James Fleming

Obituary

Southwest Florida loses a great leader.

Local political activist, Jim Fleming, a Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, at the Southwest Regional Medical Center in Fort Myers. Fleming was 61.

A longtime resident of Lehigh Acres, he is survived by his wife, Charlotte Marie, children, James Withrow, Sharye McDonald, Abby Dillon and Janet Withrow; grandchildren, Heather Withrow, Riley Best, Josie Altamirano and Jesse Altimirano; siblings, Therese Fleming, Gerry Fleming, Peggy Fleming and Patty Fleming.

Fleming, a 1968 graduate of the University of Miami, was a sales and marketing professional who opened his first business, Fleming, Gitz and Westburg Advertising, Inc., in Fort Myers in 1972.

He sold the business in 1976, then became Senior Vice President of Marketing for GAC/Avatar, the developers of Cape Coral. Fleming successfully served with two of the largest development companies in the world - the Lehigh Corporation and the Deltona Corporation, developers of Lehigh Acres and Marco Island respectively.

At the time of his death, Fleming was an independent Florida real estate broker and marketing consultant regarded as an expert in the field of marketing, rehabilitating and modernizing antiquated platted subdivisions throughout the state of Florida.

Fleming was known throughout Florida as a tireless civic volunteer shepherding many grass-roots political organizations and movements promoting the betterment of the community in which he lived. He was a constant strong voice advocating for issues affecting his beloved home of Lehigh Acres.

He also was well known along the sidelines of a Canes football game for more than three decades where, in his persona of "Yamma, Yamma," Fleming led the Cane faithful acting as the University of Miami's No. 1 fan. A tribute to him can be found at www.miami.scout.com in the football forum list.

Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 1999 to the East County Water Control District, and re-elected by affirmation in 2000, and 2004, Fleming decided to make a run this year for a state legislative seat.

On Friday, Feb. 18, 2006, Fleming formally announced his candidacy for the Florida House of Representatives, District 73.

There will be a public viewing Friday, March 3, 2006, from 2- 4 and 6-8 p.m. and again on Saturday, March 4, 2006, from 12:30-1:15 p.m. at Farley Funeral Home, 1100 Lee Boulevard, Lehigh Acres. A Mass of Rite of Christian Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church, 2514 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the University of Miami, School of Music, Band of the Hour, 201 Fillmore Hall, 5501 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146. Please mark: U of M BAND OF THE HOUR.

For more information, please contact Curt Middleton at 239-246-0916.