Dorothy ‘Dottie’ Quinn McChesney
Former Anna Maria Mayor Dorothy “Dottie” Quinn McChesney died Sept. 1.
A celebration of life is being hosted by her husband, Roy, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, in the fellowship hall of Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.
She resided the past 15 years in Parrish, but had lived in Anna Maria from 1986 to 1996. She had been a frequent visitor to the Island since 1957. Her mother at one time owned Mademoiselle Salon in Bradenton Beach.
She was a graduate in speech and drama of Ohio Wesleyan University and taught acting at the Living Arts Center in Dayton, Ohio, and at the Kettering (Ohio) Adult School.
Theater became her passion, and she saw success as an actor and director at the Cleveland Play House, and later in professional and community theaters in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Mrs. McChesney served for several years on the board of directors of the Island Players, chaired its play selection committee and directed and performed in numerous productions. She helped found and was chairperson for the Chapel Players at Roser Memorial Community Church and spearheaded the group’s summer drama youth workshops. Among many productions, the group received rave reviews for its memorable performance of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” featuring first-time stage appearances for many youths.
She was a member of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, the Artist’s Guild of Anna Maria Island, Island Players, Roser Memorial Community Church and Save Anna Maria Inc.
Mrs. McChesney served as an officer with the Island Democratic Club and entered the political arena in February 1993, winning a commission seat in Anna Maria. In 1995, she ran a successful campaign against the political establishment in the city, defeating interim-Mayor Max Znika for the remaining one-year term of former Mayor Ray Simches.
Mrs. McChesney said she would preserve and enhance the unique small-town ambiance of the Island community.
As mayor, she championed a state law that was signed in March 1996 by then-Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles banning anyone from taking more than two live shellfish — starfish and sand dollars — from the waters of Manatee County.
She had open-heart surgery and a five-way bypass and a heart valve replacement in 2004.
Mrs. McChesney is survived by her husband of 35 years, Roy; sons Richard and wife Christina Quinn, Douglas and wife Myra Quinn and Martin and wife Wendy Quinn; stepson Philip; sisters Patricia and Constance; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Horst Henry Engel
Horst Henry Engel, 77, of Bradenton, died Sept. 29,. He was born in Marburg, Germany, Aug. 5, 1934, and came to the United States at age 18.
Mr. Engel served four years in the U.S. Air Force before marrying his wife of 52 years in Kenosha, Wis. They moved to Milwaukee where they raised their three children. He worked nights and weekends to earn his master’s in degree in engineering from Marquette University. As a manager with Siemens Power, Horst and his wife relocated in 1984 to Bradenton, where they remained in retirement.
A memorial Mass was celebrated Oct. 7 at Ss Peter & Paul the Apostles Catholic Church, Bradenton, followed by visitation and a reception.. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or TideWell Hospice. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory-43rd Street Chapel, Bradenton was in charge of arrangements. Condolences for the family may be made at www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.
Mr. Horst is survived by wife Amelia; sons Larry and wife Darren of Milwaukee, Wis., Robert and wife Karma of Holmes Beach; daughter Julie and husband Roger Engel-Brummel of Lake Zurich, Ill.; and grandchildren Miranda, Savanna, and Maximilian.
Joseph Stephen Schon
Joseph Stephen Schon, 69, of Holmes Beach, died Sept. 18. He was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and moved to Holmes Beach in 2006 from Nanuet, N.Y.
Mr. Schon was a retired executive engineer, a retired vice president of Mona Industries and a member of NREP.
Services were to be private. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be made at www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.
Mr. Schon is survived by his wife of 46 years, Maya; daughter Suzette of Holmes Beach; and mother Vera of Valley Cottage, N.Y.