In Memoriam: Steve Wilson Remembers Rockledge Icon Colleen Stuart Who Passed Away Feb. 1
By Steve Wilson // February 5, 2023
Colleen was a council member for the City of Rockledge from 2005 -2011
If we allow it, life can get in the way of friendships. It happens to all of us. We get busy, time marches on, and then February 1, 2023, occurs. That is the day my friend, Colleen Stuart, died.
Colleen was a council member for the City of Rockledge from 2005 -2011. I was an employee during that same time. During those six years, I would see her and talk with her on numerous occasions.
I did not know Colleen prior to her becoming a member of the city council, but I knew of her. She was an incredibly caring person. She loved the City of Rockledge and its residents. Everything she did, she did for the good of the City.
The structure of local government is such in that the city manager and city clerk work closely with council members. During Colleen’s tenure on the council, Jim McKnight was the city manager and Betsi Moist was the city clerk.
McKnight spoke fondly of Colleen, saying, “I remember meeting Colleen not long after she relocated from the north to Rockledge. She always thought of Rockledge as her Mayberry! As a resident and small business owner, she had a unique perspective on the community and her approach to public service was thoughtful and never self-serving, but always to contribute to making the City better.”
McKnight went on to say, “It was a pleasure to have served with her, and I was always thankful for her insight and caring about what was best for the community. She will be missed!”
Moist said of Colleen, “Although I was most familiar with Colleen as a Rockledge Councilwoman, her talents and interests covered many areas, from business to education to civic involvement to youth sports and her own accomplishments as an ice skater/instructor/judge.”
Moist added, “An intelligent and passionate woman, she displayed integrity and honesty, throwing in a bit of a quick wit along the way. I am proud to have called her “friend.”
Yes, life can get in the way of friendships. I am sorry I did not stay in touch with Colleen, it was my loss. I would see her from time to time around the city and say hello, but it was not the same. R.I.P. friend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve Wilson was a longtime employee of the City of Rockledge who retired in 2018 and is currently among the most recognized and respected multimedia personalities on the Space Coast.
