Bonnie Higbie, 69, a longtime Sun ‘n Fun volunteer, passed away Dec. 22, of heart failure.
Born June 30, 1940, in Hamilton, N.Y., she loved airplanes and traveling. She began volunteering at Sun ‘n Fun in 1981 in the media center. Just a few years later she was appointed to the media chairmanship, a post she held for 18 years. She then served as morning show co-host on Sun ‘n Fun Radio 1510 AM.
“Each morning, listeners heard her beautiful voice on the air talking about the second greatest love of her life — aviation (the greatest love of her life being her family),” said Dave Shellbetter, radio chairman (pictured above with Higbie). “In her voice, you could hear her love for the event and her excitement in being there. Besides the morning show, she helped with recorded interviews and special announcements.”
She also worked as an information specialist with the Florida Department of Transportation.
She is survived by her children, Brian Higbie and Dawn Richards; grandchildren, Matthew and Tom Higbie.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 14010 Roosevelt Blvd., Suite 709, Clearwater, Fla., 33762.
I have had way too many of these stories this year with both my Aviation Family and my Personal/Work Family, but none have shocked me more than this one. In my 20+ years of attending Sun ‘N Fun, there was a time or two, because of commitments at my plant, I almost didn’t make the trip, but I didn’t want to miss that patented “Bonnie Higbie Hug” so I rushed the trip for just a day or two on a weekend.
Her genuine love of people will be missed from every corner of her life. God Bless Bonnie Higbie, her family and everyone her sphear influence touched.
We will all miss her. She was a friend to all and was always encouraging me. She always made me feel welcome and helped to improve not only my interview techniques, but life in general. Thanks for taking the time to let us relive some of her past.
Gail Agnew
Bonnie Higbie lived the life of a true human being, the highest complement I can conjure.
She never failed to offer help to friends, she fretted and worried and helped her family — her number one priority — and was a tireless figure in whatever she tackled, whether her professional work or her decades of volunteer efforts for the Sun ‘n Fun family and friends.
She opened up her home to wayward traveling journalists, friends all, and never failed to make a friend feel truly appreciated and welcome at each new encounter.
The hardest part for me and, I’m certain, countless others, is the realization that for the first time in my near 30 years of coming to Lakeland, she will not be with us in life.
But her influence, her warmth and enthusiasm, will be felt always.
With sorrow at her passing, but with joy for the life she lived…
Dave Higdon