David Hepburn Jr.
David R. Hepburn Jr. Ph.D., 75, died March 21. He was born Feb. 14, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, to David R. Sr. and Lillie Williams.
He attended Memphis State University, working his way through by delivering newspapers, and earned degrees in mathematics and chemistry. He then went to Ole Miss University in Oxford on a scholarship and earned his doctorate in chemistry. He enjoyed a career as a research chemist until retiring in 2007.
He then moved to Bradenton with wife Nina Salley Hepburn (Siler) and joined a group of men dedicated to saving and restoring wooden boats. He volunteered at the boat shop in Cortez and his dedication to public service extended to an active membership in the USCG Auxiliary.
Interment will be in the memorial garden of Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton. Donations may be made to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Condolences may be made to www.griffithcline.com.
He is survived by wife Nina; sons David R. III and Dr. R. M. Salley and wife Linda; daughters Rachelle Carla and Angela Faye Stephens and husband Larry; sister Gloria; brother James and wife Ann; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Frank W. Hutchison
Frank W. Hutchison, 86, of Bradenton, died April 1.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Bradenton in 1978 from Bridgewater, North Carolina.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, he received his master’s degree in business from the Wharton School, his master’s degree in divinity from McCormick Seminary of Chicago and he was a Presbyterian minister.
He was active in his community, active in the civil rights and peace movements and he was former pastor of Roser Memorial Community Church.
He is survived by wife Sylvia of Bradenton; daughters Barbara of Arlington, Virginia, Jane and husband Drew McNeely of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Lee Anne and husband Grant Neal of Manhattan, New York, and Jean and husband Bart Knox of Hendersonville, North Carolina; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service was April 17 at Roser Memorial Community Church in Anna Maria. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.
Jack M. Neumayer
Jack M. Neumayer, 80, of Holmes Beach, died April 6.
Services will be at a later date. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.
Damon J. Presswood
Damon Jolley Presswood, 48, of Bradenton, died unexpectedly at home April 5.
He was born Dec. 27, 1968, in DuQuoin, Illinois, and moved to Anna Maria Island in 1975 with his mother and sister.
He was devoted to his daughter and he was a dedicated chef and food expert. He started his cooking career at age 13 on Longboat Key at Harry’s Continental Kitchens, followed by Ivo’s Fine Dining and the Café L’Europe on St. Armands Circle, where he mentored under Chef August Mrozowski. In 13 years at the cafe, he had risen to sous chef.
He was assistant chef at the Bradenton Country Club before purchasing Chez André Restaurant in Holmes Beach in 1999. He was chef and co-owner and renamed the restaurant Ooh La La! Bistro. In 2008, the restaurant closed and he expanded his food interests as a restaurant/food service consultant and executive chef at Sysco Corp. in Palmetto.
Most recently, he worked at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier in Bradenton Beach.
He was a longtime member of Ski-A-Rees, a water-ski show team based on City Island in Sarasota, where he performed, drove his boat for show skiers and trained young skiers.
He inherited his paternal grandfather’s green thumb and had a penchant for growing herbs, vegetables and gardenias. He also loved animals and rescued and adopted many dogs over the years. He trained his companion, Ziggy, a deaf dog, in sign language.
Some 200 restaurant, food industry, ski and family friends attended a celebration of life April 9 at Fishermen’s Hall in Cortez. The family thanks all those who donated food and refreshments, particularly the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and Beach Bistro.
A GoFundMe account has been established to help Joselin get on her feet on her own and in her future endeavors.
Mr. Presswood is survived by his daughter, Joselin “Josey” Bonnie of Bradenton; mother Bonner Joy, Islander publisher, of Flamingo Cay; father Ronald and wife Sylvia of Ponoma, Illinois; sister Kendra and spouse Toni Lyon of Palmetto; half-brother Sevren of Michigan; uncle Kevin of DuQuoin, Illinois; uncle William Eller of Bradenton; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and Ziggy.
Donald B. Sudnik
Donald B. Sudnik, of Holmes Beach and originally from Orchard Lake, Michigan, died Feb. 28.
He was born Nov. 25, 1926.
He was known in the advertising business as an award-winning photographer specializing in car photography throughout the automotive industry
He was a partner in the photo studio Sudnik & Overhardt.
In his early days, Mr. Sudnik served in the Army Air Force as a photographer mapping the Philippine Islands in 1944, just before the bombing in Japan. He also worked at the Detroit News as a sports photographer capturing the fall of the “Flying Wallendas” at the Fair Grounds in 1962.
He ws an avid fan of the Detroit Red Wings and also enjoyed fishing, listening to jazz and mingling with musicians at local clubs. For those who knew and loved him, he was always positive and upbeat. When asked how he was the answer was always, “Sensational.”
He was married to Marilyn Demgen.
He is survived by children Steven, John and Lisa Sudnik Marklow; Joseph, Sarah Marklow Moore and Mary Marklow Clinton; great-grandchildren Miles Moore and Easton Clinton.