EUSTIS, Fla.—A longtime volunteer who has helped keep the Lake Eustis shoreline clean for nearly half a decade was honored Friday after Eustis Mayor Willie Hawkins proclaimed July 7, “Pat Davis Day.”
With Lake Eustis in the background, Hawkins read Davis the proclamation Friday, accompanied by Vice-Mayor Gary Ashcraft and City Manager Tom Carrino, recognizing Davis’ efforts with CleanUp Eustis. Volunteers were also in attendance for the celebration.
Davis, 95, and a resident of Eustis for 47 years, has volunteered with CleanUp Eustis for more than four years, CleanUp Eustis Founder Christine Cruz said, “She’s become a living example of what it means to truly love your city.”
Armed with a garden rake and determination, Davis began restoring the lakefront on her own. She cleared invasive plants and revealed what many had forgotten — Lake Eustis once had a beautiful sandy beach. “Because of Pat’s efforts and the history she uncovered, the City of Eustis added a beach area to the Downtown Master Plan. Her restoration work reminded us that the lake’s edge used to be a sandy beach, and her vision inspired city leaders to reimagine what it could be again for future generations to enjoy,” according to Cruz.
Her work inspired a new generation of environmental stewards, “Students have tried to keep up with her and most couldn’t. Her family has learned from her example, and they also volunteer as environmental stewards here and around the world,” Cruz said. “Pat’s dedication to conservation, her humility, and her heart are reminders that age is no limit to making a difference. She is living proof that love for a place, and the will to protect it, can leave a legacy far greater than any of us can measure. Thank you, Pat. Eustis is better because of you.”
