Southwest Florida will have an opportunity to say goodby to county commissioner and Red Sox legend Mike Greenwell at a celebration of life to be held Saturday at Fenway South.<\/p>\n
Greenwell\u2019s family invites the public to wear Red Sox red and navy blue and join in the service to begin at 1 p.m. at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers.<\/p>\n
The Celebration of Life will include comments from the commissioner\u2019s family, elected officials and Boston Red Sox representatives. The concourse will have displays of Greenwell memorabilia and other tributes to his life. Photos and music will be part of the celebration. The family encourages residents and fans to bring their best \u201cMike Greenwell stories\u201d and share memories. Lee County Public Safety\u2019s Honor Guard will present the colors and provide honors.<\/p>\n
Gate D will open at at 11:30 a.m. the stadium at 11500 Fenway South Drive for the event anticipated to conclude at 3 p.m. <\/p>\n
No tickets are necessary; everyone is welcome.<\/p>\n
Attendees are asked to note the specific entrance to the service as two other events \u2013 an RV show and youth soccer \u2013 also are taking place Saturday at JetBlue Park. Security screening, as is used during Spring Training, will be in place. Bottled water will be provided.<\/p>\n
Greenwell grew up in Lee County, played ball at North Fort Myers High School and became an All-Star with the Boston Red Sox before returning home to start several family businesses.He was elected twice as Lee County District 5 Commissioner. <\/p>\n
He died this Oct. 9 Thursday at the age of 62.<\/p>\n
Lee County Board of County Commissioners<\/p>\n
His political career began after he was appointed to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners by Gov. Ron DeSantis in July 2022. He won a special election for his seat that year and was re-elected in 2024. <\/p>\n
Greenwell was a two-time All-Star outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, nicknamed \u201cGator\u201d and was inducted into the team\u2019s Hall of Fame in 2008. <\/p>\n
A graduate of North Fort Myers High School, Greenwell was the longtime operator of a fruit and vegetable farm in North Olga, where he resided. He operated Produce 31, a market and cafe, which he sold and closed recently as part of compensation for eminent domain actions by the State of Florida for the widening of State Road 31, also known as Babcock Ranch Road. He and his family also operated a construction business. He previously owned \u201cMike Greenwell\u2019s Bat-A-Ball & Family Fun Park\u201d in Cape Coral, which opened in 1992. It is now named Gator Mike\u2019s Family Fun Park under new ownership.<\/p>\n
Not long after entering office on the county board of county commissioners, Lee County was hit by Hurricane Ian, the most destructive and deadliest disaster in the county\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
Greenwell\u2019s role quickly became one of supporting rebuilding efforts. Among the many rebuilding projects he was involved in supporting was the Lee Civic Center and Fort Myers Beach Pier.<\/p>\n
Lee County District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass said he knew Greenwell since the two worked together as teenagers at the Edison Mall. Pendergrass had served with Greenwell on the county board of commissioners since Greenwell was appointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very, very unfortunate. We were hoping Mike would be able to fight this. It\u2019s a very unfortunate disease,\u201d Pendergrass said. \u201cI will truly miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pendergrass credited Greenwell for his work getting the Lee Civic Center back open and supporting the rebuild there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt needed a lot of attention and we are in that process long-term rebuilding that civic center and the 4-H program and everything else he supported there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was definitely passionate about Lee County,\u201d Pendergrass said. \u201cIt was nice having him there (on the board) because he had the local knowledge.\u201d <\/p>\n
Pendergrass said Greenwell had \u201ca passion to make government more efficient and more effective and to provide services for the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pendergrass said Greenwell was a \u201cgreat family man, a great person, dedicated to the county and making Lee County a great place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pendergrass and Greenwell worked together in the food court of the Edison Mall together while in high school, when Greenwell was dating his future wife Tracy, Pendergrass said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was very passionate about baseball,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a small town. We hung out together on weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greenwell\u2019s talent at baseball quickly led him to the Boston Red Sox, who drafted him out of North Fort Myers High School in 1982 in the third round of the MLB Amateur Draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cNext thing I know he went off and became famous,\u201d Pendergrass said. \u201cIt was a lifelong dream of his.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two went from working together on the grill in the kitchen of a restaurant and preparing sandwiches to serving together on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners more than 40 years later. <\/p>\n
As far as who will succeed him, Pendergrass said it will be up to Gov. Ron DeSantis to name a replacement until Greenwell\u2019s seat is up for re-election in November of 2026. DeSantis technically could leave the seat open as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a \u201cgreat family man, a great person, dedicated to the county and making Lee County a great place and easy to do business,\u201d Pendergrass said.<\/p>\n
Lee County District 1 Commissioner Kevin Ruane said Greenwell was \u201cmore than a colleague, he was my friend. He was very passionate about his role in serving the community where he grew up. Although he was a leader and took his role seriously, he could also add levity to any board meeting with a quick anecdote and a smile. We will miss him. My condolences and prayers go out to his wife Tracy and his entire family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish we could have worked together longer. We will miss you, #39.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee County District 3 Commissioner David Mulicka said \u201cI felt sucker-punched today because I had been rooting for Mike all along. I valued him as a friend and I was honored to serve next next to him as a commissioner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mulicka said he \u201calways respected\u201d Greenwell, having gotten to know him over the past three decades. \u201cIt was a true honor,\u201d Mulicka said. \u201cHe was a hometown hero.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers Greenwell \u201cwas a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about Lee County and consistently demonstrated common sense and kindness. We\u2019ll miss his steady presence and the difference he made. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
All-Star with Red Sox<\/p>\n
As a baseball player, Greenwell was the runner-up in the 1988 American League Most Valuable Player vote and was on the 1986 Red Sox team that faced the New York Mets in a thrilling seven-game World Series match which the Mets won. He batted over .300 for his career, a rare feat among modern hitters, ending his career with a .303 batting average. He was also one of the toughest players to strike out of his era. In six of his seasons, he ranked among the top 10 in most at-bats per strikeout amongst all major leaguers.<\/p>\n
Greenwell was known for having a strong arm as an outfielder, leading the American League in outfielder assists among leftfielders three times. Greenwell reached the postseason four times with Boston, whom he played with in all 12 of his seasons.<\/p>\n
After his playing career ended, Greenwell returned home to Lee County, where he grew up and enjoyed farming and fishing.<\/p>\n
Tributes pour in online<\/p>\n
Tributes to Greenwell quickly showed up across social media after his passing.<\/p>\n
Greenwell\u2019s son, Bo, paid tribute to his father in a Facebook post, stating \u201cAfter a long year fighting cancer my dad has passed away. It has been a long year for him through a lot of pain and suffering. Now he can finally rest in peace. Thank you to everyone who has been keeping him in your thoughts and prayers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHero\u2019s get remembered, but Legends never die.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the legend Mike Greenwell.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Boston Red Sox issued a statement in memory of Greenwell on X. \u201cWe are deeply saddened by the passing of Red Sox Hall of Famer Mike Greenwell. \u201cThe Gator\u201d spent his entire career in a Red Sox uniform and was a beloved fixture of Fenway and Fort Myers. He gave so much to Lee County and Red Sox Nation. We send our love to the Greenwell family.\u201d<\/p>\n
A message posted to the Facebook page of Lee County Government paid tribute to Greenwell. \u201cHe was a strong advocate for the people and businesses of Lee County and will be remembered for seeking meaningful solutions to the challenges his community faced,\u201d the post stated. <\/p>\n
\u201cMike Greenwell has always been a local hero, a hometown boy from North Fort Myers who made it big,\u201d said District 4 County Commissioner Brian Hamman in a Facebook post. \u201cAfter his baseball career, Mike drove race cars and later competed in professional bass fishing tournaments. Whatever he did, he worked hard to be at the top of his game. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he joined us on the County Commission, I\u2019ll admit I was a little starstruck, but I also knew he would pick it up quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSadly, I learned today that Mike passed away after a battle with thyroid cancer. I want to send my deepest sympathy, thoughts, and prayers to Tracy and the entire Greenwell family. I always admired how much Mike cared for his family. He was proud of them and loved them deeply. He also cared deeply for this community and worked hard to make it a better place as a commissioner.<\/p>\n
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno also shared words of remembrance. <\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past several years, I\u2019ve had the opportunity to work closely with Commissioner Greenwell and deeply admired his professionalism and service to the great residents of this county,\u201d Marceno said, in part. \u201cFor those who knew him, Mike was a loyal family man, a dedicated business man, and local leader who was extremely passionate about the well-being of this county. <\/p>\n
\u201cToday we honor the life and contributions of Commissioner Greenwell, and are mourning this profound loss alongside his family, friends, and all of those who loved him.\u201d<\/p>\n
State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka shared her condolences on \u201cX,\u201d stating, \u201cToday we lost a Lee County legend, Commissioner Mike Greenwell. David and I are heartbroken over the passing of our friend and colleague. Please join us in praying for the Greenwell family during this time of mourning. Rest in Peace, Mike.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greenwell announced that he had been diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer in August. Greenwell died in Boston, where he was being treated. <\/p>\n
\u2014 Reporter CJ Haddad contributed to this report.<\/p>\n