Delaware leaders mourn former Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki who has died at age 80.
Purzycki first held public office when elected to New Castle County Council in 1982, where he served as Council's Finance Committee chair for nine years.
He returned to politics in 2016, becoming Mayor of Wilmington. He won an eight-way Democratic primary with less than a quarter of the votes cast and then secured 82 percent of the votes in the November 2016 general election.
He served two terms, stepping down in 2025 after passing on seeking a third term.
But Purzycki’s biggest legacy may be his decade as executive director of the Riverfront Development Corporation starting in 1996. His work transforming that area earned the appreciation of city and state leaders, who expressed their condolences Tuesday.
When he took over in 1996, there was little worth seeing on the west bank of the Christina River beyond the relatively new baseball stadium, home of the minor league Wilmington Blue Rocks.
A gutted shipyard warehouse was transformed into an arts and exhibition center, which later became the Chase Center on the Riverfront, a venue for conventions and social events. The Kahunaville nightclub became the Delaware Children’s Museum. The Shipyard Shops were conceived as a retail destination filled with outlet stores.
Handicapped by access issues and an inability to attract prominent merchandisers, they never caught on, but those storefronts now house a diverse array of businesses.
Restaurants and hotels, not to mention a miniature golf course, have filled the acreage between the Chase Center and the Children’s Museum. Long-neglected Justison Street has become more than entrance to the riverfront. Now it’s lined with luxury mid-rise apartments, neighborhood retail and more dining options. A new bridge provides easy access from South Market Street, where the 76ers Fieldhouse and outdoor athletic fields offer yet another attraction.
Much of his time as mayor focused on rebuilding the city’s sense of community, and doing it in one neighborhood at a time though housing business projects and investment in community centers and parks.
But hiss tenure as mayor was not without controversy. As the redevelopment he presided over on the riverfront moved north into downtown, concern grew over the growing numbers of individuals struggling with homelessness, addiction and mental illness. Program
operators and advocates for these special needs populations complained that they felt they were being pushed out of the city.
Purzycki reflected on his service to Wilmington leading the Riverfront Development Corp and as mayor in an interview with DPM at the close of his time as as the city's chief executive in 2024.
“We changed so much in the city, and with change comes, you know, some emotional stress. But we got it going, and looking back today, I'm so proud of what we did.” Purzycki said.
Current Wilmington City Councilmember Zanthia Oliver credits Purzycki with putting the city on solid fiscal footing as Riverfront Development Corporation executive director and Mayor. Oliver said he will always be remembered for setting Wilmington up for a bright future.
“Oh my god, look at the businesses down there, look at the revenue we have generated from that riverfront… I mean, it used to be industrial, it was empty down there, and look what he has done with under his leadership and his businesses and just his connections," said Oliver.
Oliver added part of Purzycki’s success stemmed from his ability to bridge the partisan divide.
“Who else would be able to have Republicans switch over to Democrats to get him voted in? Because they believed in me and they trusted him,” said Oliver.
Wilmington's current Mayor John Carney offered his memories of Purzycki in a statement.
"I didn't have a big brother, but Mike came awfully close," Carney wrote. "He was someone I looked up to and respected both as a colleague and as a friend. Tracey and I have often said that Mike had range. He was a natural leader, a great athlete, a talented singer. He was tough with a wonderful sense of humor. He balanced resolve with humility and principle with collaboration."
Carney also remembered Purzycki's lasting impact on Wilmington.
"Decades ago, only Mike Purzycki and a handful of others believed that the Riverfront could become what it is today. Before most people could even imagine it, Mike saw a future with a Riverwalk, Tubman Garrett Park, and the vibrant community where thousands of people now live, work, and play." said Carney. " During his tenure as mayor, Mike focused on strengthening neighborhoods. He championed significant investments in housing and neighborhood stabilization that transformed whole sections of the city."
Gov. Matt Meyer offered his cindolaces in a statement.
"Mike Purzycki was a tremendous leader and Delawarean. He served our state in numerous ways, on New Castle County Council, as executive director of the Riverfront Development Corporation transforming the Wilmington Riverfront, and as mayor of Wilmington for two terms" said Meyer. "Mike’s legacy will be long felt."
A statement from Wilmington's State Senate delegation, State Sens. Dan Cruce, Darius Brown and Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman, agreed that Purzycki had a "profound and enduring impact on the City of Wilmington."
"Everyone who worked with Mike understood that he wouldn’t shy away from the toughest challenges facing the city, but that he would work to build consensus and partner with anyone who was interested in solving problems," the statement read.
House Democratic leadership responded to the news as well.
"Mike loved to build," the House statement said. "We see that not just through the many landmarks that we can now look to and remember him, but the community, as well. His work brought people together, and in a city where community has always been the key to success, that was very important."
Former Senator and Gov. Tom Carper expressed his sadness at the news and his deep respect for the former mayor.
"Michael and I had a deep friendship and shared in the belief that the best thing you can do to help someone is to help them get a job so they can support themselves and their families," Carper said, referencing his role in tasking Purzycki with Riverfront development. "We will miss him and our hearts go out to his wife, Bette, and their family. We have lost a giant.”
Sen. Chris Coons remembers Purzycki as person who was "warm, kind, passionate, loved his family, and was devoted to his faith," while having a tremendous impact in his oublic life.
"He was a visionary, leading the reimagining and rebuilding of the Riverfront, and he was a capable and compassionate person," said Coons.
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester addressed Purzycki as a "dedicated public servant and a visionary leader."
"Through his tenacity, determination, brains, and charm, Mike turned what was once a neglected wasteland into a thriving hub of economic activity and community life," Blunt Rochester said. "That transformation changed the trajectory of our city and created opportunity for generations of Delawareans. His legacy lies not only in bricks and mortar, but also in the spirit of service that inspired people like me."
Purzycki is survived by his wife, Bette, and three children.
