A mixture of memories, barbs and bittersweet emotion characterized the Villages Homeowners Association’s roast of Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant, Nehemiah Wolfe, who will officially retire from law enforcement on Sept. 30 after more than thirty years service.
Sheriff Bill Farmer thanked the VHA for honoring his Villages area commander with such a great outpouring of gratitude — and noted each one of the people who participated in the roast, and those in the crowded audience, had nothing but admiration and love in their hearts for Lt. Wolfe, and what he has done for the community over the years.
“Lt. Wolfe shook a lot of these good people down for money,” Sheriff Farmer said, “always to help support great programs for children and our indigent elderly, and they loved him for it. He was always a champion for two segments of our society — the abused and the defenseless.”
In honoring Lt. Wolfe, Sheriff wished him good luck and health in his future endeavors and described him as a man who truly made a difference in his community.
Staff and deputies headquartered at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Annex on CR 466 will be able to enjoy the larger-than-life cardboard image of their retiring commander, Wolfe, which will be displayed at their facility.
Roasters on the dais included Villages Vice President Gary Lester; Recreation Department Director John Rohan; Sumter County Commission Chairman Don Hahnfeldt, and VHA President Fred Briggs. The lineup of roasters continued with The Villages former district manager, Pete Wahl; Rotarian and friend, Fred Gibbons, and former County Commissioner Dick Hoffman.
Among a large number of other dignitaries in the audience were Villages District Manager Janet Tutt; Lady Lake Mayor Ruth Kussard, Lady Lake Police Chief Chris McKinstry — plus many other elected officials, commissioners and district supervisors. A large contingent of Sheriff’s office volunteers and officers, and members of the NYPD 10-13 club, were also on hand to honor Lt. Wolfe.
The audience rolled with laughter as the one-liners and jabs flew — about Lt. Wolfe’s “tough” management style; glazed doughnuts, admirable weight loss and fear of snakes. Recreation Director, John Rohan, dubbed Lt. Wolfe an honorary Villages resident, presenting him with a large personalized Villages I.D. and his very own pool noodle.
Former district manager, Pete Wahl, now working with Rep. Marlene O’Toole’s staff, tempered his remarks, feigning fear because so many persons in the room, including the roastee, were wearing tasers and side arms.
Former Lady Lake Police Chief Ed Nathanson, called Lt. Wolfe a ‘wonder of the world.’ “We always wondered where he was, what he was doing and why he behaved so strangely. He noted the Sheriff’s annex will change all the locks on their doors after the lieutenant leaves their employ — but in a more serious vein, Nathanson cited Lt. Wolfe’s three beloved families: his immediate family; his law enforcement family and his community family. “He is both a tough law man and a teddy bear,” Nathanson said. “We will all miss him greatly.”
Tutt, presented Lt. Wolfe with a declaration of thanks for his dedicated service, signed by all the elected Community Development District chairs. Charlie Moynihan, of the retired New York Police Department’s 10-13 club, presented Lt. Wolfe with a plaque from their members — “fellow law enforcement brothers.”
Wolfe felt like a Hollywood star, as the large crowd of people lined up to wish him well; take photos with him and enjoy coffee and cake.