Gary Roberts, Edgewater city councilman in the latter 1990s, has died at 63

Photos for Headline Surfer / Obit for Gary Wayne Roberts,  a former City of Edgewater Councilman, shown above, who was on the Edgewater City Council and voted for the design and construction of the of Fire Station 57, as illustrated in this 2018 video above, YouTube download, video by Central Florida Fire Responses. Councilman Roberts also voted in favor of the Southeast Volusia YMCA, Hawks Park and the initiation of the initiation of the Parktowne Industrial Park project, the latter three shown below.
 
By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

EDGEWATER, Fla -- Gary Roberts, a former Edgewater City councilman who also served as vice mayor in the latter 1990s, has died at the age of 63.

Mr. Roberts, married with four children, died Friday of an undisclosed illness on March 8, 2019, at his Edgewater home. 

At the request of Headline Surfer for information on Mr. Roberts' tenure with the city government, Edgewater officials Wednesday evening released a statement that read in part: "It is with great sadness that the City of Edgewater reports the passing of former City Councilman Gary Roberts.  Councilman Roberts passed away at his home on March 8, 2019. He served as a City Council member representing District 3 from September 30, 1997 until November 3, 1999. During his tenure, he served in the role of vice mayor. Councilman Roberts also served on the Economic Development Board in the mid 1990s."  

Edgewater city spokeswoman Jill Danigel pointed out in the press release that during Councilman Roberts' tenure on the dais, Fire Station 57 was designed and built. The Southeast Volusia YMCA and Hawks Park were designed during Councilman Roberts’ term, Daniegel added, pointing out  was also instrumental in initiation of the Parktowne Industrial Park project.  

Once Councilman Roberts completed his term on the City Council, he continued to be an asset to the community by donating his services to design the Fire Rescue Association “fire hall” as well as redesigning landscaping for Fire Station 55, Danigel said in the press release.  

Edgewater projects / Headline SurferPhoto images shown here on top: Parktowne Industrial Center; below left: Hawks Park; below right: the SoutheastVolusisa YMCA, all in Edgewater as well as Fire Station 57, shjown in the video atop this story, as examples of projects approved by the late Edgewater City Councilman Gary Roberts and his colleagues on the municipal dais in thelatter 1990s. 

At the request of Headline Surfer for information on Mr. Roberts' tenure with the city government, Edgewater officials released a statement that read in part: "It is with great sadness that the City of Edgewater reports the passing of former City Councilman Gary Roberts.  Councilman Roberts passed away at his home on March 8, 2019. He served as a City Council member representing District 3 from September 30, 1997 until November 3, 1999. During his tenure, he served in the role of vice mayor. Councilman Roberts also served on the Economic Development Board in the mid 1990s."  

Edgewater city spokeswoman Jill Danigel pointed out in the press release that during Councilman Roberts' tenure on the dais, Fire Station 57 was designed and built. The Southeast Volusia YMCA and Hawks Park were designed during Councilman Roberts’ term, Daniegel added, pointing out  was also instrumental in initiation of the Parktowne Industrial Park project."

Once Councilman Roberts completed his term on the City Council, he continued to be an asset to the community by donating his services to design the Fire Rescue Association “fire hall” as well as redesigning landscaping for Fire Station 55, Danigel said in the press release.  

The Massachusetts native lost a bid for re-election of his District 3 Edgewater City Council seat in the Nov. 2, 1999, municipal elections to Harriett Rhodes by a vote of 1,615 to 1,299, according to the Volusia County Supervisor ofd Elections website.

Obituary for Gary Wayne Roberts (June 18, 1955 to March 8, 2019)
Gary Wayne Roberts, age 63, of Edgewater, died Friday, March 8, 2019, at his residence. He was born in Norwood, Mass. to Norman Eugene Roberts (deceased) and Ethel Jane Hayes Roberts.
Mr. Roberts was a 1973 graduate of Walpole High School, in Walpole, Mass., who moved to the Edgewater area in 1983 from East Walpole ands served his community as an Edgewater Councilman. He was a self-employed custom home designer, and a state certified building contractor. He had a black belt in Kenpo Karate and loved playing the guitar, bass, and piano. Mr. Roberts' favorite place was Maine. 
Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Robin and his mother, Ethel Roberts of Edgewater; four children, Amanda D. Hall (Billy) of Easley, SC; Kimberly M. Roberts (Scott Miele) of Jacksonville; Stephanie M. Roberts (Tim Gill), of Ormond Beach; and Brittany J. Morgan
(Stephen) of Colorado Springs, Colo; nine grandchildren, Courtney and Joey Powell, Caroline, Wyatt & Jacob Hall, Logan & Morgan Miele, Avenue and Gibson Morgan. He's also survived by two
brothers, David Roberts (Joan) of Freeport, Maine and Skip Roberts of Edgewater; and sister, Nancy Ellis of Asheville, NC. Mr. Roberts was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Charles Ellis. He also leaves his beloved cousins Elaine Fiorio and Jeffrey Jazz; his life-long friends, Don Brown, Mickey Colageo, and Eddie Comeau; his many loyal friends, Linda Breum, Joan Sanford, Scott & Diane Kipp, Ron & Nadeemi Sayyah, Cheryl Faber, Dale Ann Clark, Karen Proffitt, Bruce Crewe and Steve Trofatter.
Mr. Roberts will be laid to rest at Terrace Hill Cemetery, Walpole, MA next to his grandfather, Willard A. Hayes. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations in Gary’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908 or the American Cancer Society SE Florida, 1737 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Suite 140, Daytona Beach, FL 32117.
Settle-Wilder Funeral Home in New Smyrna Beach has charge of arrangements for Gary Wayne Roberts.