Under two tents, with people spilling out toward the back and the side, roughly 55 attendees came to Fireman’s Park in Milton for the John Tonkin memorial dedication. Officials, friends, and family spoke of a man who spent 25 years improving the environment and quality of life in Santa Rosa County as part of Santa Rosa Clean Community System. He passed away February 24, 2014.
Former Mayor Clyde Gracey said he always thought he had the greatest workforce in the state of Florida and of Tonkin, he said, “Some people talk a good job. Some people just quietly do it.” He said one way or another, Tonkin impacted everyone’s lives in the county whether through his work with the Panhandle Butterfly House in Navarre, the Adopt-A-Highway program, or the Paint Your Heart Out event among many others.
The host for the event, Nicky Walker, added Tonkin helped Walt Reese with the annual river clean up and organized the Mother’s Day plant sale and show as well as Amnesty Day, allowing county residents to dispose of hazardous waste at no charge.
“Almost anywhere you drive in this city, you can see the passion he had,” Walker said.
Kevin Smith, taking over Tonkin’s position as Executive Director of Santa Rosa Clean Community System said, “It’s very overwhelming to say the least. These are big shoes to fill.” Smith noted he never met Tonkin but felt like he had with as much as he did in the community. “He not only had reach in Santa Rosa County but throughout the state of Florida. They were calling him for advice for how to do things…It’s tough learning what John did.” He asked those assembled to say a prayer for him to continue Tonkin’s work.
Lisa Tonkin, John Tonkin’s widow spoke last before Walker released the assembly. She pointed out his mother, father, sister, and niece-in-law came to the event and thanked the representatives of the city and county for attending. She said he showed leadership and loved this county. “He said you should leave the earth a better place than when you arrived and he did that.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: John Tonkin honored with memorial