- March 6, 2025
Jerry Full was an outdoorsman. He loved to kayak and canoe. He practically lived on his sailboat. Full, a gentleman who was known to be persistent, died March 28, at Cedar Manor Nursing Home, in Ossining, N.Y. He was 86.
Full and his wife, Robin, moved to Palm Coast in 1982, long before Palm Coast was a city, and when few traffic lights were needed to maintain civility on local roads.
Full worked for ITT Community Development Corp. until retirement. He later successfully ran for a seat on the Palm Coast City Council in 1999 — the first year Palm Coast was a city.
Current Mayor Jon Netts eventually defeated Full for a seat on the City Council.
Netts said on Monday that Full was always a gentleman, regardless of how opinionated he was on issues.
“No matter how passionate or dedicated, he never once — to the best of my recollections — ever deviated from the path of absolute stability and gentlemanly behavior,” Netts said.”
Full was a civic leader. He was involved with animal rights, he supported environmental rights, and he was a staunch supporter of the cultural arts.
Jerry and Robin Full led a group called the Movers and Shakers, and they often hosted social events for the group at their home. They were also the founders of the Palm Coast Yacht Club.
Kevan Full, one of Jerry and Robin’s two children, recalled Monday afternoon from his New York home that much of his childhood was spent on the water. Kevan said he and his sister, Frances, often traveled with their parents.
“He loved puns,” Kevan Full said. “They were typically pretty bad, but he used them frequently. He got chuckles from friends and colleagues, but my poor mother had to put up with them.”
Robin Full died in 2007.
Before moving to Palm Coast, Full did public relations work for Eastern Air Lines for eight years, including representing the company in the aftermath of a crash in the Florida Everglades. While working for the airline, the Fulls traveled extensively.
Kevan Full said Monday that Australia might be the only continent that his parents didn’t set foot on.
Full’s travels led to his passion for the environment, Netts said.
“He was an ardent environmentalist and lobbied the city to do things that would enhance its environmental sensitivity,” Netts said, noting that Full was a strong supporter of the Long’s Landing acquisition.
Full wanted public access to the Intracoastal Waterway and bike paths and trails for residents. He wanted them to experience what he loved.
“He was very passionate about the city providing facilities like that for our folks,” Netts added.
In a way, Full was optimistically a pessimist, his son said.
“He didn’t expect a whole lot from humanity, but he enjoyed surprises when things worked out the way he had hoped they would,” Kevan Full said.
A memorial service will be held in Palm Coast at a time to be determined. Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to be made to the Nature Conservancy or the Audubon Society.
“He will be missed,” Netts said.
