Bert Fashaw passed last week. He was 83. He leaves behind a large family and a whole lot of friends and fans who remember him fondly.

Mr. Fashaw worked for the City of Delray for 33 years and also served the School Board for 34 years.

He was a Parks Ranger for Delray and spent many years guarding the parking lot during City Commission meetings.

From his post, he saw it all. All the players, past and present, all the crowds during contentious issues and all the characters that make up Delray Beach.

  I got to know him when I was a reporter assigned to cover Delray and later as an elected official. He would deliver to my home my packet of mail and the agenda for the next commission meeting  every Friday night and we would often chat about all things Delray.

Mr. Fashaw was funny. He was wise and he had a great way of putting issues into perspective.

I enjoyed every one of our interactions.

I especially enjoyed our chats pre and post meeting. I would pull into the City Hall lot and Bert would give me his read for the evening based on what he was seeing and feeling.

“Going to be a long night,” he would often say if he felt we were in for a night of trouble. Or “don’t worry, nothing much is going to happen” if he thought an issue was over blown.

I don’t think he was ever wrong.

I guess you pick up a lot about a place if you work there for three decades or more as he had.

He had community ties too and knew the pulse of the city.

My lasting image of Bert Fashaw was him in his Park Ranger uniform complete with hat and an ever present cigar.

We felt he had our backs when we walked out to our cars sometimes very late at night or in the wee hours of the morning after long meetings.

If we got out early, we could always count on a few good words with our friend.

A former city commissioner sent me his obituary and I noticed that there was no service as a result of the coronavirus. It mentioned the possibility of one at a later date.

And I thought how sad to pass during this time of international crisis. How sad it is that we  can’t gather to say goodbye, share stories, pay tribute and otherwise remember a loved one.

What a sad, sad time.

Let’s do our best not to forget those we lose during this dark season.

Thanks Mr. Fashaw for your service and your friendship. You will be missed.