The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners held its regularly scheduled meeting on June 13 with a welcome gesture and announcement from Chairman John Allocco, asking the county commissioners to designate a resolution in memory of beloved former Hernando County Commissioner Frances June Ester. Ester passed away on May 20, and it was fitting that the county to which she wholeheartedly devoted her time and public service would honor her at the meeting. The resolution expressed the county’s appreciation for her many contributions.
“On May 20, we lost a member of our community-June was the first female county commissioner here in Hernando County,” Allocco stated. He then proceeded to read the resolution in its entirety, noting that Ester served the county from 1988 to 1996 with a “passion and optimism for which she will be remembered as she sought continuously to make Hernando County a better place to live and work.”
Allocco then added that he had the opportunity to attend Ester’s memorial held on June 5th, indicating that it was well-attended and previous and current staff members were also present, along with former Hernando County Sheriff Tom Mylander. “It was good to see people remembering her for her accomplishments,” stated Allocco. “ It is easy for us to forget or maybe to not even know who she was- it was a while that she was on this board, but she definitely broke some glass ceilings here in Hernando County when she became the first female commissioner and then the first chairwoman of Hernando County Commissioners.”
Commissioner and Vice Chairman Elizabeth Narverud also recognized Ester and thanked the commissioners for adopting the resolution, adding, “ Through the years, June was very encouraging to me as a female person in government. She encouraged me when I was on the school board; when I ran for county commission. She was a wonderful lady, and it was really nice to see how many people attended the services because she really did make a big impact in our communities.”
Commissioners then passed the resolution unanimously, which was partly written, honoring Ester’s accomplishments and expressing sympathy and gratitude to Ester’s family for her service to the community.
Nick Morana, a long-time resident of Spring Hill, stated he remembers Ester from the early days of Spring Hill and remembers her fondly.
Morana, who has been a resident for 41 years, recalls, “June was a very good member of the Spring Hill Civic Association, which was the first organization to take place in Spring Hill. She then later became a county commissioner- very interested in the community, was very, very honest, and very conscientious about her job. She is missed.” There was no shortage of compliments and good words to honor a much-respected county commissioner.
Debbie Walker Druzbick, Enrichment Centers Director, remarked, “She was a great woman. She and I have Kentucky in common! June was very level-headed. She was able to get everyone on the same page. In the early 1990s, you could find June and Pat Fleck having meetings to fundraise for local charities or getting streetlights on Spring Hill Drive! They were very instrumental in developing Spring Hill! June was always doing something for the community until the day she died. She touched a lot of people and definitely left her mark on Hernando County! She had the best smile and will be missed dearly.”
