seat when I decided to run for mayor after Dave Schmidt was term limited.
Those were very different days.

The Commission’s I served on were collegial bodies. I can honestly say that I got along with everyone I served with. Rita was no exception.
She came to the seat with deep experience in the community which back in those days was a prerequisite. We didn’t believe that serving on the commission was an entry level job, the community valued experience, they wanted to know their elected officials before entrusting them with decision making that would affect their daily lives.
Rita had a great resume, she was a business leader having owned Climate Control Services and having served as chair of the Chamber and Downtown Development Authority.
She was active in the Beach Property Owners Association and was an attendee at city visioning events which were popular (and hugely important) in those days.
By the time she took the oath of office as a commissioner she was well versed on the issues, had helped shape the city’s vision and knew people all over the city.
She was ready. And she was an instant contributor.
Serving with Rita was a pleasure. She made her points on issues thoughtfully and always gently. She was beloved by her teammates and yes that’s how we thought of each other.
We succeeded or failed as a group and on the issues where we disagreed it was always civil, never personal. And once the issue was decided we moved on. We didn’t re-litigate. It made for a productive and fun era to serve. Rita was instrumental in making it so. She was a positive and thoughtful community leader. In short, a treasure.
Rita followed me as mayor winning her election handily.
She served one term because of health issues but she remained active working on the board of the BPOA and endorsing local candidates.
We saw each other every now and again for and we talked mostly about the present and future.
We shared a love of Maine and had many common friends.
It’s a testament to her character that when she passed, I heard from several of those friends who were deeply saddened by the news.
Rita will be remembered by those friends. She earned her place in local history as well.
She was proud of her achievements. She worked hard for many years and never stopped caring about our city.
It’s people like Rita who make a city a community, that make Delray a village.
She will be missed and remembered.

Rita and friends at a pajama party to raise funds for the Achievement Center for Children & Families.

Dodo’s & Dinosaurs

The Dinosaur Museum in Cocoa Beach is a trip.

A thought hit me recently while watching the Academy Awards.

I’m a creature from another time.

The things I love are going the way of the dodo bird.

The dodo– for the discerning reader– was a flightless bird native to Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, that went extinct in the 1700s.

I’m not quite extinct, but many of the things I cherish are heading that way.

Recently, my family and I spent an afternoon at the Dinosaur Museum in Cocoa Beach.

We wondered why the museum is in Cocoa, but it was a fun afternoon regardless.

And it reminded me that no matter how big and dominant something may be, there’s no guarantee it will last.

We are one asteroid away from having our world changed forever.

That asteroid may be literal, or it may be figurative, but the results are the same: disruption and possible destruction.

Sigh.

And so it goes that the things I cherish—once mainstream—are now fading.

Here’s but a few examples.

Movies, in a theater.

Sean Baker, who just won an Oscar for best director, issued a battle cry for the film industry when he won for Anora. He noted that over 1,000 theaters have closed since the pandemic and the rise of streaming.

“Watching a film in a theater with an audience is an experience…and in a time in which the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever,” he said.

Indeed.

There is something magical about the big screen, about that shared experience. Those of us who grew up going to the multiplex remember going with friends and family. We remember first dates at the movies and talking about what we just saw after the film.

I remember taking my friend, who became a horror film director, on my first ever date with a  girl named Sue in the sixth grade. I was too shy and intimidated to go alone, so I arranged to have him “run into me”  at the theatre in the Smith Haven Mall.

We saw a Woody Allen film with Sue’s  her older sister and her boyfriend. I watched in horror as the older sister spent the movie kissing her boyfriend. My date looked at me expectedly and I fled to the lobby with my buddy to buy Milk Duds and strategize.

I never did see “Love and Death.” I was too busy dodging Sue.

I spent the one hour and 25 minutes trying to figure out what to do with a girl who ultimately lost patience with me and dumped me for the kid in the classroom across the hall.

Without movie theaters, we can’t have that kind of experience. What a loss that would be. (P.S. future dates went better, for the most part).

My battle cry for the film industry: start making more films that people want to see. Too many tired rip-offs and sequels. Let’s get back to storytelling. Maybe then, if ticket prices are reasonable, the movie theater can survive a while longer.

I also will miss newspapers— that you hold because I fear they are on the way out. Magazines too.

Bookstores, especially independent ones.

Albums, with their cover art and liner notes which were art forms in and of themselves. There’s just something about the needle drop and singing along with the lyrics to the music of Tom Petty that makes that moment in time special. Much to the chagrin of my better half, I’m holding on to my albums even though I will probably never play them again. (Don’t tell Diane).

Why hold on to the records? No rational reason, but if you know, you know. My friends and I used to take the Long Island Railroad to NYC to hunt for bargain records and imports in Greenwich Village. Albums were $4.44 in those days, if I recall. A ten dollar bill would buy you two records and a Sabrett hotdog. We found paradise in the Big Apple.

I also fear for the fate of “third places”, those spaces and places, that hold and build community are said to be diminishing in numbers, according to the New York Times.

I sure hope we hold onto our diners, cafes, coffee shops and pubs.

Sadly, I think rock and roll may be on the ropes too.  Yes, there is great music being made, but rock is not the cultural force it once was. I miss the days when a song or an album could shift the conversation. Boy do we need to shift the conversation.

I think truth is having a hard time these days. It seems that we are now entitled to our very own facts, science, election results and history. Welcome back measles, goodbye to any notion of collective responsibility. “We Take Care of Our Own”, a song Bruce Springsteen released about a decade or go, summarizes my point of view. It sure seems like a quaint notion in these days of division.

I miss the truth. It needs to make a comeback soon.

My list can go on. But I’ve decided to check the movie listings instead.

But first I’m going to dig out my worn copy of Elton John’s “Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy.” I can’t play that classic album but I can admire the cover art and Bernie Taupin’s timeless lyrics.

Rest In Peace

We send our condolences to the family and co-workers of Irving Adams, a beloved recreation supervisor for Delray Parks and Recreation who passed recently.

Irving was a wonderful man and a great presence at the Community Center for decades. He worked for the city for almost 30 years. I remember his warmth, his smile and the fact that he knew everyone who came into the building. What a kind man. He will be deeply missed and warmly remembered for his kindness and professionalism.

 

 

 

The Art, Beauty & Importance of Philanthropy

A session at the recent Florida Philanthropic Network conference in Orlando.

We attended our first Florida Philanthropic Network conference recently in Orlando.

It was an enlightening experience.

Several hundred of the state’s top philanthropic leaders got together for three days of education, fellowship and networking.

As the executive director of a relatively new foundation, the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation, I found the conference invaluable in terms of learning and meeting people with deep experience in the field.

I’m learning that there is a lot to the practice of philanthropy. There’s a lot of rules relative to giving, there’s also a lot of ways to measure impact, AI is beginning to influence the field and there is an emerging trend called venture philanthropy that’s fascinating.

When I tell people what I’m doing these days, they often say “wow, it must be fun to give money to good causes” and it is. It’s very gratifying but philanthropy is much more than writing checks to causes that touch your heart.

Yes, philanthropy is different from charity.

We don’t just write checks, although there is nothing wrong with that. As a philanthropy, we hope to make change.

As a result, we are making strategic investments in nonprofits that we believe can transform our areas of interest.

In our case, our “pillars” are health and nutrition, civic innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship and faith-based initiatives.

We created those areas of interest in concert with Mr. DeSantis to reflect his passions.

Our goal is to support people and organizations that have the potential to transform communities.

There is an art and science to the work we do.  Philanthropy looks at data, financials and leadership capacity to determine whether it makes sense to make an investment.

Like venture capitalists and business investors, we seek a return on that investment in the form of change and results. But philanthropy exists to take risks as well. In fact, philanthropy takes risks and makes investments where others fear to tread. That’s what makes the sector so important. Philanthropy writes the checks that others won’t in order to invest in our collective future.

To date we have made 35 investments totaling $5.855 million. We’ve only just begun. Here’s a small sample of where we’re invested.

We are investing in entrepreneurs through 1909, a remarkable West Palm Beach based incubator/accelerator. We are giving our children a shot a future through nonprofits such as Bound for College, Take Stock in Children and the George Snow Scholarship Fund. We are partners with Her Second Chance giving women in recovery a new lease on life and we are proud of our work with 4Kids and the Achievement Center For Children and Families two organizations devoted to caring for children who need support.

We are working with the Mayo Clinic, FAU and Max Planck on research programs that we hope will uncover answers for Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders.

And there’s more.

We are by invitation only so we can be strategic and selective. But every investment we make has our founder’s ethos and spirit in mind. When I think back at how it all started for me, I just marvel at how fortunate I was to cross paths with such a remarkable man.

Twenty years ago, I walked across a ballroom at a charity event to introduce myself to Mr. DeSantis. We exchanged pleasantries for less than a minute and I didn’t hear from him for a few years until he asked to get together and talk about how I might help him with a new beverage he was excited about called Celsius.

Last week, that little brand Carl was talking about announced sales of over $1 billion. It all started in a small office on 4th Avenue in Delray Beach.

Carl was a believer back then. He saw the path, even when others thought we were crazy.

We were. But in Carl’s case there was genius, belief and courage too.

It paid off.

Last week, that little challenger brand which is now the number three energy drink in the land bought the number four brand Alani Nu for $1.8 billion.

Amazing. And somehow Mr. DeSantis knew. He knew.

Before he passed, Carl asked a colleague of mine and me to sit down and help him create a foundation that would give back to the community in perpetuity. We did. It’s the proudest work I’ve ever done. It not only brings me back full circle to community service it keeps me close to Carl and his terrific family.

I’m honored to do this work. Blessed too.

These thoughts ran through my head at the conference surrounded by people doing transformative work in a world that desperately needs healing.

I’m determined to learn as much as I can so we can make a difference knowing that somehow Carl is watching it all unfold.

 

Housing: The Impossible Dream?

The high cost of housing has created a waiting game for many Americans.

I read a stunning statistic last week.

The median age of first-time homebuyers is 38.

Considering that the average lifespan in America is 77, that means that Americans are middle aged before they purchase their first home. Or looked at another way, first-time buyers are out of high school 20 years and only 24 years away from the earliest age they can receive Social Security benefits when they purchase their starter home.

Yikes.

As soon as you acquire a home (and a list of honey do projects that go along with it) you also acquire a sore back, creaky knees and a desire to nap because you’re pushing 40.

In 1991, the median age of first-time homebuyers was 28. As a twenty something in the early 90s, That sounds about right. I remember that era as a time when most people of my generation were settling down and buying “starter homes.”

Our first townhouse in Delray cost $69,000 with all the upgrades included. It was brand new, affordable; the neighborhood was cute, and it came with a pool and a tennis court.  Not too shabby.

The townhouse itself was modest, we had a small courtyard, a tiny home office and room (barely) for a golden retriever. I remember being thrilled to be an “owner” and felt connected to my community.

Not that renters aren’t important or connected, but there’s something intrinsically different about homeownership. You feel a part of things. Your vested; and invested too.

Back in those affordable days, things overall felt different. There was a palpable sense of community back then, South Florida felt like a new frontier with limitless possibilities. It was affordable and on the move.

But these days it feels like we live in a very different landscape. And I think a lot of it is driven by home prices and the cost of living overall. When you factor in insurance, taxes and everything else it takes to make it these days you scratch your head and wonder: how does anybody afford this? And how are young people supposed to get started?

For example, recently I had lunch with two retired fire chiefs.

They were telling me that they are seeing firefighters living hours away from the cities they serve because they can’t afford to live anywhere in our community.

Work schedules enable these men and women to live in far flung places and make the long drive back home after working 2-day shifts in which they sleep at the fire station.

I recently spoke to a retired Delray police officer who now consults on public safety and emergency preparedness nationwide. He says he knows of firefighters in California who fly home to another state in private prop planes after clocking out to find more affordable housing.

All of this is perfectly understandable. And the trend is not limited to firefighters. Police officers, city managers, department heads and other civil servants, including teachers and nurses are finding it hard or impossible to find attainable housing—and that includes affordable rents.

If you didn’t have a home before the rise in prices, this is a hard market to crack.

I ask people that I know—some very wealthy—if they could afford to buy the home they currently live in if they had to buy it today. To a person, all have said no.

So ,what do we lose when essential workers, public servants and public safety workers can’t afford to live where they work?

I would argue a whole lot. Instead of long-term contributors we may end up with people who clock out emotionally as soon as they are off the clock. Of course, this is not universal. I know plenty of people who don’t live here who care more for this place than those who do. But it’s human nature to give back to the place where you rest your head at night. It would also be natural to quit your job in Palm Beach County if you can find something closer to your home in Palm Bay or Port St. Lucie.

But if your workforce lives locally, they often serve that community and care about that community in myriad ways. They may coach youth sports, they may serve on their homeowner’s association board, or volunteer for a local nonprofit. They get involved in schools because their kids are being educated where they live, not where they work.

I think the holy grail for a city is to create a place that people love. If you fall in love with your city, you commit to that place, you invest your time, charitable dollars and soul in that city’s success. It becomes more than just a place where you work and leave for that long drive home, it becomes home.

I was fortunate to serve with a team of city department heads and staff that lived, worked and played in Delray. Because they lived here or nearby, their hearts were here too. They were long-term players who devoted their careers to this place.

I remember being a young reporter and covering Mayor Tom Lynch and the commission he led. Last week, I ran into former Mayor Jay Alperin and former Vice Mayor David Randolph at a charity event, and I started to think about those days again. It was the early 90s and one of the bedrock principles of that particular commission was to encourage home ownership. They formed a Neighborhood Task Team to dive into issues impacting neighborhoods. They talked about code enforcement, trash clean-up, lighting, landscaping and public safety. It was all aimed at stabilizing neighborhoods and encouraging people to come here and put down roots.

It was a sound strategy. And it worked. But today, it’s harder because the barrier to entry is daunting.

Clearly market forces and societal changes are playing a role in delaying the age at which people buy their first homes. People are getting married later and birth rates are declining too.

Another factor is that older homeowners with lots of equity or even a paid-off primary residence are a little less sensitive to the recent mortgage rate increases. Or they can’t afford to move because if they do so, their taxes will triple even with portability thanks to Florida tax laws.

But regardless, I think what we’re seeing is sobering and needs to be studied. As noted in a prior column, our area is changing rapidly. Major players with vast resources see our slice of paradise as an opportunity for more commerce, more luxury, more everything.

It’s exciting. “Change” my friends, is inevitable. It is not something to lament, but it is something to shape.

Hopefully, as we rapidly evolve, leaders will consider the price of housing, both to own and to rent as they shape the future. Because if we don’t find a place for our teachers, cops, service workers and young professionals we lose a lot. We lose the soul of our communities, the people who make a place, a home.

 

Notes:

Congratulations to Community Greening’s Executive Director and Co-Founder Mark Cassini who recently won the 2024 “Friends of the Urban Forest Award” for being an  “Outstanding Advocate”.

This recognition was highly deserved as Mark is indeed a champion of urban forestry and his organization does outstanding work in so many communities.

It has been a joy to watch Community Greening grow and thrive.

The Joy of Discovery

Dr. Ilika Ghosh of Max Planck Florida Institute.

The Jupiter campus of the Max Planck Florida Research Institute is impressive.

When you walk into the modern headquarters of Max Planck, you get the feeling that important work is happening in the brightly lit space, and you’d be right.

Max Planck is a place where scientists are hard at work on what they call high risk, high reward science. Max Planck is a place that holds big ambitions, to understand the human brain, to unlock its potential and to find cures for diseases that impact millions all over the world.

We visited Max Planck recently to tour the labs of a scientist that we fund through a fellowship made possible by the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation.

Dr. Ilika Ghosh is a talented young neuroscientist doing important and potentially groundbreaking research into how the brain works, particularly how the brain uses energy to form memories and function properly.

Her work hopes to impact diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Dr. Ghosh is an ambitious young scientist. We believe she’s a rising star in the field and we are honored to back her work.

She’s in the right place to make a difference.

Max Planck is a world class institution with a rich history of discovery and Nobel Prizes.

There are 86 Max Planck institutes in the world. The Jupiter facility is the only Max Planck location in North America.

Max Planck chose the site because of a need to be close to the cutting-edge research that’s happening in the United States.

The institute was also attracted by FAU, the presence of other research institutions and the friendly policies of state and local government.

We are fortunate to have Max Planck in our community. The institute recruits the best scientists in the world and their innovative model allows them the freedom to pursue big and important goals.  High risk, high reward.

Dr. Ghosh is a case in point.  Born in Calcutta, Dr. Ghosh has had a lifelong passion for science and started her career as a plant biologist.

Her drive and enthusiasm for her work is remarkable and inspiring.

She spends long hours in the lab, but for Dr. Ghosh it’s a labor of love. This is where she’s happy and fulfilled.

It’s wonderful to see.

We were also impressed by her ability to explain complex brain science to us in terms we could understand.

We were similarly impressed with Dr. Ghosh’s lab leader Dr. Vidhya Rangaraju who explained the promise of this work. It’s necessary to understand the `why’ of the brain (and why sometimes things go wrong) in order to devise ways to fix what breaks down.

The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation has a special interest in Alzheimer’s, and we are funding promising research at places such as the Mayo Clinic and programs at FAU designed to help families navigate the challenges of that crushing disease.

It’s not lost on anyone that downstream from the cool labs and interesting experiments are real people suffering from maladies that impact their lives and those of their loved ones.

What makes Max Planck special and interesting to us is their approach to science. High risk, high reward.

As a foundation rooted in entrepreneurship and funded by the success of our founder, a serial entrepreneur, we get the upside potential of taking big swings and dreaming big.

Director of Advancement Amanda Jorgensen says the philosophy at Max Planck is to recruit world class scientists and get out of their way.

Listening to Dr. Ghosh discuss her work and seeing her face light up when she talks about its potential makes it easy to see that the philosophy is working. Dr. Ghosh told us she’s thrilled to be working at the institute.

That passion makes us proud to support her work.

It’s also important to note that Max Planck does a lot to engage the community.

It’s outreach to K-12 schools in Palm Beach County brings science to thousands of students. You just know that a spark is being lit for the next generation of innovators.

That’s work that we can all take pride in supporting.

 

Notes….

Real Men Bake

I had a chance to participate in a fundraiser called “Real Men Bake” last week.

It was first “Real Men Bake” event in five years—Covid got in the way—and it was my first time. I debuted “artichoke puffs” and at the risk of being disqualified post event, let’s just my wife was a large contributor to the 125 puffs we schlepped to the Boca Delray Country Club.

My buddies Dupree Jackson and Perry Stokes took first place (the bundt cakes they made were amazing), City Manager Terrance Moore and his peach cobbler took second and Jim Chard captured third place with something similarly sugary.

My puffs were good—even though they were served cold–but when you are up against sugar and more sugar it’s hard to stand out. Still it was a great fundraiser for a good cause—the Delray Beach Woman’s Club which is 123 years old and the Delray Beach Sunrise Kiwanis Club which has also been around for a long time doing good in our city.

Although I only garnered one vote, I had fun seeing old friends and trying to market artichokes in a cake battered world.

Parking Guru Passes

The urban planning world is mourning the lost of legendary parking guru Donald Shoup who passed away last week at the age of 86.

Professor Shoup, who taught at UCLA, visited Delray some years back to give some advice on parking downtown. His wrote a best-selling book on parking called the “High Cost of Free Parking” which argued that there is no such thing as free parking. The cars may park for free but taxpayers are footing the bill for maintenance etc.

“‘Parking is free for us only in our role as motorist — not in our roles as taxpayer, employer, commuter, shopper, renter, as a homeowner,’ he pointed out. ‘The cost of parking does not cease to exist just because the motorist doesn’t pay for it.’”

If you can write a bestseller on parking, you’re pretty gifted. Professor Shoup will be missed.

 

 

 

A Valentine…

I’m a lucky man.

In my life, I’ve had four women take my breath away.

Three of those women were in their 60s, 70s and 80s when they reached into some place deep in my soul and left me breathless; proof that time makes the best people even better.

The fourth woman I married and like a fine wine…well… just say life’s gotten better as we’ve aged.

Those women were H. Ruth Pompey, Elizabeth Wesley, Frances Bourque and my wife Diane.

How many men can make such a claim?  And when I tell you there are others who set fire to my mind, I’m telling the truth. I’m looking at you Susan Ruby, Lula Butler, Nancy Stewart- Franczak and Jen Costello-Robertson. And there are others too. I’m a very lucky man. My Valentine’s well is deep.

Shakespeare said it best: “the earth has music for those who listen.”

I’ve learned to listen.

But even if you are tone deaf, there are those who are so special that you are compelled to listen; you have no choice but to listen.

Here’s how it happens.

When I first met Hattie Ruth Pompey, I was 23 years old and new to Delray Beach. I was working for the local newspaper and anxious to learn about my new beat. One day the phone at the newspaper rang and on the other end was the legendary C. Spencer Pompey.

I had heard about Mr. Pompey and his wife when I first started writing about Delray Beach. Mr. Pompey was a civil rights pioneer, a writer, a coach and educator. He was universally respected. Mr. Pompey was a quiet leader, but when he spoke you listened, and it was always worth it.

Mr. Pompey asked me to meet with him and his wife at their home which sat across the street from a park named after them.

I jumped at the chance. I remember being extremely nervous when I knocked on their door.

I was immediately put at ease by Mrs. Pompey when she answered the door and invited me to sit in her living room. For the next several hours, I listened to their stories about Delray Beach, how the beach was integrated, their experiences in the Civil Rights movement and their belief that Delray Beach could be a beacon for a better America.

It was heady stuff. I soaked it in.

The Pompey’s made it clear that they were meeting with me in the hope that I would stick around their town and use the power of the pen and my position at the time (local reporter) to tell the stories necessary to move our town forward. Again, I was 23. This was a little hard to grasp, but I fell in love with them that afternoon. Their honesty, their depth, their knowledge and their kindness were transforming. I went in as an excited cub reporter and left feeling like I was on an important mission.

My friendship with the Pompey’s continued and looking back it was an apprenticeship of sorts.

When I was elected to the City Commission in 2000, those lessons continued with regular visits and calls. When Mr. Pompey passed, I was asked to speak at his funeral which was  held at Cason United Methodist Church to accommodate the large crowd.

After that honor, I grew closer to Mrs. Pompey and when she got ill a few years later many of us participated in a blood drive to help.

After she recovered, she called me “Cousin Jeff” because she said we now shared our blood and were officially family. She even made a video featuring the cousin routine. That’s   something that I treasure and find myself watching again and again. She took my breath away with her kindness, grace and beauty.

Around the same time as I was enjoying a deepening friendship with the Pompey’s, I got to know and fall in love with Elizabeth “Libby” Wesley.  Many consider Libby the “mother” of Delray.

Libby had a certain something that I’ve never experienced before. I couldn’t get through a conversation with her without fighting back tears—that’s how much she moved me with her words. I don’t know what it was, but she was magic. Perhaps it was her love of people and community. Perhaps it was her faith in this community and her belief in our youth. Whatever it was, touched something very deep inside of me.

Ms. Wesley was an educator, but she was also a visionary. She saw the best in people. She envisioned limitless possibilities.

Libby founded the Roots Cultural Festival and because she was a catalyst, she got everyone involved. Before we knew it, we found ourselves judging conch fritter contests (celebrating Delray’s ties to the Bahamas), attending oratory and math competitions showcasing the ability of our youth and watching NBA prospects compete in the Roots basketball tournament.

Libby was the first to mention to me the concept of the Delray “covenant” which asked elected officials to be cognizant and respectful of their power to empower and help all communities in our diverse city. You either kept the covenant or you broke it. There was no in between.

When I was termed out in 2007, Libby gave me a cassette tape, a gift really. In her beautiful voice she read Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son.” I got the message. And once again, she got me all vaklempt (look it up). Again.

Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reachin’ landin’s,

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.

So boy, don’t you turn back.

Don’t you set down on the steps

’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.

Don’t you fall now—

For I’se still goin’, honey,

I’se still climbin’,

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

 

That poem….

Oh, how I miss Libby.

Which brings me to Frances Bourque.

Frances is a friend, a mentor, a heroine, an inspiration and someone who is always there for the people she loves. I’m one of her “guys” —I think there are five or six of us—and we are lucky to be in this group.

Frances founded Old School Square, but to my mind, she was the catalyst who ignited all of Delray and brought it back from the bleak days of the 80s.

We often forget, but Delray was dull, blighted, crime riddled and struggling in those days. However, Frances saw a gem in a dilapidated old school at the corner of Atlantic and Swinton. Could there be a better location in which to jumpstart a town?

The prime location was marred by a chain link fence and a crumbling campus that symbolized our town in those days. But Frances saw potential and sparked a movement to create a community based cultural arts center that enabled us to bond, plan, grow close, hear each other out and move forward.

Old School Square is where we met to celebrate and plan the future.  It was also a place where we gathered to mourn—together.

After 9/11. When we discovered that several of the terrorists were living in our town.

After the Jerrod Miller shooting which was 20 years ago this month.

We gathered there to celebrate our All America City wins and plan our downtown.  We met annually for town hall meetings and held the visioning sessions that put our city on the national map.

Those plans—Visions 2000, the Downtown Master Plan, the Cultural Plan—created the momentum that built economic and social value. The specifics are long forgotten, the process too, but the value created endures. Yes, it lasts.

The relationships endure too. They carve a story in our hearts. The special people change our lives.

Some day I will write a book about Diane, the woman I married. We are still writing the chapters so it will have to wait, but I am writing it all down in my heart. Every bit of it. She also contributed to the evolution of Delray, in a big way as Director of Planning and as CRA director. Every day I count my blessings. Every day I give thanks.

Ruth, Libby, Frances and Diane. That’s a pretty good roster of amazing women.

My wish is that you think back on the special people in your lives and savor every moment with those who fill your heart and take your breath away.

Happy Valentine’s Day.