Rita Karpie
Melbourne Beach, FL, Mayor Rita Karpie, passed Wednesday night. There will be a “Celebration of Life” in her honor Saturday July 23, 2011, at 6:30 pm at the Melbourne Beach Community Center. Bring pictures, memories and stories. Rita taught during a 30-year span at Brevard Community College, where she worked full-time as an assistant professor of biology. She coordinated Indian River Lagoon coastal cleanup campaigns and led students in removing invasive plants from Space Coast parks. She has always been a dedicated advocate of human rights and environmental issues. She made positive contributions to the lives of countless students and touched the lives of the community in meaningful and lasting ways. She was truly a gift to our community. Rita will be deeply missed. She really did make a difference.
From Legacy.com: Rita Ann Karpie, 61, of Melbourne Beach, FL passed away on July 6, 2011. She was born September 16, 1949 in Amityville, NY. She was serving as Mayor of Melbourne Beach and as Assistant Professor of Biology at Brevard Community College at the time of her passing. She held a Bachelor’s degree in environmental health from Old Dominion University, in VA, Master’s degree in biological sciences from Florida Tech in Melbourne. She was strongly involved in education and environmental issues and was an active member and volunteer of many organizations that support these concerns including but not least, the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, Barrier Island Center, Florida Native Plant Society, Service Learning Program, and Florida Academy of Sciences.
She is survived by brothers, Edward Karpie of VA, Michael Karpie of SC, and James Baker of CA; and a wonderful group of kids who grew up knowing her as Aunt Rita, and by the many people whose lives she had touched.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Rita Karpie Beach Overlook Fund at BB&T, 4401 Ocean Ave. Melbourne Bch., FL 32951. A celebration of her life will be held on July 23, 2011 at 6:30 at the Melbourne Beach Community Center. Bring pictures and memories and stories.