Originally posted Sun, 2009-02-01 03:14

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A moment of silence was observed Tuesday at the start of the New Smyrna Beach City Commission in honor of Ed Cooper who died Jan. 23. He was 85.

The recognition was asked of the more than 200 residents in attendance in the DeBerry Room at the Utilities Commission building on Canal Street by Mayor Sally Mackay who described Cooper as an exemplary citizen.

Cooper died at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, his wife, Vivian Cooper, said Saturday. Ed Cooper was known throughout Volusia County for his tireless efforts to raise money for Hospice of Volusia anf Flagler counties, generating $600,000 in the last six years.

"He never got mad at anyone -- he never held grudges," Vivian Cooper said of her husband. "His job was to change the world for the better."

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Edgewater Code Enforcement board member dies

Originally posted Sat, 2009-05-30 21:34

 By Henry Frederick

Courtesy photo. Beneditto DelNigro, a member of the Edgewater Code Enforcement Board, died Thursday. He was 65.

Edgewater -- Beneditto DelNigro, a 10-year member of the Edgewater Code Enforcement Board, died Thursday, May 28, 2009. He was was 65.

DelNigro was born in Providence, R.I., and served in the Army in Vietnam. and moved to this area in 1988. DelNigro owned and operated Cranston Appraisal and Jean's Auto Body. He enjoyed building hot rod cars. He also taught auto body repair at the Tomoka Correctional Facility.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 44 years, Jeanne; sons, Michael, Edgewater and Ben of Cranston, R.I.; a brother, Cosmo of Johnston, R.I.; and two grandchildren.

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Walter Glenn, former member of the Utilities Commission, dies at 72

Originally posted Tue, 2009-01-20 23:43

By Henry Frederick

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Walter Henry Glenn, founder of the North Bridge Yacht Club in New Smyrna Beach, which now boasts 567 members, died unexpectedly at his New Smyrna Beach home Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009. He was 72 years old.

Born in Concord, N.C., Glenn came to this area in 1992 from Tampa. He was a 1955 graduate of Greenville (South Carolina) High School, and a 1959 graduate of the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and pitcher for the varsity baseball team, holding the record for the school's second lowest earned run average.

Glenn served in the Army Reserves from 1957 until 1959. During the Berlin Crisis in 1960, he was called back to active duty with the Special Forces at Fort Bragg, N.C.

From 1961 to 1987, Glenn was sales operational manager with Owens-Illinois Forest Products Division. He then became vice-president of Berry Packaging in Tampa until his retirement in 2001.

Along with his wife, Carolyn, Glenn founded the North Bridge Yacht Club in New Smyrna Beach. He was a member of the Coronado Community United Methodist Church; the Marine Discovery Center; the Southeast Volusia Historical Society; American Legion Post 17; and was a licensed boat captain. He was also a former New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commissioner; former volunteer at Bert Fish Medical Center; and a former member of Smyrna Yacht Club.

Glenn was also a frequent attendee of New Smyrna Beach City Commission meetings.

Glenn had a huge lust for life. He loved his Georgia Bulldogs, singing Karaoke, enjoyed cruising around in his electric car "The Beach Dawg," telling jokes, and living life to its fullest.

Besides his his wife of 49 years and high school sweetheart, Carolyn, Glenn is survived by his son, Walter III and wife, Donna, and their children, Hank, Fielding, and John, of Bowling Green, Ky.; his daughter, Cathy Glenn Sullivan and husband, Selby, and their children, Matt and Teagan, of Oviedo, and his faithful dog, Georgia.

A celebration of Glenn's life was held at Coronado Community United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Robert C. Brown officiating. A reception followed at the family home.

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Former Oak Hill Mayor Donna Jane Bennett dies

Posted Tue, 2009-12-22 17:03

By Henry Frederick

<p>Originally posted Tue, 2009-05-19 15:41</p>
<p><img align="left" alt="" src="/sites/nsbnews.net/files/donna.jpg" style="width: 70px; height: 91px;" /><em>Courtesy photo.</em> <strong>Donna Jane Bennett, mayor of Oak Hill from 1992-'99, died May 16.</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;OAK HILL -- A funeral service was held earlier today for former Oak Hill Mayor Donna Jane Bennett, who died Saturday. She was 57. Bennett was mayor from 1992-'99, according to Oak Hill officials.</p>
<p>A funeral service was held 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Emerson Bolton, Sr., officiating.</p>

<p>Born in Daytona Beach,  Bennett, a former teacher at Samsula and Indian River Elementary, was a lifelong resident of the area. She attended the First Baptist Church and Shady Grove Church of God in Oak Hill.</p>
<p>Bennett was very active in her community and enjoyed tutoring children after retiring. She had a green thumb and loved gardening and spending time with her family, said officials at Settle-Wilder Funeral Home.</p>
<p>Survivors include her mother, Dolly Williams of Oak Hill; daughter, Shonnette Bennett of Samsula; 3 sisters, Susan Townsend and Teresa Dixon, both of Oak Hill, and Belinda Williams of St. Augustine; a brother, Jim Williams of Oak Hill; two nieces; a nephew; two great-nephews; four great-nieces; and many long time friends.</p>

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