A beloved former fire chief and city councilman who spent his retirement dedicated to philanthropy died Saturday.
Robert “Buddy” Bagley, 86, served 16 years as fire chief before he retired in 1986. He had been with the department for 35 years, according to his obituary, and was the city’s longest serving chief.
He went on to serve a term on the City Council before working in banking and volunteering.
Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff said Bagley was a leader who put others before himself.
“Chesapeake lost one of its first citizens, an ambassador, a cheerleader, and visionary,” Krasnoff said. “Buddy Bagley’s concerns for those who built Chesapeake never waned.” He contributed so much that former Mayor Bill Ward gave him the nickname “Mr. Chesapeake.” At Chesapeake City Park, there’s a statue of Bagley and a stage named after him. Bagley was the reason the city had the park and the outdoor performance venue, said Stephen Best, another former fire chief.