Jody Carol Rosier-Bonet was born December 9, 1961 in Orlando, Florida. From an early age, Jody loved the outdoors, a passion that never faded throughout her life. If you were spending time with Jody, you were bound to be swimming in the springs, discovering carnivorous plants in North Florida, or just dancing in the backyard while listening to Bob Marley.
Jody received her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Rollins College, and Master’s in Ecology from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Jody touched so many lives and changed communities wherever she journeyed in life. She had a special gift for weaving together education, community planning, cultural heritage and the arts. Her secret was her ability to bring diverse people together around a common purpose, with a special place in her heart for youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty.
It’s hard to accept a world without Jody in it, but her legacy lives on in her children, family, friends, and the communities she worked in.
Jody’s statewide impact began in 1995 when she worked for the Florida Audubon Society and the Florida Native Plant Society. In 1999, she moved to Fort Pierce where she spent a decade working in multiple capacities -- as the St. Lucie Cultural Affairs Director, Transit Manager, and the County’s first Grant Writer.
Even today, Jody’s legacy can be seen wherever you travel in Fort Pierce. From outdoor art installations, the award-winning Zora Neale Hurston Dust Tracks Trail, the Highwaymen Heritage Trail, and the dozens of mosaic benches by a local artist found along the waterfront, at libraries, museums and nature centers.
Jody is also remembered for bringing people together to organize Zora Fest – an inspirational and educational festival that honored the life of author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, who lived in Fort Pierce, until her death in 1960.
Jody also worked with the Southern Ute Indigenous Tribe in Colorado, and the Skokomish Indigenous Tribe in Washington State, where she passed away in Forks, Washington on June 23, 2021 after a long illness.
Jody leaves behind her mother Janice Rosier, father Joe Rosier, step-mother Sarabecca Rosier, husband Luis Bonet, sons Taylor Smith and Julian Bonet, brothers Chris Rosier and Jeff Rosier, sister Julie Rosier, step brother Jason Rosier, step sister Scarlett Rosier, sister-in-law Beth Rosier, and cousins Jack and Carol Rosier.
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