Andrew Joseph ‘Skip’ Coyne III
Andrew Joseph “Skip” Coyne III, of Sarasota, died July 18.
His parents brought him to St. Petersburg as a child from Cleveland, Ohio. He was the son of Alice and Andrew J. II.
Mr. Coyne and his wife of 32 years, Diane, moved to Sarasota in 1984 with their two sons. She died in 2009.
He was raised a Catholic. He attended Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg and graduated from the University of South Florida.
He was owner of SPS Telecom for 42 years.
He became instrumental in stopping the development by a private company of land in Manatee County near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which he felt would be an environmental disaster.
He loved local Florida history, woodworking, building and the outdoors — fishing, hiking, sailing and kayaking.
He was dedicated to saving the Florida environment and helping Florida’s fresh water springs survive any development.
He became involved with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch soon after tackling a project to stop the state land swap of Rattlesnake Key that was slated for a huge development in 2010.
He began with AMITW by volunteering for patrols and soon foraged a relationship with Suzi Fox, executive director of AMITW.
They were drawn together by their love to preserve the beach habitat and ensure the survival of the sea turtles that arrive on the shores of Anna Maria Island from May-November every year to nest.
He became the nonprofit’s environmental director and a dedicated volunteer.
“Skip will be sorely missed from his duties overseeing the early morning, late night patrols for signs of sea turtles on the beaches of Anna Maria Island,” according to a friend. He was much loved.
The family is planning a private service in California, while AMITW is planning an end-of-nesting season gathering together with a celebration of life, with a time, date and place to be announced.
Memorial donations may be made to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, 6409 16th Ave. Drive W., Bradenton, FL 34209.
Mr. Coyne is survived by his sons, Andrew “Joe” J. IV and Edward and wife Angie Beishline; and a grandson, Martin, all of California; his life partner, Suzi Fox of Bradenton Beach, and his great dog, Spike.
Wade W. LaDue
Wade William LaDue of Independence, Missouri, and Holmes Beach, died July 20 in Independence.
He was born Aug. 31, 1935.
He graduated high school in San Pedro, California, where he was an outstanding athlete in football and especially baseball.
A graduate of the University of Missouri in 1957, he lettered in baseball and made many lifelong friends in Sigma Chi.
Commissioned in the U.S. Army, he worked three years for the Kansas City Athletics before embarking on his 24-year Army career as a pilot and in public relations.
He loved flying, especially the twin-engine Caribou he transported to Vietnam in 1968 for the second of his two tours.
Assigned around the world, he specialized in public affairs before retiring.
He returned to Kansas City as the director of public relations and publications for the national headquarters of the VFW.
He spent his final working years as owner of Destinations Unlimited Travel in Blue Springs.
Mr. LaDue was a member of Sigma Chi, VFW, Army Otter Caribou Association, Key Royale Club, MOAA, First United Methodist Church of Blue Springs and Roser Memorial Community Church in Anna Maria.
He loved flying, traveling, playing golf, music, caring for his dog, Bisbee, and his family and friends.
A special thank-you goes to the staff at Villages at Jackson Creek Memory Care and Lumicare Hospice in Missouri and to Manuela Espinosa, caregiver and friend, from the family.
Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 301 SW Woods Chapel Road, Blue Springs, MO 64015, and Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, FL 34216. Services were planned for July 28 in Blue Springs.
Mr. LaDue is survived by his wife of 64 years, Gloria; children Paul and wife Katrina of Gladstone, Missouri, and Ginny Gordanier and husband Kyle of Peculiar, Missouri; grandchildren Cody and wife Tirzah Raney, Ella Raney, Nick and Elise, Kimberly and husband Zac Parks and Robert Gordanier; great-grandchildren Izabella and Bo Raney.