Joshua Robert Matice
Joshua Robert Matice, 42, died April 7. He was born April 8, 1972, in St. Johns, Mich.
He first came to Anna Maria Island in time to start second-grade at Anna Maria Elementary School. He participated in youth center activities, including soccer, baseball and basketball. He attended Roser Memorial Community Church and participated in the youth group. He was a cub scout. While attending King Middle School, he united islanders and towners. He also was co-emcee for the KMS Hands Across America Music Jamboree. While attending Manatee High School, he found his passion for cooking while working for the original Mr. Bones restaurant in Holmes Beach.
After graduating from MHS, he attended New England Institute in West Palm, Fla., in the culinary arts school and interned with a renowned Paris chef at the country club in Boynton Beach.
Upon returning to the island, he worked at a number of eateries, as well as in Bradenton and Sarasota. He then went to upstate New York where he opened the Corn House Restaurant as manager and chef. Upon returning again to the island, he helped re-open the City Pier Restaurant, and then began a career as a rep for Orlando Seafood Co., helping expand its business to the west coast.
He spent some time consulting and then returned to his first passion, cooking. He will be missed by all whose lives he touched.
A celebration of life and sunset service was held April 18 at Bayfront Park, Anna Maria.
Mr. Matice is survived by his sons, Canaan and Quentin; daughter Cheyanne; fiance Lindsey Saritzer; brother Zach and Jennie and Noah of White Lake, Mich.; step-sister Betsy McMullin and Ken and Jenna of Cortland, N.Y.; step-brother Rob Oliver and Aly, Jaye and Elle of Ann Arbor, Mich.; and mother Valerie of Anna Maria.
Robert A. Taylor, 71, of Bradenton and formerly of Anna Maria, died April 18. He was born in Montgomery, Ala., and moved to Bradenton in 1996 from Atlanta.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during Vietnam. He was a Christian and an avid golfer.
Visitation was April 21, and a service was to be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd St. W., Bradenton. Military honors will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 S.R. 72, Sarasota. Memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation 1040 Woodstock Road, Suite 119, Orlando FL 32803. Condolences may be made online at www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.
Mr. Taylor is survived by wife Vicki; sons Todd Seidel of Fort Wayne, Ind., David and wife Jennifer Heyn of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Andrew and wife Theany Heyn of Atlanta; daughters Kerri and husband Randall Forsha of Nashville, Tenn., and Andrea and husband David Francis of Nashville, Tenn.; sister Jerry Ann Pennington of Sheffield, Ala.; and 13 grandchildren.