Longtime Broward politician dies at 69
Josephus Eggelletion, a Broward politician who became the county’s first African-American mayor but had to resign in disgrace and served time in prison, died Wednesday. He was 69.
Eggelletion, a graduate of Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale and Florida A&M University, was one of Broward’s longest-serving black elected officials. He served on the county commission, on the Lauderdale Lakes City Commission and in the state Legislature.
He had been battling prostate cancer for years, even before his sentence, said his attorney and friend, Johnny McCray Jr.
“He accepted responsibility for the errors he made,” McCray said. “He was an affable and caring leader who touched many lives as an educator and elected official.”
Eggelletion, born April 23, 1949, was a native of Miami who moved with his family to Fort Lauderdale in 1955. He told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in 1990 that his family was so poor he had to wear his father’s shoes to school.
He said he and his brother and five sisters slept in one room in a small house in Fort Lauderdale. Food was often scarce, he said.
“The kids would pick at us because we were so poor,” Eggelletion said. “But it never really bothered me because I knew my father and mother were doing the best they could do. My father could not fill our wants, but he filled our needs.”
Eggelletion was selected in 1990 to fill a vacancy on the Lauderdale Lakes City Council caused by the death of Sol Rossman. At the time, he was a teacher of government and economics at Dillard High School and owned the Avenue East Barbering and Hairstyling shop in Fort Lauderdale.
He was elected to the state
nova salmon — $48 a pound??!!)
Warm loaves of crusty bread from Gran Forno in Fort Lauderdale.
A dentist who sees me straight away and has the Midas touch when I crack a tooth or lose a filling, occupational hazards
Servers who smile, make eye contact and say “Thank you,” when you leave a nice tip.
Servers who work cheerfully, despite all the jerk customers who do not smile, make eye contact or leave any tip.
The server who exhibited four-star hospitality when our road-weary group came in 10 minutes before closing on a quiet weeknight at a strip mall in North Charleston, S.C. She was energetic and accommodating, did not rush us, offered to box up leftovers and wrote the food item and diner’s name on each box, all with sweet, Southern charm. At a Carrabba’s Italian Grill, no less. Thank you, Lasasha, for taking pride in what you do.
The unsung heroes of every kitchen: the dishwashers who scrub pots and clean mats and the prep cooks who tirelessly peel and chop.
The wondrous Kagoshima pork belly ramen at Shimuja in Davie.
The luscious, housemade pappardelle with braised duck and orange liqueur at Pasta And … in Margate.
The hot Nashville chicken sandwich at Shake Shack, the burger chain that arrived in Fort Lauderdale this year.
Oceano Kitchen from chefs Jeremy and Cindy Bearman in Lantana and Stubborn Seed from chef Jeremy Ford in Miami Beach, the only two restaurants I awarded four stars
in the past year.
Ariete in Coconut Grove from chef Michael Beltran, an elevated, neighborhood eatery that I wish was in my neighborhood.
All those small, independent mom-and-pop restaurateurs who put in punishing hours, put up with hard-to-please customers and put out quality food in the face of shrinking margins. Please, keep doing what you do.
The Key lime pie at Beach House in Pompano Beach, a slice that rivals the one found at Joe’s Stone Crab.
The flan at Michael Schwartz’s Amara at Paraiso in Miami.
The Asian eateries and exotic treats found at the Foodtown shopping center in Davie.
Readers and eaters who send me comments and tips, along with the fun bunch that has gathered at Let’s Eat, South Florida, our recently launched Facebook
group focusing on food and restaurants.
Finally, the people who enriched our world so greatly and are gone too soon. I am grateful for the televised adventures and compelling humanity of Anthony Bourdain, who died in June at 61. I am grateful for the stunningly well-crafted words of the brilliant and passionate food critic Jonathan Gold, who died in July at 57. And I am grateful for the pot roast, jerk chicken and friendship of Ends Meat chef and restaurateur Kevin Dreifuss, who died in July at 34. I will raise a glass of Jameson-and-ginger ale to you at the holiday table.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.