Bob Janes

A Celebration of the Life of Lee County Commissioner Bob Janes will be held at 4 pm. on March 22 at Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers.

Janes, a former mayor of the City of Sanibel, died Wednesday, March 10. He was 78.

“Bob worked tirelessly to serve Sanibel Island, his home, and all of Lee County in many capacities, not the least of which was during his 10 years as Commissioner,” said Michael Valiquette, chairman of PURRE (People United to Restore our Rivers and Estuaries).

Commissioner Janes had represented District 1 – Sanibel, Captiva, Cape Coral and Pine Island – since first elected in 2000. He was an advocate for mental health and corrections services, among other concerns, and worked actively for the purchase in 2006 of the Babcock Ranch property.

“I was honored to know Bob and work with him on a number of issues affecting Southwest Florida,” said Florida Congressman Connie Mack in a prepared statement. “Bob was a true public servant in every sense of the word. I was always struck by his deep commitment to the people he represented in Cape Coral, Pine Island, Sanibel and Captiva, and his dedicated service will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on our community.”

Born in Minneapolis, Minn., he received both undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota and a second master’s 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 was 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 served on both the Sanibel Planning Commission and the Sanibel City Council, chairing the former and serving as mayor of the latter for three years.

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

He also served as associate director of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations for the Vice President in Washington, D.C. during the Nixon administration and as Assistant Administrator for Extramural Affairs.

As a county commissioner, he served as the 4th Vice President and Chairman of the Health and Education Committee of the National Association of Counties. He was an adjunct professor in Public Administration at George Mason University in Virginia.

During the years he lived on Sanibel, Janes owned several businesses and 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.

Janes’ commission seat runs until 2012 and could be filled with an appointment by Gov. Charlie Crist.

A memorial fund for Commissioner Bob Janes has been set up through the Conservation 20/20 Program. Donations will be used on the Bob Janes Preserve, a 5,620-acre preserve named in his honor. Donations may be sent in care of Cathy Olson, Conservation 20/20 Program, 3410 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33916. Checks should be made out to “Lee County Board of County Commissioners.” Please write Bob Janes Memorial Fund in the note/memo section.