WILLIAM "PETE" SAWYER's Obituary
SAWYER
William Glenn “Pete” Sawyer, died in the loving care of his family December 4th. Born in Nassau Bahamas April 25th 1925, where both of his parents trace their heritage back to the Eleuthera Adventurers of the 1640s. Pete Sawyer came to Miami in 1929 after the 1928 hurricane destroyed his family’s Nassau home. He attended Southside Elementary, School, Ada Merritt Junior High and graduated from Miami Senior High in 1943. Sawyer’s academic success and patriotic community work got him recommendations to the U.S. Naval Academy by both Senators Claude Pepper and Charles O. Andrews. William Sawyer graduated from the Naval Academy in 1948. He was stationed at the submarine base in New London CT, where he met the young Irish beauty, Shelia Burnell. They were married in 1953 and for almost 61 years Sheila was the great love of his life followed by Miami, its waterfronts, and jazz. After his Naval service, he joined his father in Miami at the Carl Sawyer Steamship Agency, which was one of the first freight concessions from the Port of Miami to the Caribbean basin. The Sawyers were the largest suppliers of cargo to the Flagler Railroad from the Eastern Seaboard to the Caribbean. Pete Sawyer’s professional shipping industry experience and his affection and passion for South Florida brought him leadership roles and honors in a number of community service organizations: The Miami River Commission, Admiral in Power Squadron, Users Advisory Board for the construction of the Port of Miami, a lifetime Rotarian, and, as president of the Miami Propeller Club, spearheaded and inaugurated the commission of the nuclear submarine the USS Miami. William “Pete” Sawyer is survived by his wife Sheila Burnell Sawyer; daughter Carlene Sawyer (David), sons Douglas (Liane), Jeffrey, William junior, and grandchildren Bridget Sawyer-Revels and Matthew Sawyer. Funeral services will be held 1:30pm. Tuesday December 10, at First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables, 536 Coral Way. A celebration of Pete Sawyer’s life will be hosted by his family from 5:30pm to 8pm at the Coral Reef Yacht Club Tuesday, December 10. Pete Sawyer asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Coral Gables Rotary Club, where he was a member for 45 years.
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