PALM BAY, Fla. – Palm Bay is honoring a longtime deputy police chief who died earlier this year.
- Palm Bay park to be renamed in honor of former police chief
- West Oaks Park is now Lynne Manion Nungesser Park
- Lynne Nungesser died this past Mother's Day
"It's surreal," says the family of Lynne Nungesser, who died from cancer this past Mother's Day.
"There's nothing more fitting than following in her footsteps," her son Philip Nungesser said.
Philip Nungesser is an eight-year veteran of the Palm Bay Police force. He wouldn't be here today, if his mother Lynne hadn't put on the uniform long before him.
"I had a passion for law enforcement because it runs in our family, bloodline," he said.
Lynne Nungesser served the city for 40 years. She began as an 18-year-old working in the records department. She rose to the rank of captain, becoming the first woman in county history to hold the post.
She rounded out her lengthy career by becoming the first female deputy chief in department history.
"My biggest memories were at the ball field," Lynne's oldest son Tim said.
But Lynne often swapped the beat, for a bat.
"She did everything from coaching, to playing, to keeping score," he said.
She also kept tabs on her three baseball-playing sons at the field and ones across the city.
Lynne Nungesser passed away Mother's Day after battling lung cancer. And now, the city she helped protect is guarding her memory forever.
"I saw a call on our screen the other day and saw they've already renamed our park on the computer screen," Philip Nungesser said, with tears in his eyes.
West Oaks Park off Lamplighter Drive is now Lynne Manion Nungesser Park.
"She never liked the spotlight, it's a fitting tribute," her son Tim said.
"She was a very important role model in our lives," Philip Nungesser added.
Some 75 family members will join the community for a renaming ceremony at the park Saturday.