TAMPA, Fla. — A day after Tampa residents learned of his passing, friends of David Straz, Jr. are celebrating his legacy.

Straz, Jr. died while on a fishing trip Monday, but his name will live on because of his countless contributions to the community.

For 30 years, he gave quietly to Metropolitan Ministries for the Homeless, and in 2008, during the recession, his donation to Berkeley Preparatory School helped build the Straz Family Field House. 

"He was the lead donor on this first building and really set that lead for the community," said Joseph Seivold, the Headmaster of Berkeley Preparatory School. 

In 2017, when the Seminole Heights community was searching for a killer, records show Straz gave a $10,000 reward to the McDonald's worker who turned the suspect in. 

"The thing about him was, it was not just the gift," said Judy Lisi, who runs the David Straz, Jr. Performing Arts Center. "He really loved the community, he really cared."

Straz, Jr. was a major donor at the performing arts center in Tampa.  It was 10 years ago this November that his name was added to the marquee there. 

"His contribution certainly was his generosity to help support the arts, the performing arts in our case, but it was also his generosity of spirit," Lisi said. "He was just such an encouraging person."

Straz was 77 years old.