Sometimes you can’t feel an earthquake, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Recently– and quietly– a local earthquake of sorts took place when Delray Citizens for Delray Police, an amazing organization that has supported the Delray Beach Police Department skillfully for 33 years, announced a change in leadership.
Perry Don Francisco, co-founder and longtime leader of Delray Citizens, passed the torch to another civic superstar Chuck Halberg.
That’s a big deal on so many levels.
First, Perry is an amazing guy. He has done so much for the Delray Beach Police Department and Delray itself over the years that there are no words to describe the scope of his impact. He’s done great stuff quietly and without fanfare. He has touched countless lives over a long period of time.
The best description of Perry that I ever heard came from a gentleman named Joe Dragon, who used to be Delray’s Assistant Parks Director. After an awards ceremony, Mr. Dragon stood in front of the City Commission and said: “If Perry Don Francisco didn’t exist, we’d have to invent him. Because I can’t imagine this place without him.”
Indeed. I can’t either.
And truth be told, I can’t imagine my life without his friendship. I’m sure I’m only one of dozens and dozens who feel this way.
Perry is an institution.
He was the guy who helped to put Delray on the national map as the owner of the venerable Boston’s on the Beach restaurant. I remember going to Atlanta in 2001 when Delray Beach successfully landed its second All America City Award. On a break, I took a long walk around the city wearing a Boston’s t-shirt. No fewer than four people—I kid you not—stopped me to say they’d been there. One guy said he used to work there. Boston’s in those days made an impression. The restaurant also made the news, especially when teams from Beantown made the playoffs and TV crews came to visit so they could interview fans.
I always felt that Boston’s was “Delray’s place.” I knew people who got engaged there and others who celebrated landmark birthdays at “the joint” to borrow a Perry phrase. Candidates (including yours truly) held election night parties there because we believed that the place was magic. It was. Oh, if that building could talk it could tell stories for years.
Perry and his dedicated team created that magic. He was Delray’s host. The best ever.
He’d work all day and all night and show up the next morning for an early meeting at the Delray Chamber of Commerce, always dressed well, always fresh faced and always with keen insights and a desire to help.
Perry has been essential to this town. How blessed we’ve been to have him all these years.
As he passes the torch to Mr. Halberg, we say thanks. We know he won’t be going very far.
Aside from his service on numerous boards, his quiet generosity and ability to solve all sorts of problems, Perry helped shape Delray Citizens into a national model for what a “police support organization” should look and feel like.
He was organized, meticulous, kept amazing records and always found time to minister to the needs of officers and their families. Along the way, he made friends, put out fires, solved problems and raised a ton of money to fund items not in the city’s budget. He got the community involved as well with an annual banquet honoring officers for their service. He kept retirees engaged, involved the fire department, held an annual Labor Day Challenge that provided friendly competition on the beach with neighboring departments, sent the kids of officers to college via scholarships and helped to organize a golf event at DelAire with a bunch of amazing citizens.
When I spoke recently with Mr. Halberg, the new head of Delray Citizens, he shared how much he respected Perry’s leadership and stewardship of the organization. These are some big shoes to fill, but Chuck himself is a whirlwind of charitable deeds. The organization is in good hands, Perry would have it no other way.
So, let’s raise a glass (or whatever is nearby) and toast the best friend Delray has ever had. Perry may live next door in some city (I can’t recall the name right now) but he’s ours. Thank goodness.
A word on Helene
If you live in Boca-Delray chances are you know someone who lives/vacations or has ties to Western North Carolina.
There are so many bonds between South Florida and the beautiful towns in and around Asheville.
I’ve been reading heartbreaking tales from friends who got hit by Hurricane Helene. They find their lives, towns, businesses and world turned upside down. It’s crushing.
As one friend put it, we humans think we can tame the Earth, but we can’t. The same place that we love can take us away in a torrent of wind and rain.
The number that stood out to me is the report that the storm dumped 40 trillion gallons of water. That’s how much rain fell on the southeast during that terrible storm and another that preceded it.
Enough to fill the Dallas Cowboys stadium 51 times. Enough to fill more than 60 million Olympic size pools. Some scientists say the 40 trillion-gallon figure may be an understatement.
While the stats are stunning, the human toll is staggering.
I saw this on a real estate blog I enjoy. I don’t mean to scare you, but this could be us someday.
“A week ago, Asheville seemed to have it all.
It was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country with a vibrant arts scene and booming tourism industry. It drew retirees and remote workers who wanted to escape to the mountains, and it was seen as one of the best places to go to avoid the perils of climate change.
In less than 24 hours, all of that was shattered.
The scale of the devastation is unimaginable. Whole towns have been essentially erased from the map. Properties were swept up in the floodwaters and carried downstream.
The total economic loss and damage from Helene’s path could be up to $160B, according to an estimate from AccuWeather, approaching the $200B impact Hurricane Katrina wrought on New Orleans — one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.”
Sobering to say the least. As Hurricane Milton approaches the Florida coast please be vigilant and have a plan.
Here’s a link on ways to donate to help those impacted by Helene.
Losses
This week we mourn the loss of two great contributors.
Land use attorney and civic volunteer Marty Perry has passed. Mr. Perry was an institution in Palm Beach County serving on a slew of boards that helped to shape our community. He will be missed.
Rev. Nancy Norman, who served as senior minister at Unity of Delray, passed unexpectedly Oct. 4. She was an amazing minister and lovely person who touched so many lives with her kindness.
We send our condolences to the Perry and Norman families.
I am always in awe of your ability to capture the essence of a “man”. AND … you did it again with your description of Perry. His leadership of Delray Citizens for Delray Police has been truly remarkable and amazing. Any one attending their annual event knows it. That sense that our community takes the time and effort to say out loud for all to hear we love and support our men in blue is fabulous!
I do take issue with your “raise a glass”. In this case, we should be raising TWO. Chuck Halberg is such an incredible man! Talk about a man that has made this place a better place with his involvement. Riding a motorcycle all over this country for “Cops and Kids’! Or Turkey at Thanksgiving to the police and fire stations in town, delivering a cooked Thanksgiving dinner to those who serve us on Thanksgiving Day. I have that other hand raised too! Such a wonderful choice. Chuck will need to retire soon to be able to handle all of his non-employment job responsibilities.
I feel better now. I hope you don’t mind that I want to raise two glasses. I don’t think Perry would mind either. Chuck might feel a little embarrassed! Too bad!
Beautifully said Ted. Raise two glasses!