William ‘Bill’ Miller
Miller
William “Bill” Miller died Oct. 5.
He was born June 1, 1935.
Mr. Miller lived in Cortez for almost 60 years and worked all over Anna Maria Island when he was an air conditioning and refrigeration business owner. He also participated in many local arts and crafts shows through the years with his metal fish/animals.
He was an artist, craftsman, contractor, worker, friend, brother, neighbor, man’s man, fisherman, adventurer, kind soul and the most precious dad.
He was a pillar in his community and beloved by all who knew him.
He made everyone around him feel happy and at ease, always encouraging people that God is good.
A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at Colonial Baptist Church, 2616 51st St. W., Bradenton.
John Swager
“Big John” Swager
Privateer icon ‘Big John’ Swager dies Oct. 6
He brandished a big sword and an even bigger shadow.
He was the consummate icon for the Anna Maria Island Privateers, fulfilling every promise of the nonprofit’s mission to serve kids and community.
He was kind, gentle and passionate for life.
John Swager, 58, died peacefully Oct. 6, in the arms of his wife, Cindy.
He was known by many pirate-style names over his many years with the Privateers, including Big John, Red Beard and Captain Barbarossa.
He went into the ICU at Blake Medical Center Sept. 6 with COVID-19 and pneumonia, and despite his never-give-up attitude, he lost his battle.
He was born in Pennsylvania March 9, 1963, but he was a native Texan at heart, having moved there early in his life.
In Texas, John fell in love with barbecue and competition cooking. He was a long-time member and judge of the Kansas City BBQ Society and a member of Operation BBQ Relief. He competed, placed and won many competitions across the country while pursuing his passion, competition cooking.
But the passion for barbecue and cooking also led him to help his community in Texas whenever possible.
He later moved to Anna Maria Island and was a plumber by trade, heading up irrigations systems for golf courses and other large institutional projects.
But the move to Anna Maria Island led John to new passions, including marraige.
Most will remember him as the larger-than-life Anna Maria Island Privateer, an active member since 1990. He was a familiar face at fundraising events for more than 30 years. He was honored by the Privateers at their July 4 parade this year.
He held almost every seat on the executive board for the crew, including president. He was most proud of his efforts to fundraise for the Privateers college scholarship fund and the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Privateers, which plans to begin a scholarship fund in his name.
An outdoor celebration of life is being planned for a date to be determined at Holmes Beach City Field for the Swager family and his broader family of island admirers and Privateer members past and present.
The city of Holmes Beach Police Department and The Islander newspaper are hosting and helping organize the event along with many contributors, including Billy Rice and his musician friends, TK Grill & BBQ and Traveling Kitchen, libations and a Swager-sized donation “barrel” for scholarship contributions. The date will be determined soon and announced in The Islander and on social media.
Mr. Swager is survived by wife Cindy Shealy-Swager, children Sarah and Adam Shealy, mother Elva Swager, sister Missy Peckler, brother Jimmy and the Privateer family of friends and admirers.