Rick Anglickis

A longtime resident of Lehigh Acres – Richard Anglickis, a man who championed many causes – mostly revolving around the youth — passed away on Sept. 4, at the age of 81.

Robyn Rocco, his daughter, said he moved to Lehigh in his 20s and started off in marketing for Lehigh Corporation and later got into land sales, construction, and development.

“He was always into sports and to giving back to the community, especially the schools,” she said. “He formed many different clubs, organizations, and provided many scholarships to those who participated in the clubs he helped form.”

Some of her fondest memories with her father were attending different sporting events, family trips, boating and spending summers on Bonita Beach. Rocco said he also supported her during her swimming career.

“But, I think my fondest memories will be watching him be a papa to my son. He was a good-hearted man, a true believer in Christ, and I was lucky to call him dad,” she said.

A community member since the 1970s, Kiwanis Foundation Executive Director Damon Shelor got to know Anglickis through their children, as well as being a Kiwanis member for almost 20 years.

“Rick was a charter member of our club, which goes back to 1968,” he said.

Shelor said he headed many of their service leadership programs, which umbrellaed the clubs at the elementary, middle and high schools.

Shelor said he was also deeply involved in the scholarship program with Kiwanis.

“Over his guidance, we were able to fund probably close to $2 million in scholarships to Lehigh Acres students going on to college, or trade schools. We currently have about 54 students that we provide scholarships to – that is an ongoing thing,” he said.

Anglickis also received the Kiwanis Hometown Hero Award due to this service to the community.

“He has a big heart. He has the purposes and goals in mind and strives very hard to meet those goals,” Shelor said.

Anglickis was a man who wore many hats. He worked as a salesman, starter of a building company, a community organizer, a lobbyist for schools, and a youth advocate.

Shelor said they only had an elementary school, and maybe a middle school in the early 1970s. Anglickis lobbied for the high school to be built as did his wife, Ruth.

The basketball gymnasium is named after him at East Lee County High School, due to his involvement with the athletic programs and work as an advisor to the sports programs. Shelor said he was involved in interviewing a lot of the coaches.

As a big advocate of youth activities, particularly youth sports, he coached the Lehigh swimming team for several years. He was instrumental in starting up the initial youth sports.

“He’s a big sports fan and has advanced the sports in our community, not just Lehigh, also instrumental in FGCU going forward,” he said, adding that he helped form their booster club and sports program.

Michael Welsh, East Lee County Chamber of Commerce chair, said simply that Anglickis helped build a community.

“Rick was a titan among the early residents and businessmen of the new community,” Welsh said. “Together with his wife Ruth they came here as a young couple as part of a young group of developing Lehigh with Lehigh Corporation and the dream of a home town that focused on family, retirees and new ventures for a vision that everyone can obtain the American dream of owning a home. Over the years Rick together with Ruth developed a passion for quality education for Lehigh children. Together with the development of community organizations such as the Community Council, the Rotary, The Kiwanis Club as well as many other developments – Rick was a community builder.”

They worked on projects together for years, Welsh said, adding he will be missed by many.

“I met Rick and Ruth when I was a young state senator’s aide in the 1990s,” he said. “At the time my boss always told me that our job was to find ways to move Lehigh along with infrastructure, roadways and other projects. Rick was always a deep advocate for opportunity and development of our community. We will all miss him and he has left a marvelous legacy.”

A celebration of life for Rick Anglickis is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at New Life Assembly of God, 5146 Leonard Blvd. in Lehigh Acres.