Florida Keys Mosquito Control District Commissioner Tom McDonald passed away on Nov. 9 after suffering injuries in a bicycle accident six days earlier while visiting family out of state.
McDonald, who was a well-known CPA, was 77 years old.
He was first elected to the mosquito control board in 1995 and served through 1998 for District 5 in Key Largo. He was re-elected in 2015 and served ever since. McDonald recently served as treasurer and secretary for the board.
“FKMCD offers heartfelt condolences to Commissioner McDonald’s family and friends and deeply appreciates his dedicated service,” said Chad Huff, FKMCD public information officer.
Monty Davis, former Keys resident who lives in Ocala, was friends with McDonald after they met at church years ago. Davis said McDonald always helped him take care of his taxes.
“Coming back from a vacation in Cayman I brought him a box of Cuban cigars. He said, ‘Monty, I’m an officer of the law and these are illegal.’ I told him I’d take them back and he said, ‘No way,’” Davis said. “We spent hours hashing over the political scene and about Jesus.”
Stan Zuba, local pediatrician who also serves on the mosquito control board, said he was in shock upon learning the news.
“Not seeing you next to me at the Mosquito Control board meeting will not be easy,” he wrote on Facebook. “You made me laugh and you were an amazing public servant.”
The Monroe County Republican Party offered its condolences after learning the news of McDonald’s death, asking that family and friends be given privacy to grieve through this time.
“Please pray for comfort in this time of need,” the party said in a statement via Facebook.
A service is being planned for the first weekend in December.
