A eulogy to former Mayor Randy Wedding
The following is excerpted from a letter of condolences written by the very decent, very noble Ed Montanari, on behalf of the Pier Task Force.
I want to convey our deep sadness and sense of loss upon hearing of the passing of Randy, our friend, mentor, and leader of our committee.
Randy embodied so many wonderful qualities. He was a strong leader and visionary, and had a clear idea of what makes St. Petersburg such a great place to live, work, and play. Over the course of the 14 months that we worked with him, he was our Captain and we were assured that he would be the steady hand on the wheel, who would lead us through both rough seas and calm waters. As good leaders always do, he gave us confidence when we needed it, and represented our group well, both in public and in private settings.
One of the many attributes that Randy shared with us was the great love that he had for our city. His deep baritone voice combined with an easy going manner made him approachable and endearing to many, especially our group. His wisdom and common sense, helped us solve many complex problems along the way, and he gave us confidence when we made difficult decisions.
People like Randy do not come along very often, and he leaves behind a record of so many achievements that will stand as memorials to his passionate work to improve our community. As the history is written about this time in St. Petersburg, Randy will stand out as one of the best people ever to lead our city.
On behalf of the Pier Task Force, thank you for sharing Randy with us. We were all blessed to know and work with him. We pray that our heavenly father may help you through your grief, and leave you only with the cherished memory of the pride that he had for your family, our nation, and the city of St. Petersburg.
