- April 17, 2024
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Former Flagler County commissioner Bob Abbott died Jan. 27 at his Palm Coast home after a long illness. He was 70.
Abbott, who was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1946 and became a Flagler County resident in 1957, was elected the to the County Commission in 2006.
"One thing he would do was try to get along with everybody," said Commissioner George Hanns, who served alongside Abbott. "He was more of a peacemaker than he was aggressive about many things."
Abbott received his county commissioner certification in 2008 and his advanced certification in 2009, County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin said in a proclamation honoring Abbott during a Feb. 1 County Commission meeting. Abbott served one term, and was defeated by McLaughlin when Abbott ran for reelection.
Abbott had long had heart problems, Hanns said, and it was common for paramedics to come to the county building to aid him during commission meetings.
"They'd recharge him, and he'd come back to the meeting and seem to be fine," Hanns said. "As a commissioner, he did the best he could with his health condition, and he always seemed to be a caring, laughing, joyful guy."
At the meeting Feb. 1, commissioners recalled Abbott as an avid angler who advocated for the fish camp at Dead Lake and the ramp at Crescent Lake, and was a regular at the Flagler Beach pier.
Commissioner Charlie Ericksen remembered chatting with him about Navy issues; Ericksen's father was a Navy man and Abbott had served in the Navy for 20 years before entering the business world.
"He served the county well," Hanns said. "We appreciate Bob’s service to our country … and to Flagler County."
