Robert “Robbie” Ramsey Creal, who led the Flagler Beach Fire Department for 26 years between 1976 and 2002 and subsequently led the Flagler Beach Historical Museum, died at his home on North 5th Street over the weekend. He was 75.
He had been known as the city’s historian, and was a member of the Flagler County Historical Society, among other groups, and continued to volunteer his time in public safety roles. He was a director of the Flagler Beach Volunteer Firemen’s Association, a role he held for decades.
The cause or time of his death is not yet clear. Creal had last driven his truck at the beginning of last week, according to license plate reader data, when he was part of a brief ceremony outside City Hall, where the last picture of him was taken. He was in full uniform for the occasion, a $20,000 donation to place AEDs for public access around town.
On Monday his sister in Port Orange hadn’t heard from him since Saturday and asked Flagler Beach police to check on him. Officers did so, entering the house with the code she provided. Creal appeared to have died more than a day earlier. There were no signs of struggle, forced entry or injury. Creal had been at his laptop.
Creal became a member of the volunteer fire department in 1972, when he was 21. The position became a full-time job in 1989. “He was a good chief. He knew his job and he did it well, in my book,” Ed Kuhnlein, a city commissioner at the time, was quoted as saying in a News-Journal report at the time of Creal’s retirement. “He took care of the fires in this community, he extinguished them and he had a good cadre of people.”
Creal’s departure was not quite voluntary, occurring the day a city police investigation concluded that as chief, Creal had “used marijuana, provided drugs and alcohol to underage volunteers and looked the other way as underage youths used city computers to view pornography,” according to a news report at the time.
Creal had failed a drug test that summer and been suspended. He attributed the incident to a lapse in judgment. Creal continued to serve with the Flagler Beach Fire Police. In 2013, then-City Manager Bruce Campbell offered Creal the acting fire chief position but soon declined after issues arose over his certification, which was not current. He continued his involvement in civic and historical issues and participated in the city’s centennial last year. He served on the county’s centennial committee in 2016-17 alongside local luminaries. In January he was instrumental in hiring Sheila Pillath to be the director of the museum.
A member of the museum board posted a tribute to Creal on the museum’s Facebook page, reflecting on Creal’s surreal absence in the museum. The post elicited numerous responses, one of them calling Creal “the soul of our mission as a museum. His contributions to the museum and our little town were significant and innumerable. He will be greatly missed and always appreciated for his selfless and unflagging support for our museum and community.”
Craig’s Flagler Palms removed the body after the medical examiner released it, though a physician declined to sign the death certificate. The Flagler Beach Police Department is continuing an investigation into Creal’s death and criminally concerning findings at his home, from where four laptops and an iPad were seized as evidence, as was a 6TB storage device that had been connected to one of the laptops, according to 911 dispatch notes.
Correction: While Robbie Creal led the Flagler Beach Historical Museum, he was not its founder. Catherine Wilson was.
JimboXYZ says
RIP, he lived to the age of 75, right at the average lifespan of the average Flagler County, FL & USA, white, male demographic. The 1st 18 years of anyone’s life is childhood, the last decade or so, coasting to the finish line. Everything in between, the best years of anyone’s life with a requirement to work that 8 AM-5 PM shift +/-5 days a week for employed. That’s what we all should have for expectations, beyond that, a bonus of OT for days, months or years. Live it to the fullest.
JAFO says
Chief Creal was a stand up guy who was always there to lend a helping hand. I am saddened by his sudden departure from us. I was a FF with the Flagler Beach Fire Department from 1996 till 2001. I spent my years as a Firefighter I working alongside Chief Creal. He inspired me to become a career Firefighter. I worked countless hours/days during the 1998 Wildfires and Chief Creal was always there. His dedication and commitment to the city was another thing that inspired me to to be the man that I am today. Chief, you will be missed dearly.
JimboXYZ says
Uggghhhh, as I read the story deeper than the age. This guy had a career of mischief at the very least. And in his death they seized computers and are investigating that to smear his name further, post mortem. Is this what we’ve become as a society ? What is the angle for a relative criminal investigation ?
More than meets the eyes says
Maybe to help identify potential victims. People are not always who they pretend to be.
JAFO says
The man is dead. What does it matter now?
DC says
Chief Creal , you will be truly missed. Thank you for your many, many years of service and dedication. A true local legend and friend to many of us real locals. He was also a huge supporter of us Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue Lifeguards and helped us acquire much needed safety equipment and gear. Rest in Power Sir , we lost an Icon.
DC
Barbara Revels says
My mother Catherine Wilson started the Flagler Beach Historical Museum and was president for many years. I know she worked with Robbie and appreciated his dedication and knowledge.
Lance Carroll says
Rob Creal held a huge amount of historical knowledge of Flagler Beach and Flagler County. He dedicated himself to our community and the safety of our community. Rob Creal was instrumental in establishing a formidable lifeguard corp that was made up of a strong and knowledgeable group that grew up running along the sands of Flagler Beach. RIP Rob Creal.
Me says
A Flagler Beach icon and he passes away and they take his computer to investigate him. Why? His family is still mourning and this is being done for what purpose. Very tasteless and cruel.
DC says
So True , Me too ! Truly tasteless to mention at all ,, got to remember who runs this I guess ! Respect to our lost friend
DC
JAFO says
Shame on you Flagler Beach Police Department!!!! This man has served this community probably longer than all of your sworn Officer combined, now you wan to dig up his past? SMFH!!
Monsters among us says
John Wayne Gacy was a pillar in his community.