College Park icon Kudlacz dies unexpectedly at 67

Andrea Kudlacz, long the public face of the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida and the “unofficial mayor” of College Park, died unexpectedly overnight Wednesday, friends said.

The death of Kudlacz, 67, was announced by the Tiger Bay Club’s board Friday, amid an outpouring of grief from politicians, business leaders, friends and neighbors online. She was executive director for Tiger Bay, a nonpartisan political club, for more than 15 years and held the same role in College Park Main Street, formerly the College Park Partnership, since 2010.

Friends remembered her as the consummate neighbor — more than one said she’d “never met a stranger” — a vivacious presence in local politics and a dedicated servant of College Park. “The whole community is heartbroken,” said city Commissioner Robert Stuart, whose district includes College Park and who described Kudlacz as a trusted friend. “I’ve never seen such a wonderful community advocate.”

Amy Rawls, who worked with her as president of College Park Main Street, said she was “synonymous with College Park and all the good and great and fun things that happened in that community.”

“She put her heart and soul into everything ...she did,” said Rawls, who dubbed Kudlacz the neighborhood’s “unofficial mayor.”

At the Tiger Bay Club, Kudlacz oversaw details big and small, from monthly meetings to handling the finances to serving as the club’s photographer, said its president, Orange County School Board Member Nancy Robbinson.

A Mississippi native, proud Ole Miss alumna and mother to an adopted daughter, Logan, 26, Kudlacz was a longtime marketing and public relations professional in Central Florida, including for Medieval Times in Kissimmee and Walt Disney World Resort.

“The moral is, when you turn whatever age it is, or whatever happenstance is going on, step out of your box,” she said, in her trademark Mississippi drawl. “Take a chance.”

Funeral arrangements are pending.