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Longtime Tarpon city official Juan Cruz, 77, retires

Mark Schantz/SUNCOAST

Tarpon Springs Public Services Director Juan Cruz was cleaning out his office this week. Cruz, 77, has retired after working for the city 43 years.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: October 20, 2009

Updated:

TARPON SPRINGS - Public Services Director Juan Cruz has retired after working for the city 43 years.

During his tenure, Cruz, 77, developed the city's parks and recreation units and served dozens of city commissioners, mayors and city managers.

"I always tried to learn something from every commissioner, mayor or city manager and treat each one equally," Cruz said in an interview Monday. "If you play favorites that's when you get yourself into trouble."

At the end of his four decades he helped lead the parks and recreation and the Public Works Department, the municipal marina, the city-owned Tarpon Springs Golf Course, Cycadia Cemetery and several athletic fields and nature parks.

At one time or another he was also called on to serve as the acting city manager.

Tuesday afternoon, City Manager Mark LeCouris said he was weighing his options when it comes to replacing Cruz. Cruz' retirement could present an opportunity to reshape the city staff structure, LeCouris said.

LeCouris, who has known the man he refers to as "Mr. Cruz" since he was a young man, said of his retirement, "We're going to all miss seeing him every day."

"He has also been a wealth of past knowledge when we wanted to know the history behind an issue or something," LeCouris said.

Cruz said he has been privileged to have seen "Tarpon Springs grow into the full-service city it is today."

During his time with the city, Cruz said, he was able to surround himself with "an excellent and dedicated staff" that has become his family. He listened to what they had to say and was open to new ideas.

Having worked since he was 13, Cruz plans to remain busy during retirement and travel with his wife Cindy, to whom he has been married for the last 15 years. This week he cleaned out his office at City Hall, noting he will undoubtedly miss his extended family there.

Read more on the retirement of Juan Cruz in the Oct. 24 North Pinellas print edition of The Suncoast News.

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