HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to Augustus Tamburro, the former Mayor of Evesham’s twin town of Evesham Township in New Jersey, who has passed away at the age of 81.
Known as Gus, the respected former figurehead of the Vale’s twin town was a champion of the link between the two Evesham’s and was Mayor of Evesham, NJ for four terms from 1991 to 2007.
Speaking to the Observer, Coun John Smith who chairs Evesham Twinning Association paid tribute to Gus and said members from both towns had shared happy times in the Vale and in the USA.
“Gus loved the UK with all its history and always commented we have dogs in the UK older than the history of the USA!,” he said.
“He and his wife Edith loved the history of Evesham and no matter what trips we arrived for our visiting twinners, Gus always wanted to visit The Fleece at Bretforton and tour the Cotswolds with all its beauty and his wife insisted on visiting Bourton-on-the-Water.”
“A lasting memory of Gus being with us in the UK was on one of the visits it was local election time and Gus insisted on coming canvassing with me and talking to local people about their concerns,” Coun Smith added.
Gus’s work in running a law office with his son Jim would see him invite visiting twinners from the Vale into the courthouse where he would often introduce his ‘friends from Evesham, England’ to the assembled court.
“In his capacity as mayor he was able to carry out wedding ceremonies and the same thing happened,” Coun Smith added.
After his retirement from public life, the then Mayor of Evesham, NJ renamed the town’s courthouse the Gus Tamburro Courtroom.
“It was an honour and pleasure that our twinners were present to witness the ceremony,” Coun Smith said.
“Frances and I had the pleasure of attending his son Jim’s wedding in Cape May and a daughter’s wedding in Mexico. Gus is survived by his wife Edith, five children, 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
“He was a true man of the people and will be sadly missed by all who knew him, both here in the Uk and his home town of Evesham, New Jersey. RIP Gus,” he added.
