Hatian-American Frantz Pierre, a former North Miami Beach city commissioner, died last week after suffering a cardiac event, his wife of 35 years, Marie, confirmed Friday to the Miami Herald. He was 58.
The oldest of nine children, Pierre was born and raised in Arcahaie, Haiti, where completed his elementary and secondary education before immigrating to the United States in 1995.
Like most young immigrants, he worked several odd jobs while attending college. He earned two associate of arts degrees and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Miami Dade College. He also earned a master’s degree in mathematics education from NOVA Southeastern University Fisher School of Education.
For over a decade, Pierre was a mathematics teacher at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), the fourth-largest school system in the nation. He also worked as an adjunct professor of mathematics at Miami Dade College.
Pierre’s father Jacques-Joseph Pierre was a judge in Haiti, which inspired his interest in politics, family said. Pierre was elected to the North Miami Beach Commission, then known as a council, in 2007. Prior to that, he served on the North Miami Beach Civil Service board.
Pierre participated in several social endeavors and political campaigns, especially in North Miami, Florida as well as volunteered and contributed to other charitable causes in other parts of the United States and in Haiti.
He was appointed by the North Miami City Council in January of this year to serve as the Councilman of District 4.
Pierre leaves behind his wife and their six children, Karry Joseph Pierre, 38; Keren Pierre, 26; Lynn-Iris Pierre, 25; Gregory Pierre, 23; Patricia Pierre, 22; and Jayden Pierre, 16.
Legal troubles
Pierre was suspended from the North Miami Beach City Commission in July 2018 after being arrested in a scheme involving taxpayer money, a charity, and a strip club.
It was alleged that Pierre had been accepting bribes from strip club owner Dean Tyler of Dean’s Gold in return for voting in favor of giving the club an extended liquor license.
Pierre pleaded guilty to seven felony counts of money laundering, one count of bribery, one count of unlawful compensation for official behavior, one count of organized scheme to defraud, and one count of grand theft. He was ordered to serve two years of house arrest followed by four years of probation, according to a plea agreement.
