After 30-plus years of managing Beachplace, head staffer bids farewell

For more than 30 years, Bob Kolesa has been answering calls from whoever needed his assistance at Beachplace Association, whether to save a life or any other unexpected request that comes up in a day. This weekend, he celebrated those years of keeping operations running smoothly at the condominium complex as he heads into retirement with his wife, Keena.

Jack Keelin, prior board president at the association, shared his appreciation for Kolesa's dedication to the job, saying few could match his commitment to assisting residents day and night. He continued to grow from when he was first hired as a landscaping expert.

"He was an extremely hard worker, dedicated to Beachplace," Keelin said. "He really showed his stuff recently, after Hurricane Milton."

Photo by Dana Kampa

Keelin described how Bob led the massive effort to remove all the debris from the property and help bring some normalcy to complex residents dealing with the devastating aftermath. He headed a team of 20 temporary employees, joining the regular team he manages.

"We got the place cleaned up in record time because of his efforts," Keelin beamed.

He said Bob established himself as an exemplary, hardworking self-starter who would answer calls at any hour and they will sorely miss him, adding the couple is welcome back anytime.

When asked what he appreciated most about his tenure as maintenance manager, Bob said he liked the camaraderie among his team and having the know-how to answer the unpredictable challenges of the day.

"It's a sweet end to working here," he said of the "Bon voyage" celebration on Sunday, where dozens of attendees enjoyed cake and swapped stories. "But it will never really end."

His most memorable challenge was responding to a call for a man who had collapsed on a tennis court in the early 2010s. 

Bob quickly hopped in his cart, sped to the scene, and administered resuscitative aid. Successfully bringing someone back from an arrest is difficult, even in the best conditions, but Bob said he was lucky that day to save a life.

Bob and Keena said at the retirement party they look forward to enjoying some extended travel plans, though they plan to remain based in Florida.

Keena has her own impressive record with the association, working for 26 years in event planning and whatever needs arose in a day.

While the excitement builds for their travel plans, Bob said he is eager to spend plenty of time with family, including their son, Brian, a firefighter on Longboat Key, and their 7-year-old granddaughter.