A former Miami-Dade County official is being remembered as one of the best and brightest. That's how Mayor Daniella Levine Cava describes Merrett Stierheim.

The former county manager passed away yesterday at the age of 90. Stierheim was county manager twice, superintendent of schools, Miami city manager twice, interim manager at Doral and Miami Lakes and director of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Levine Cava says Stierheim was an icon in government, always honest, deliberate and true. She also calls Stierheim a role model to her and many others. He leaves behind a wife and four daughters, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.