Richard W. Tacy

Rick Tacy, age 53, of Venice, Florida, passed away on September 4, 2014. He was born on and raised in Lee, Massachusetts where he graduated from Lee High School in 1979. A diving accident in the same year left Rick a quadriplegic. In 1983 Rick graduated with honors with an A.A. degree in Business from Berkshire Community College. While still a student, Rick became active in community and civic affairs. In 1980 he was elected to serve as a Town Meeting Representative. (In New England, the Town Meeting is where all decisions regarding local government are taken). He resigned this position in 1982 to accept appointment to the Board of the Department of Public Works. (This is the body responsible for the roads, parks, sewer and water departments). A desire to help the less fortunate persons led Rick to join the Lions Club, which he served as Treasurer from 1980 to 1983, the year he and his family came to Venice. In 1984 Rick enrolled at the University of South Florida, receiving his B.S. in Business Administration in 1987. In July of 1988, Rick was hired by the Sarasota County Property Appraiser's Office to work the front desk of its Venice Office where he worked for nine and half years assisting thousands of South County taxpayers. In 1997 he was transferred to the main office in Sarasota to anchor the new consolidated phone center where he assisted literally tens of thousands of residents. In 1989, Rick was appointed by the Venice City Council to serve a three-year term on the Metropolitan Planning Commission Citizen's Advisory Committee. In 1993 the County Commission appointed him to the same committee as their representative. In 1990 the County Commission appointed Rick to the Sarasota County Transportation Disadvantaged Board (para-transit system or door-to-door system), a board he continues to serve. In 1989, Rick was appointed to the City of Venice's newly formed access Advisory Committee, and served until 1998 as its chairman. The Sarasota County Commission once again turned to Rick in 1992, this time appointing him to their Americans with Disabilities Act Committee to assist them in bringing county owned facilities into compliance. In 1995 the City of Venice tapped Rick to serve on its Economic Subcommittee, developing its Greater Venice Area Strategic Economic Development Plan, which is the blue print for the economic future of Venice. In 1984, Rick joined the Sertoma Club of Venice a service club that is principally involved in working with children. He has been honored as District and Regional Sertoman of the year. In 1984, Rick helped charter the Sarasota County young Republican Club to which he still belongs. As a Young Republican he has been honored three times as one of the Top Ten YR's in the State of Florida. Since 1985 Rick has also served on the Sarasota County Republican Executive Committee as precinct Committeeman for Precinct 64. Rick was elected and served on the Venice City Council from 2000-2008 also serving a term as Vice-Mayor. While on council he started Maxine Barrett Park, instrumented in establishing the dog beach, curb cuts for handicap and making Venice one of the most assessable cities in Florida. Active in bonding process to make improvements and hurricane proof the Venice Community Center in 2008. He was also active in the Sons of the American Legion also known as SAL where he served as Chaplain and then Treasurer. Rick joined the Venice Masonic Lodge in 1992 and was elected and served as Master in 1998. Rick is also a member of the University of South Florida Alumni Association. Rick is survived by his mother, Ruth Tacy and his sister Cherylann Tacy both of Venice. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Tacy in 2011. A visitation will be held at Farley Funeral Home in Venice on Thursday, September 11, 2014 from 10:00am-11:00am with the funeral to immediately follow. Burial will be held in Venice Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Meals on Wheels, 920 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, Florida 34285 or to the Venice Sertoma Speech and Hearing Clinic, 701 Center Road, Venice, Florida 34285. Farley Funeral Home in Venice is handling the arrangements. Visitation Information Date: Thursday, September 11, 2014 Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am Farley Funeral Home - Venice Chapel Address: 265 Nokomis Avenue South Venice, FL 34285 941-488-2291 | Map Service Information Date: Thursday, September 11, 2014 Time: 11:00 am Farley Funeral Home - Venice Chapel Address: 265 Nokomis Avenue South Venice, FL 34285 941-488-2291 | Map Cemetery Information Date: Thursday, September 11, 2014 Venice Memorial Gardens Address: 1950 Center Road, , Venice, FL, 34292 (941) 493-4246 | Map