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We wish to honor and acknowledge the following individuals for their work on behalf of our great organization, and say they will be sincerely missed, and always in our thoughts....
Joe Millsaps, Chairman, Broward Navy Days, Inc.
Joe Millsaps, Chairman of Broward Navy Days, passed away on May 30, 2010. He died while on a trip to watch the Indy 500. He was 70.
A long time Fort Lauderdale resident Joe was one of South Florida's biggest champions of the U.S. Navy. Joe was one of the founders of Broward Navy Days back in the early 90's, and had been responsible for putting on Fleet Week every year at Port Everglades.
He was chairman of Broward Navy Days for the past 15 years.
As chairman of Broward Navy Days, Joe was sometimes referred to as "Mr. Navy." It was his love for the seagoing services that earned him this title. Broward Navy Days is known by everyone in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, and this is due to the special relationship that Joe developed with all members of the military.
"It's a tremendous loss to this community," Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler
said. "He gave so much of his time, so much of his talents. He just kept giving
back to the community and made South Florida a better place."
He was a founder of the commerical real estate firm Rauch,Weaver,Millsaps & Co., now known as Rauch Weaver Norfleet Kurtz and Co. He stepped down as partner in 1999.
He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and served in the U.S. Army as a commissioned
Lieutenant in the infantry. He came down to Fort Lauderdale for Spring Break in
the 60's while he was a student at University of Tennessee, and loved Fort
Lauderale so much that, once out of the military, he never left.
Sometimes referred to as "Mr. Fort Lauderdale," this title derived from all of the Boards he served on in the area. Over the years, he was Chairman of the Greater Fort
Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Broward Economic Council,
Chairman of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Association of Realtors, Chariman of
Winterfest, and a Trustee of Nova Southeastern University, as well as a committee member for the Orange Bowl.
Instead of flowers, the Millsaps family is asking that contributions be made to Broward Navy Days, in care of Garry Murphy, 5300 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 (donations may also be made through the website by clicking on the "DONATE" button in the top left corner of the website under the banner).
For anyone wishing to express their condolences/thoughts/prayers, a beautiful website has been created about Joe's life, and there is a place on it specifically for this purpose: to visit it, please click HERE.
To view the tribute to Joe in the South Florida Sun Sentinel, please click HERE.
George H. Baldwin, USNR (Ret.)
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George’s widow, Loretta Baldwin, announced that a Navy Sea Cadet Scholarship Fund has been established in George’s name, and the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to this fund. The fund will be named the CAPTAIN GEORGE H. BALDWIN, USNR-R Scholarship Fund.
Donations may be made payable as follows:
Boca Delray Council NLUS, GHB Scholarship Fund and mailed to 23165 Via Stel,
Boca Raton, FL 33433
Hugh H. "Bud" Kirkpatrick, Jr.
Kirkpatrick, Hugh H., Jr., 90, passed away on March 21, 2009 after suffering a stroke. Hugh, or "Bud" as so many liked to call him, was born in Philadelphia, PA, November 9, 1918. He attended Drexel Hill Institute of Technology where he studied Mechanical Engineering. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940 and served in the European theater until the conclusion of the war. Hugh was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his development of aerial grid photography, essential for plotting accurate artillery fire. He also received five battle stars and proudly served in the D-Day campaign in Normandy. He retired with the rank of Major and went on to serve as a reserve officer until 1956. Hugh came to Ft. Lauderdale in 1955 where he pursued a lifelong career in the field of air conditioning and heating. He started Air Conditioning Associates in 1961 with two other partners. He was a member of the Board of Examiners for Broward County, Past Director of the Sales and Marketing Executives Association, Past President Gold Coast Chapter of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Past President of Ft. Lauderdale Beach Kiwanis and Past President of the Ft. Lauderdale Council & National Director of the Navy League of the United States. He also enjoyed his involvement with the United States Naval Sea Cadets. Hugh, predeceased by his wives, Patricia (1974) and Elizabeth (1989) is survived by his three sons, Hugh, Scott and John; daughters-in-law, Kathy, Andrea and Lucy; grandchildren: Katie Heise, Jennifer Lee, Emily Kirkpatrick, Brian Kirkpatrick, Jim Kirkpatrick, Caroline Kirkpatrick and great-grandchildren, Rachel and Caroline Heise. He will fondly be remembered for his passion for swimming, boating and all things military. Visitation-Friday, April 3rd, 6-8 PM at Fred Hunter's, Ft. Lauderdale, Memorial Service April 4th at 2 PM at All Saints Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Spruance Division Building Fund, U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, P.O. Box 21101, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315
George W. "Bob" Gill, Jr.
Gill, George "Bob, W., Jr., 93, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, passed away at his home on February 25, 2009. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years Mary; beloved daughter Linda and her husband Walter Morgan; grand-daughters, Jenna and Chelsea; grandsons, Hunter and Ryan; and two great-granddaughters. Born May 19, 1915 in Chicago, IL, Bob moved to Fort Lauderdale in1946. He started Gill Construction and built over 3,000 homes in the area. He launched his career in Florida's hospitality industry in 1948 and built several landmark hotels, including The Escape, The Jolly Roger, and the Sheraton Yankee Clipper and Trader Hotels. He played a vital role in shaping tourism in Fort Lauderdale. Bob also owned and operated the Sheraton British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas. He was an active and concerned member of the community and is renowned for his generous support of many cultural and service organizations. Visitation will be Friday, February 27, 2009, 6pm-8pm, at First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale. The service will be Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 11am at First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale, 301 E. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, 954-527-6800. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made in Bob's honor to First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale Crosspoints Fund or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements handled by Fred Hunter's Fort Lauderdale Funeral Home, 954-527-1550.
Luis "Lucho" Sologuren
Luis (Lucho) R Sologuren died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Oct. 29, 2008. Luis was born in Lima Peru on January 8, 1931 and entered the Peruvian Navy in 1947 undergoing basic training and eventually joining the Peruvian Naval Academy class of 1952. Upon completion of his plebe year in Peru he was appointed as an exchange midshipman to the US Naval Academy and entered plebe year with the class of 1953. He often said he had three plebe years. His time at the Naval Academy had it ups and downs. He knew very little English when he arrived and had to learn as he endured plebe year and the tough academic courses. He was happy to be paid as a member of the Peruvian Navy at about ten times the rate of a US midshipman. This allowed him to meet and eventually marry Mary Ellen Smith in June 1953.
Upon graduation he was commissioned in the Peruvian Navy and was immediately assigned to a one year tour in the US Navy as an exchange officer where he qualified as Officer of the Deck. He taught electronics while serving in the Peruvian Navy as well as qualifying as officer of the deck in destroyers and minesweepers. He and his wife lived in the suburbs of Lima until 1960 when, as a Lieutenant, Lucho resigned his commission in the Peruvian Navy and accepted a job as an engineer for Bendix Corporation in Baltimore Maryland. While working in Baltimore he attended Johns Hopkins University earning a degree in Electrical Engineering He and Bendix relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1966 when he became a valued project manger for the company. Bendix was acquired by Allied Signal and then was absorbed by Honeywell. Luis excelled in his field for all three companies. He retired in 1994.
Lucho and Mary Ellen raised three children while being active in his church and school affairs serving on many committees and performing several ministries. After retirement he volunteered at three organizations before settling at Holy Cross Hospital as a member of the Transportation Department and the Spiritual Care Department. Meeting monthly with the retirees from Honeywell allowed him to keep in touch with is friends from working days. As a charter member of the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the USNA Alumni association, Luis was instrumental in building and maintaining membership. He earned the first ever “Member of the Year” award from the chapter. He was affectionately known as “Senor Moment” by his friends. After retirement he was instrumental in forming “The Fun Club” and served the organization in many capacities.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ellen, two sons, Luis and George, and a daughter, Nanci (Bucher), seven grandchildren, one great grandson, and a brother, Philippe.
The funeral will be held on Nov 8, at 11AM at St Coleman’s Church on North Federal Highway Ft Lauderdale Florida.. Memorial donations can be made to Vitas Hospice Charitable Fund, 5420 NW 33rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, in lieu of flowers.
Jay Porges
It is with deep sadness that we announce that Board member Jay Porges passed away in October 2008.
Jay and his wife, Dorothy, had been planning a 50th anniversary celebration on October 17th. Sadly, instead, that was the day of his funeral.
Celeste Keegan
The following message is from the Broward County Council-NLUS. Celeste was also a member of our organization and received our Lori J. Murphy Member Appreciation Award.
"It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of Celeste Keegan. Celeste passed away this October 2008 after a long battle with cancer. She was an integral part of the Broward County Council and will be missed by all."
Please note that the family has requested that instead of flowers, donations be made to the MOFFETT CANCER CENTER. If you would like to make a memorial donation, you can call 1-800-456-3434, Ext. 1403 or you can go to their website.
Celeste’s address for donation notification is 6980 NW 30 Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309.
