TAMPA, FL -- On a rainy Friday morning, nearly 1,000 people gathered at Temple Schaarai Zedek on Swann Avenue on Friday to remember Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Phyllis Busansky. She died Tuesday in St. Augustine, where she was attending a meeting.
In addition to family and friends, the service, which began around 11:00 a.m., was attended by many prominent Tampa and Hillsborough County politicians, including Mayor Pam Iorio and former Mayor Dick Greco.
Rabbi Richard Birholz officiated.
Some of Busansky's favorite music was reggae, which was playing as mourners took their seats.
Her open, gregarious style was what the former county commissioner and newly-elected elections supervisor was known for.
A woman who wasn't afraid to tackle tough problems, Pat bean said she gave Busansky one of her first jobs, and that her legacy will be as the primary author of Hillsborough County's health care plan for the indigent.
"We didn't always agree on how it should be done, but out of all of that came a wonderful legacy," Bean said.
Bean said Busansky was already showing her passion as elections supervisor, if only for the past five months.
Busansky, who was 72, is survived by her husband Sheldon, three children and nine grandchildren.
