Geraldine Grace Azar, affectionately know as “Gerry the Hat,” died Feb. 2.
She was a volunteer at the Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach and Blake Medical Center in Bradenton and also a volunteer firefighter in Foley, Missouri.
She loved all her people at the Drift-In in Bradenton Beach, and went to the Bridge Street hangout almost every night.
She wanted to be remembered as she was, a glamour queen girl adorned in flashy clothes, glitzy jewelry, designer sunglasses and her many hats.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel in Bradenton was in charge of arrangements. A private service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be made online a www.brownandsonsfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to the Anna Maria Island Women of the Moose, 110 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach.
She is survived by her daughter, two grandsons, two great granddaughters and a great-great grandson.
Hamlin B. ‘Ham’ Jones
Hamlin B. “Ham” Jones, 81, of Longboat Key, died Feb. 14.
Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, he moved to Longboat Key in 1973. He was in the U.S. Army during Korea and he served in Germany. He was a computer programmer for IBM working with NASA and was responsible for the computer program launching the first man to the moon. He also was the 40-year owner of the Seafood Shack Restaurant, having sold the business in October 2014.
Mr. Jones attended the University of Florida on the GI Bill and was a lifelong Gator fan.
A service with military honors took place Feb. 21 at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens in West Palm Beach. A celebration of life was to be held Feb. 23 at the Lazy Lobster of Longboat Key, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, Bradenton, handled arrangements. Condolences may be made online at www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; daughters Kimberly and husband Dan Trombley of St. Petersburg, Adele Jones of Atlanta and Nancy Pronko of San Diego; sister Julia and husband John Matter of West Palm Beach; three grandchildren; and former wife Barbara H. of Atlanta.
Maria Luz Martinez Karp
Maria Luz Martinez Karp, 92, of Bradenton, died Feb. 14. She was born March 21, 1922, in Tupiza, Bolivia, where she was raised by her grandmother, Felicidad Murillo.
She became an elementary teacher in the Aramayo tin mines in Bolivia, where she taught children of all ages in a single classroom. She married Philip Karp and together, with their their infant and toddler girls, they left Bolivia in 1951 for the United States. She lived in several locations before moving in 2004 to Bradenton.
Her interests included sewing, crocheting, flower gardening, bridge, painting, jewelry making, traveling, bridge, reading biographies, shopping, current events, tangos and the music of Gilbert and Sullivan.
A Catholic Mass was held Feb. 21 at the Chapel at Westminster Towers in Bradenton. Internment will take place March 6 at the National Cemetery in Sarasota. Memorial donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul. Condolences may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Philip; daughters Rosemarie and Joyce and husband Gary Hickerson of Holmes Beach; brothers Lucho, Alberto and Willy Barragan; grandchildren Jessica McBee and husband Shawn and Nathan; and many nieces and nephews.
Gina (Matte) Valentino, 52, of Bradenton, died Feb. 15. She was born in Glens Falls, New York, Oct. 26, 1962, to Thelma “Toni” Mullenger and Paul James Matte.
She grew up in Winooski, Vermont, and graduated from Winooski High School in 1980. She always preferred the warmth and sunshine the Southern states offered. She met Robert Valentino on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. They married Oct. 9, 1995, and moved to Florida, settling in Bradenton, where they raised two sons, Madison and Hudson.
In 2011, she received her MBA. She was employed by HP Ingredients as an international sales executive, and she loved her job, the travel and her coworkers.
She also loved the outdoors — hiking and biking or a simple afternoon on the beach.
She is survived by her husband, Robert; her sons, Madison and Hudson, all of Bradenton; mother, Thelma “Toni” Sweeney of Winooski; older brother Paul and wife Colleen Matte of Concord, North Carolina; older sister Jane and husband Bob Wood of Chestertown, New York; younger sister Vicky and husband Mike Palchak of Bakersfield, Vermont; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
All obituaries are sad but now and then one breaks your heart even if you didn`t know them. Heartfelt condolences, to all Gina Valentino`s family from an island visitor living in England, who also lost a younger brother this last week. She sounds so lovely, god bless you all.
Love Eddie