Hundreds gathered Friday to remember former Village Manager John C. Gilbert in an emotional ceremony that focused on his firefighting career, where he was remembered as a calm and considerate leader determined to bring excellence to public safety.  

The service took place in the cavernous garage of the Fire Rescue Department, where speakers shared both Gilbert’s passion and his quirky humor — doing so in what can fairly be described as the firehouse John built. 

Family and friends of the late John C. Gilbert, Key Biscayne village manager, mourn at memorial service Jan. 30, 2026. (KBI Photo/Tony Winton)

Mayor Joe Rasco, who worked with Gilbert during his years as fire chief, noted his commitment to public service and his calm demeanor that put consensus first.

“What I will remember most about John is his quiet strength,” Rasco told a crowd that included past and present council members and fire officials from several neighboring departments.

“He did not seek recognition. He sought results. He valued teamwork. He respected differing views and understood that lasting progress comes from trust and collaboration,” Rasco said. 

A bagpiper plays at a memorial in front of a fire engine ‘Quint’ that was dedicated to John C. Gilbert, a former Key Biscayne manager and longtime fire chief, in Key Biscayne, Fla. Jan. 30., 2026 (KBI Photo/Tony Winton)

When Gilbert took over as chief in 1997, the department was housed in trailers and was trying to build a firehouse, said former Chief Eric Lang.  “He was the force in designing it, building it and opening it.”  

Today, it is an accredited agency and has consistently earned high marks from the public in satisfaction surveys. 

The audience also saw an A.I enhanced short movie featuring images of Gilbert’s work over the years.  

Lang became emotional when talking about his mentor, but also shared with the audience Gilbert’s humor, demonstrating how his boss would try to overpower a lectern, or shake his pockets, or hold up a piece of paper. 

Jennifer Medina, a former Key Biscayne chief of staff, is consoled by former Fire Chief Eric Lang during a memorial service for John C. Gilbert, a former Key Biscayne village manager and longtime fire chief, in Key Biscayne, Fla. Jan. 30., 2026 (KBI Photo/Tony Winton)

“He was a master of being a wise ass, or as Miami firefighters used to say, the rat ass, and he’s also, ‘I just saved your ass, and you may not even know it — and I’m good with that’ kind of guy,” Lang said. 

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“If he was here right now, he would say, ‘Why are you still talking?’”

Less was said about Gilbert’s service as the village manager, where he sometimes tussled with the Village Council. His retirement was marred by a lawsuit in which he claimed the Village was shortchanging him on the pension he earned, erupting during the transition to incoming manager Andrea Agha. The case was settled for about half of what Gilbert said he was owed.

Eric Lang is named fire chief succeeding John C. Gilbert, who took office as Village Manager in February, 2012 (Eric Lang via KBI)

But Friday was a day for honoring Gilbert’s dedication to public safety. 

Several speakers pointed to Gilbert’s response to the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center as part of an Urban Search and Rescue team — a unit he helped found. The attack and its cost to the public safety community — 343 firefighters and 60 police officers — was never far from his mind. 

Key Biscayne Village Manager Steve Williamson dedicates a fire engine ‘Quint’ in honor of the late John C. Gilbert, a former Key Biscayne manager and longtime fire chief, Jan. 30., 2026 (KBI Photo/Tony Winton)

Later, as Gilbert led the Village’s first evacuation for Hurricane Irma in 2017, he stopped a convoy to take time out to remember fallen comrades on the 9/11 anniversary that year.

Village Manager Steve Williamson, himself a retired Army colonel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, stressed that service in naming the Village’s “Quint” multi-purpose fire truck after Gilbert. An honor guard carefully removed a drape from the truck, as an officer struck the engine’s bell and a final radio call was sounded.

Cesar Espinosa of the Key Biscayne Fire Rescue Dept. rings a bell in memory of John C. Gilbert at a memorial service Jan. 30. 2026. The fire engine was dedicated in Gilbert’s honor. (KBI Photo/Tony Winton)

“​​By placing his name on this engine, we ensure that every time Quint One leaves this station to answer a call, John’s spirit of service, leadership and integrity goes with it.” Williamson said. 

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Editor-in-Chief

Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He was president of the News Media Guild, a journalism union, for 10 years. Born in Chicago, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His interests are photography and technology, sailing, cooking, and science fiction.