01-05-2022 Archives – Anna Maria Islander

The Islander in 2021 helped friends, family and coworkers honor loved ones with remembrances and tributes in obituaries.

From notices the newspaper received in 2021, we remember:

Mary Jane “Janie” Messina, 85, of Bradenton Beach, died Jan. 2. She lived in the city for 50 years.

Anne B. Stapor Francis, 96, died Jan. 6. She lived on AMI from 1947 until 2019.

Bailey Robert Williams Sr. died Jan. 7, in Corinth, Mississippi. He lived for many years on AMI.

Katy H. Dunn, 98, of Illinois, died Jan. 7. She wintered in Holmes Beach for decades.

Bonnie L. Kirby Lalos, 79, died Jan. 14. She lived in Anna Maria, worked at Pete Reynard’s Restaurant and also as a police dispatcher for the Holmes Beach Police Department.

Ruth Estelle Williamson, 98, died Jan. 17. She lived on AMI and then in Bradenton.

Margaret Jenkins of Anna Maria died in February. She was a member of the garden club, Episcopal Church of the Annunciation and the planning board.

Carla Gusovius Atkins, 93, of Anna Maria, died Feb. 3. She loved walking and swimming at the beach, collecting seashells and feeding blue herons.

John Frederick Zirzow, 86, of Bradenton and formerly AMI, died Feb. 7.

Wallace John “Wally” Cropper, 94, of AMI, died Feb. 8. He enjoyed the beach and the island weather.

Lance Gregory Hubschmitt, who entertained at an AMI Chamber of Commerce’s Bayfest celebration, died Feb. 9.

C. Melissa Williams, 53, of Perico Island, died Feb. 11. She celebrated life and AMI as a businesswoman, volunteer and arts enthusiast.

Thomas D. “Don” Moore, 81, former publisher of another Islander newspaper in the 1970s, who wrote stories along Florida’s west coast as a newspaper reporter and published a book of stories on the Greatest Generation, died Feb. 14.

Bob Mitchell, of Anna Maria, died on Valentine’s Day. He was notorious for contacting Northerners amid snowy forecasts, with a boast about AMI life: “Well, it’s not easy…”

Shawn Michael Koerber, 33, died Feb. 14. He spent his childhood on AMI and attended AME.

Paul L. Keyes, 83, of Longboat Key, died Feb. 15. His love of the water and fishing inspired his purchase and involvement in Keyes Marina.

Lisa I. Van Zandt, 64, of New York and formerly Holmes Beach, a friend to many, died Feb. 22.

Dale S. de Haan, 86, of AMI, died March 1. He was a specialist on refugees, foreign policy and humanitarian affairs, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and worked alongside three Kennedys.

Eleanor Adeline Gage Diamond, 91, of Sarasota died March 20. She was a longtime local, having resided on Longboat Key and in Anna Maria.

Gary E. Trudelle, 79, of Parrish, died April 2. On AMI, he bartended and managed island restaurants.

Frederic G. “Rick” Catlin, 74, of Bradenton, died April 8. He worked as a reporter for The Islander, where he won a number of press awards and helped to present an annual tribute on Veterans Day.

Diane Wiseman Linscott, jazz vocalist, artist and wintertime islander, died April 16.

Kim Leslie Steenstra of Anna Maria died April 20. She volunteered at AME and coached at the center. 

Freda Mae Cole died April 27. She had been a longtime resident of Bradenton Beach.

Thomas Robert Sprenger, 89, of Holmes Beach, died May 29. 

Courtney Call, 43, of Holmes Beach, died June 5. She lived and work for years on AMI, including at The Islander, the Anchor Inn and TommyKnockers Saloon.

Robin Rhodes, 63, considered by many as the first lady of island theater, died June 19. Her theatrical resume spanned decades and a range of genres.

Dr. Jay William Erickson, 86, of Holmes Beach, died June 27. He walked the beaches and sidewalks of AMI daily and did most of his errands by bicycle.

Sandy Mattick, formerly of Anna Maria, died July 1. She engaged in island business and local politics for many years.

Clarke Darrell Williams, 84, of Bradenton, died July 18 He was in real estate sales and investments, including on AMI.

Andrew Joseph “Skip” Coyne III of Sarasota died July 18. He was an environmental activist and devotee of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch.

Virginia Ann Horne, 79, died July 18. She was a child of Maine and a resident of Anna Maria.

Wade William LaDue of Holmes Beach, died July 20.

Dr. Robert LaMastro, 84, of Perico Island, died July 30.

Richard E Stomp, 90, formerly of AMI, died Aug. 2.

Brett Steven “Bigs” Fortenberry, 59, of Holmes Beach died Aug. 2. He owned his own business, Stem to Stern Boat Care, and was known on the island as a favorite Domino’s Pizza driver for more than 30 years.

William “Gene” Page III, 80, of Bradenton, died Aug. 15. He was a dedicated photojournalist, including with The Islander. 

Vincent Mercadante, 90, of Anna Maria, died Aug. 21. He loved the island community, working the election polls and helping people start businesses.

Carmen C. Manali, 96, of Anna Maria, died Aug. 24. In 1963, she and her husband moved to AMI with their children, later opening Anthony’s Restaurant.

Theodore H. “Ted” Geeraerts, 72, of Holmes Beach, died Sept. 6. He was a business owner, member of the Holmes Beach police pension board, and loved a good laugh.

Shirley Vam Ostenbridge-Esposito, 71, formerly of AMI, died Sept. 23. She loved growing up on the island and won a “teen queen” contest at the center.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. “Bud” Freeman, of Longboat Key and formerly of Bradenton Beach, died Oct. 3. 

William “Bill” Miller died Oct. 5. He lived in Cortez for almost 60 years and worked all over AMI when he was an air conditioning and refrigeration business owner.

“Big” John “Red Beard” Swager, 58, died Oct. 6. He was the consummate icon for the Anna Maria Island Privateers, fulfilling the mission to serve kids and community.

Vincent Ujcic, 97, of Holmes Beach, died Oct. 15. He swam in the Gulf every day into his 90s.

Nellie Mildred Bergstrom, 97, of Holmes Beach, died Oct. 22. She golfed at the Key Royale Club into her 90s.

Charles John “Duke” Horvath, 91, of Bradenton Beach, died Oct. 28. He worked for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and ran Duke’s Island Taxi.

James Patrick O’Neill, 76, formerly of AMI, died Oct. 30. He was a sought-after charter fishing guide in the 1980s.

Peter T. Barreda, 60, died Nov. 6. He was founder of the Cortez Kitchen in the fishing village.

Richard Linn Hosterman Jr., 75, of Holmes Beach, died Nov. 8. Vacationing here, he grew to love the beach lifestyle and decided to make the move.

Harry G. Kinnan, 80, of Bradenton, died Nov. 8. He served on the school board, representing an area that included AMI.

Graeme Edge, 80, of Bradenton, died Nov. 11. The Moody Blues drummer was a familiar AMI face.

George Michael Glaser, 78, formerly of AMI, died Nov. 13. He operated a sightseeing boat.

Eugene Robert Malinowski, 85, formerly of Bradenton, died Nov. 24 in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Lisa Ann Kautzman Baker, 60, of Holmes Beach, died Nov. 27. She loved her volunteer work at Southeastern Guide Dogs. 

John “Jack” R. Harrison, 92, of Bradenton, died Dec. 10. He played bridge on AMI and was a member of the SOBs — the Sons of the Beach Club.

Gregory James LaPensee, 39, of Bradenton, died Dec. 14. On graduating high school, he immediately went to work in the family business, LaPensee Plumbing Inc. of Holmes Beach.

David Albert Mariotti, 66, of Duette, died Dec. 24. He was part of The Islander family, partner of office manager Lisa Williams.