Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 17

St. Petersburg Times Tuesday, November 1, 2011 I 7B- Remembering OBITUARIES SOUTH PINELLAS COADY, Neil J. Lt. Col. USAF 90, WWII, Korean War 5.

AIR FORCE and Vietnam War veteran of Park, died Oct. 24, 2011. Survived by loving family, Burial FL Nat'l Cemetery. Veterans 524-9202 DAVIS, Reatheria 79, of St. Petersburg, died Oct.

24, 2011. Survivors include, 4 daughters; 4 sons; 17 grandchildren; 40 greatgrandchildren; other relatives and friends. Memorial service Thursday, Nov 3rd, 11 am, Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 921 20th St. S.

Share condolences www.smithfhinc.com Smith Funeral Home. 894-2266 View Guest Book at www.tampabay.com/obits DeGRUCHY, Charles A. Jr. 95, passed away Oct. 24, 2011.

Predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Gladys. Survived by loving family. Interred Oct. at Woodlawn Memory Gardens in St. Petersburg, ELIZALDE, Dr.

Ruth passed away Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. She joined her beloved husband, Alberto, who passed away in 2005. She will be missed by her children, Pablo Elizalde and Maria Wilson; grandchildren, Zachary, Alexander, Christian, and Anders, longtime family friends, Pastora and Raul Falcon, along with many other friends and her patients. Friends will be received at Brett Funeral Home, 4810 Central on Thursday, Nov.

3rd from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 6 pm. Funeral Mass will be 9:30 am Friday, Nov. 4, at Cathedral of St. Jude (Our Lady's Chapel), with burial to follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. On line memorial guestbook at www.brettfuneralhome.net Brett Funeral Home Cremation Services 727-321-3321 View Guest Book at www.tampabay.com/obits GREEN, Bertrum A.

"Bert" 72, of Largo, passed away Oct. 29, 2011, at his home. A wonderful and cherished father, Bert came to the Tampa Bay area in 1966, from his native Detroit, MI. He was a retired residential builder, and was a proud Army veteran who served during the Korean War. Survivors include his sons Mark Darren; daughters Kelly Meghan; brothers Herbert Benson; sister Bonnie, and two grandchildren Dustin Amanda.

Graveside services will be noon today (Tuesday) at Royal Palm South Cemetery (corner of 58th Street and 1st Avenue Memorial donations would be appreciated to Suncoast Hospice. Condolences can be shared online at www.davidcgross.com David Gross Funeral Homes 6366 Central Ave. 727-381-4911 View Guest Book at www.tampabay.com/obits HUFFMAN, Sarah L. 97, of St. Petersburg passed away on Oct.

14, 2011. Sarah was born on Nov. 1, 1913. She is survived by two daughters, Sandra (Ray) Gates and Jan Dillahunt; 1 stepdaughter, Ruby (Bill) Grimm all of St. Petersburg, several grand-children and greatgrand-children.

Memorial services will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, on Nov. 6th at 3 pm. Donations may be made to your favorite charity. Anderson McQueen Family Tribute Centers. 727-822-2059 View Guest Book at www.tampabay.com/obits JARKA, Lenesha 25, of St.

Petersburg, died on Oct. 26, 2011. Lenesha is a survived by a host of family and friends. Memorial will be held Nov. 3rd, 5 pm at Memorial Park F.H.

5750 49th St. JONES, Linda 51, of Pinellas Park died on Oct. 31, 2011. There are no known survivors. Largo 727-559-7793 KLUKKERT, Arthur S.

passed away Oct 27, 2011 in the loving presence of his extended family. He was born in Delhi, NY and moved to St. Petersburg, Jan. 1957. He was the owner of Laundry Concessions for 31 years and after retiring, traveled extensively, Arthur is survived by his cherished family and friends.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Nov. 2nd at 1:30 pm in the chapel of Allendale United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ASPCA.org. View Guest Book at www.tampabay.com/obits LUCAS, Eric Christopher Survivors include his loving family and friends. Visitation Wednesday Nov.

2, 2011 from 6-8 pm at the Gee Sorensen Funeral Home. Service 7:30 pm MACK, Clifford R. 55, of Redington Shores, passed away Oct. 29, 2011. He is survived by his loving family.

For full obit, visit gardensanctuaryfunerals.com MARTIN, Gilbert J. 87, of St Petersburg, passed away Oct. 22, U.S.ARMY 2011. Born Dec. 7, 1923 in Van Buren, ME, son of the late Baptiste and Marie (Cyr) Martin.

He served in the army during WWII, fighting at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded. Gilbert had been a resident of St. Petersburg, for the past twenty years and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. Gilbert is survived by three daughters; four grandchildren; 2 brothers; and a sister. Thank you to the Bay Pines V.A.

staff and to Jacquelyn Smith his and devoted companion. Committal service Nov. 4, 2011 at 10 am. For full information, please visit www.nationalcremation.com or call 1-813-623-2168. View Guest Book at www.tampabay.com/obits STANLEY, Rose Marie (D'Anna) 86, of St.

Petersburg, passed away Oct. 28th after an illness. Survived by son, Charles Stanley; daughter Donna Dieter and 3 grands. Memorial Park F.H. 527-1196 UNSELD, Robert C.

57, of St. Petersburg, passed away Oct. 29. Survived by his loving family and friends. Guestbook at davidcgross.com David C.

Gross Funeral Homes 6366 Central Ave. 727-381-4911 MEMORIALS AND TRIBUTES PINELLAS MEMORIAM SYLVIA P. MEEKER Oct. 10, 1927 Oct. 31, 1997 Dearest Sylvia.

This month marks the 14th year since your leaving us. We, your family and your relatives, still miss you as much as we did the day you had to leave us. We all remember well your valiant ten battle with cancer and your loyal and devoted 44 years plus as an "Army" wife. Your many, many accomplishments in our society are well remembered by all who knew you. Rest in peace my beloved, you well deserve the love and admiration that you have earned.

God Bless. Your husband, Ernie, son Scott, grandchildren Austin Tyler and your relatives on your side of the family. To place a paid obituary notice contact your Funeral Director or the St. Petersburg Times at 800-333-7505, ext. 8518.

St. Petersburg Times Tampa Bay Florida news tampabay.com for the latest news State appeals prison decision The Legislature asks the fight a judge's 1 ruling BY STEVE BOUQUET Tallahassee Bureau TALLAHASSEE At the request of the Legislature, 1 the state will challenge a judge's order blocking privatization of 30 prisons in South Florida. Shortly before the courts closed for the day Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a notice of appeal with the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee. Bondi's spokeswoman said she did so at the request of the Republican-led Legisla- attorney general to against privatization. ture, which was not a party to the original lawsuit but whose actions were sharply criticized in the original ruling, The decision extends the state's effort to implement the most ambitious outsourcing of government-run prisons to date in the United States.

The Legislature created the privatization plan in 18 counties, from Manatee to Monroe, and did so not by passing a bill but by attaching the provision to the entire prison budget in what's known as proviso language. A union representing correctional officers, the Florida Police Benevolent Association, filed suit to block the project, and won. The union said thousands of officers' jobs were threatened. Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford ruled Sept. 30 that the venture was in violation of state law and the Florida Constitution because it was not "rationally related" to the prison system's overall budget.

A spending item that changes substantive law is invalid, the judge ruled. Lawmakers had hoped to save $22 million this year by hiring a private vendor to run the prisons for 7 percent less than it costs the state to run them. The PBA said Monday itwould continue to emphasize what it called "the lack of significant savings" associated with prison privatization. "We're ready to fight it at the next level," said Matt Puckett, executive director of the PBA. "We're very confident that it's not going to be overturned.

I think there are a lot of tax dol-' lars at stake here." Bondi's action came as a bit of a surprise because the prison sys-' tem and Gov. Rick Scott's officesaid earlier in the day that the ruling would not be appealed. staff writer Mary Ellen Klas contributed to this report. Secrecy on deals disturb senator The Republican says business incentives should be public after a contract is signed. BY MICHAEL C.

BENDER Tallahassee Bureau TALLAHASSEE A Republican state senator wants to end secrecy surrounding deals that use tax dollars to lure companies to Florida or that keep existing businesses from leaving. "Once the deal is signed, all the details should be open to the public," said Nancy Detert, R-Venice, chairwoman of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee. The public record exemption hides details for two years, including the name of the company, for deals that use taxpayer money to create jobs. Since Gov. Rick Scott took office in January, the exemption has been used 49 times.

Some details, including the average wage for the newly created jobs, are secret for the duration for the deal. Other information, such as trade secrets, is confidential forever. The exemption is scheduled to sunset Oct. 1. A bill (SB 7014) that would simply re-enact the law is scheduled for a hearing today in Detert's committee.

But the veteran lawmaker said in an interview Monday that she will postpone the hearing to write an amendment that ends the two-year exemption and provides the public faster access to the deals. "Everyone comes and promises us jobs," said Detert, who owned a mortgage company for more than 20 years. "We still have close to 1 million people unemployed, so where are the jobs we gave you all this money to create?" Florida has paid $739 million in incentives since 1995 to companies like Wal-Mart, Burger King and Coca-Cola to create 86,284 jobs, Details for other deals worth millions more remain shielded. Most of the state's incentive contracts are performance- based, which means companies earn money as they add jobs or make capital investments. Those deals are audited annually, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity says.

Other deals give companies cash up front. At least six companies have received $23.3 million in recent years without fulfilling their jobs promise. The state is attempting to renegotiate those contracts. A spokesman for the Department of Economic Opportunity, which oversees many of the incentive funds, declined to comment on Detert's position. "We support the law being re-enacted," spokesman James Miller said.

Scott's jobs czar, Gray Swoope, said parts of the exemption were crucial, but declined to talk specifics during an interview Friday. "When they're using state funds, I think companies understand that there is the accountability measure that's there," Swoope, the Enterprise Florida CEO whom Scott lured from Mississippi, said Friday. "But a lot of times in these things where they're negotiating they're covered by confidential; ity for various reasons. "There's things about market share, things that they're doing that, from a competition standpoint, it would be detrimental to the company if that was released." An open government advocate, meanwhile, applauded Detert but said the public should, have some access to details before contracts are signed. "They're trading in pub-lic assets and saying, Florida First Amendment Foundation President Barbara Petersen said.

"We need to be able to see this information to hold the government accountable and the companies that make promises to us in return for our money accountable." Michael C. Bender can be reached at or (850) 224-7263. Follow him on Twitter MichaelCBender. ENCOUNTERS continued from 1B MAKING SENSE OF A SNEAK ATTACK been terrorizing this woman for years. Maybe next week I'll be writing about her murder.

I pulled out my phone and called 911. "We'll send someone out," the dispatcher said. Down the road, I ran into my friend and fellow reporter Justin George. "You won't believe what just happened," I told him. Justin agreed with my theory that this woman's days were numbered.

We went back. The woman was still on the same bench as we approached, still staring straight ahead, still sopping wet. Justin asked again, "Ma'am, are you okay?" She turned her head, closed her eyes and said nothing. "Call the cops again," Justin said. "This woman is unresponsive." As I dialed, a truck pulled up beside us.

"That's him!" I told the 911 dispatcher. "Chevy truck, grayish in TAMPA Cabbie says two customers beat him Two men leaving the Channel District beat a cab driver early Sunday morning because he didn't know the address they wanted, authorities said. Christopher Bergman and Cody Brunquell, both 22, face charges of aggravated battery. Yellow Cab driver Ahmed Soliman said Bergman got out of the car and punched him through the driver's said Hillsborough Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter. Soliman got out of the car, she said, and Brunquell followed and both began hitting the driver as a Hillsborough deputy drove by, she said.

Hillsborough School District spokeswoman Linda Cobbe, said Bergman, who has not been in the classroom, he won't be needed. TAMPA Bill names post office for Rev. Abe Brown An East Tampa post office would be named in honor of the late Rev. Abe Brown under legislation filed last week by U.S. color, white male, 50 to 60 years old, just under 6 feet tall, with a gray mustache and ball cap." I've read a lot of police reports.

'As the truck stopped Justin asked, "Sir, did you pour water on this woman?" The man climbed out, meekly. "I'm not even going to try to explain it to you," he said. But he did anyway: That morning, when he was getting his newspaper, a woman walked by holding a full cup of water. He told her "Good morning." SPLASH! He looked up, shocked. Then she threw the empty cup, too.

Anger overwhelmed him. He went inside, grabbed a cup a big one and filled it to the brim. What I had witnessed was the payback. At this point in the story, the woman finally opened her eyes Rep. Kathy Castor.

Brown, pastor of the First Baptist Church of College Hill and founder of Prison Crusade Ministries, later renamed the Abe Brown Ministries, died last year. Castor's bill is likely a few months from consideration, according to her office. If passed, the Produce Station at 2810 Hillsborough Ave. would be renamed. WESLEY CHAPEL Lawyer disbarred for taking assets The Florida Supreme Court has disbarred a Wesley Chapel lawyer accused of "dishonest conduct" involving the assets of her developmentally disabled brother.

The Florida Bar said Denise Letizia used an invalid power of attorney to withdraw more than $100,000 from bank accounts bearing her brother's name. "She also demonstrated a pattern of misconduct regarding the representation of her brother and in the subsequent disciplinary proceedings," the Florida Bar said. Letizia was admitted to practice in 1993. and let out a long, loud cackle. "It's okay," the woman said.

She figures her husband hired the man to do this. She's been doused once before, at Mardi Gras. We looked around at each other, confused. The woman rattled off more stories: She worked at Tampa International Airport. She's met a bunch of transvestites.

She always loved eating at the Cafe Con Leche, an old Tampa restaurant. Turns out, she's a longtime resident at Hudson Manor, an assisted living facility on the island. Her name is Jane, she's 77, and she's always back before lunchtime. A quick call to the Manor confirmed this. Jane corroborated the man's story.

She threw water on him first, she said. Why? "He annoyed me." She couldn't really say how. "I'm really sorry," the man said, taking a seat next to her. He could see Jane wasn't totally cognizant, and what seemed so odd that morning suddenly made sense. "I'm not proud of what I did." No problem, she said.

She wasn't holding any grudges. But we still had to deal with the cops. Two officers pulled up, and we told them what happened. "Did you throw water on this man?" one officer asked Jane. Yes, she said, and she'd do it again.

This was the most fun she'd had in years. "It's nice having all this company!" Case closed. The police left, and so did we. The man did, too, heading off to buy new tires. But before he did, he offered Jane a ride.

Times staff writer Justin George contributed to this report. Kim Wilmath can be reached at sptimes.com or (813) 226-3337. MESOTHELIOMA IF YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH MESOTHELIOMA YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO SIGNIFICANT COMPENSATION. FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, CALL (813) 287-0802 D. WILLIAM VENABLE, P.A.

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