JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A man who greeted the beaches community with a smile for 40 years is being remembered.
The longtime maître d’ of the Casa Marina Hotel and Restaurant in Jacksonville Beach -- Sterling Joyce -- has died. He was 71 years old.
Joyce died after what the family described as a long-term illness.
Jackie Davis, Joyce’s cousin, shared photos with News4JAX and said the family is overwhelmed by the support from the community.
She says her memories of him, are also of a perfect gentleman and brilliant role model who she says partnered with her on many charity events, giving back to their community.
“I’m gonna miss him so much,” Davis said. “Words can’t express right now how I feel, and I just want to say thank you to everybody who loved Sterling, who befriended him, who showed up at the Casa Marina to his amazing birthday parties, his amazing events.”
For the past several years, in lieu of bringing gifts to his large birthday bashes, Joyce would ask guests to donate to BEAM -- a nonprofit, servicing low-income residents at the beaches.
Beaches Museum shared the news on social media:
Joyce retired from the historic Casa Marina hotel in July but continued to help different charities in the community.
He appeared on River City Live just days before his retirement party to talk about the impact he’s had in our local beaches for four decades. Watch below: