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Long time Lee County Commissioner Bob Janes, a former mayor of the City of Sanibel, died early Wednesday morning at his home. He was 78. He died of complications from a respiratory disease. He had been ill for some time.

Janes represented District 1, comprised of Sanibel, Captive, Cape Coral and Pine Island. He was first elected to his current office in 2000 and had been serving since.

Born in Minneapolis, Minn., Janes received both a undergraduate and masters degree from the University of Minnesota. Additionally, he received a second masters degree from the University of Southern California.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he served for two years in the U.S. Army as a Commissioned Officer.

Much of Janes' career had been devoted to public service. He spent nearly 25 years in the public sector, both as an elected official and an appointed staff member. As an elected official, he was an alderman with the Minneapolis City Council, chairman of the Hennepin County (Minneapolis) Board of County Commissioners and the mayor of the City of Sanibel.

Janes also served as associate director of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations for the Vice President of the United States in Washington, D.C. during Richard Nixon's presidential administration and assistant administrator for extramural affairs.

As a county commissioner, he served as the fourth vice president and chairman of the Health and Education Committee of the National Association of Counties. He served as adjunct professor in public administration at George Mason University in Virginia.

In Lee County, Janes served on the Sanibel Planning Commission, Lee County Private Industry Council, Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Southwest Florida Work Force Development Board.

While living in Lee County, Janes owned several businesses. Florida Real Estate Academy, Jolly Roger Motel and Letizias Continental Cuisine. His private sector experience included being a vice president at the Sanibel SunTrust Bank. He also served on the board of directors of the American Red Cross, Lee County Chapter.

Janes is survived by his wife Lynda and their three adult children, Sandra, Mary and Susan.

The county has announced it will lower flags to half-staff to honor Janes. In the meantime, the Babcock Ranch has also been renamed the Bob Janes Preserve.

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