Ed Callen
Ed Callen, 92, of Anna Maria, died Jan. 26.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, April 21, 1923, to Margaret and Joseph Callen.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a crewman on a patrol bomber in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. After his discharge in December 1947, he went to work in a defense plant on Long Island, New York, where he met and married his wife Lee in September 1950.
In 1952, he was appointed to the New York Fire Department and spent 24 years as a firefighter, retiring in 1976.
He and his wife found Anna Maria Island in the late-1960s, while visiting friends. They bought their home in Anna Maria in 1972 and moved to “paradise” in 1978.
He became involved in local politics in 1982, when he was appointed to the planning commission by then-Mayor Ernie Cagnina. He became chairman while working on the original comprehensive plan and land development regulations.
He also was a founder of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and became it’s director in 1985. With the permission of then-Mayor Ray Simches and the city commission, he acquired the old police building — the present historical museum — and outfitted it with saltwater tanks and pumps to raise loggerhead hatchlings for release into the Gulf of Mexico.
In 1992, he received the Citizen of the Year Award in Anna Maria.
Survivors include son Jim and wife Cathleen of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Jamie and girlfriend Andrea Bevis, Michael and wife Camille, Ryan and wife Courtney, Kevin and girlfriend Jessica Arvay, Daniel and girlfriend Jennifer Mickley, and Matthew, all of Pennsylvania; step-grandson H. Lee Diers of California; six great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandsons.
Eldon W. Cole
Eldon W. Cole, 91, of Dowling, Michigan, and formerly of Holmes Beach, died Sept. 16, 2015.
He was born Dec. 8, 1923, in Johnstown Township, the son of Ward and Helen (Stevens) Cole.
He attended Hastings Schools, graduating in 1941, and served in the U.S. Navy from April 1945 to August 1946.
He enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing, gardening and spending time in the Florida sun. He moved to Holmes Beach in 1988 and returned to Dowling in 2014.
He is survived by sons Robert and wife Erna Bowling of Freeport, and Jack and wife Jodie of Dowling; daughter Denise and husband Dan MacDonald of Battle Creek; and grandchildren Meredith Faro, Bob, Andy, Shelby Spring, Darcie Walker and Danyell Myers.
Robert H. Meehan
Robert H. Meehan, 87, of Bradenton Beach, died Jan. 27.
He was born March 15, 1928.
Funeral arrangements are by The Good Earth Crematory.
Leonard F. Powell Jr.
Leonard Forrest Powell Jr., 92, of Lakeland died Jan. 17.
He was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, and enrolled at the University of Georgia at the age of 17.
He belonged to the Greatest Generation and served in the Philippines.
When he returned to the United States, he married Marian Hogan.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, but he had a penchant for languages and a desire to teach. So he took his family to Monterrey, Mexico, so he could attend an immersion language school. He earned a master’s degree in language teaching at Ole Miss and then taught teenagers Spanish at Kathleen High School in Lakeland.
After his retirement, he traveled with his wife — they visited every state capital in the country, traveled extensively in Canada and Mexico, toured England, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
He is survived by Tom and Jeannie Becker-Powell, Lenny, Marilyn and Robin Kempink, Shea and Becky Sanders, Brandea and Keith Averett, Chris Kempink and Christina Chappell, Corey Kempink, Chase and Mary, Katey Kempink, Ashley, Ryleigh Averett, Evan Kempink, Georgia, Luke Averett, Sydney Averett, and Kyleigh Sanders.
George Sefcik, 76, former resident of Holmes Beach and Cortez, died Jan. 23 in Bradenton.
He was born Dec. 27, 1939, in Cleveland. He was an NFL and college football coach.
He was the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1988 and also for the Atlanta Falcons. He coached in two Super Bowls — XXXIII with the Falcons and XVI with the Cincinnati Bengals. He had a total of 29 years coaching experience in the NFL as an offensive coordinator and assistant coach.
He also coached for the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants.
He coached college football for nine years — with the University of Notre Dame and the University of Kentucky.
He also played football and baseball for Notre Dame.
He retired from the Falcons in 2001 to Holmes Beach and then Cortez. After his retirement, he continued with his passion for football at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, working with campers and collegiate players preparing for the NFL combine and draft.
He is survived by wife Lori “Loretta,” daughter Tracy, sons Martin and Jeffrey, sister Carol and numerous nieces and nephews.