SYLVIA MURPHY IS HONORED TO BE MAYOR EMERITUS – BUT SHE’S TICKLED TO BE RETIRED, TOO

On Monday, Dec. 13, Sylvia Murphy, former Monroe County Commissioner for District 5 and current mayor emeritus and goodwill ambassador, had an important matter to attend to at her Key Largo home. Her cat was swatting ornaments from the lower branches of her Christmas Tree.

“Stop that! No!” she shouted, clapping. The cat bolted. Murphy sat back in her armchair, shook her head and smiled. The ease of retirement suits her, and she’ll tell you so. But don’t worry, her conversation is still full of her famous, feisty “Murphy-isms.”

“I’m happy as a pig in manure,” she said, throwing her head back in laughter. “I’m definitely not bored. I read. I go for walks. I watch TV — mostly crime and fire-rescue shows.”

The fact that she watches fire-rescue shows shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who have followed her career. Before Murphy, a Republican, was a commissioner from 2006 to 2020, she retired as an EMT with the Monroe County Emergency Medical Services in 1996 and also served two decades with the Tavernier Volunteer Fire Department.

“I loved every minute of those 14 years,” she said, referring to her time as a commissioner. “When someone disagrees with you, it sharpens your mind a little bit.”

She explained that she retired in November 2020 because the time had simply come. “At 86, was I going to be a county commissioner at 90? Come on,” she said, rolling her eyes.

Her proudest accomplishment? Her hand in helping to establish Key Largo’s Rowell’s Waterfront Park at MM104. She knew the owner of that land and was instrumental in brokering the deal.

“It doesn’t matter if the park sits vacant, it belongs to the county,” she said. “One day, after hurricanes pass and roads are raised, it will be a beautiful park. I arranged for Roman (county administrator Roman Gastesi) to meet with the owners of the marina with the price he quoted me. Roman met them for lunch and finalized it.”

It seems that other commissioners agree that Murphy had done a commendable job. At the Dec. 8 BOCC meeting, the current board passed a resolution acknowledging her service and proclaiming her as mayor emeritus and goodwill ambassador for the Florida Keys. 

“In her voluntary and symbolic position, she can award the coveted Honorary Conch certificates to those she deems deserving of such an honor,” the county statement read.

Mayor David Rice told Keys Weekly that he supports Murphy’s new role. 

“Sylvia is very active out in the community,” he said. “She truly seemed to enjoy her job. As a county commissioner, she ran up and down the Keys, going to everything. And you never have to question where Sylvia’s thoughts are, because they are at the tip of her tongue. And she would agree with that. I love Sylvia, and I think that she would appreciate the honor. It hasn’t been done that many times, so why not?”

Murphy said that the only other mayor emeritus was Wilhelmina Harvey, who was the first woman elected to the Monroe County Commission. “It’s an honor. I’m in very good company.”

Murphy has always been open about her years-long battle with metastasized lung cancer. “My health is very good,” she said. “I have not had any treatment in over a year. I get scans every six months. I am enjoying retirement. In mid-November, I thought, ‘My phone has not rung in two days.’ And I was so happy.”

At the Dec. 8 BOCC meeting, the current board passed a resolution acknowledging Sylvia Murphy’s service as a county commissioner and proclaiming her as mayor emeritus and goodwill ambassador for the Florida Keys. From left: Commissioner Holly Raschein, Commissioner Michelle Coldiron, Murphy, Mayor David Rice and Vice Mayor Craig Cates. MONROE COUNTY BOCC/Contributed
Charlotte Twine fled her New York City corporate publishing life and happily moved to the Keys six years ago. She has written for Travel + Leisure, Allure, and Offshore magazines; Elle.com; and the Florida Keys Free Press. She loves her two elderly Pomeranians, writing stories that uplift and inspire, making children laugh, the color pink, tattoos, Johnny Cash, and her husband. Though not necessarily in that order.