Dewey Beach remembers its first mayor

Bruce Vavala, Dewey Beach’s first mayor, died May 3.

Vavala, who led the town from 1981-83 and from 1987-91, was first sworn in at an evening beach bonfire. 

The 28-year-old mayor went surfing the next day, an exploit noted in national media when reporters tried unsuccessfully to speak with the youngest mayor of the country’s newest town on his first day in office.

Vavala had been part of a contingent of Dewey residents, including Harry Wilson, who worked toward the town’s 1981 incorporation.

Wilson said he knew Vavala his entire life. Every day after work, Vavala would take Wilson and his friends to Indian River Inlet or Ocean City to surf.

“Our families grew up together,” Wilson said. “He introduced me and a whole bunch of guys to surfing. That opened up things for a lot of us.”

Wilson’s parents owned Wilson’s Variety Store, where Vavala worked while in high school and college. They later sold the shop to Vavala, who renamed it Vavala’s Beach Things.

Before the town was incorporated, Wilson said the City of Rehoboth Beach was trying to annex Dewey.

“Bruce and I were involved with the ‘Don’t Do it, Dewey’ [movement], which turned into the Dewey Beach Citizens Association,” Wilson said. “One thing led to another, and he and my mom were on the first council.”

Wilson laughed, recalling Vavala’s publication of an article in a surfer magazine.

“They called him the surfing mayor,” Wilson said. “There was a picture of him wearing flip-flops with his feet up on the desk.” 

Early town Commissioner Brooks Banta said Vavala took the required papers to the General Assembly in Dover to make way for the town’s incorporation.

“Bruce was the man of the hour,” Banta said.

Vavala was so ingenious, Banta said, that he personally erected the town’s first parking permit signs to generate income for the fledgling municipality. Vavala also established the town’s first police department.

“The town was getting out of control,” Banta said. “And Bruce was the man, in my opinion, to take control and get the job done.”

Vavala deserves credit not just for the town’s incorporation, but also for getting it to where it is today, Banta said. Always a professional, he demanded respect for himself and town employees.

“And if you didn’t treat him with respect, he had a way of making you feel uncomfortable,” Banta said. “Thank God for Bruce’s public service. He’ll be sorely missed.”

Longtime friend and former Commissioner Alex Pires said everyone knew the founding father of Dewey Beach, and he knew everyone too.

“Met him in 1977 and liked him immediately – his big, unique personality; his passion for life; and, most of all, his sharp tongue and quick wit,” Pires said. “Dewey has a reputation for attracting characters. It all began with Bruce Vavala. We will miss him.”

Former commissioner and Mayor Bob Frederick said it was an honor to follow Vavala as a town leader.

“He really helped set the pace of goodness and caring for our future mayors,” Frederick said. “He was a great guy, and his family and mine became good friends.”

A former teacher who taught math in Newark and Seaford schools, Vavala was also a Realtor. 

“He actually sold me my first property in Dewey,” Frederick said. “He took me under his wings and introduced me to everyone. He was one of a kind.”

“It’s a sad day,” said Mayor Bill Stevens, who noted that Vavala and his co-founders did the hard work for the town by creating its charter and code.

“Because of Bruce’s leadership and vision as mayor, the town has evolved into what it is today,” Stevens said.

Going surfing on his first day in office has become the stuff of legend, Town Manager Bill Zolper said.

“Any time you take on the task of chartering and starting a town, that's a huge task,” Zolper said. “Bruce took it on with the energy and emotion he is known for. Bruce is part of the town, and it’s a huge loss.”

The Starboard owner Steve “Monty” Montgomery said Vavala is one of Dewey's most iconic people.

“Seeing Bruce walk over and open his store daily, getting time to chat daily with him on all the fun Dewey drama as the seasons change around here, that was always a highlight, as we all prefer to take things with a grain of salt around these parts,” Montgomery said. 

Like many in the community, Montgomery said, his daughter had Vavala’s wife Eileen as her first-grade teacher. Occasionally, Montgomery said he’d get a call or text with a smiley face from Vavala on a night a band played at The Starboard.

“He'd simply say, ‘Monty, Mrs. Vavala is trying to sleep so she isn't cranky for her students tomorrow morning, maybe that band sound could be turned down a notch or two!’” Montgomery said. “We'd get a laugh out of it the next morning as he stopped by on his walk to his store.”

A personality and businessman of Vavala’s nature will be missed dearly, Montgomery said, not only for his leadership, but as a friend to many.

“There will not be a day moving forward where many of us in this community do not think of Bruce Vavala,” Montgomery said. “His loving family is family to us all here; we look forward to spending time with all of them, including his fast-growing grandchildren. We'll look after them just as Bruce did so many of us as we grew up in Dewey!”

Jimmy O’Conor, owner of Woody’s Dewey Beach, located just next to Vavala’s Beach Things, said Vavala was one of the first people he met when he came to town.

“We were neighbors who became really good friends,” O’Conor said. “We would sit out front every morning and just talk about whatever. He showed me the ropes; he was one of a kind.”

Vavala was Woody’s top Pepsi consumer and official bacon tester. Just about every morning, he’d come in for a slice of white bread and two pieces of just-cooked bacon. He gave a thumbs-up 99% of the time, O’Conor said with a laugh.

O’Conor recalled fun days they’d spend ribbing each other on the golf course, or sitting on Vavala’s deck just talking about Dewey Beach.

“He was a good friend and a good man, and I’m going to miss him dearly,” O’Conor said. “The town won’t be the same without him.” 

Services for Vavala will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 8, at St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church, Rehoboth Beach, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m.