The Islander is a free weekly community newspaper serving Anna Maria Island. There is no charge for our standard obituary, including survivors, services, photo and other lifetime information for present and former residents of Anna Maria Island and people with affiliations on Anna Maria Island.
It’s an honor for us to provide this service to our readers…
Bonner Joy, Publisher. news@islander.org
James ‘Jim’ Robert Riley Jr.
James “Jim” Robert Riley Jr. of Anna Maria died July 13.
He was born in 1954 at the Norfolk Naval Hospital in Virginia and was raised in Tampa. He resided in Anna Maria for 26 years.
He attended Brandon High School in Brandon and further pursued the art of commerce at Hillsborough Community College. He was a valiant salesman and a sagacious business owner within the industrial water and wastewater treatment equipment industry. His counsel and camaraderie were sought by many, and his presence within his profession was marked by integrity and wit.
He was known affectionately to family and friends as a man of great spirit and was a cherished husband to his beloved wife of 37 years, Janet Green Riley.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 26. Please, contact his family for further information.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, Bradenton, is in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by wife Janet; brother Keith Cannon and wife Susan; sister Kimberly Cannon Moore and husband Rick; niece Ashley, husband Jaren Patamasank and sons Connor and Austin; nephew Tyler; cousins Clint Baker and wife Cathy and Sheila and husband Andy Hamilton; and his wife’s extended family; including Sherri Green Peterson and her daughters Christina and Kimberly; sister-in-law Shirl Green; and brother-in-law Steven Green.
Lori ‘Loretta’ Sefcik
Lori “Loretta” Sefcik, 90, of Bradenton and formerly of Holmes Beach and Cortez, died July 7.
She was born June 13, 1935, in Lima, Ohio, to the late Lori William and Eleanor Ortman of South Bend, Indiana.
Lori and her late husband, coach George Sefcik, retired to Holmes Beach in 2001.
Mr. Sefcik was a National Football League offensive coach for 29 years and appeared in two Super Bowls.
The family thanks Dr. Scott Kosfeld of Island Family Physicians in Holmes Beach for his kindness, compassion and care for 24 years and the caregivers at Villas of Holly Brook Surrey Place and Tidewell Hospice.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Mrs. Sefcik is survived by her son, Martin Annis of Holmes Beach; and daughter Tracy of Strongsvillle, Ohio.
Nancy Vakos
Nancy Vakos, 82, formerly of Anna Maria Island, died July 15.
She was born Nov. 23, 1942, in San Francisco to the late John F. Schmidt and Adele H. Schmidt.
She graduated from Hanover Park High School in Hanover, New Jersey, in 1960. She then got a legal secretarial degree from the renowned Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair, New Jersey. She was the secretary for the chief of police on Anna Maria Island for 10 years.
She loved traveling, boating and dancing, and was happiest with her beloved husband.
Memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Beach SPCA or the Surfrider Foundation.
Arrangements were by H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, 2002 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Mrs. Vakos is survived by sister Janice Martini; daughter Kimberly A.; stepsons George W., Charles J., Andrew W. and Dwight Penny; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.