Photos by Henry Frederick
Linda DeBorde is the center of attention Thursday in front of her real estate office at the corner of Pine Street and Flagler Avenue where she is given a retirement sendoff, street-party style by 100-plus friends, family and other civic leaders in honor of her 38 years as proprietor of Nu Day Realty and her community contributions over the years. At left, great grandson Caysen Hilton, 2, gets some lovin' while T.C. Wilder, 80, displays his affection for the friend he's known for five decades.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Linda DeBorde took each day's challenges with the understanding that a new day would bring new rewards and challenges, hence "Nu Day Realty" became a cornerstone of earning a living and giving back to the community as each day turned into weeks, then months, years and decades. All of that came full circle Thursday with this day in her honor with the New Smyrna Beach proclamation: "Linda DeBorde Day."
Linda DeBorde receives a proclamation from the City of New Smyrna Beach proclaiming Thursday, Sept. 30, "Linda DeBorde Day." DeBorde, 16-year chairwoman of the Community Redevelopment Agency, is surrounded by fellow CRA members Doug Hodson, Steve Dennis, Tom Williams, and Cynthia Lybrant. Just outside this photo was fellow CRA member Charles Belote.
The 71-year-old merchant had no intention of slowing down or even considering retirement any time soon until she was stricken in January with a severe heart attack and stroke that forced her to take stock and heed her doctor's warning that now was the time to take care of herself.
"I've been selling real estate all my life and now I'm out of business," DeBorde said Thursday during a street-party reception attended by more than a hundred people.
She told the gathering of how she took each day's struggles to overcome the odds and return her physical being into one of productivity to the point where she's been walking three to five miles a day in the last couple of months.
The banner outside Linda DeBorde's real estate office says it all.
DeBorde entertained the crowd with a story of one of her walks where the vision to her left was taken away by the stroke and while crossing the street was assisted by three young construction workers.
A wise guy in the crowd yelled out: Did they have their shirts off?"
A blushing DeBorde laughed with the crowd and explained that this was just one example of how friendly and caring people are in New Smyrna Beach.
An even bigger challenge now for DeBorde each new day?
"I'm going to have to learn how to be retired."