Jane Gentile-Youd, a longtime participant in Flagler County’s local political scene, passed away on Thursday at the age of 82. She had reportedly been battling health issues for years, according to FlaglerLive who was first to report the news.
In both 2018 and 2022, Gentile-Youd ran for the Flagler County Commission in District 4. She came up short in both races, losing to Joe Mullins the first time and to Leann Pennington the second. Still, her voice remained an active one in county affairs in various areas.
Near the forefront of Gentile-Youd’s advocacy was the Old Dixie Motel, which sat abandoned for years on Old Dixie Highway just off of I-95. In March 2025, Gentile-Youd saw what she had long hoped for: the run-down building’s demolition by its owner.
In other areas, Gentile-Youd was as bold as she was impassioned. She advocated against conventional sentiment to repurpose funding from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to the county’s fire departments, and to expand public comment periods from three minutes per person to five. At times her frankness drew the ire of public officials. She never appeared deterred.
In her personal life, Gentile-Youd had been married to her husband Mark since 1991. She came out of New York, went to school at the University of Michigan, and planted her roots in Flagler County to become a real estate broker.
Thank you, Jane, for all you did for Flagler County and the work you did in Miami as well. You were an amazing force to be reckoned with. Full of passion and determination. You proved multiple times that one person can make a difference. I am happy you were able to see The Old Dixie Hotel torn down and removed after years of fighting with the county to make it happen.