This Week in St. Johns County History: Former St. Augustine Mayor Bugeski had 'true heart' for city

Editor’s note: The St. Augustine Record published this story by Sheldon Gardner on July 31, 2011.

When Former St. Augustine Mayor Walter Bugeski died July 30, 2011, he left many legacies.

"He worked tirelessly for the good of St. Augustine," said Charlene Bunnell, one of his two daughters. "When he wasn't serving officially, he was working behind the scenes."

More: Walter Bugeski's obituary

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The man who was described as a "gentle giant" by family was active in local politics, serving as mayor of St. Augustine from 1958 to 1959 and as a city commissioner from 1956 to 1961. Among other things, he was instrumental in the widening of St. Augustine's Bayfront from the Bridge of Lions north to the Castillo de San Marcos.

"He got on the commission and he fought battles," she said.

Bunnell said that Bugeski, 92, had a personality that suited him well for politics.

"He was very kind and gentle and caring," she said. "He was also as stubborn, and ornery and determined as anyone you will ever meet."

Bugeski's ambition and strong work ethic came from his parents, Polish immigrants who moved to the U.S. in the early 1900s, Bunnell said. The family eventually moved to Southern Illinois, where his father opened a grocery and dry goods store.

His parents worked from "sun up to sun down," she said. That's where Bugeski "learned a tremendous amount about business."

After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, Bugeski went to the University of Illinois to study mechanical engineering, Bunnell said. There, he met his wife, Adele, and her daughter, Charlene. He left school to focus on family. The Bugeskis were married for 65 years. Adele Bugeski died in January.

After moving to St. Augustine, Bugeski put his business savvy to use by opening Bugeski Sales and Service, which focused on selling power lawn equipment, Bunnell said. The business was around for 30 years.

His nephew, Frank Johns, worked at the "lawn mower shop" from the time he was 16 until he graduated from high school.

"He was a gentle giant of a man," Johns said. "He was a visionary in his business, and he was a good mentor and teacher to a lot of young people — we'll miss him."

Bugeski was an advocate for the city and its residents, and he shared his wisdom with many people, including St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar.

"He was just a prince of a man, just a true gentleman — a very humble man," said Shoar, who first met Bugeski in the 1980s while on the civil service board. "I gravitated toward him because he was just a warm, wonderful human being."

Shoar said he would stop by Bugeski's house from time to time, and that Bugeski gave him advice over the years.

"He had a true heart for his community," Shoar said. "He always tried to make it better, and he never wanted any of the credit. I'm just so sad he's not with us."

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: This Week in St. Johns County History: Former Mayor Bugeski died in 2011