DAPHNE, Ala.—Daphne lost an icon Tuesday morning when former mayor, Augustine Victor Guarisco, 87, died while being treated at Mobile Infirmary.

Guarisco—who had partial lung removal from cancer 10 years ago—had acquired a respiratory infection around Christmas.

“He just never recovered (from the infection),” daughter-in-law Kathy Davis said.

Guarisco, a Daphne native, spent nearly half his life as a Jubilee City politician, serving as mayor from 1976 to 1992 and as a city councilman from 1952 to 1976.

“He left a legacy,” Mayor Fred Small said. “As the city grew, so did his legacy.”

During his time in office, Guarisco oversaw Daphne’s biggest expansion as he spearheaded the annexation of Lake Forest and Park City in 1988, which increased Daphne’s population from 4,600 to 13,100.

“Mayor Guarisco was instrumental in that whole process,” John Peterson—who served on the city council under Guarisco—said.

As a result of the city’s expansion,  Daphne passed its first $1 million budget in the fall of 1987; the city had come a long way since its humble beginnings.

“I remember when Daphne’s budget was $22,000,” Guarisco told the Daphne Bulletin more than 20 years ago.

“(The expansion) gave us the revenue to build the library, civic center, recreation center and other improvements,” said Harry Brown, mayor-elect in 1992 after Gaurisco retired. “We were just a sleepy little town until then."

Guarisco's administration created Daphne’s first municipal court in 1987.

“He also got the city’s first high-rise ladder fire truck,” Bill Russell—former councilman under Guarisco—said.

With Daphne's growth, in 1988, he created the city manager position, which oversaw all day-to-day operations.

“He was also instrumental in getting the Daphne Police Department a 42 percent increase in pay,” Russell said.

Besides being a politician, Guarisco was a farmer who grew pecans and corn across from Daphne Middle School’s present location on County Road 13. He also gardened—right through this past summer—tending to tomatoes, eggplant and squash.  He daily worked on crossword puzzles and kept stacks of puzzle books, according to family members. He served on the Baldwin County Tuberculosis Board, was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and was a member of two Italian clubs, Circolo de Trentino, in Baldwin, and The Italian American Cultural Society of the Southeast in Mobile.

Faith played a major role for this man, who helped build the original Christ the King Catholic Church—“He attended church every day,” Davis said.

Guarsico, descendant of one of Daphne’s founding families, was a World War II veteran, serving in the infantry while fighting in Europe for a country that never left his heart, according to family members.

"He was very patriotic," Davis said.

He also loved his family, and had a caring nature.

"He was encouraging and offered advice when we came to him and was careful not to tell us specifically what to do," Davis said. "He took great pride in our personal and professional accomplishments and enjoyed our successes. He also was very proud of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He regularly attended soccer games, piano and dance recitals, graduations and Confirmations."  

Guarisco is survived by his wife, Doris Davis Guarisco; three sons, William Robert Davis, of Helena, Ala., Thomas Frederick Davis of Mobile and Paul Z. Davis of Fairhope; his daughter Marilyn D. King of Daphne; two brothers, Julian Guarisco and Alfred Guarisco of Daphne; three sisters, Theresa G. Lynch of Fairhope, Angele "Teeny" Trione of Daphne and Cecilia G. Wood of Point Clear; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren, among other relatives and friends.

A Mass of Christian burial is set for noon Saturday at Christ the King Catholic Church.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until Mass begins; interment will be at Belforest Catholic Cemetery.

The family has asked that donations be made to Daphne Search and Rescue, 28280 N. Main St. The request is understandable; Guarisco's love of duck hunting led to a near-fatal incident that forever entwined him and the team.

“He got stuck in the mud flats in Mobile Bay,” Davis said.

“Daphne Search and Rescue basically saved his life.”